Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Solve for X
4(24/2) = 96-x
4(12) = 96-X
48 = 96-x
48 = -x+96
-48 = -x
(-1)-48 = (-1)-x
48 = x
My airborne kunai was blocked and knocked out of the air by a sand ninja. He charged forward; back arched and blade poised. I had to change directions quickly. Leaning back, I spun on my heels and darted to the right. Dodging a blow to the head by an inch.
Across the street, in the shopping district, Chouji was engaged in a similar scuffle; choosing to bulldoze over his opponent while I stuck to weapons. We weren't far from the shelters. Or the stadium. The smoke billowing skyward was easier to see from here.
My opponent adjusted course. Squatting defensively in front of a book store; his eyes sizing me up. Over yonder, away from the stadium, the sound of gurgled cries and flesh hitting flesh could be heard. There was no way of knowing which side won.
Breathing through my mouth, I took stock of the man before me. Dressed in Suna's beige and tan colors, distinguishable features were hard to find. A white cloth was wrapped around his head and was held in place by a Suna headband. In a line-up, I wouldn't be able to pick him out from any other sand ninja. In a way, that made this easier.
Chouji was normal-sized; taking care of his knocked-out opponent. Unless given orders, we wouldn't be taking any prisoners. My fingers twitched. The sand ninja shuffled forward. Clocking his intention, my eyes narrowed. He would attack as soon as I moved. A loud boom and a cloud of dust happened a distance away. My hand dove into my back pouch, and wrapped around a spool of ninja wire.
At the same moment, the sand nin lunged forward. The sound of his sandals hitting the dirt street increased as he picked up speed.
Unraveling, looping, and tying, I dodged left and right; avoiding kicks, punches, and weaponry. All the while forming something vaguely resembling a cat's cradle on one hand. The man attacked again; building chakra the air surrounding him ebbed and flowed unnaturally. Wind user, I thought. Pushing my own chakra to shield against anything thrown at me. Could my chakra shields protect against other chakra? Guess I'll find out.
First, I tossed the spool, aiming for his leg. Spinning on my heels, I twisted around the sand nin in time to catch the spool on the other side. His legs somewhat restrained, I jumped before the man could lash out behind him. Throwing the spool again, this time in the opposite direction, I landed on his shoulders and glued my feet to him with chakra.
Ninja wire wrapped around the sand nin's neck. Thrice, I caught the spool and threw it again. Making sure there was enough to do damage. With the spool caught in my unburdened hand once more, I straightened my knees and pulled.
The man tried to rid himself of me. Bending and contorting, he tried to throw me like a bull in a rodeo. But my chakra control never wavered. He tried ramming me into walls, but the wire around his legs prevented any large steps. It didn't take long before the man gasped for air; clawing at his throat.
I pulled as hard as I could. Nearly bolding my breath, I panted as sweat dripped down my face. Circulum was cut off in my cat's cradle hand. Despite my efforts to protect it. Still, the man wouldn't drop. Biting my lip, I growled. There just wasn't enough leverage. "Chouji!" I called.
Standing over a corpse bleeding out on the street, Chouji read the situation. It didn't take him long. With heavy steps, Chouji approached. His cheeks were extra rosy from exertion. Like me, he breathed through his mouth. Once in front of the sand nin, Chouji placed one hand on top of the man's head and another under the man's chin. Lips pressed together and eyes elsewhere, Chouji twisted. One pop and a sharp crack later, the man went boneless. His hands fell limply to his sides as his knees slammed into the ground. Before he fell flat, I released my chakra and jumped.
Landing next to Chouji, I made quick work of untangling my hand and cutting the spool free of the used wire. Together, we watched as the sand nin fell. No life in his eyes.
Silence followed. The only sounds of battle came from the distance. Taking in the sight of two bodies occupying Konaha's streets just felt wrong. Like a first-person shooter game that was too personal. The taste of bile filled my mouth. I was still waiting for killing to become easier… but right now, there was no time to worry about bloodstained hands.
Looking away, I focused on Chouji. "Ready?" Gulping down his nerves, Chouji nodded. Together, we jumped onto the nearest roof and started running.
We started the day sitting on the roof of his mom's restaurant. Eating chips and hoping nothing happened that we couldn't handle. Foot traffic was low and most sounds came from the direction of the stadium. Once in a while, we could hear the faint echoes of cheering and screaming. But it was minimal.
We held our positions until the hawks started circling overhead in a figure eight. Knowing what it meant, we rose to our feet and saw the first of many ninja running from roof to roof. Calling for a complete evacuation of all civilians, squads split off to aid different districts. "Looks like they couldn't detain the enemies' advance", I commented; checking my kunai pouch. Even though I knew it was fully stocked.
"Which means it's time for phase two", Chouji said. Probably recalling the same guidelines I was. Iruka-Sensei made sure every graduating genin had the rules of an enemy invasion engraved in all our brains. "Time to go".
With dual flickers of chakra, Chouji and I left the rooftop and appeared in the alleyway below. "Mom!" Chouji hollered as he swung open the kitchen door. The very one we used to break in a few nights prior. "Mom!"
Everyone working in the kitchen paused in their duties; heads turning in Chouji's direction. But only Chiharu responded. "Chouji, what's wrong? It's not like you to use an outside voice in my kitchen". She rose from behind the stove, an apron tied around her waist and a ladle gripped in her hand.
"Evacuation", Chouji announced; keeping his eyes on his mom. "Every civilian needs to get to the shelters. The order just came in".
I expected snorts of disbelief. I thought there'd be questions of Chouji's and my authority. After all, we were only genin. Rookies at that. What did we know about calls for evacuation? Who were we to tell hard-working adults that they needed to leave their busy lives to bunker down in crowded shelters for an unknown amount of time? But none of that happened.
Chiharu reacted immediately. "Stoves and ovens off!" She ordered. Leave everything else where it is. Wait staff, help me round up the customers. Kitchen staff, grab the emergency supplies. Just as we've practiced. We'll head for the shelters as a group." And she disappeared into the dining room; still barking orders and holding onto the ladle.
Chiharu kept everyone organized; leading as we wound our way through the back streets. She had Anzu close at hand. Tasking my sister with managing one of the emergency kits to keep her from loitering behind. They were calm and orderly. Despite the urgency behind their steps. This was why evacuations were practiced. Chouji protected their left. I, their right. Each of us had a kunai out. Just to be ready.
We ran into other groups right before entering the tunnels. Children and the elderly were given priority; a veteran genin waved them in. "What are you two doing?" He asked when Chouji and I pushed forward with our own group. He eyed us up and down as the restaurant customers started disappearing inside. Genin Corps. I thought, doing the same as him. It made sense. Since the genin assigned to a jonin-sensei was currently elsewhere (Chouji and I excluded), that only left the Genin Corps to run the evacuations. Lucky Bastards. "Who's giving you orders?"
"No one", Chouji answered. Being more polite about it than I would have. "We saw the hawks and reacted". Just as was expected. Just as we were trained to do.
The seasoned genin in front of us grunted as the wait staff started entering the tunnels. "The Genin Corps have a system. We've divided up the village amongst us to ensure every civilian is taken care of. I can't have rookies getting in the way. If you must help, go find a chunin".
"Rion?" Anzu asked; trying to interject. Only she and Chiharu remained.
"Where's the chunin in charge of the shelters?" I challenged; keeping my eyes on the genin in front of us. "We'd be happy to follow his orders". Because one thing genin weren't allowed to do was give orders to other genin. At least, not when leadership wasn't established beforehand.
The man in front of us visibly bristled. I couldn't tell if was due to the high stress of the situation or because his life hadn't turned out as he wished. It could be both, I suppose. "Rion?" Anzu tried again; digging her heels in as Chiharu attempted to steer her into the shelters. "What about our… neighbors?"
Ignoring the genin who clearly didn't like being undermined, I studied Anzu. Her upper teeth dug into her bottom lip, making her worried expression all the more telling. Neighbors? I repeated to myself. Our only neighbor was Naruto. And he was at the stadium and not one who would be evacuated. Being a genin and all. As Anzu very well knew. And we never went through the pains of getting to know the residents on the first floor of our building. So, what did she mean?
As Chouji apologized to the older Genin and Chiharu kept trying to keep things moving, Anzu and I maintained eye contact. Slowing, begrudgingly, it dawned on me. Sighing, I turned back to the older genin and cut Chouji off mid-apology. "What about the Red district? Have squads been sent to clear it?"
The genin sniffed and stared impatiently over my head. "Those sorts are a low priority". Hmm… Civilian born. Probably from a merchant class. I could tell by the superiority complex.
Chouji gaped as Chiharu tsked in disapproval. Only Anzu and I weren't surprised. While Konoha wasn't shy about its classism, there wasn't supposed to be any favoritism or special treatment given when the shelters were concerned. Anyone non-shinobi living behind Konoha's walls had a right to them. It was well documented. First decreed by the Second Hokage and loftily upheld by the Third and Fourth. But just because our leaders preach for it, doesn't mean yahoos don't try to ignore it.
"I'll go", I told Anzu; looking her in the eyes as Chiharu glowered at the genin stationed by the tunnel entrances. "If you promise to go inside and stay there". Anzu nodded. But she seemed reluctant to do it. Did she not realize this is what being a ninja entailed? Gone were my opportunities to cower behind her as a little sister. Maybe she should have thought of that before sending me off to the academy.
"Be careful", Chiharu told us; eyes only for her son. Chouji nodded; expression serious and eyes bothered. A glance passed between us. In this together, we hesitated just long enough to watch my sister and Chiharu enter the shelters before jumping into the air; our chakra aiding us.
"Shikamaru hasn't found us yet", Chouji worried as we ran from roof to roof. With our kills behind us, we were now closer to the Red District than any of the shelters. It would be a nightmare trying to get its residents to the closest one.
"He may not be able to get away", I said; trying to empathize. That night in the restaurant, Shikamaru had said he'd join us. But he didn't know Kakashi would order him to chase after Sasuke and Gaara. Assuming nothing has changed.
We skirted around a few skirmishes. Doing our best to stay out of the way of Konoha's Chunin and Jonin. Considering our home turf advantage, we were succeeding. But I didn't want to jinx it. It was lucky the only opponents we've run into so far were ones weak enough to beat. The odds of getting such opponents again were slim.
Of course, some things have changed. Kabuto, as a prisoner currently detained in the bowels of T&I, couldn't fight. Hinata hadn't been injured… Though she might be under a genjutsu right now. It was hard to know. Especially when in the thick of things.
Screaming up ahead caught my attention. Soon it was followed by the sounds of a crumbling building. Signaling with my right hand, Chouji and I darted behind a balcony of some private residence. Our backs pressed against a wall and our feet balanced on roof shingles, we peered around the corner; attempting to find the source before the source found us.
"There", Chouji whispered pointing out a dozen, maybe more, of sand ninja facing off against three of our own. With buildings in our way, it was hard to see who. But as bodies felt, their voice became louder. And it was hard to mistake them. Especially one of them expanded into a giant. "Hmm" Choza hummed in satisfaction as he marched his giant self through Konoha's streets; glancing down at all the enemies he managed to squash like ants. "Just like the old days".
Chouji couldn't contain himself. "Woohoo!" He cheered; stepping out from our hiding place with his hands in the air. With the famed Ino-Shika-Cho team so close, I couldn't blame him. "Chubbies Rule! Dad, that was awesome!"
"Huh?" Choza asked as he turned his head in our direction; squinting his eyes as if that would help him see more clearly. "Chouji, my boy! What are you doing here?"
Following Chouji, we jumped to a closer roof. One also occupied by Shikaku, Inoichi, and a few corpses. "Troublesome brats", Shikaku muttered as we landed.
"We're evacuating civilians", Chouji answered. But he was distracted. With stars in his eyes, he was having difficulty looking anywhere that wasn't Choza. "When can I learn to expand my whole self? They couldn't even touch you".
"Wait", Inoichi interjected; raising a hand. "All civilians should be in shelters. That is the step before engaging enemy forces. They gave the signal the village was clear".
And that was the village guidelines for a home invasion. The thing that set Konoha apart from many hidden villages was the prioritization of civilian life. "The village is clear except for the Red District", I reported. Appreciating the irritation that flashed through the faces of the three jonin. "The Genin Corp grunt we spoke to said they weren't a priority".
Chouji nodded to confirm my story. "When the signal to evacuate came, we made sure Mom and everyone at the restaurant made it to the nearest shelter". Chouji looked towards his father; only moving on after receiving a deep nod and a proud smile. "Rion and I have been trying to get to the Red District since".
"Any trouble?" Shikaku asked; leaning against a water tank and keeping a cautious eye on our surroundings.
"A little", I answered; trying to do the same. "Mostly, we've avoided fights. But there were two hostiles".
"What happened?" Choza pressed as Inoichi stood with his hand stroking his chin.
"We killed them", I shared; feeling slightly detached as a chilled wind blew across the rooftops. Chouji grimaced and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head while his dad gave him another look. Probably scanning for any injuries or nervous breakdowns. "Why is Suna attacking?" I asked; feigning ignorance to fish for intel. "I thought we were worried about Orochimaru".
The calculating stare Shikaku sent my way told me I may not be convincing enough. "It appears Suna and Orochimaru are in this together". Chouji gasped. I flinched. It was confirmation I didn't want.
Sounds of structures collapsing reached our ears as clouds of dust and debris filled the air. Choza's eyes widened. "They've breached the wall", he announced. As we stared in at the giant dusty plume, an outline of a shape could be made out. Slowly and menacingly entering where it was not welcome.
"It looks like a three-headed snake", I said. Just so I wouldn't have to fake a reaction later. At least, the snake wasn't anywhere near the Red District.
"Time to get back to work", Inoichi said.
Shikaku sighed like a man who only wanted to retire to his bed. He pointed a lazy finger at us. "Red District. Shelters. Nowhere else". Choza nodded; agreeing with every word. "Go", Shikaku ordered.
We never made it to the Red District. A roof quaked and a building collapsed under our feet. Too fast, chakra couldn't spare us from gravity. However, I managed to push away slabs of concrete and other dangerous objects with a shield as we fell. Still, we managed to land on our feet. Our village lying in shambles all around us.
"What caused that?" Chouji wondered once we scanned the area and found nothing.
As the dust settled, it fell eerily against our skin. Coughing to clear my lungs, I tried to find the answer. A projectile maybe. The freshly made debris and ruins could have hidden it. But what was the point of firing projectiles when Konoha's forces were fighting elsewhere? Some buildings may be worth taking out. Like the Hokage Tower. But we weren't anywhere near there. And the building that just fell was a merchant's warehouse. The only thing of any importance in this area was…
My eyes widened as the ground rumbled under our feet. "Chouji, move!" I yelled; lunging for him to get us both out of the way. My arms wrapped around him; our bodies collided as we stumbled to the left. Any later and there would have been casualties. Bursting out of a crack in the ground that had already been made, malicious chakra violently swirled as a figure appeared amongst all the destruction.
Half on the ground, half on top of Chouji, I pushed my torso up; growling as angry adrenaline coursed through my body. "How did you get loose?"
Free of the restraints. Free of all chakra suppression cuffs, Kabuto stood tall. Neither the bruising on his face, his missing fingernails, nor his dislocated shoulder stopped him from wearing victory well. As evident by the stretching sneer curling his lips. "Ah, I wondered when I'd see you again".
I could feel Chouji quaking under my hand at the killing intent. My stomach churned as I tried to not do the same. Pulsing chakra through my system, I did away with the worst of the symptoms. At least, I could trust my legs to move when needed. Some chakra, I sent into Chouji too. "Sending a projectile to break into T&I. Orochimaru must think highly of you to waste the resources", I said; buying time. Run or fight. Those were our options. But only one offered survival.
Chouji started moving. Pushing his knees under him as I inched away to do the same. Snickering in response, Kabuto offered no words. A healing green chakra formed around his hand as he pressed it against the dislocated shoulder. With his guiding hand, it loudly popped back in place. He needed the time just as much as we did.
"But a better question is who told your allies where T&I could be found". I kept talking; having little hope that whoever had been assigned to guarding Kabuto was still alive. "Pretty sure T&I moved headquarters after Orochimaru went rogue". As he continued to heal, Kabuto's lips curled up; a deep greedy intrigue growing in his eyes.
"Rion", Chouji whispered. Probably wondering what the hell I playing at.
"And you couldn't have known during your time as a spy. Since your time was wasted pretending to be a loser genin". Now that the effects of killing intent were at bay, I started pulsing my chakra. Urging the sense of it to spread far and wide. It may not work. If memory serves, Shino was far away facing puppet boy. And Shibi would be rushing to him to nullify any poisonings. But there were other Aburame.
"No, your first time in T&I was when you were brought in for questioning. Right before the preliminary matches". My chest rose and fell with every breath. Despite my stamina in good working order, the anticipation couldn't be ignored. "So, the real question is; who currently in Konoha told Orochimaru where to find you?"
Chouji was balanced on his feet; his muscles tense and ready to go. It was a good sign. Especially when Kabuto's sinister chuckle was not. The green glow of his healing chakra stopped. "Oh. He's going to have so much fun with you".
Kabuto moved. And so did we. Rolling to the left, Chouji and I ran; jumping over some obstacles and zigzagging around others. We needed to find others. Preferably high-ranking comrades. Two Genin didn't stand a chance against Kabuto.
A certain energy buzzed behind us. It was the only warning I had. In seconds, I pushed Chouji to the left before diving to the right. A chakra-covered senbon cut through the air from where we had stood moments before.
Senbon? I questioned somersaulting to my feet and sinking into a defensive stance. It wasn't a weapon often used for killing blows. But that's not what bothered me. Who had Kabuto gotten it from? It wasn't like he had been armed while in captivity… Shinobu favored senbon…
Before that thought could distract me, Kabuto appeared. Running straight in, his back was arched and he kept his arms back. Despite the dirt visible in his white hair and the wrinkles in his prisoner's garb, nothing could fail to recognize him as a predator.
I had seconds to build my chakra. Even less to push it away from me; stopping Kabuto's assault a mere hair from my face. Retrieving a kunai, I held the shield long enough to grip it tight. When it shattered, some of my chakra came back. Some of it didn't. Ducking, I avoided a blow to the head and lunged forward; aiming to impale a kidney.
But Kabuto wrapped a hand around my wrist and wrenched my hand backward. It snapped like a chicken bone. The grip strength in my fingers weakened as my kunai fell and clattered loudly against the debris-ruined ground.
My eyes watered. However, time couldn't be wasted on pain. Raising a knee, I tried to catch him in a sensitive place. Though he pushed me away before a blow could land. "Leave her alone!" Chouji yelled as he charged into the fight in the form of a human boulder. Kabuto was forced back. No matter the strength of his chakra, his body wasn't angled right to take on Chouji in his current form.
Holding my injured wrist close to my person, I tracked Kabuto with my eyes. He didn't have to let me go. It would have been just as easy to throw me in Chouji's path. Then I'd be a Rion pancake and he'd only have to deal with one genin. So, why? Why refrain from killing blows?
"Chouji", I called as my boulder of a friend circled back around. At the sound of his name, Chouji rolled straight for me. Waiting for Chouji to be close enough, I reached into my hip pouch; my good hand wrapped around a smoke bomb. Whatever Kabuto's intentions, something tells me I don't want to stick around to find out.
Once close enough, I leaped over Chouji. Chakra making my legs stronger. With Chouji safely behind and myself in the air, I threw the smoke bomb against the ground. Engulfing us both in a thick gray cloud. Landing on Chouji, I ran to keep up with his revolving form. "Go fast", I instructed. "I'll block everything I can".
The problem with smoke bombs is that they don't just hide you from the enemy. But the enemy from you as well. Chouji and I made it out of the crumbled warehouse; returning to the familiar streets we were used to haunting. Keeping my senses open for any attack, I scanned the skies. Hoping to see a hawk with more information I could use. Disappointedly, there were none. But… the three-headed snake could no longer be seen.
It was deceptively quiet too. The further Chouji and I got, the harder it was to ignore. Was the invasion over? Where were the Anbu? The Jonin? Had Lord Hokage already fallen?
A kunai zoomed toward us from behind. It would have stuck Chouji, like a pin popping a balloon, if I hadn't stretched my solidified chakra to cover him. I held it; head aching from the effort and focus it took as I glanced over my shoulder to find the assailant.
Needless to say, it was Kabuto. It was my dropped Kunai he had used. Why chase us? I asked as Kabuto drew closer and closer. Chasing took precious time. Time he could use to escape.
Kabuto jumped. With a spinning kick, he tried to remove me from Chouji. But he was met with a wall of chakra. It shook under the strain of his blow. Though it didn't waver. Panting and pushing my reserves, my chakra kept its solidified state.
Where was everyone? I thought as Kabuto geared up from another go. I could feel Chouji's speed decreasing. So, we wouldn't be able to flee. Kabuto jumped; a wicked grin on his face. He spun with his leg stretched out. And he met a wall of bugs.
Chouji released his jutsu. Probably not my choice. Wheezing, he skidded along the ground before laying flat. I sailed through the air. My good arm flailed for balance before face-planting a few feet away from my friend. Ugh, that's not how one falls correctly.
Spitting out dirt, I pushed my sweaty and achy self into a sitting position. My broken wrist now throbbing as figures appeared around Chouji and me. Gray coats. Blue coats. And one purple. All with high collars that covered their mouths. For the first time, I was happy to see them.
The bugs cleared. But they didn't swarm back to their host. Instead, they buzzed threatening; ready to respond as soon as a command was given. Kabuto stood his ground. But this time, it was he who stood in a defensive stance. He lacked weapons and stood as a man not at full strength. Still, Kabuto managed to smile. "I guess play time is over", he sneered as the Aburame shifted furiously in front of him. Kabuto locked eyes with me. "Farewell for now, number forty-eight". Kabuto ran. Chouji and I didn't move. And the Aburame raced after him. All but one, that is.
Trying to catch my breath, I looked up at my fellow clansmen dressed in the purple coat. Cradling my broken wrist close, I watched as she disappointedly adjusted her sunglasses. Behind her, Chouji slowly regained himself. "Aunt Tsubaki". I greeted once my lungs were recovered enough to allow words.
"Rion", Tsubaki returned as her arm fell to her side and some of her beetles crawled up her sleeve.
"Thanks for coming," I said. Feeling that was more comfortable than the long-drawn-out silence that would have occurred if I offered nothing.
Tsubaki didn't move as Chouji groaned; examining the scrapped skin on his palms and knees. "I will tell your father about this", Tsubaki declared; her voice flat and emotionless. The twitching of her hands told a different story.
"Why?" I challenged. Squinting my eyes in annoyance. "I survived an invasion. What's wrong with that?!"
The lens of Tsubaki glinted in an appalled fashion. As if she couldn't believe that I didn't already know.