A/N. Small revisions on 12/6/2021.
I rushed into the gaping maw that was the forest's entrance, the three others running alongside me. As soon as we put enough distance between us and the gate, the rush started splitting. One went northwest, another east. The last one, strangely, went back. I?
I stopped. Looked around a little. Take in a bit of the scenery, ya know? Officially, my time limit was around this time tomorrow. It was a little closer to noon right now.
The sun was raised up high right between tall straightly-aligned trees, casting everything in a gentle light, reflecting off the leaves almost kindly. It was getting closer to winter than fall, but the climate here was humid and warm.
If I had to guess, we were in a more tropical area of Fire rather than the more deciduous biosphere of Konoha. I took in the scents. That's where the picturesque image started to fall apart.
The forest smelt strongly of beasts. Different kinds, kinds you can't find in Konoha. And if what I've been told, kinds you can't find anywhere else. I suppose this is as close to a National Park as it gets here in the Elemental Nations. There was plenty to explore.
I went through my first hand signs of the day. I transformed into Shiromaru.
In this state, my nose was just a little bit stronger, my ears could hear just a little bit better. And most importantly, my instincts were just a little bit sharper. I wouldn't be surprised to be the ambushee rather than the ambusher in this forest. If anything I would welcome it. Anyone that sees a ninken as prey would be a formidable enough prize to take back with me.
I sprinted back towards what I think was a cave complex I passed by earlier, hoping it would provide at least some cover for the moment. I have my work cut out for me today.
For Hanako.
Shikaku P.O.V
"You know. As the Jounin Commander of Konoha, I have access to certain files." I drawled, taking in the scenery. It was bright and sunny out, the shadows cast by the trees intercepted by other trees. I was in a forest, on sanctioned clan grounds. Kami knows how I got here. Well I do know, I just feel like taking my time addressing problems today. I wonder how long the patience will last.
The woman holding my arm shivered a bit. "Is that so?"
"Nothing too classified, obviously. The Hokage is still the Hokage. But I do occasionally peruse the more down-to-earth ones." She hummed, as if uninterested. Her nose twitched, and I knew she was on the lookout for something. Considering the dangers in this forest it's probably not a stupid idea, but I didn't get to my position at my age just for my strategical thinking. No beast meant to scare genin could hope to face off against me.
"And I was very interested to see that one of our only seduction tokujou had developed a sudden interest in me." Non-ANBU anyways.
At that she turned back to me. "A woman has her day job, doesn't she?" Her eyes still weren't quite focused. I snorted.
"When Shizuka introduced us I thought she finally must've gone mad. I mean, me? In a relationship with someone from another clan? How bold." Not that I totally haven't been in at least three. Maybe four. I wasn't counting. She stroked her cheek against my arm.
"But Michiko, you still reached out to me. And now here I am. I played your game. Now play mine." I let out a bit of Killing Intent, just enough for her to get the message. I was not in the mood for roundabouts today. There went the patience.
She broke out of her stupor. "So you've figured it out huh." She stepped away from me, releasing my arm.
"Not exactly. Why do you want someone from the Tower in clan affairs? What do you gain from that?"
She started twirling in place a bit, aiming her gaze at a tree. "Well.. you see, there's this guy.."
How troublesome.
Shizuka P.O.V.
Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok.
Why do I have a clock again? This thing's annoying.
Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok.
Tik.
Tok.
"I can't do this anymore." I stood up abruptly and began looking for my equipment. Yuuna-sama didn't react to my rummaging, continuing to drink her soup. Thank Kami she can do that on her own now, spoon feeding a grown woman is a feeling I definitely didn't wanna get used to.
I ducked under my hangmat. Kunai and shuriken? In that case over there. Ninja wire? On the desk. Jounin vest?
I looked down at my jounin vest. It was wrecked beyond repair. I hadn't gone to get another one for obvious reasons.
Red, angry chakra tearing through my leg, consuming me, eating me. Devouring—
Can I do this?
Yes. I have to. I jerked my tea canister from my desk and downed all of it in one go. I would have to hope it'd be enough. I only need to buy time for Arata to escape. That's all. Tsume can figure out the rest.
I slammed open the door.
"Itterasshai." A soft voice came from behind me. I froze.
I looked back and smiled at her. She looked me in the eyes for just a second, then went back to her soup.
This wasn't a suicide mission. I was going to come back. We were all going to come back.
"Ittekimasu."
Tsume P.O.V.
'Remember. We can't interfere with the actual Hunt itself. We just have to stop Nobuyuki from doing so.' Kuromaru reminded me as we ran through the trees, looking for any sign of Nobuyuki.
'I know that much, at least.'
A shift in the air was all the warning we had.
The tree branch just ahead of us exploded.
We both dashed away, activating Four Legs. Kuromaru transformed into me. He didn't have a bump, so one strategy already wouldn't work.
'30 degrees. Twenty meters.' Kuromaru snuffed out.
"Gatsuuga!"
We tunneled into our assailants' hiding place, wrecking the trees around us. Giant parts of the trunks crashed to the ground.
We regrouped on the ground, crouching. Our opponents did the same ahead of us.
They were cloaked entirely in black, their hair covered by their cowl. Their masks were white. One was big, and held a hammer in his right hand. His mask had a boar design. The other was smaller, his mask had no design at all.
'Anbu?!'
I smelt them. 'Jounin level chakra.' Just great.
"Well. To say I didn't expect Black Ops to be in sacred clan territory would be an understatement. I'm gonna have to kindly ask you to fuck off. Otherwise we ain't gonna be too friendly for much longer." I made my Killing Intent potent and clear.
There's no way Nobuyuki somehow managed to hire ANBU. They worked under the Hokage's orders and the Hokage's orders only. So why are they here? Is the Tower supporting Nobuyuki? If so, it doesn't really matter what the outcome here is, we'll be fucked either way.
The smaller one spoke up.
"Four months. Second trimester."
….
My blood boiled.
"You dare threaten my child?!"
'Tsume, careful. They're going to be aiming for it.'
'I am aware. Encirclement, version two.'
'Got it.'
You'll come to regret messing with me!" I flew into hand signs. "Lightning Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Four different versions of me poofed into existence.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Jutsu." A massive pile of mud and stone coalesced into a dragon shape and hurtled towards us. We dodged, scattering into the trees.
'Get them apart. Three by three.'
"Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!" All six of us shouted. Hounds made of lightning raced out to meet the two, who had to jump out of the way. They didn't process that they would track them. They didn't fizzle out, but just came right back to them.
"Gatenga!" We gave them no rest. Us rolling into them forced them to split apart. Me and two lightning clones followed the tiny guy. A hound went through one water clone.
He retreated backwards, putting his hands into a rat seal. "Shadow Stitching Jutsu." Numerous tendrils shot forward. They missed the clones, but pierced two of the hounds, making them disperse.
He pulled out a standard-issue tantou. "Suiton: Daisuisen." Water forms around the blade into a drill-like pattern, and he slices through the last hound. Just in time for another clone to razor his way through him.
The clone pops into water. I stuck up my nose, searching for the real one.
There. All three of us smelt it at the same time. Rotation had slowed down enough for us to return to our normal forms.
Bull Rushing him, he managed to stop the first one with a quick Shadow Paralysis. He didn't anticipate me and the other one coming so fast. He aimed his water drill at the clone's womb. I ducked out of the way just before I reached him.
The clone exploded into angry lightning, electrocuting him. His sword's water flowed off, and he dropped down.
"Gatsuuga!" Me and the newly freed clone tunneled to his position.
"Shadow Stitching Jutsu!" Tendrils shot out, and we had to dodge out of the way to avoid getting skewered.
He jumped back, panting. The scent of his chakra was subdued. He must be running out. Nara weren't known for their endurance.
"What's the matter?! Too much for ya!? Ya regrettin' fucking with me now!?"
I allowed him the breather. Let's see what he's got.
He just ran at me with his tantou out. Shithead.
"Leaf Style: Crescent Moon Dance." He split off into three distinct shapes. I couldn't tell which one was the right one.
The clone rushed through hand signs at the sight. "Lightning Release: Lightning Balls!" The air around us filled with 20 centimeter long orbs. One illusion went straight through one. The other came for the clone. Still another went right through me.
Just as the real one came for me I pumped more chakra through the Four Legs and elongated my claws.
I blocked his strike from above. "Sorry. Seen this jutsu on the battlefield before." I explained casually as we were locked in stalemate. He released his tantou, and twisted, palming a kunai and stabbing for my womb.
The clone kicked him away before he could do anything. Right into some Lightning Balls.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" I always love it when they scream.
He dropped. My nose filled with the stench of burnt flesh.
The clone next to me fizzled out, having exhausted too much chakra.
"We both know who's on top here now. I suggest you give me the information now so I don't have to torture it out of you later. Why did the Hokage send you?"
He raised up his face to meet my eyes. A blank mask met my own awaiting stare.
Then, the seal on his shoulder lit up, and his body burst into flames.
The fuck?
Arata P.O.V.
Easy. Slow and steady wins the race. I was crouched, slowly putting one foot in front of the other, making sure both my scent and sound masking were on. Just close enough to aim.
The target I had in my vision had eluded me for what felt like an hour now. It was a thin four-legged creature, with a mane sharper than blades that reached out like hair alongside its back. It's white body almost shined, making the jagged yellow teeth in its mouth stand out all the more. It was like a weird horse/lion/fox type thing I would see in my nightmares. It was currently taking a breather at a little pond, carefully drinking water and keeping an eye out for its surroundings.
Other monsters had crossed my path when I was still in Shiromaru-form. A giant spider, an even bigger four-armed monkey. But none of them seemed too interested in me once I let out some Killing Intent.
This one, as soon as it laid eyes on me, went in straight for the kill, attempting to bite my neck off, Killing Intent be damned. But the way it did was what made me decide on it.
It ran through a tree. Not break through a tree like Tsume does. But actually through it. It phased in and out or something. It was clearly intelligent on some degree as well.
Once I dodged it's initial attack and transformed back into myself it took a moment to reassess. I know humans that don't do that.
I flung shuriken at it, and it went right through. That's when it decided to take off, and I had been chasing it ever since. It was much faster than me, so it took a long time. I didn't wanna risk Four Legs for right now. I was gonna need the chakra.
Now, I just had to subdue it.
Bestial Illusion: Doddering Haze
Genjutsu generally doesn't work on the less intellectually-gifted animals, but the Bestial Illusion series was different. It didn't target a higher consciousness.
The beast stopped drinking.
I edged closer and closer and pulled out a kunai.
Then rammed it straight through its throat. Unfortunately it didn't cut all the way, and the beast phased out of the rest of the attack.
Dammit.
It was only a matter of time before it bled out, but I had to make sure I didn't lose it by then. Or worse, it got picked up by one of the others.
I followed it at the highest pace I could. It seemed to be slowing down as it lost more blood from the exertion.
It finally dropped down next to a giant rock in a clearing in the forest. Life faded from its eyes, and I watched its last moments.
Its chest stopped moving.
Well that's that then. Now if I could make it out of here before he shows up that would be absolutely pea—
"I knew you'd make your way through here, eventually." An annoyingly familiar voice rang out from behind me.
I turned around, and sure enough.
"Right in the center of the forest. A massive clearing. There's a giant earthworm that makes its habitat somewhere around here. It likes to come up for food every now and then, hence the space." He sat on a rock, his silver-eyed partner lying next to him. His whip was already out. "At least it would, had I not killed it."
Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit. What now? He's faster than me. I can't run away. He's stronger than me. I can't fight. Do I hide? Maybe genjutsu?
He looked down at the beast. "A decent catch. No one's managed to catch a youkai in years. Almost a decade."
My Demonic Illusions weren't good enough yet to hide me when someone was focusing on me. Bestial Illusion would only distract him for a few seconds. That's if I could go through the hand signs fast enough.
"Not that they're all too tough to fight, mind you, just elusive. Rare."
He stopped talking. Was he waiting for me to say something? "Why aren't you killing me yet? You've had plenty of opportunity."
"Because I want to know something first, cursed child." I bristled. "Who are you, really?"
I tried my best to act surprised. "What are you talking about?"
He let out a bit of Killing Intent, with the promise of more just barely restrained before the gates of curiosity. I was not in a position to barter. He knew he made that clear.
"Do not play dumb with me, child. I have been your caretaker for seven years! Do you not think I see how you interact with others, hear how you mutter a different language! How you think more than the kids around you, even before you could talk?!"
Seki stood up, and I knew the threat it implied. "Now who, or what, are you really?"
There's no way I could actually tell him. Any information I give him would cause way more damage than if I were to simply die. I would have to avoid the question, but how?
Maybe, maybe I could bluff my way through this. It'd have to be the bluff of the century though. I didn't have any other options.
I loosened my body, killing any expression I had on my face. Hopefully it was convincing. "Do not ask what you do not wish to know, Nobuyuki. Where the roots sprout, and where they take their nutrients is not at your behest to control." Please, please work.
His eyes bulged. "Impossible! You?! A Root sleeper agent?!" His whip cracked. Fuck. Keep up the facade. Please, please, please. Please don't call it. "I was there when you were born, child! I watched you come out of that womb! There is no way you are in any way connected to that bastard! I swear it to the Sage!"
Oh God. "Danzou-sama is not pleased with your lack of progress, Nobuyuki. He is taking over the coup. You are to rendezvous back at base for further instruction."
He clenched his teeth, and the hidden Killing Intent from before came out in droves. "Like Hell I will! I'm done with the fucker! It all ends here! The deal is off. I won! Once I kill you, everything else will fall into my lap. All I have to do is report your wretched councillor to the Hokage, and the entire clan will be mine and mine alone!"
His whip lit up in flames. Beside him, Seki transformed into him and wielded her own flaming whip.
Fuck. Is this it? Is this really it? Dying at the hands of some power-obsessed maniac before I even got to go on my first mission?
It's ridiculous, really. At first, I didn't even want this life. Now, I'm desperately clinging to it. It just sucks.
All the people I would lose. The connections and bonds I forged here. I would lose all of them.
I thought of Shiromaru, of Shizuka. Tsume, and mom and dad. Ayame and Torune. Hayama and Kouta. Anko and..
"Nobuyuki-sama?" There, at the edge of the clearing. Watching with wide eyes.
Tomoe?!