"..." Normal chat.
ABC. Thought.
Chapter 9
"Kakashi-sensei! Nina-chan's run after the stolen package!"
Sakura informed everyone about their situation as soon as she saw her other female teammate ran off on her own. Since it happened too fast, she couldn't react in time to stop her.
Worried for his teammate's safety, Naruto attempted to follow but Sasuke had another idea.
"I'll go get her. You stay here and finish the rest."
After reasoning with them shortly about him getting the job done much faster and efficient than Naruto with his abilities. Kakashi then agreed to have Sasuke seek for their missing teammate by himself. Only waiting for that, Sasuke dashed up ahead, out of the main door and jumped onto one of the house's roofs. Quickly disappeared out of sight.
Soon, Sasuke pinpointed hers, along with the package's location, which was in the middle of the forest not too far away. Yet instead of charging in immediately, he decided to stay behind in the shadow to observe the situation.
It seemed that the girl had gotten herself into a fire ant nest. It had everything here from tough ones to average, and even weaklings, trap were set all over to keep this place secured. There were some bastards lurking inside the bushes and up on branches, carrying blow guns contained paralysis needles. However something big was missing, the queen.
Almost every gang consists of one leader, and we haven't met him/her yet.
That fake Kazuhiro from earlier definitely wasn't since he's the first to die under Sasuke's blade. While the others were simply too weak and dumb to be considered as one.
While wasting time listening through several rounds of pointless chatting, watching them playing around with weapons here and there. Sasuke somewhat had a deeper look into Nina's potential. She had no knowledge of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, no hidden Kekkei Genkai, her chakra flow was normal, if not, weak. Average level in Tatjutsu and Shurikenjutsu.
Soon Nina began to show some signs of exhaustion, as her movements were getting slower and less accurate than usual. And what's next to come was already too clear, the girl's being cornered.
Well, at least for now he's assured that Nina wasn't one of them. Figured that it's time for some action, Sasuke slowly stepped out of his hiding. However his feet were halted the moment seeing Nina threw away Kunai and reached for twins daggers hanging on her waist.
Nina's gesture changed and so did the air around her. What's going on?
Trying to get a clearer view, Sasuke took a few step forward out of the safe zone. Only to end up being seen by one of the men standing guard nearby.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!"
The bandit quickly aimed his blowgun at him, about to shoot before getting knocked out cold in the head by Sasuke's kick. His body dropped onto the floor had caused unnecessary noises that instantly alerted everyone around him.
Now that he's been found out, Sasuke has no choice but to reveal himself before them. Acting naturally as if having just arrived. He also notices that Nina's happy to see him, too much to make him almost feels bad for accusing her to be one of the bandit members, almost.
But it still doesn't change the fact that he does not trust her, even for one bit.
"No need to get all so excited for. I wasn't here just to provide aids."
Battle starts and Sasuke rampages his way through multiple opponents at once. Using mostly everything he's got till now in order to gain the crowd control, Shurikenjutsu, Tatjutsu, Ninjutsu - Fire release, plus the infamous Dojutsu - Sharingan.
But why do I have a feeling that Sasuke's still holding back? Trying to be helpful as much as possible, I aim for whoever is left behind or standing out of his sight and knock them out before they can initiate any ambush.
It's not until more than half of these men have fallen that I realize the Uchiha's true intention. He's saving his energy for the big boss.
And just as we've expected, a group of people who covers themselves with brown mantles is now coming close to our spot from afar. Quickly, I approach Sasuke to inform him. "Sasuke, look, over there!"
Once arrived, the man in front takes off his cover and greets us all with a smirk.
"What's this? I've only gone for a little bit and you peeps have already caused a big fuss."
A middle aged man in simple black clothes, sunburned skin, black hair up pulled into a pun behind his head and a scar on his forehead. Who just happens to bring more troops alongside him that doesn't seem as amateur as the ones we've been fighting against up to this moment.
Seeing a big sack full of valuable items inside his hand, I figure that these people just have finished their daily robbery and are on their way back to the hideout.
"B-Boss!"
Judging by their attitudes, this guy must be their true leader.
"You fucked up big this time, didn't ya?"
Saving the long talk, this man jumps straight into the point and none of them has the courage to answer or look at him in the eyes.
"And y'all telling me that these little kids are at fault."
The man points his finger at us. Despite having only a quarter of his men left alive, he doesn't seem to faze. It's as if their life and effort are nothing to him to begin with.
"So, the big one's finally shown up."
Stepping onto one of the bandit's bodies lying under, Sasuke speaks. As if challenging the man himself.
"Kibutsuji, you brats must be shinobi, huh?" Staring at several Shinobi tools lying in our hands, the man called Kibutsuji cringes his teeth in disgust and unsheathes something looks like a Chinese sabre which is being tied behind his back.
"Troublesome, the likes of you, always butting into other people's business."
Let's see... There are only six, plus the leader, is seven in total. If I'm somehow be able to distract some of them out of the way, Sasuke may be able to have time to get rid all of them one by one. After the obstacle are gotten rid of, we can join force to eliminate Kibutsuji.
While I'm still trying to figure out the best way to deal with this elite of a bandit team, Sasuke suddenly charges at me in full speed and the next thing I know, we're both kneeling on the ground in pain and having him yelling at me for not paying attention.
"Hey! Do you even realize what kind of situation we're in?! Get a hold of yourself and do something!"
"I'm sorry, sorry!" I apologize and quickly get up from my spot, eyes widened in shock by sight of paralysis needles on his right leg's and arm's skin.
I caused this to happen, If only had I not being too careless back then...
Perhaps has figured out what's running inside my head, Sasuke gestures his hand toward me to not worry about it too much, also try to act as normal as possible and not to alert the enemy about his condition.
Then Kibutsuji begins charging at us with a sabre in his hand, along with his subordinates.
No time for a plan or whatsoever, I dash forward and jumps up, launches my kick onto the first body and fling several Shuriken to the second to stun them. However they easily counter both of my attacks in a mere of second.
Yup, they're much difficult to dispose than the last ones for sure.
And instead of going two or even three, of whom I have successfully gained attention to, against one. Two of them suddenly abandon the fight and join the others in attempt of bringing Sasuke down, as if having realized that he's the real threat in this uneven battle.
Without a choice, I have to remain fighting this one if I want to get there to help him. By the time I manage to defeat the opponent, by only using simple Tatjutsu and a little bit of luck, Sasuke has already taken down two but seems to be out of breath.
Alright, time for some sneak attack. With that in mind, I dash up to the one standing furthest from the group and hold the bandit's limbs from behind.
Quickly catching up, Sasuke deals a blow right through his heart and kills him in instant.
That means three are down, three left to go before the final boss.
It's still too soon to celebrate however as there are like five of them non elite bandits who are alive from the last fight. They haven't made any strange movements up till now, but I'm sure they are waiting for their chances to stab our backs if we carelessly loosen our guard for a second.
As both of us are fighting against those four, Kibutsuji is the one giving us the most difficult time to deal with since his actions are quite unpredictable. Sometimes the man strikes mindlessly, sometimes he just stays behind his subordinates and aims for our weak points.
And right now is also not an exception, he stops attacking and keeps watching at Sasuke intensely. Until I notice him doing a specific body movement that looks like he's about throw his sabre at Sasuke, I shout to alert him.
"Sasuke! There's a blade flying toward you!"
Yet when the sabre is getting too close to him already, Sasuke still not showing any sign of dodging. Don't tell me... That paralysis poison has gotten into him!?
Since I don't trust my own strength to be able to snap that blade into two. That's why the only option left for me is to push Sasuke out of the way to save his life. And the price I have to pay for my action is a full blow through my left shoulder.
"You idiot! What did you shield me for?" Sasuke scolds me for my recklessness as I cough up blood, pulling the damned blade out of my limb since it's too heavy to move around with it. Damn, that hurt like hell. Let's just hope that I won't be bleeding myself to death before reaching back to Konoha.
"Never mind that, Stay focus or we'll get hit by needles again."
Cringing my teeth to fight off the sharp pain, I borrow Sasuke's free arm in order to stand up straight. Not forgetting to give him the sabre to hold so that Kibutsuji won't have his weapon to use against us.
"Stay back, you won't be able to fight anyone in that state."
Sasuke pushes me to stand behind him so I can take a breather. By now his Sharingan has been deactivated in order to save some energy.
"And just who are you to talk?"
I point at his trembling legs, which are deeply infected by the poison. Amazed by his strong will to act tough and keeps on battling despite being in a horrible condition.
Soon, more than half of my torso has drenched in red liquid and completely ruins the beautiful Kimono that Kasumi has given me for my birthday. I'm sure hell would break loose if Kasumi saw me in this pathetic state.
"Play time's over, kids." Kibutsuji approaches us, that annoying smirk of his still has yet to fade ever since we encounter him.
"Couldn't agree more." Sasuke responds, trying not to sound too shaking and shifts his gaze to me. Indicating that we cannot lengthen this battle any longer. And he wants me to leave him here to deal with the bandits while I run for my life and get help from the others.
Of course, I will never agree with such suicidal plan of his. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You will only be a nuisance if staying here."
The Uchiha's heir states, quite harsh of him but I have to admit that he's right.
"Yes, but ..."
Still, I try to reason with him why it's not a good idea yet he cuts me off.
"I'm not going to die that easily."
What's with him acting so heroic all of the sudden.
"And you're expecting that I will to be able to get out safely? They wanted to sell me to the slavery market, remember?"
I smack him out of his fantasy by pointing at the big hole on left my shoulder, trying to tell that stubborn head that there's no way I can outrun anyone here with this kind of injury. Not to mention there's still traps being set all over the place, god knows if I would fall into one of them and die before getting back to our team.
"I'm pretty much stuck here with you, Sasuke. Whether you want it or not."
At least that sabre earlier didn't go through my shoulder's bone or else I won't be all happy-go-lucky as I am right now.
"Then try not to get in my way." Is his answer before pulling all his strength to charge forward, right into the middle of the group up ahead and use the sabre to land his first attack onto Kibutsuji. But that reckless action only end up causing his chakra to drain faster, which also means having the poison effect to get worsen.
At result, Sasuke's actions become slower and he begins to get hit more frequently. And the one who is dealing the most damage would be, of course, Kibutsuji.
Therefore I try to throw a smoke bomb into that group to help Sasuke escape. And he manages to get out of there alive but they refuse to give up on him that easily. Kibutsuji orders every last one of his men, including the ones who are watching my back, to get out of their covers and focus on Sasuke. Blocking his path and stop him from moving any further.
"Everyone, on the count of three." Kibutsuji gesture his hands toward the subordinates to wait for his signal, when it's down to zero they will all jump in and strike, to get rid of Sasuke once and for all.
"Sasuke, watch out!" Cannot stand outside watching any longer, I attempt to charge in to aid him but Sasuke stops me in mid-way. "You stay out of this!"
Just what the hell is he thinking! If I don't help him now, Sasuke will die! There is no choice left, there is no time left. I know that I'm not allowed to do it but I have to, I have to stop them!
Ryu nii-sama... I'm sorry, it looks like I won't be able to keep our promise, after all...
Sasuke tightens his grip on the sabre in his hand, waiting patiently for the big counter.
Come at me, you trashes. This shall be the memory that haunts all of you till death to never underestimate the Uchiha, ever again.
However, before any one those bandits can reach to him, they're all suddenly being tear apart into pieces and drop onto the floor in front of him. Blood and screaming scatter everywhere.
It was too fast that he still couldn't see who or what was the reason behind it.
What... Just happened?
It's not until Sasuke's able to distinguish reality from illusion to realizes the only one left standing with him is Nina, still in a drenched kimono and the butterfly pin has almost fallen off her messy hair, holding tight onto the bloody twin daggers in her hand. While her body's burning in some kind of red colored chakra(?) he has never seen before.
Those topaz colored eyes are no longer fill with warmness and enthusiastic that he's been familiar with, they are now nothing but cold and deadly.
"What are you?"
He asks but there's no answer, Nina only stares blankly at him shortly before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Putting the twin daggers back into its cover and that strange aura is gradually fading away.
"What the fuck was that?"
He asks her again, but Nina averts his eyes and suddenly takes a few steps forward. A gust of cold air, which is the same with the one he sensed earlier, lashes all over his body. Causing Sasuke's muscles to twitch and he flops down onto the floor.
"Are you okay, Sasuke?"
She approaches and squats down beside him. After making sure that there's no menace coming from her, Sasuke's able to relax his mind for a little.
"Here, I still have some left from last night."
Despite being in worse condition, she still comes for him first and that makes his teeth cringes. He's deeply irritated by the fake kindness Nina's showing, checking the cuts on his skin and offering him the remedies that Kakashi has given her to help him heal his wounds. Acting as if nothing has happened.
Not to mention this newfound attitude of hers - being cool all over the top- is starting to get on his nerve.
Shoving those filthy hands out of his face and and causes the medicines to fall all over the ground. Sasuke no longer be able to control his emotions and yells at the top of his lungs.
"I asked you what the fuck was that, are you deaf?!"
Startled by the loud voice, Nina bites her lips to calm herself before speaking in something that finally make sense to his mind. While reaching for her pocket and take out something else, it's a salve this time.
"I only wanted to save you, did I do wrong?"
Still, that's not what he's expected to hear.
"You do realize that this is not what I'm asking you right now, right?"
There's a long silence between them, yet her hands aren't stopping from treating the wounds on his left arm. Annoyed, Sasuke yanks his limb away from her.
"Stop doing that and say something!"
Only then he sees her lips are about to move again. However, everything's soon be replaced by Naruto high-pitched voice from afar. Then the entire team 7 has finally arrived to the scene. "Sasuke! Nina!"
As predictable as they can be, everyone halts their feet in shock once witnessing such sight before them. A pool of blood and bunch of severed body parts scattering all over the place. Not even a single bandit is left alive to tell the tale.
"Nina-chan, you're bleeding!"
"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?!"
Naruto and Sakura gasp at their messy states. Both of them are sitting on the ground out of breath, Sasuke's body is full of cuts and bruises while Nina has a deep blow on her left shoulder.
"Naruto! I was so scared..." Nina sobs into her hands like a little girl the moment seeing Naruto, her image has changes 180 degrees from the calm and collected to casual lame self within a mere second.
And Sasuke's just sitting there staring at her speechlessly, while Naruto is giving her a lecture for doing something too reckless. "Why did you run off on your own! You could have waited for me, you know!"
Sakura notices an opened salve lying next to the Uchiha's leg and the wounds on his left arm are being covered with the stuff inside it. Thinking that the boy is perhaps having trouble healing himself, she picks salve up into her palm and continue treating him with it.
After having a quick scan around the area, Kakashi speaks up. "Who did this?"
"It was Sasuke." And the first person to answer is Nina. Much to everyone's shock, especially the Uchiha himself.
"Really?! Sasuke-kun is so cool!" Sakura blushes at the image of the overpowered Sasuke wiping out an entire army all by himself. While Naruto looks as if he doesn't believe what he's just heard. "Eh?! For real?!"
As much as Sasuke wants to protest that Nina's lying through her teeth, he figures that it would be best to play along with her for now and save the serious talk for later. When both of them are in better conditions.
"Yes, he protected me from the bandits when I was injured..." Attempting to weaken the continuous bleeding by weighting her right hand on the wound, Nina explains. As she's about to say more, however, Nina begins to lose her balance and stumbles.
Quickly, Naruto extend his arms to catch her from falling. Despite his calls, the girl doesn't wake up. "Nina-chan! What's wrong?!"
Sakura also hurries over to check on Nina's condition. And the moment she comes into contact with her skin. Sakura gasps at the high temperature that her female teammate is bearing. "Kakashi-sensei! She's burning up!"
Without further hesitation, Kakashi ordered Naruto and Sakura to take them both back to the Konohagakure's hospital for the treatment. Before leaving, the ex-anbu didn't forget to retrieve the lost package which he found lying within the battle field not too far away.
He also discovered the man who seemed to be Kibutsuji, or what's left of him, a wanted criminal in worth of 50,000 ryo along with a big sack full of treasures. Therefore, Kakashi decided to bring Kibutsuji's head and the stolen goods back to Konoha for their reward money.
