Chapter 33: White Rose [Grass Daimyo Security Arc Part II]

Kimiko stepped in front of the Konoha Chuunin stationed at the metal door, seated casually behind a wooden counter. Without looking up, she reached for the sign-in sheet on the counter and began writing her name. Her voice was calm and steady as she asked,

"The two have been fed?"

"Yes," one of the Chuunin replied. "A few hours ago."

"Good," Kimiko continued, her pen still scratching on the paper. "Wounds treated?"

"Yes," the Chuunin confirmed. "No significant injuries for either."

"And the specifications I requested—those are prepared?"

"They're ready for you," the Chuunin said.

Satisfied, Kimiko placed the sign-in sheet back on the counter and pulled Byakko from its place behind her back. The blade was neatly sheathed in its threads, and she handed it to the Chuunin, who stowed it beneath the countertop with care.

"I'll keep a kunai with me. And my senbon," she added smoothly. "Thank you."

With that, she turned toward the metal door, her hand pushing it open with a measured firmness before stepping inside and letting it close behind her. The quiet hallway beyond was dimly lit, her footsteps echoing softly against the metal walls. At the end of the corridor, a second door loomed, its hinges rusty and loud as she pushed it open.

The room she entered was small and oppressive, bathed in shadow except for a single harsh light that illuminated the center. Under its glare sat two figures, bound to chairs with their hands tied securely behind them. A faint blue glow radiated from an intricate array of seals painted on the floor around them, marking the limits of their space.

Kimiko stepped into the circle of light, her presence cold yet composed as her eyes flicked between the two prisoners. "Good morning," she began, her tone pleasant. "How are we all?"

"Kill yourself," snarled the older man to her left. His thinning brown hair clung messily to his face, his defiance clear despite the ropes holding him in place. "I'm not saying shit to a Konoha kunoichi bitch like you."

The younger prisoner, seated directly across from him, snorted. He was closer to Kimiko's age, with a sharp buzz cut and an air of smugness that matched the older man's venom.

Kimiko's expression didn't falter. She clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head slightly. "No need for that language," she said placidly. "I was only being polite."

Her calm unnerved them both, though neither would show it. She continued, "Now, you two were captured during your failed attempt to assassinate the Grass Daimyo and his family. You've been identified as members of the insurgency currently plaguing the Land of Grass."

She let the statement hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "Ordinarily, prisoners like you would be handed over to Kusagakure's authorities. However, by special request, we've been allowed to detain you under Konoha's authority for forty-eight hours."

The younger man exchanged a glance with his companion before smirking. "Heh, as expected. Kusa's Head Ninja is just a lapdog for you Konoha bastards."

The older man chuckled at that and added, "Shouldn't have told us you're giving us back to Kusa. All we have to do is sit tight and wait it out." He sneered up at Kimiko. "If you think feeding us and treating us all nice will make us talk, then Konoha really must be scraping the bottom of the barrel. Recruiting stupid little girls now, are we? Dumb cunt."

Kimiko didn't flinch. "I have a few questions to ask the two of you, which I need answers to. Your cooperation will be necessary," she said evenly.

She stepped behind the older man, drawing her kunai with measured precision. The younger man's eyes flickered with a hint of worry, but she ignored it, cutting through the ropes binding the older man's hands. She moved to the younger man, doing the same. The two exchanged questioning glances but said nothing as Kimiko stood before them, her kunai glinting in the dim light.

"There's no need for restraints," she explained. "The arrays in this room prevent anyone not marked with this—" she tilted her head, revealing the kanji for 'release' glowing faintly at her neck "—from leaving the circle or using jutsu. If either of you lay a hand on me, alarms outside will trigger, and the barriers in this room will ensure you regret the attempt."

Her words were clinical, emotionless, but her gaze pinned them in place. She could feel their unease mounting, but they masked it behind cocky sneers.

"As I said, I have a few inquiries," Kimiko continued, unfazed.

"And we told you to fuck yourself," the younger man spat.

Ignoring the interruption, Kimiko maintained her poise. "I will approach each of you and ask my question. You will answer it quietly. Then I will confirm your answer with your comrade to verify the truth."

Their chuckles were grating but expected. She moved to the older man first, her voice dropping into a low whisper as she leaned in. "Is Iwagakure funding the insurgency?"

"Your mother's funding the insurgency," the man snarled, sneering at her. "All night long."

The younger man burst into laughter. Kimiko stepped back, her face impassive, and turned to the younger man.

"Is Iwagakure funding the insurgen—"

She was cut off as the younger man spat directly at her face. "It wasn't your mom; it was your dad. And he loves it."

Calmly, Kimiko reached up and wiped her face, her movements slow and deliberate. Without a word, her hand shot out, clamping down on his wrist with an iron grip. He yanked, but her hold didn't budge, her nails biting into his skin. Her other hand twisted the kunai expertly before she drove it between his ring finger and pinky. The blade's edge gleamed as she severed his pinky in a clean, practiced motion. Blood splattered, and the man's yell tore through the room.

"I don't think I made myself clear," Kimiko said, her voice cold and quiet. "I said you would answer quietly. Make sure only the two of us answer." She straightened, wiping the bloodied blade on his shirt. "Oh, and I forgot—if your answers don't match, I'll take a finger from both of you. And if I don't like how loud you're being, I'll take two fingers from the both of you."

The man's eyes burned with rage, but his words were drowned out by another scream as Kimiko twisted the kunai in midair and plunged it into his thigh. She twisted it, sending agony rippling through his leg.

"And that's for speaking about my father, you bandit fuck," she hissed. Finally, she yanked the kunai free and backhanded him hard across the face, the crack of the impact echoing in the chamber.

Her movements were smooth as she turned to the older man, who tried in vain to scoot back within the confines of the circle. Kimiko stalked forward, grabbing his left wrist with a brutal grip, her strength unrelenting. Before he could even plead, her kunai sliced through his pinky, blood dripping onto the floor as he howled in pain.

Kimiko didn't stop there. Her blade plunged into his shoulder, the tip grinding into the joint as she twisted it. "And this," she hissed, her breath brushing against his ear, "is for being an impolite pig, you wrinkled, no-good bastard."

Yanking the kunai free, she grabbed him by the hair, pulling his head back to force him to look at her. Her voice dropped into a whisper. "Now, let's try this again."

The door to the meeting room in the Extension Office creaked open, and Kimiko stepped inside, wiping her hands on a cloth that was already stained red. Neji, Karin, Sasuke, and the Jonin Captain Hayama glanced up from their positions around the wooden table. The tension in the room shifted slightly as she entered.

"Interrogation finished?" Hayama asked, his voice steady.

Kimiko nodded, tossing the bloodied cloth into a nearby bin. "Finished. They're alive."

"And their condition?" Hayama leaned back, studying her with a raised brow.

"Intact, mostly," Kimiko replied evenly, settling into an empty chair. "They've lost a few fingers and gained some stab wounds, but nothing life-threatening. Their injuries are well within the parameters Kusagakure approved. They won't bleed out."

"Good," Hayama said with a satisfied nod. "It was hard enough to get permission to question them. We couldn't risk stepping out of line. Now, what did you learn?"

"I have verbal confirmation that Iwagakure is supporting the insurgency," Kimiko said, her voice sharp and precise.

Hayama straightened. "And how reliable is this information?"

"Positive," Kimiko answered firmly. "One of them—a younger insurgent—was just a low-level officer, but the older one is a field captain. He used to be a Tokubetsu Jonin in Kusagakure before defecting to become a Missing-Nin. During the Third War, he worked with Iwagakure, helping set up their supply lines in the Land of Grass. When the new Kusagakure government offered clemency to former collaborators, he refused and has been active in the insurgency ever since."

Hayama frowned. "That checks out. Kusagakure might want to confirm the details themselves, but I doubt he was lying. What else?"

Kimiko's expression darkened. "Iwagakure has been providing funding, material support, and intelligence. They've been smuggling kunai, shuriken, paper bombs, medicine—everything needed to sustain a prolonged conflict. Instead of relying on the Kannabi Bridge, they've been using mountain smuggling routes to bypass official checkpoints."

"That doesn't make sense," Karin interjected, her tone skeptical. "Mountain routes are dangerous. They're narrow and treacherous, impossible for wagons to traverse. With the weapons and supplies we've seen, there's no way they've been smuggling enough to equip the insurgents without drawing attention. Kusagakure's smuggling controls are strict—they'd be caught before they reached the border."

Kimiko nodded. "That's why they're using specialized storage seals. According to the field captain, Iwa-nin courier these seals into Kusagakure via the mountain routes to avoid detection. They hand them off at predetermined drop points to insurgent representatives and then leave the same way they came."

"That's still impractical," Sasuke said, leaning forward, his brows furrowed. "Standard storage seals can't handle large-scale smuggling. Even the best seals can only hold a limited number of items before they degrade in a matter of hours. They'd need dozens of couriers traveling weekly just to supply what we've seen."

"They weren't lying," Kimiko said simply, her tone final.

Hayama sighed and crossed his arms. "Konoha did receive intel a few years back about Iwagakure developing an advanced storage seal. Supposedly, it had an expanded capacity and could store multiple types of items simultaneously while cutting down on the chakra needed to actually unseal the objects inside. We never confirmed if they succeeded, but it's plausible."

Neji turned to him. "If they perfected the technology, it could explain how they're sustaining the insurgency without drawing attention. A single courier could deliver enough supplies to outfit an entire cell."

"Damn," Hayama muttered, rubbing his temples. "I'll need to coordinate with the Kusagakure officials about this. If these seals exist, we'll need to step up patrols along the mountain routes. But getting permission from Kusa to help patrol their borders…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "That's going to be an uphill battle."

"You mean to tell me confirmation that their northern neighbor—who has a history of invading them—is funding an insurgency trying to topple their country isn't enough to convince them?" Sasuke asked, exasperated.

"Look, kids, it's not that they don't know," Hayama replied with a weary sigh. "You have to see it from their perspective. Letting us get involved in their country's internal affairs weakens their standing with their daimyo. They've already had to outsource his security detail to us, which is embarrassing enough. If they let Konoha-nin help with something like border control to stop the insurgency's funding, they might as well hand us the keys to their country. They don't want to rely on outsiders because if they do, the daimyo and his court might start asking, What's the point of having an in-house ninja village if it has to depend on outsiders for everything?"

He paused, running a hand through his hair before continuing, "And don't forget, Kusagakure is a buffer state. They still remember what happened the last time they antagonized Iwagakure."

Neji arched a brow. "Iwagakure is already antagonizing them by supporting their insurgents," he countered. "Perhaps we should approach the Grass Daimyo directly? After the attempt on his life, he might be more inclined to believe us and force Kusagakure to act."

Hayama shook his head. "It wouldn't work. Kusagakure would just deny everything. They'd say nothing corroborates the confession or promise to 'investigate,' only to sweep it under the rug. Worst-case scenario, they could accuse us of fabricating the confession to drag them into a war with Iwagakure."

Silence settled over the room until Kimiko finally spoke. "...How much longer is the Daimyo staying in Kusagakure?"

"A week more," Hayama answered after a moment. "Then we'll accompany him and his retinue to the capital. Why?"

Kimiko reached into her pouch, pulling out two scrolls. She unrolled them across the table, revealing identical maps of the Land of Grass. A bloodstain marked the same point on each map.

"...I'm not even going to ask what I'm looking at," Hayama muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Explain."

"When they were spilling their secrets, I asked about the schedule for the supply drop-offs. They didn't know the exact schedule, but they mentioned hearing about a big one coming up soon. Supposedly, it's the largest one yet," said Kimiko

"So...are you suggesting what I think you are?" Hayama asked cautiously.

"Yes," Kimiko replied, her expression grim. "We crash the meeting. We'll grab irrefutable proof of Iwagakure's involvement—whether it's an Iwa corpse, a scroll with an official Iwagakure seal, or something else. Once we have that, we present it to Kusagakure. If they still refuse to acknowledge it…" Her voice trailed off for a moment before she finished, "It's a good thing the Grass Daimyo is staying here for another week."

Her words lingered in the air like a challenge, and the room fell into a tense silence once more.

"...That's cold, Kimiko," Hayama said after a long silence, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. He glanced toward Karin, who raised her hands defensively.

"I don't care much about this village, but I figured you already knew that," Karin said with a shrug. "I'll stay here the whole week if that helps reassure you I'm not going to snitch. Speaking of which, when is this drop-off supposed to happen?"

"Tomorrow," Kimiko answered evenly.

Hayama sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temples. "...You know I can't sanction this officially, right?"

"Yes," Kimiko replied.

"And you understand that what you're proposing goes way beyond both your mission scope and the reason we're stationed here—not to mention the fact that you're a group of genin?"

"Yes," she repeated.

"And that I can't offer any manpower without tipping off Kusagakure officials that something's going on? Because if they find out we're acting behind their backs, it could cause a diplomatic scandal. They might kick us out of their country entirely, which would mean we'd lose the ability to cordon off Iwagakure from using the Land of Grass as a staging ground to launch attacks into the Land of Fire. Not to mention our Daimyo won't be happy."

"Yes," Kimiko said again.

Hayama let out another long sigh, his expression shifting between frustration and resignation. "Alright. Sasuke, Neji, Kimiko—you'll leave before dawn tomorrow. Karin, you'll stay here with me and assist with managing Kusagakure's officials. If they start asking questions about your whereabouts, I'll handle it as best I can, but I can only delay them for so long. You three need to come back with proof as quickly as possible. No delays, no detours. Understood?"

Kimiko gave a curt nod, her determination unwavering. "Understood."

Sasuke and Neji exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement as well. Karin crossed her arms and leaned back, smirking slightly. "Good luck, you three. You're going to need it."

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and Kimiko found herself back in the shared bunk room with Karin. She sat on her bed, carefully polishing Byakko's edge with an oiled cloth, while Karin, seated behind her, ran a comb through her hair with practiced ease.

"I still don't get why you're insisting on going on this mission," Karin murmured, her voice low. "This is more than just going above and beyond."

Kimiko didn't look up, her focus on the blade in her hands. "The only reason Iwagakure is funding these rebels is to either force the Grass Daimyo's hand into expelling Konoha by harming his people or to topple Kusagakure entirely. Kusagakure is nominally allied to us. Letting them continue this damages Konoha's position—and innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire."

There was a beat of silence before Karin spoke again, her voice softer this time.

"...It's not like Kusagakure today is any better, or the Daimyo for that matter."

"I know," Kimiko said quietly. She paused her polishing, turning to squeeze Karin's hand gently. Her almond-shaped nails, painted with shimmering white polish, caught the dim light of the room. "I was there with you. I can't imagine living in a place this hostile to you, but the rebels… they'd treat you even worse."

"Would they?" Karin muttered bitterly. "Sometimes, I think about just leaving this place to its death, you know. There are days when being a Missing-Nin seems preferable to staying here, being treated like a doll they can bite whenever they need healing."

"Don't say that," Kimiko whispered, her tone soft but firm.

"I'm just saying." Karin's hands stilled, resting in her lap. "My mom died in this place, giving everything she had to heal their ninja, and they didn't even thank her. Then they turned around and shoved me into her place. What kind of life is that? What's there to be proud of?"

Kimiko frowned, her expression hardening as her thoughts churned. No wonder Karin eventually joined Orochimaru in another timeline. Kusagakure had never treated her like one of their own. She'd always been a refugee, valued only for her ability to heal, nothing more. A stranger. A tool. It was disgusting.

The idea of preserving Kusagakure felt… complicated. She didn't want innocent peasants to die, but the village itself as an institution had glaring flaws. And the Grass Daimyo? Hardly a paragon of responsibility. Was this place even worth saving? A part of her wondered. Deep down, though, she knew the answer: yes. If only for the sake of the people who just wanted to live their lives in peace.

"What do the people here think about the insurgency, anyway?" Kimiko asked after a moment, her voice casual, hoping to change the subject.

"...They don't," Karin replied flatly. She set the comb down and leaned back against the bedframe. "They don't think about it. They think about whether they'll have enough harvest to last through the next season or if they've saved enough to send their eldest kid to school in the city. They care whether the landowning clan will decide to raise their share of the crops they'd collect." She paused, her voice tinged with bitterness. "They don't give a damn about Konoha or Iwagakure, the Land of Fire or the Land of Earth. They're starving. They don't have the luxury of caring about anything else. Both the loyalists and insurgents kill them in different ways,"

Kimiko sighed, setting Byakko aside before leaning her head against Karin's legs. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. But at the end of the day, no matter how strong she became, she was still a shinobi. A shinobi fought, a shinobi endured, and a shinobi ensured the prosperity of their village. That was the reality she couldn't escape.

Her thoughts drifted to Naruto. His dream… it felt so distant and yet so close. It would be a difficult, uphill battle to help him achieve it. She knew they still had three grueling years ahead before it could even begin to take shape. And now, with how much the world around her was changing, she was beginning to doubt the reliability of the future knowledge she had clung to so tightly.

That thought unsettled her. It meant she needed to trust herself more—to trust her instincts, her judgment, and her resolve. She had to believe that what she was doing now was the right thing, even if she couldn't see the end clearly anymore.

"Let's get some sleep," Kimiko murmured, her voice weary.

"Yeah," Karin replied softly, running a hand through Kimiko's hair. "You've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

Kimiko closed her eyes, letting herself relax, if only for a moment. Tomorrow would bring its own battles, and she needed every bit of strength she could muster.

It felt like she had barely closed her eyes when her alarm blared. Kimiko rose immediately, grabbing Byakko without a word. Karin was still asleep, sprawled across her bed. Kimiko didn't bother waking her—there was no need for goodbyes.

Leaving their shared quarters, she made her way to the reception area. Sasuke, Neji, and Hayama were already waiting, the latter leaning casually against the counter, a weary but focused expression on his face.

"Rise and shine," Hayama greeted dryly, straightening as she approached. "Alright, listen up. You three have the entire day to get this done. I'll tell the Kusagakure officials that you're buried in paperwork and not to be disturbed. That should keep them off your trail for now."

He glanced at each of them in turn, his tone firm. "I've arranged for you to leave through the east gate. Once you're out of Kusagakure, you're on your own. Complete your mission, retrieve whatever proof you can, and head to the designated rendezvous point I've marked on the maps in these packs." He gestured to three neatly packed backpacks on the counter. "Once there, wait for extraction. I'll handle arrangements for an alternate reentry point into Kusagakure."

He paused, his gaze hardening. "Be aware, though—anyone who doesn't make it back by sundown will be presumed dead, no matter the circumstances. Understood?"

Kimiko gave a sharp nod, the weight of his words settling over her. She had expected no less.

"Good," Hayama said. He picked up the backpacks, handing one to each of them. "Inside, you'll find maps with the rendezvous point clearly marked, along with Kusagakure ninja attire. Change into the uniforms as soon as possible and keep them on until you're safely away from any Kusagakure patrols or civilian areas. They're your best shot at concealing your identities. Unfortunately, we didn't have the time to fabricate fake identification, so you'll need to avoid the main roads at all costs."

Hayama rubbed the back of his neck, clearly reluctant to ask. "One last time—where is the meeting point between the insurgents and Iwagakure?"

"Tenchi Bridge," Kimiko replied, her voice steady. "Roughly a hundred kilometers from here."

The same location where, in another timeline, Naruto and Sakura had fought to reclaim Sasuke from Orochimaru was now the site of an illicit meeting between a rebel insurgency and Konoha's enemy.

"Fitting," Hayama muttered under his breath. "Alright then. You know what's at stake. Get going."

Their departure from Kusagakure went smoothly. At the designated exit point, the guards were conveniently absent, allowing Kimiko, Neji, and Sasuke to slip out unnoticed. Clad in Kusagakure uniforms—long black robes and straw hats—they moved quickly, hopping through the dense forest. Their route took them in a wide arc, heading north before curving west toward their destination: Tenchi Bridge.

After traveling several kilometers along the road, they dove deeper into the forest, avoiding the more well-traveled paths. Between Neji's Byakugan and Kimiko's finely honed sensory abilities, steering clear of any groups or potential patrols was effortless. The trio moved in relative silence, their focus and the weight of the mission leaving little room for conversation.

The forest terrain proved easy to navigate with two dojutsu users and a skilled sensor among them. They arrived at the vicinity of Tenchi Bridge earlier than anticipated. Neji activated his Byakugan to scan the area, halting them roughly a hundred meters from the bridge. Slowly, they advanced, carefully checking for traps or enemy shinobi who might already be lurking nearby.

Kimiko expanded her sensory net, and when no unfamiliar chakra signatures registered within range, they moved closer. Scouting the immediate area, they took time to familiarize themselves with the terrain. The bridge itself was simple but sturdy—a wooden arch bridge reinforced with metal supports and railings. Its planks were thicker than average, suggesting it was built to handle heavier traffic. Beneath the bridge, the deep ravine yawned open, with the river below rushing in powerful currents, its noise faintly reaching their ears.

Satisfied with their surroundings, the three positioned themselves in concealed spots within the forest, roughly thirty meters from the bridge. Neji kept his Byakugan active, his gaze fixed on the bridge to monitor for any signs of movement. The plan was simple: wait for both parties to arrive and meet on the bridge, then creep closer and ambush them at the most opportune moment.

The idea of planting paper bombs under the bridge had been discussed but ultimately rejected. If the bridge were to collapse, there was a high risk that the bodies of the insurgents and Iwagakure operatives would be lost to the ravine below, swept away by the river. With no physical evidence left behind, the mission would be a failure. Furthermore, destroying the bridge might provoke unforeseen consequences, particularly for Kusagakure's precarious situation.

Instead, they opted for a more traditional approach. They would remain hidden, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike. Their ambush would be swift, decisive, and precise, ensuring that they secured the proof they needed without unnecessary destruction. All that remained was the tense waiting, the anticipation building as they hunkered down in the cover of the forest, their senses alert and ready.

It didn't take long before it happened.

Kimiko's sensory range flared, alerting her to incoming movement. Two distinct chakra signatures emerged, moving steadily toward the bridge from their side.

"Heads up," Kimiko murmured, her voice steady. "Two signatures, around Chuunin level, approaching from our direction."

"I have visual," Neji confirmed.

On cue, two figures appeared at the edge of the bridge, stepping into view. Both were cloaked in the typical Kusagakure attire, dark robes with wide-brimmed straw hats obscuring their faces. One carried a Fuuma Shuriken strapped to their back, while the other seemed unarmed, at least at a glance. They stopped at the bridge's edge, close enough that Kimiko could faintly make out snippets of their conversation.

"...Should have been here by now," muttered the one carrying the Fuuma Shuriken. "Think they were compromised?"

"No," the second figure responded sharply. "Orders are clear. We need to secure the supplies at all costs."

"Yes, but—"

Kimiko's focus sharpened as another flicker of chakra brushed against the edges of her range. "Neji, Sasuke," she whispered, "I'm picking up another signature. It's faint. Neji, do you have visual?"

"I do," Neji replied, his tone uncharacteristically tense. "But…"

Kimiko turned her gaze to the other side of the bridge, following Neji's line of sight. Her breath hitched.

The individual wore a short, utilitarian dress with bandages wrapped around their exposed waist. A katana with a crimson hilt and square guard rested at their back. But what truly stood out was the mask they wore—a cracked clay haniwa mask with a vaguely human visage, red circles marking the cheeks like eerie symbols.

Kimiko's heart sank. Oh no..

"Iwa ANBU," Sasuke hissed, his voice taut with disbelief. "Why the hell is an ANBU their point of contact?"

"Should we abort the mission?" Neji asked, his pale eyes narrowing at the ominous figure.

Kimiko bit her lip, her mind racing. The situation was far more dangerous than anticipated, but they couldn't turn back now. Her voice was steady as she made the call.

"No," she said firmly. "We've come too far to abort now. If they've sent an ANBU, it means the intel they're carrying is critical. We need it, no matter the risk."

Whatever could have been said next was abruptly cut off as the two insurgents spoke.

"We didn't expect an ANBU to be sent," said the one carrying the Fuuma Shuriken, his tone tinged with suspicion. "Identify yourself."

The masked figure responded coolly, "That is not necessary. I was sent here in lieu of your previous contacts due to the recent failure of your operation against the Grass Daimyo. We've also received intel that necessitated heightened security."

"And this intel is something you won't share with us?" demanded the man. The woman turned her masked face toward him, the weight of her derision palpable even without seeing her expression.

"We share what we determine will serve our mutual interests," she said icily. "This intel is none of your concern."

The two men glared at her darkly but said nothing more. Ignoring their simmering frustration, the ANBU woman reached into her pouch and produced two scrolls—one a dark beige, the other a lighter brown.

"They're keeping supplies in scrolls that small?" Sasuke whispered. "What kind of sealing techniques did Iwagakure develop?"

Kimiko didn't look away from the scene but answered quietly, "After their logistics crumbled when Kannabi Bridge was destroyed in the Third Shinobi War, they probably began developing ways to solve supply chain problems."

Neji, his voice grim, added, "Improving their logistics could have become a matter of survival for them."

"But still..." Sasuke murmured, the implications gnawing at him.

"Well?" one of the Kusagakure insurgents asked impatiently. "What are you waiting for? Toss us the scrolls so we can be on our way."

"Yes," the ANBU woman said, "Just as soon as we kill those three people watching us."

Kimiko's eyes widened in alarm, but the woman was already moving. Her hand shot back into her pouch, and in a split second, three kunai flew toward their hiding spot, explosive tags fluttering in the air behind them.

Without hesitation, the three flickered to the only viable position left: the middle of the bridge. Kimiko, Neji, and Sasuke landed back-to-back, flanked on both sides by their enemies. Sasuke and Neji turned to face the two Kusagakure insurgents, steel already leaving their sheaths, while Kimiko fixed her gaze on the masked woman just as a fiery explosion engulfed the shrubs where they had hidden moments before.

The Kusagakure insurgents snapped their heads toward them, their hands already reaching for their weapons.

"Oh," the ANBU said smoothly, her tone amused as she regarded them. "I didn't expect my little interlopers to be brats. You must be skilled, though, to have evaded my detection for so long."

"Let's kill them!" barked one of the insurgents, his weapon drawn.

"Mm, yes," the woman mused. "And how fortuitous. When Kusagakure's ninjas find your corpses, I doubt they'll take kindly to discovering Konoha sent an unsanctioned recon team into their territory. I wonder what story they'll tell when they put the pieces together. It'll be quite the scandal."

"None of you will be alive to tell it," Kimiko shot back.

And then, all hell broke loose.

Kimiko saw the woman's hand twitch and reacted instantly, body-flickering forward to intercept her. At the same moment, Sasuke and Neji surged toward the insurgents. Reappearing in front of the ANBU, Kimiko swung Byakko in a diagonal arc, its white blade trailing a faint crimson glow as it cut through the air.

The ANBU ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike. Kimiko pivoted fluidly, using the momentum to spin into a kick that connected with the woman's mask, sending her flying back and crashing into a tree with a resounding thud.

Landing lightly, Kimiko didn't hesitate. She drew three senbon with her free hand, infusing them with her toxic chakra. A crimson aura engulfed the needles as she hurled them toward her target. They struck the ANBU's chest—but instead of flesh, they pierced into brown sludge, the woman's body dissolving before her eyes.

"Mud Clone," Kimiko hissed.

Her senses flared, warning her of movement behind. She spun, raising Byakko just in time to parry a descending ninjato. Sparks flew as her white blade met the black steel of the ANBU's weapon. They locked eyes, mask against an unyielding stare.

"You're fast," the woman remarked, her voice calm and cold. "But a brat is still a brat."

With a sharp shove, the ANBU forced Kimiko back, creating space before leaping backward, closer to the bridge. From her position, Kimiko could see Sasuke locked in combat with the previously unarmed insurgent, now wielding twin curved kunai. Sasuke's Sharingan glimmered, reading every move and countering with precision. Meanwhile, Neji pursued the second insurgent, who swung a fuma shuriken like a deadly pendulum to keep him at bay.

"Eyes on me, girl," the ANBU snapped.

Kimiko's focus returned to her opponent just as three kunai flew toward her, each trailed by explosive tags. Without hesitation, she drew three more senbon, imbuing them with water chakra. The senbon shot forward, spiraling with spinning water, intercepting the kunai mid-flight. The explosion erupted in a burst of smoke and water, obscuring the space between them.

Kimiko sensed the ANBU's chakra closing in fast. Coiling her legs, she leapt into the smoke, Byakko held at her side, ready to strike. As she entered the smokescreen, the ANBU was there to meet her, blade already in motion. The air between them crackled with tension as their techniques collided.

"Iwagakure Style Kenjutsu: Avalanche Descent!" the woman shouted.

"Kimiko Style Kenjutsu: White Tiger's Bite!" Kimiko countered.

The two swords clashed, releasing a blinding flash of light. They passed each other in mid-air, landing on opposite sides of the bridge. Kimiko crouched low, Byakko raised upright, her breathing steady despite the fresh cut across her arm.

She glanced back, her sharp eyes catching the ANBU struggling to stand. Blood seeped from twin gashes on her shoulder and hip, staining her uniform.

"Damn it," the woman hissed, clutching her wounds. "No matter. I've still—" Her knees buckled, and she staggered forward, her body trembling as she tried to steady herself.

"Poison," Kimiko said coolly, rising to her full height. Byakko glinted in her grasp, its edge unblemished by the smoke and blood. "My chakra is toxic. I lace my weapons and jutsu with poisons I've introduced to my body. What you're experiencing now comes from the venom of a Giant Red-Headed Centipede, native to Konoha's training fields."

The ANBU's breaths grew labored, her limbs sluggish as her body betrayed her. She dropped to one knee, glaring at Kimiko through her mask.

"Y-you think…" the woman rasped, her voice weakening, "you've won?"

Suddenly, the ANBU began weaving hand signs.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Jutsu!" she called out.

The ground beneath the ANBU trembled violently before surging upward, forming a massive, serpentine dragon of rock and dirt. Its maw opened wide, poised to strike down on Kimiko. Her eyes widened at the sight, but she immediately flew through her own set of hand seals.

"Water Style: Black Water Dragon Jutsu!" she shouted.

Kimiko unleashed her chakra, allowing her toxic chakra to suffuse the water jutsu. From the ravine below, a black, serpentine dragon surged upward, its form composed of dark river water tinged with her noxious chakra. It roared, biting into the neck of the earthen dragon mid-air. The two colossal beasts clashed violently, their forms writhing as their energies collided. Finally, they detonated in a deafening explosion, rock shards and caustic droplets of water raining down onto the wooden bridge. The planks beneath them hissed as the toxic water sizzled on contact.

Through the settling mist of debris, the ANBU lunged forward, her figure obscured until the last second. Kimiko's senses flared, but before she could react, the ANBU reappeared in front of her, a rock-formed gauntlet covering her left hand. With brutal force, the gauntlet struck Kimiko across the face, sending her staggering backward, stars dancing in her vision.

Before Kimiko could recover, the ANBU leapt high into the air. Her right arm became encased in stone, forming a deadly pointed drill. She descended rapidly, aiming the makeshift weapon straight toward Kimiko in a vicious, spiraling dive.

Kimiko spat blood to the side, her busted lip stinging. Her instincts screamed at her to brace for impact, but her eyes darted to the ANBU's trajectory—and her heart dropped.

She wasn't targeting her anymore. She was heading straight for Neji, who stood just beyond the bridge, his opponent already crumpled at his feet.

Damn it!

Without hesitation, Kimiko body-flickered, reappearing beside Neji just in time to shove him out of harm's way. Neji stumbled back, startled, as Kimiko took his place. The ANBU's stone drill grazed her cheek, the sharp edge tearing into her skin as the woman crashed into the ground behind her, leaving the bridge trembling under the force of her impact. The stone drill pierced into the ground, leaving a dent.

Kimiko didn't waste a moment. Quickly weaving hand seals, she activated the Hiding Like a Mole Technique and sank into the ground as if it were liquid. She pushed forward through the earth, her sensory abilities locking onto the ANBU's signature above her. Like a predator stalking its prey, she tunneled beneath the ground.

The ANBU turned her attention to Neji, who had regained his footing, and lunged toward him. But before she could close the distance, Kimiko erupted from the ground beneath her, emerging like a specter. Her pale hand shot up, seizing the ANBU's neck in a vice grip. Her sharpened nails punctured the skin, and Kimiko flooded her opponent's bloodstream with the same neurotoxin on her sword

The ANBU stiffened, her body convulsing as black veins spiderwebbed outward from the points of entry, creeping across her neck. The ANBU's body trembled as her strength began to wane, her movements growing sluggish as the neurotoxin worked its way through her system. Kimiko tightened her grip, her eyes unwavering as the woman faltered.

Finally, the woman collapsed near the edge of the bridge, her body twitching as she fought to stay conscious. Kimiko, bruised and breathing heavily, planted Byakko into the ground for support, panting as the adrenaline coursed through her.

We just beat an ANBU with two Chuunin support.

Behind her, Sasuke reappeared, his hand resting firmly on her shoulder. "You okay?" he asked, his voice steady but concerned.

Kimiko turned to him and gave a weak nod. From a distance, she noticed the scorched and barely recognizable corpse of Sasuke's opponent, flames still licking at what remained. Moments later, Neji landed on her other side, his sharp gaze flickering down at the twitching ANBU, now barely able to move.

"All right," Kimiko began, brushing a hand through her hair. "She stuffed her scrolls back into her pouch. I think we ca—"

Before she could finish, the woman's hand shot to the ground with a final burst of resolve.

"Earth Style: Landslide Jutsu!" the ANBU growled.

The ground beneath them quaked violently, and the three leapt back as a wave of rock and dirt surged forward, breaking apart the terrain in front of them. Kimiko, still mid-air, quickly formed hand signs, her instincts taking over.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" she called out.

Water particles around them began to spiral, converging into a vortex that coalesced into a spinning wall of liquid. The wall collided with the landslide, halting the rushing wave of debris. As the water cascaded back to the ground, the landscape before them was left gouged, wet, and uneven, but the jutsu had done its job.

Kimiko's senses flared. Through the dissipating mist of her water wall, she saw the ANBU—now limping—already halfway across the bridge, trying to escape.

"She's trying to run!" Kimiko yelled, her chakra surging as she became a blur of motion. In an instant, she reappeared at the far side of the bridge, cutting off the woman's escape. Behind the ANBU, Sasuke and Neji landed on the opposite side, effectively trapping her in the middle of the bridge.

"Heh. Talented brats, huh?" the ANBU spat weakly, blood staining her mask and her breath rasping. Black veins crawled visibly up her neck, pulsing violently. "How the hell did I let you three beat me?"

"You're still standing and moving under your own will," Kimiko said, her voice steady. "Impressive. Iwa-nin are strong and resolute." She raised Byakko, pointing its gleaming edge at the woman. "I won't insult you by offering you your life, but I will grant you a clean death."

The ANBU let out a raspy chuckle, bitter and defiant. "How generous. Too bad I don't intend to give any of you the same."

With a sudden surge of strength, she tore the bandages from her forearm, revealing a bracer covered in explosive seals. Her hand made a single sign, activating the seals. In an instant, the explosive tags unfurled, streaking past them toward the bridge's support beams.

Kimiko's eyes widened as the woman screamed her final words. "Ninja Art: Explosive Suicide!"

A series of deafening explosions ripped through the bridge, shaking it violently. Kimiko turned to see the support beams disintegrating under the force of the blasts. Behind her, Sasuke and Neji lunged back, retreating toward solid ground as the bridge began to collapse.

Kimiko coiled her knees, preparing to leap to safety, but then her eyes fell on the ANBU's pouch.

The scrolls—they were still there.

She didn't hesitate. Instead of retreating, she lunged forward, Byakko held high. With a precise slash, she severed the pouch from the ANBU's belt. As it fell, she twisted her body, delivering a powerful kick to send it arcing through the air toward Sasuke and Neji.

The last thing she saw was Neji catching the pouch in mid-air.

The last sound she heard was Sasuke's voice, screaming her name, as the bridge gave way beneath her.

Kimiko plummeted, the rushing waters of the ravine rising to meet her as darkness closed in.