Chapter 18: Beginning of the Second Stage
Having gotten a scroll… another earth scroll. They need a heaven scroll. Yuri needed them to get out of the area, and leaving the three they took out to be found is good. And who would believe them that three of the rookie genin took them out? Not a soul. She was banking on it.
They had to move quickly, and she took them away from the team they took out. She wonders how she is going to find Naruto. She has a feeling they are in danger.
But the oversenseation of the taste, she pauses and looks to the distance. She even stops moving, even this far out… she can taste them. Focusing she can taste honey and chicken broth.
"Guys… I think that powerful person is near." Yuri starts moving quickly.
Ismau struggles a little behind. "Are you sure we should be rushing into battle?"
"We barely used any chakra." Yuri comments.
Yuri looks forward. They need to help, Asami sensi told them to watch out for other people, and to keep an eye on the other teams. She was more worried about Asuma's team, but they are smarter than Asami sensi gives them credit for. But she stops, it feels like she is missing something. And they need to move fast.
She doesn't pause long and takes the lead of her group. Keeping pace with Isamu, she speaks loudly enough for the boys to hear her.
"Listen… I think we have to use everything we got. If it's the powerful chakra… we have to use everything. I will have to use everything. And Isamu, we have to be ready to heal. We cannot afford to die here… and Asami sensi would understand."
With them running, Yuri nearly misses Saskue and Sakura's chakra. She switches directions and finds them in a tree, both looking shocked. So much that Yuri has to keep reminding herself to remain calm. But she doesn't see or taste Naruto.
"Saskue!" Yuri jumps down and sees a kunai in him. "Isamu, heal him. We need to be ready."
"Yuri… that person you warned me about. They are after us." Saskue says.
He actually seems scared. Yuri has never seen him like this, and she never wanted to again. Isamu begins to heal him as Yuri tries to get her brain working.
Kenji notices something and taps Yuri. He grabs Sakura and Yuri and Isamu run with Saskue. Yuri tastes the chakra… and she tries to not let it scare her. But she has Saskue here. She cannot let her own fear cloud her judgement. While they are all scared… What are they supposed to do?
She glances at Isamu and sees him trying to focus on Saskue.
"I sense your fear and desperation, a prey must never let down its guard for a moment, in the presence of its predator!"
Yuri pulls out a Kunai and elbows Saskue. "Stop panicking. Think clearly."
She is one to talk… but she needs a calm Saskue. The cool Saskue. Not whatever is happening to him now. She has to keep reminding herself that she needs to also be calm. It won't do them good if she panics. Asami sensi was trying to teach them about pushing their fear away, and to do their job as ninja.
The person twists their body around a tree, and are coming up to the trio when shuriken and kunai stop them. And she knows its cotton candy.
"Looks like I came just in time!" Naruto yells.
"Good, we need you now, Naruto. Let's be brash and get out of here!" Kenji yells.
She needs to think about it. She needs to figure out how to get them all out of here, alive. No way was she going to let people die here. Yuri needs to be clever and calm. Think of a way out of here. Now that the number 1 chaotic person is here, Yuri knows they might have a chance.
"Naruto! Get out of here! What are you th–" Saskue begins. But Yuri covers his mouth.
She cuts a look at Saskue. "We will help you, we need Naruto as well."
Saskue doesn't say anything. This is one of the first times Yuri has been in a situations, she needs to focus. No matter how much she wants to run away… she can't.
"Seems like you brought that giant snake down brilliantly, Naruto."
This person's voice sends chills down Yuris spine. She steps in front of Isamu who is healing Saskue. She needs to make sure Saskue is healed and can fight. She will need him if they are going to make it out of this alive.
But of course, Naruto begins herling insults at the woman, Yuri and Kenji share a glance and know Naruto is the chaotic energy they need in this situation for them to thrive. Saskue is scared so he might make some strange choices, which they need. But Saskue hasn't moved and told Naruto to run away. That isn't like him. He is normally so much better at keeping calm. Meaning this person terrified him.
Throw Sakura in the mix and they have a chance. If… if Sakura does something. She looked even more spooked than Saskue.
Kenji reaches behind him and takes Sakura's hand. He knows how this might end. Isamu stands up behind Yuri and goes over to Naruto. They need to get into positions, and Yuri knows she should use everything. Kenji and Isamu understand it, and Naruto might freak out, but to survive? Yuri has to do this.
Using her powers is going to give them a better chance. While all of them are good fighters, there isn't a chance with this girl's chakra. It's too much and is going to make them all struggle.
Saskue starts to pull out the scrolls, but Yuri puts her hand up.
"Chakra this powerful… I doubt she wants a dumb scroll. She sent a snake after Naruto…" Yuri glances at him. "We either run or fight."
When Naruto begins to yell, Isamu puts a hand over his mouth and whispers something to him. Forming some kind of plan or making him mad. Either way will work for her, she just knows Isamu has something in mind. She sees Kenji crouches next to Sakura and is telling her something too.
"What do you mean Yuri?" Saskue asks.
She shakes her head. She doesn't like this situation, and they might die here. So long as they can get away after, it should be fine. Everything is going to be fine. She knows it will be, and she thinks of something. She pulls out the fake heaven scroll. She doesn't know who has it, but she needs them to keep their scroll.
But of course Saskue still throws the scroll. In an instant, Yuri throws the fake one and pockets the real one. She had done this to Kenji and Isamu too many times. She needed the scroll to stay safe. And Naruto comes in and grabs it, he even punches Saskue.
"After I just healed him…" Isamu jumps down next to Yuri.
"It's good for him." She mumbles.
She keeps her eyes on the snake person, that taste is bothering her. And she needs to know why it's bothering her so much. If she can discover the taste and why it's so strong it will be for the best. If she can, well… Yuri just likes to know things. Anything she can know seems to help her.
Kenji nods his head and Yuri only glances over. The less she knows of what he is planning the better. Means her chaotic status can be kept, and she can trust her teammates to plan on their own. Somehow it always works out.
"You dumb fool! You don't know what you're doing!" Saskue yells.
Who is he yelling it at? She can't say. He probably thinks they are all mad if she is honest. Against someone like this and Yuri warned them about? He doesn't know how to handle it. Them fighting against this person seems impossible, but it has to be done.
And Naruto questioning if this is the real Saskue brings a smile to her face. Ya, Naruto and Saskue are good for each other. Even though they hate each other, they push each other to new limits. Something they need. And being part of a team is good. She barely notices Kenji slipping away from Sakura, and she stands up. Seeming to be a little more determined.
Isamu taps Yuri's lower back as he goes by Saskue, needing to hang in the back to let the fighters fight. Let team Kakashi fight a little, keeps Yuri's team in the background even though Yuri is standing in front of the person. Isamu knows he needs to play healer this time.
Isamu stands underneath Saskue. Arms crossed to watch, taking a page from Asami. Keep hidden and out of the main fighting. While he can fight and is good at it, he knows his place in this fight. Yuri will stay and fight, she can play anything she wants.
"That's correct." The person says, Yuri narrows her eyes.
What does this person know about them? They memorized Naruto's name quickly. But they have a strange look on their face. One Yuri doesn't like it too much. A simple grass ninja? Ya right. They draw some blood and smear it across their arm.
And Naruto attacks, that's all Yuri needs for a green light.
She runs under the branch wanting to get them from three angles. Making them pick who they are going to attack will help them. She wishes Saskue was feeling better to help them. Sadly, they will have to fight without him.
But she is blown away when a snake appears and she manages to jump to the tree next to her and pauses.
A snake. It had…
Snakes… Why does it feel like she is looking at something she has seen before? She tilts her head and shakes her head a little.
It attacks Naruto and Kenji goes after the person on the snake. Yuri goes after the snake, attacking it from behind.
"Kenji! Don't use all your chakra!"
She doesn't know how long this is going to last. And she needs to be sure they can run right away. If they can't, having the ability to retreat and fight will be good. No matter what, they need to get out alive. She kicks herself for not telling Jelly about the chakra, which would have been smart for her to do.
Hitting the snake in its blind spot, she needs to make and Kenji lands a punch on the person before vanishing away next to Sakura again. Yuri has to keep moving, she needs to keep attacking and pestering the person who is doing this.
"Impressive."
Yuri launches off the snake and lands behind it. They needed to be clever, that would be their advantage. They only needed to survive this. Swarm the person and hope, just hope together they can take this person down.
But the snake hits the branch Naruto was on and sends him flying down.
"Saskue! Sakura! We need your help!" Yuri yells. "Stop being wimps and scardy cats!"
Seeing the tail head for her, Yuri manages to get on the tail and run up the snake, but it turns around and tries to bite her. Luckily it bites itself when Yuri subs herself for some broken wood. But she tastes blood, the taste of apple cotton candy fades and it is mixed with blood. She looks at Naruto and sees his eyes are different.
And he starts to pumble the snake. She gets to Kenji.
"Kenji… his chakra changed… It's like Gaara's" Yuri pants.
"How…" Kenji begins.
Sakura speaks up. "Saskue said he did that in the Land of Waves too… said his eyes changed and he got more powerful."
But the person sends a fire cloud at him. And Yuri stands there. It's too much, all the taste around her and she hasn't figured out how to beat him. How hasn't she been able to? She is normally better at getting them out of situations! Both their tastes are overwhelming, until Kenji punches her arm.
"We need to help him." Kenji reminds her.
"Right…"
The snake turns to Saskue as Yuri is about to move, Naruto moves at neck breaking speeds and stops the snake, even stabbing it. Leaving her and Kenji to go after the person. They dodge them easily though, even with their combo attacks. Nothing happens.
But Naruto shows Saskue his eyes, and she knows that might snap Saskue out of it.
The person grabs Kenji by the wrist as Yuri goes under to get between them. The person grabs her too though. Both Kenji and Yuri are thrown to the side by the person, both sent flying into the nearest tree as it knocks the air out of Yuri. She sees the creepy hit Naruto in the stomach and the blood taste goes away.
Seeing Sakura out of her daze, Yuri smiles. She gets back up and sees Isamu nod his head.
She opens her Sharingan, and takes a deep breath. Creepy snake unsummons the snake and she stands up, seeing Kenji standing up as well. Isamu appears next to Sakura and tells her something. They need Sakura to also do something, now that Naruto is pinned to a tree, she can focus.
Yuri will follow Saskue's lead. She takes out some Shurinkan, she will do it. She runs and throws her shurikan. Going hand to hand with Saskue and the creep. Creep is moving quickly and so is Saskue. She takes her pack and throws it at Isamu, it would slow her down. The three of them continue to fight, she manages to help Saskue throw the creep off balance.
Creep disengages from them and Saskue glances at Yuri.
"I don't–"
"You say anything and I will kill you idiot." Yuri spits.
Creep is moving barely too fast for Yuri and she is relying on Saskue to catch it which he does and Yuri begins the fireball. Luckily Saskue does at the same time. Hitting the Creep at the same time. She keeps her distance. And she sees Isamu by Naruto, Yuri jumps to the side to get a better angle at the Creep.
He goes underneath the wood and pops out right in front of Saskue. She stays in her spot, waiting for something to happen.
She will keep Saskue safe, and she is going to do that. The creep starts an attack and Yuri throws some Kunai at the Creep. Getting its attention for the first time as it stares at her. Giving Saskue a chance to surprise it and take it down.
Hitting its head hard on a lower branch as she jumps down to help in any way she can. She jumps next to Saskue and sees the body twitching. They need to be sure the creep is gone… since their lives silently depend on it.
"Did… did you kill her?"
But it melts into mud. Yuri's eyes scan the area. She needs to keep an eye out on what is about to happen. As it won't be good. Suddenly kunai are thrown at them and Yuri and Saskue get separated.
"Yuri!" Kenji yells.
She gets eyes on Saskue though. Right as the creep punches him. She pauses and takes in a deep breath. Saskue blows the creep up and moves. He is good, and fast. Yuri waits in the shadows and waits. She needs to be ready.
Kenji throws some kunai with strings attached, making a grid with Saskues that he threw. Pinning the person against a tree. Using a powerful flame attack, he seems to have burned the person to a crisp. But they are still standing. And Saskue is weak.
Her eyes widen as the person moves again. No way… no way should they still be moving! That should have burnt them to a crisp. Not cause them to move and break the thing pinning them down. And a wave of fear goes over her.
It sends Sakura and Saskue to their knees.
Their voice changes and she knows the voice.
The snake man, Orochimaru, who attacked her village. She knows why the taste was familiar, people with strong enough chakra can even allow children to taste. She had that feeling long ago but was so scared that she never realized it. She looks up and forces herself to move. All the attention is on Saskue, Sakura and Kenji. Remembering the wound on Saskues leg, Yuri needs to move fast.
Pulling a kunai, she can't listen to the things Orochimaru is saying. She needs to get out of here… and she hears Itachi's name. She glances and sees how upset Saskue seems to be, even in his fearful state.
She needs to wait, she has the Sharigan active, and she can feel herself fading. But she can't yet. She just hopes Isamu isn't affected by this. He needs to take care of Naruto.
Seeing his neck coming from his head, Yuri stabs herself and pulls the kunai out of her thigh and gets her foot on Orochimarus face and the kunai in his neck. Kicking him away from Saskue. If she could keep them safe that is what she all needs.
She lands in front of Saskue and the snake guy retracts his neck. Panting, she has to focus on staying awake, as her eyes blur a little. But she can't stop. She needs to keep Saskue safe.
"Don't… you… dare…" Yuri manages.
Orochimaru stares at her. "Ah… I remember your family. Your mother talked about you a lot."
She can feel the tears coming to her eyes. He knew her mother. And talked with her. Yuri would love to talk with her mother again. Get information about her family and how to work with the taste all over her mouth. And the tears begin to flow, she misses her mother.
The neck comes back, and this time towards her. And Yuri can barely see it, she can't even think of how to react. But Orochimaru takes a kunai to the mouth.
"Stay away from them. ANBU are on their way." Isamu claims.
Yuri feels faint. Her whole world is spinning and she can't see in front of her.
But she is picked up and they are running away. She sees Saskue, and that's all she can focus on. The chakra is gone, but she feels dizzy.
Notes: Another chapter! I hope you enjoy it! Things are slowly going to shift from here. And the story is going to change more and more as time goes on. Please leave a like, comment and follow the story!