We had been staying in the Hidden Sand for two days. Nobody was allowed to leave their rooms, even us, due to the sand storm.
To be honest, I felt like strangling Ayumi if she didn't stop talking.
I don't blame her; we had nothing to do in the room, so I felt it wouldn't be fair to strangle her.
I also didn't want to end up in Sand jail when I had Haru at home to look after. He probably missed me so badly that he couldn't wait for me to return back home.
"When are we going to be able to go home!" Ayumi groans. lying on the bed upside down
"Hopefully, it will be soon!" With the same tone of speech, I responded.
"Well, we have no choice but to wait till they notify us that the storm has gone," Tobirama spoke
"We're meant to go home today," Masako says.
We heard a knock on our door shortly after she finished, forcing Ayumi to jump out of bed and run, seizing the doorknob and opening the door.
Dawn the Sand ninja jerk greeted us as the door opened.
"It's you, and this better be good news," she spits in Dawn's face.
"Well, it appears that your good news has arrived; the storm has passed, and you are allowed to walk out if you so like," he stated. Ignoring Ayumi's rude attitude
and Ayumi both jumped in the air with pleasure.
"What about going home?"
"We also require the answer letter that the Kazekage was supposed to prepare for us."
Tobirama's questions while getting closer to Dawn.
Both Ayumi's and my excitement faded quickly.
"Due to the severity of the storm, Lord Kazekage was unable to complete his response letter."
"So he asked that I come here and inform you all, and you can wander around the village if you want until I return to accompany you to his office again."
Ayumi questions how a sandstorm might prevent someone from finishing a letter.
"Perhaps he was attempting to make sure the storm didn't ruin and kill his villagers," I said after hitting her on the head.
Ow! She yells as she stares at me in agony.
Keeping an eye on us Masako couldn't help but chuckle as Tobirama sighed. Dawn, on the other hand, has already begun to walk away.
"So, what do you want to do now?" Masako wonders aloud.
Ayumi jumps to her feet when she hears the question.
"Oh, we could take a look around and see what they enjoy doing for leisure."
"I believe that would be a wonderful idea, just to pass the time,". I agreed.
The four of us then set off to explore more of the Hidden Sand. Until we were summoned to the Kazekages' office.
It was a lot of fun walking from booth to stand sampling different types of food and seeing what they had that wasn't in the Hidden Leaf.
We observed various forms of Jutsu as well, such as puppetry and ninja equipment that were useful for wind-styled chakra natures, which was extremely amazing to witness.
Everyone seemed to be having a fantastic time. Tobirama, on the other hand, I'm not sure about him. He didn't participate in anything. He only did it when he was paying for something Ayumi wanted. Even then, he didn't appear to be in a good mood. But because he's Tobirama, he'll be alright.
As the evening began to fall, time seemed to speed up.
"Today was incredible!" Ayumi exclaims with a wide grin on her face.
She was holding a variety of foods and souvenirs in her hands.
"I can't wait to sample all of this amazing stuff," she chirped, drool dripping from her lips.
"You better, your not the one who's suddenly nearly broke," Tobirama sighs.
"Of course!" she exclaims.
We all had a nice time talking and laughing until we noticed Dawn approaching us.
"Isn't Dawn our tour guide?" Masako inquires.
"Yep," I said, nodding in accord.
"Looks like our fun has ended," sulks Ayumi.
"From the looks of it, you guys had a nice time," Dawn says as he joins us.
"Yep, and now you've spoiled everything with your presence," Ayumi responds with a pout.
I quickly cover her mouth with my hand to prevent her from uttering anything else.
"When are you going to learn to be quiet?" I reprimanded, jabbing her head.
"Wow!... that hurts!" she shouted.
"Enough of you, too," Tobirama scolds, making both me and Ayumi stiff.
Dawn's breath escapes his lips as his reaction before continuing.
"Lord Kazekage had requested that I accompany Tobirama to his office to obtain the letter of response for your Hokage," he informs.
"Why only him?" I'm having bad feelings about it fully letting go of Ayumi.
"Since you were presumably out and about all day, you probably didn't have time to pack."
"So Lord Kazekage just asked that he come while the rest of you prepare your belongings to go."
"I suppose that makes sense."
So, if we must, Dawn signals for Tobirama to begin following his lead.
They were gone before I could say anything else.
"Wow, they're fast," I mutter, lowering my head.
"It'll be OK, now let's go back to packing," Masako adds.
She put her hand on my shoulder.
We nodded and returned to the hotel, where we had been staying, to pack our belongings.
It was already dark when we returned to our accommodation. We simply had to wait for Tobirama to return because we had done packing.
Masako had said she had left something of hers at one of the stands and went to retrieve it, so it was just me and Ayumi who had packed up everything.
"Do you agree that we should go check on Masako?" Ayumi questioned, her face concerned.
"We both know where Tobirama should be, but not Masako; after all, she didn't indicate which stand she had to return to." Ayumi went on.
To be honest, I think she'll be alright, but just to put your mind at ease, I'll go look, I stated reassuringly.
"It'll be alright," I say again as I exit the room.
I made my way down the hallway that I was now in making sure to check every door that leads to the outdoors in case Masako returns that way.
After a few minutes of searching, I came across the door leading out to the balcony. Looking through the door's glass, I noticed a figure that resembled Masako's.
"Masako?!" I called out, "Open the door!"
Masako was revealed when the figure turned around. I walked over to her, exhaling a breath of relief.
She was leaning on the ledge as I got closer.
She replied softly and gently, "Did something happen?"
It wasn't anything major; Ayumi was just frightened because you'd been gone for so long.
Masako laughs, "Ayumi, she's just too kind."
"Did you find what you were looking for?" I start asking, now leaning on the ledge myself
"Yes, I did," she responded. offering her a witty smile
But it quickly vanished. "Oh, Yuno"?
"yeah"? As I begin tilting my head to provide my undivided attention.
"How does it feel to be the last survivor of your clan?"
"What"? I turned my head to look her in the eyes.
"Aren't you the Cilvia's clan solitary survivor?" she claims.
"Well, yes," I said in response to her.
I'm completely baffled since I'm certain I never told her that.
"What is this, some kind of interrogation?" I joke, attempting to alleviate the obvious tension between us.
"I guess you may say that," she said, her lips twitching with menace.
I was taken aback by the tone of her voice, which was no longer soothing or soft. It was cold looking for blood.
"What, how did you ever-" but before I finish. I became completely immobile.
I feel a sting of a needle piercing my neck as I sense danger behind me but am unable to move.
She had used her Jutsu on me again along with the fact I felt the beginnings of a terrible headache.
Masako commands, "Grab her!"
Immediately, I feel somebody gripping my arms hard. Wincing in agony.
Not only because of how they're holding me now but also because of the anguish and pounding in my skull.
I try to speak but quickly realize that I can't.
Shoot!
Fortunately, I was still able to move my hand slightly enough to make contact with the person who was holding me.
Freezing a portion of the individuals who were holding me tightly with the tips of both of my fingers.
I could not only create flames, but also ice.
They both pulled off, being caught off guard by the impact of my ice.
Stumbling a little in an attempt to walk away I take a look behind me. My eyes widened when I noticed the individuals behind me. It was the bandits who had ambushed us in the woods earlier.
This is just fantastic
What the hell is going on? as I take another look at the bandits from previously.
Returning to a fighting stance, ready and waiting for their next move.
I was still a little off-kilter from whatever they shot me with, but I managed.
Masako is nowhere to be found when I look around. Where exactly did she go?
With that, I sensed a strong presence of chakra approaching from behind me. I was able to pull off a substitution Jutsu because I wouldn't be able to move out of the path soon enough.
Masako strikes, with a burst of white smoke filling the air, only to learn she missed. Then a thud from a wooden plank on the floor.
When I got a close look at her, I noticed she was wearing the same headband as the bandits.
She had lied to us when they first attacked us in the woods. This was something she had planned.
But, when did this happen?
"Damn it!" She grunted, her teeth clenched.
Still, on watch, she surveyed her surroundings, looking for a location where I might appear.
Meanwhile, Masako was still looking about searching the area to see where I could appear. I was cowering beneath the balcony, clutching the railings with my kunai.
While holding on, I heard one of the bandits' voices above me.
"Boss, we can't locate the woman's chakra anywhere," they complained.
"We should retreat for the time being and strike again later."
"If we raise too much of a commotion, the others will get involved," the second bandit explained.
"That's why we need to find her right away and end this!" Masako threw a spitball at them.
"Do you think we're just going to let her go now?" And that s She'll remain silent as well. Masako inquired rhetorically.
"Bos-" Masako's face palms in frustration after being cut short.
Looking back up at the bandits, she says with venom spurting from her lips, "Stop standing here and find her or else."
"Besides, things would have gone better if Yuno's ability hadn't already been in use."
"Ye-ess, Boss," they stuttered before scattering out in search of me.
"There's no point in hiding Yuno, come out"! Masako screams.
Trying to get a nice view with my kunai. To determine Masako's exact whereabouts at the time. With the ability to lift my body weight and peer over the bars, my eyes are drawn to Masako, with the picture of her back in my range of vision.
To be honest, I just want to launch an attack right now, but as long as I've known and seen her, she won't fall for it, and she'll be prepared. My thoughts are filled with frustration, and I have no idea what to do. There's no way I'm going to be able to stay here like this forever, and she knows it. I'm certain of it.
My thoughts are suddenly thrown out as I hear a cracking sound coming from above me. glancing up to check a crack was beginning to appear where my kunai had come into contact with the platform linking the balcony and the railing.
Why now sighing within my thoughts now? I sighed and let out a sigh. I prepare to let go of the kunai so that the crack in the balcony doesn't shatter completely.
I was about to let go when I heard a voice nearby. "Perfect," the voice says, accompanied by the sound of something attaching itself next to me.
When I look next to me on the spur of the moment, my eyes widen as I realize someone has thrown a kunai with a paper bomb attached to it.
Everything happened in such a rush that my body couldn't move. The paper bomb had detonated before you knew it. sending off a massive explosion sound that would jolt everybody in the vicinity to sleep If the sound didn't wake you up, I'm not sure what would.
I was, indeed, caught in the blast. It wasn't because there wasn't enough time to react; it was because I couldn't. As I fell to the earth with the exploding balcony, I realized she had performed her Jutsu on me, her curse of a Jutsu.
Falling quickly to the ground, I finally made an impact with the ground with a loud thud. All I could feel at the time was the breath in my lungs fleeing my mouth and the cracking of all my bones.
Following then, a large amount of blood replaced the air that should have been coming from my lungs. When my body sank, merging with the sandy ground Despite this, after that instant feeling of pain everywhere, it all vanished as if it had never existed.
All I felt was numbness; I couldn't feel anything, couldn't move, and wasn't sure whether my limbs were still attached to my body. My hearing was still intact, but muffled; I could still hear fragments of the balcony striking with the earth. I could hear a voice in the distance, but I couldn't make out who or what it was saying. It sounded worried, more like a call for aid. I wanted to call out, but I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried.
I became really weary after only a second of pain and numbness. All I could think about was how tired I was. Looking up at the star-studded night sky, my vision began to blur. so many lovely stars.
My head began to fill with Haru-related thoughts. He had always had a fascination for stars.
His smiling appearance was the last thing I saw before the last sensation I felt was tears falling from my eyes. I wasn't sure if it was tears or blood exiting my eyes, but it was warm. Before the exhaustion, I felt, and darkness had finally settled over me.