Chapter 27: The Missing Captain, And Sasuke's Changed Of Plans
《 With Kakashi 》
Kakashi emitted a groan as he awoke, feeling a sharp pain in his head. He questioned, 'What just transpired?' Rising from his reclined position, he attempted to recall the events that occurred while he was in the restroom.
As his recollection returned, the gray-haired man's expression darkened at the memory of being ambushed by a woman. Despite his attempts to defend himself, it appeared "hat she had only aimed to distract him.
Kakashi uttered, 'Soifon,' pondering the well-being of the captain whom he suspected of being targeted. Hoping she had not sustained severe injuries, he allowed himself a moment before setting off towards the camp to check on Soifon's condition.
Several minutes later, he arrived back at the camp, scanning the area and calling out, 'Soifon, where are you?' Despite not spotting her, he closed his eyes, attempting to sense her presence.
Kakashi bit his lip as he did not sense Soifon's energy nearby. 'Tsunade is going to be displeased,' he thought, particularly when he could not find any trace of Soifon and was unsure of what had transpired. Nevertheless, he resolved to continue searching for the diminutive captain in the hope that she had not come to harm.
The jonin endeavored to detect any sign of Soifon's presence in the vicinity, his optimism sparked when he detected a faint trace, prompting him to follow the lead that ultimately brought him to a creek. Kakashi scanned the surroundings in search of Soifon, calling out her name, but received no response.
As he moved closer to investigate further, he perceived the presence of another individual through the lingering Chakra in the area.
Reflecting his concern, the silver-haired man furrowed his brow, unsettled by the sense that an event had occurred. While surveying the vicinity, he accidentally stepped on an object, prompting him to shift his foot and reveal a sheathed sword lying on the ground.
Kakashi stooped to retrieve the item in order to inspect it more closely, and his heart sank when he recognized the sword as belonging to Soifon, as indicated by its blue and gold sheath and yellow handle.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, he concluded that he must make his way to the Leaf Village at once to alert Tsunade about Soifon. With a sense of urgency, he quickly Flash-stepped towards the village, unaware that five figures were observing his movements from a nearby tree.
《 With Sasuke 》
Standing in a tree alongside Jugo, Suigetsu, Karin, and Akira, Sasuke observed Kakashi from a distance. He noticed his former sensei searching for something or someone, causing a frown to appear on the young Uchiha's face upon hearing Kakashi call out for Soifon.
Karin inquired about Kakashi's search, to which Sasuke disregarded the redhead's question, his mind racing as he and his team eventually found a place to rest.
Upon sensing someone nearby, Sasuke investigated. Upon witnessing the scene that awaited them, Sasuke clenched his hands at his sides in frustration, realizing they had arrived just before Kakashi. The team was taken aback by the chaos and damaged terrain before them.
Karin whispered pondering about the situation and noticed the anger in Sasuke's eyes. Jugo expressed his concerns about the situation, watching as Sasuke leaped from the tree after Kakashi departed, scanning the area for any resources they could utilize.
In disbelief, Sasuke could not fathom Kakashi allowing such an oversight, but he knew he must focus on rescuing his sister, prioritizing her safety above all else. 'What are our next steps, Sasuke?' Akira inquired, observing Sasuke as he scanned the area and noticed a white coat drifting in the wind.
Upon recognizing it as Soifon's, whom he had seen wearing it before, he swiftly retrieved it. Turning to the group, Sasuke declared, 'Our plans have shifted; we are now on a quest to locate this woman,' tucking the captain's coat into his bag.
'But why? Shouldn't that task fall to the Leaf ninjas?' Karin questioned, puzzled by the woman's significance. Observing Karin's confusion, Sasuke furrowed his brows.
'Since the vision of your brother mentioning this woman, she has consumed my thoughts. What has happened to our original mission?' the red-haired girl asked, meeting Sasuke's stern gaze with a frown.
Karin was concerned about the possibility of Soifon being Sasuke's girlfriend, as she intended to confront the woman if this turned out to be the case. She was already bothered by Akira's growing closeness to Sasuke and was displeased by Sasuke's interactions with the raven-haired woman.
When Sasuke mentioned sharing a vision with another person, Karin apologized and promised to keep the information to herself. However, she was determined to express her thoughts to this woman once they found her. Sasuke acknowledged this and proceeded to lead the team towards the hidden leaf village.
《 At The Leaf Village With Kakashi 》
Kakashi had arrived at the village and was now facing a very angry Tsunade. 'What do you mean you lost Soifon?' she demanded, her honey brown eyes glaring at Kakashi.
'I apologize, Tsunade. I was outmatched by someone who distracted me, and when I regained consciousness, Soifon was missing,' Kakashi explained as he placed Suzumebachi on Tsunade's desk.
'I am unsure who took Soifon.' Tsunade bit her lip, contemplating who could have kidnapped Soifon, whether it be someone from the village or a spy overhearing their conversations about her.
'Shizune,' Tsunade called to the other woman, 'please send a message to Jushiro and have him and his team come here.' She knew she needed to inform the Soul Reapers about Soifon's disappearance and hoped they could assist in locating her.
Shizune nodded and departed to fetch Jushiro. 'Do you have any insight on why these individuals abducted Soifon? Could this woman have been associated with Orochimaru?' inquired Tsunade. Kakashi shook his head in response.
'I cannot recall encountering her before, nor did she appear to have ties to Orochimaru. However, I did catch a glimpse of an ANBU symbol on her arm,' Kakashi shared with Tsunade in an attempt to provide whatever information he possessed.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she processed Kakashi's words. 'So, it was a Leaf ninja who took her?' she inquired, her expression now troubled as she contemplated the implications of someone spying on them.
Kakashi affirmed, 'It is plausible that a renegade ninja from our village is involved, but I suspect that someone has been surveilling us for some time.' Tsunade agreed with a nod, saying, 'We will devise a plan once Jushiro arrives.'
The silver-haired man nodded, feeling remorse for his lapse in vigilance, and he hoped that Jushiro or the others would hold him accountable. 'I am committed to relentlessly search for Soifon until she is found,' Kakashi vowed sincerely.