Chapter 11
Before she could even follow the grumpy Uchiha, both Senju men had her promise she would not judge them too quickly. To give them time and the benefit of the doubt about their intentions to keep her safe.
But she wanted to know more. What is out there? Why can't she see it for herself? Why does she have to wear a huge dark coat that swallows her entire body while they get on the move the very next day.
Tired of asking and getting no answers and weird looks from the other men and women around her, the pinket decided to enjoy the small glimpse of freedom she got from the vast forested area. Tall trees with heavy branches that intertwined with the various vines, bushes and greenery growing from all angles.
The path was barely one at all, rocks and patches of dirt that seemed to be used more by four-legged creatures than two-legged. Moss as slippery as water covered almost every inch and up the trees. At least she was grateful for the footwear they provided; the thicker garments protected her from the misty morning before the sun raised high enough to give any warm comfort for the day.
Even her thoughts drifted as they continued forward. The quiet forest slowly waking up with the chirping of birds and a few footsteps, most from her. Senju and Uchiha had taken the precautions to travel with separation between each other as they circled her into a protective barrier.
From what?
Another question she longed for an answer.
Regardless, one thing was for sure. These men respected the four men who kept her close and watched her constantly. A glance here and there, small brushes of their canteen near her coat for her to take and a nod if she ever stared too long. Mostly asking for a snack to munch on or to what direction they would turn to.
Soon enough, that question she constantly wondered finally showed some answers… by a sudden stop of the men around her. Almost crashing into the closest armour covered frame, she pinket held her breath, afraid to slip on the mossy ground.
A hart beat per second in her chest as her eyes searched around the various greens, browns, dark blue from both the same forest and those uniforms they used to protect themselves and blend in with the environment.
The faint echo of a branch creaking caught her attention, to her far left there was a darker figure moving ever so slightly. Her squinting eyes could barely make out the human figure before the men around her tensed and reached for those weapons that made her nervous.
As if on cue, various sounds echoed around the forest and zeroed around the group. Clash of metals, grunts and body slams had her turning at all directions. The men around her moving to defend and not attack as some fast figures in dark green robes jumped from the branches above and threw small round object to the ground.
Some strange and thick fog staring to spread around the small pinket. In a panic she held to a gasp and covered her mouth and nose with both hands. Green eyes squinting as they burned from whatever this fog was. Quickly she was surrounded by that thick curtain and lost sight of everyone who she saw a few moments ago.
If she shouted, her location would be discovered by those attacking and those defending… she could run.
Her momentary confusion jumped to a flight or fight instinct as thick chains flew right past her side and landed with a claw gripping to the ground. She turned the opposite way only to be pushed back by another thick chain with that huge metal claw crashing on the tree in front, splinting and cracking the wood.
She did not want to be caught by that destructive claw…
Ducking under the chain and scrambling behind the thick and damaged trunk, the pinket held herself close to the ground while holding her breath with both hands.
Skin burning from the force of her own grip.
Once she saw a figure approach to her right, she jumped to her feet and ran.
She ran from it all.
Not looking back and using the heavy foliage and thick trunks to keep herself as hidden as possible. "Run Sakura." Her mind screamed. "Dunk!" she narrowly avoided a low branch. Jumping from one big rock to a patch of mossy ground and skipping the protruding tree roots that threatened to make her trip.
But she continued on, lungs breathing ice and feet flying past all the shouts and curses from behind her.
Even if the guilty side of her felt for those she left behind, she smothered it with the knowledge that she could not defend herself and would only be a burden.
A burden she hated to be.
The hood of the coat fell, uncovering her head of hair for all those branches to catch and the bushes snagging at the coat. The opening of the front not being able to cover her strong long legs as she sprinted. Scratches and bumps barely noticed by her raging mind.
At least her mind concluded she was good at this. Until her freedom shattered by a strong torso suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Not able to stop in time, she bounced back and with a thud… she was on the ground.
The tall trees from above dancing around in circles as she blinked the pain away. She gasped at the feeling of a large hand gripping the front of her coat, near her neck and lifting her upper body from the ground.
Her gaze locked to those crazed eyes, dark small irises filled with anger and triumph. A crooked smile deforming the heavily scared and tattooed face of her new captor. Dressed in worn down gear, thick brown boots and a very threatening axe.
By the dents and dark marks on it… she could tell it was well used to cut anything and anyone in half. - "You think you can just run?" - he laughed at her almost breathlessly. - "Quite a small little thing you are." - those eyes looked at her from head to toe and it unsettled her.
His smile widened.
She squirmed, no longer wanting to catch the smell of his breath as he laughed at her attempts of getting away. - "Let go!" - she shouted, finally finding her voice.
Another laugh. - "I think not!" - he pulled her higher from the ground, feet kicking at his large legs and barrel of a torso. - "That tickles." - he mocked.
Her screams and shouts barely left her lips as he easily dragged her and slammed her smaller body to the nearest trunk. - "You're so loud!" - he barked in anger.
But her legs continued to kick at him, her hands scratching at his tattooed covered arm. Those dark marking of ink suddenly moving in her vision.
She gasped.
He grinned those dry and scared lips, sharp-like teeth peeking through. Her eyes widened in surprise and wonder. - "Like what you see?" - at some point she had stop moving, stop breathing. - "I wonder how that creamy and soft skin of yours would look like with this ink." - he tilted his head back to show her his thick neck, covered in those angry looking markings of black ink moving around over his muscles and protruding veins.
- "Does it hurt?" - her lips barley containing her thoughts to herself. Curiosity winning over her.
His laughter faded, those crazed eyes switching to something she could not define. Narrowing at the smaller girl. - "What do you care?" - he held her tighter against the trunk, staring her down like she was a bug he wanted to step on. - "Ah… I see." - his wicked smile exposed all those dangerous teeth and a sharp tong darted to lick the top, showing them off. - "Don't worry your pretty little head. You will soon find out." - he laughed.
Something in her told her to touch that skin of his, her hand softened and covered those dark marks on his exposed wrist. Her eyes squinting back at the light coming from those same marks as they changed colour and bleaded to white.
The man flinched back and dropped, her soft knees crashing to the harsh ground. - "You freak!" - he shouted back as he took a safe distance.
Her mind narrowed down to the skin she touched, now free from those dark marks she saw. For a second of sanity, the pinket wondered if she was imagining things or going crazy. Maybe he had done something to her.
Maybe, she hit her head too hard.
The familiar and welcomed spiky dark hair took over her attention. - "Madara!" - she shouted back. The tall Uchiha stood in between her and the man who now woke up from his surprise, weapon to his side.
No answer was given as the Uchiha glanced back at her, quickly scanning her form and narrowing to her hand before turning to his opponent.
The pinket followed his trail of sight and found herself clutching to a crystal. Clear and iridescent at the palm of her hand… the same hand she placed on the black ink. Its shape was beautifully rugged, with pointed edges and harsh curves. It looked like she just took a piece of a stalactite from a crystal cave.
Light reflected from its edges to cast colour to every surface.
More shouts and grunt turned her attention to the fight, she didn't even notice when they started. Madara took his sword like weapon and swung it high above to crush the Axe the other man used as a shield.
But the dark inky matter on the man started to travel down the axe like a dark vail causing the Uchiha to jump back and far from the proximity of the weird occurrence.
Even with the strange image of the man being covered by those markings, Madara was not phased, with a click, his weapon opened its blade to let a bright blue liquid bleed into the indents of the blade, up the handle and up his arm. The precious swirls and lines indented into the armour she had seen now shined with the blue powerful liquid-like energy.
Her eyes trailed up and down in amazement at the transformed gear. With a new resolve, the crazed man laughed. - "Nice trick!" - he lunged forward with his axe ready to slice Madara in half.
Panic drove the pinket to her feet as she shouted. - "NO!" -
And just like that, the Uchiha parried with a single hand before a blast of that blue energy slammed the offensive man to the ground. Axe cracking at the edges. - "What the hell!?"- another swing of the sword hit the weapon, breaking it with a thunderous crack.
Her yaw almost hit the ground; she could not believe her eyes.
The man under the broken weapon seized his movements and shouts, completely knocked out cold from the blow. From afar she could see the black ink had returned to his skin and stopped moving. Now looking like it always was meant to be an inanimate tattoo on his skin and nothing more.
She looked so dumbfounded. Clothing a mess and hair dishevelled with a few leaves poking out here and there. Mouth gape and eyes wide with that flush returning to her skin.
He could breathe again. She was safe now.
When he noticed her small presence had completely disappeared from his sight, his heart jumped out of his chest. Madara already felt uneasy moving on their slow pace with her being so small and easily able to duck under a bush and never be seen again.
His mind rushed to find her, she was smart enough not to step on any mud or push away any branch. Her escape was almost perfect if he hadn't have the years of training and experience to follow her tracks.
Looking at her now, she might have just crashed into the branches and not bothered… or maybe, couldn't push them away… and just rushed through the small spaces of cleared foliage her body would squeeze through.
The small scratches of her face, neck and any exposed skin told him so much. She was breathing in sharp pants, her soft cheeks damp with tears she must have shed by that awful fog. His stomach plummeted at the thought of the poison in the fog causing havoc in her body.
Turning with his powerful legs, he approached in strides, finally catching her attention. Those emeralds gazed at him with worry before her shoulders sagged. Her body finally succumbing to the sprint and attack of that man he was happy to take home. A little bit of questioning before he is locked up. Away from her.
His mind clicked just then.
He touched her.
Not that it was a definite cause for the spread of the ink, but it had happened before.
When he finally caught up to them, she was high from the ground and struggling on the mans hold at then she suddenly stopped. Her hand reached for his wrist before he could get to them and the man jumped back in a shout.
Her hand. He stared at the crystal she clutched to her chest, pale hands shaking. - "Remove the coat." - he commanded. A little surprised at the flinch he emerged from the pinket. Clearing his throat, he corrected his tone. - "I must see if you are unharmed." -
The small pinket blinked for a few seconds to regain her composure and provide a shaky nod. Not the answer he wanted, but alas…
Her arms disappeared into the large dark coat before she shimmied the garment off, clumsily dropping it with a small apology leaving those nervous lips. He silently waited for her to stand on straight and glanced at him with her chin lowered. Was she ashamed of running away and getting herself caught?
Doesn't matter.
His attention was taken over the small red and purple marks that married her skin. Not a single spot of black ink.
Good.
But he was smarter than that, the ink could be hiding under her clothes or curves. He knows it all too well.
Pushing those darker thoughts away, he stared at her hand. That sparkly crystal in her fist. Where did it come from?
Noticing his questioning look, the pinket glanced at her hand. No longer shaking from adrenaline and/or fear, she held her hand out and opened her fist to show this little treasure she now possessed. - "I don't know where it came from." - she whispered, almost to herself.
Interest peeked, the Uchiha reached for her small hand. Cupping her wrist with a softness he tried his best to keep - gloved hands protected him - she was very skittish and barely allowed him to go near her personal space. - "Does it hurt?" -
Her lips pursed at the question. - "No. It just feels warm." -
A warm crystal? That was new. - "May I?" - he pointed at the crystal. Only holding it once she gave her approving nod.
She was right, it is warm. - "Umm." - his attention returned to the pinket fidgeting at her feet. - "What is that?" - her small hand pointed at his gear covered in Mana. A powerful substance they used combined with their equipment to enhance their use.
- "Energy." - he stated. Ending the conversation so he can continue to examine the crystal, lifting it to the light that bleed through the branches from above. It shined brighter than a diamond. A rare gem people used to flaunt their riches more than make a statement over their marital status.
Sakura huffed in annoyance, not happy with the answer provided. "Too bad" he thought. - "Dara!" - shouted Hashirama from a distance. - "Sakura!" - he continued.
- "That idiot." - he muttered, but she heard him.
Her small wrist twisted and pulled away from his grasp, the Uchiha forgot he held her so close to him. - "That is awfully rude. He is your friend." - she took a step back, squared her shoulders and those emeralds burned at him.
Before he could counter her statement with an "absolutely not!", said Senju from before pushed back the bushes and sighed in relief. - "Great job Dara! You found our flower!" - he cheered. - "Stop brooding, you will scare her off again." - he approached with a nervous laugh before his eyes softened at the woman.
Her body perked up instantly at the Senju, something he found unacceptable. - "Hashirama!" - she breathed out. - "Are you all ok?" - she gushed over his form.
He was fine!
- "As strong as a Ox!" - he puffed his chest like an idiot. In the Uchiha's opinion. - "But I am more worried about you. What did the big bad Dara do?" - he joked, distracting the pinket from his observing eyes.
The pinket turned nervously at the unconscious man a few meters away. - "Dara took down that man over there." - she pointed.
Dara?
The Uchiha's eye twitched ever so slightly.
Even with the cheery tone of his voice as he paraded over the idea of her being strong and brave to hold off the "evil and mean man" until they got to her. Those brown eyes told him how much he already knew. From the black ink covering the skin to the broken gear around the body. - "You also have that energy." - the pinket pointed out.
Although a different shade of green and blue, Hashirama Senju also had his own gear protecting him. The other foes must have been as contaminated by the dark plague as much as the man on the ground.
Many people hide it as best as they can until it's impossible to cover. A few decide to show off their condition to the world to see. Either to keep others away or to cause fear to their enemies.
Uchiha only covered their ink to outsiders.
- "Yes! But you do not have it. You should have been very, very careful." - he almost scolded the pinket, it's not like she wanted to be attacked. The pinket was visibly angered at that.
- "She didn't know." - Madara found himself defending the woman who barely knew her own name.
Surprised by his statement, the pinket smiled at him. A shy but sincere one. - "Thank you." - she mouthed the words for only him to know.
Hashirama could know she was grateful. In fact, he should know. With a smirk he answered. - You're welcome." - loud enough for both to hear.
The Senju stammered as he found himself as the one on the other side of Sakura's anger. Something Madara would very much enjoy. - "Next time, stay close to us." - the Senju deflated his resolve.
- "There will be no next time. We are changing out transportation." - stated the Uchiha as he closed the gap between him and the unconscious man. Pulling a round metallic object, he dropped in on the body and it activated. Now covered in a thick layer of fabric and mesh, the man would no longer pose a threat to him of his men.
Much less to Sakura.
Turning to see those amazed green eyes once again. - "We will use the porters." - her face scrunched up in confusion. - "It's faster, but you might not like it." - he grabbed her large coat and approached the pinket once again.
Turning to seek more answers from the Senju, Sakura was not prepared for the sudden change of scenery. - "What are you- Off!" - with the pinket now tossed over his shoulders. Madara was ready to hit the road his way.
- "Try to keep up." - he told his old friend in a mocking manner that caused the Senju to react just like he wanted.
- "Hey! Not fair!" - the Senju shouted before doing the same thing he did with the pinket, but with the man on the ground. - "Don't treat her like a sack of potatoes!" - his shouts echoed in the distance as Madara took off on long jumps. The bright blue energy surrounding him and the precious cargo as he appeared and disappeared kilometres away from his original point.
The pinket gasping and squeaking with every jump as she held on him for dear life. Her breath apparently taken.
He was only glad she wasn't showing signs of losing her stomach content. More preoccupied with expressing her annoyance. - "You better not drop me!" -
Of course he wouldn't, he held her thighs with one strong arm and her body fit perfectly over his massive shoulders.