"..." Normal chat.

ABC. Thought.

Chapter 9

Earlier.

Not long after Nina left the team on her own, Naruto attempted to go searching for her.

"I'll go. You stay with the others and finish the rest."

But Sasuke had another idea.

After having explained to the team that he would get the job done much faster and efficient than Naruto, Sasuke's allowed to leave. Then, he jumped out of the windows and disappeared.

The traces are still new. She shouldn't be too far off.

Just as he predicted, Nina's found at a vacant spot nearby. Being surrounded by the enemies. And instead of charging in to help, he stayed in the shadow to observe them.

It looks like she has gotten herself into a fire ant nest.

Traps were set everywhere. There were bastards lurking within the bushes and up on those branches, carrying blow guns contained paralysis needles.

Every gang has a leader. And they're still nowhere to be seen.

That fake Kazuhiro couldn't be one since he's the first to die under his blade. While the rest were too weak and dumb.

After wasting more time watching them playing around with their weapons, Sasuke realized something else about Nina's potential. There was no hidden Kekkei Genkai, her chakra flow was normal, if not, weak.

This girl has no knowledge of Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. While Tatjutsu and Shurikenjutsu levels are average at best.

A little more of struggling and Nina started showing signs of exhaustion. Therefore Sasuke decided to step in, until he saw Nina threw away her Kunai and reached for twins daggers hanging on her waist.

Her aura and gesture drastically changed. What's going on?

To get a clearer view, he took a step out of his safe zone. Only to be seen by one of the men standing guard nearby.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!"

In instant, the bandit aimed his blowgun at him.

"Ugh!"

Before able to pull the trigger, he's knocked out cold by Sasuke's kick. And the sound of his body dropped onto the floor had alerted everyone around him.

"Intruder! It's one of them!"

Being found out, Sasuke had to reveal himself to them. And he noticed that Nina's happy to see him, too much that it almost made him feel pity toward her.

"No need to get so excited. I wasn't here just to provide aids."

Still, it would never change the fact that Sasuke did not trust her. Ever.

The battle starts and Sasuke rampages his way through multiple waves of opponents. Doing everything he can in order gain the crowd control. From Shurikenjutsu, Tatjutsu to Ninjutsu - Fire release.

While I aim for whoever is hiding out of sight and knock them out before they can initiate any ambush.

"What's this? I've only gone for a little bit and you peeps have already caused a big fuss."

It's not until more than half of these men have fallen that a group of people in brown mantles appears. And one of them takes off their covers to greet us.

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. Carrying a big sack full of valuable items in his hand.

Judging by their looks, these people must have finished their daily robbery and on their way back to the hideout.

"B-Boss!"

"You fucked up big this time, didn't ya?"

Being questioned, 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."

Even though only a quarter of his men are left alive, that man doesn't seem to be fazed. It's as if their lives worth nothing to him.

"So, the big one's finally shown up."

Kicking one of the bandit's bodies out of the way, Sasuke speaks.

"This big one named Kibutsuj. And you brats must be shinobi, huh?"

Staring at several Shinobi tools in our hands, his teeth cringed in disgust. Then he unsheathes something looks like a Chinese sabre which is tied behind his back.

"Troublesome, the likes of you, always butting into other people's business."

Fuming in anger, Kibutsuj steps forward to fight us.

There are seven in total, including their leader.

And if I can distract some of them out of the way, Sasuke will have the time to take these guys down one by one. Once the subordinates are dealt with, we can join force to eliminate Kibutsuji.

Should I go first? Or-

While I'm still deep in thoughts, Sasuke charges at me in full speed and the next thing I know, we're both lying on the ground with him yelling at me for not paying attention.

"Do you even realize what kind of situation we're in right now?! Get a hold of yourself!"

"Gasp! I'm so sorry!"

When finally come to, I'm shocked by the sight of paralysis needles on his right leg and arm.

This is my fault! If only had I not being too careless back then...

Perhaps having figured out what's running inside my head, Sasuke gestures his hand at me not to worry about it. As he doesn't want to alert the enemy about his condition.

"What's wrong, kids?! Scared already?!"

Together with his subordinates, Kibutsuji begins charging at us with a sabre in his hand.

Fine. Here goes nothing.

So I dash forward and jumps up. Launching my kick at the first guy and flinging several Shuriken to the second to stun them. However, they counter both of my attacks in a mere of second.

Meanwhile, the rest of them ignore me and focus onto Sasuke to bring him down. As if having realized that he's the real threat in this uneven battle.

Ugh! I have to get pass these two first If I want to help him.

By the time I defeat these opponents, by only using simple Tatjutsu and a little bit of luck, Sasuke has already taken down three of them but seems to be out of breath.

Time for some sneak attack.

With that in mind, I dash to the one standing furthest from the group and hold his limbs from behind. Quickly catching up, Sasuke deals a blow right through his heart to kill him.

Five are down. One left to go before the final boss.

Kibutsuji is the one giving us the most difficult time to deal with since his actions are unpredictable. Sometimes he strikes mindlessly, sometimes he hides behind his subordinates and aims for our weak points.

For some reasons, Kibutsuji has stopped attacking and watching Sasuke intensely.

Then I see him doing a specific body movement that looks like he's about throw his sabre at Sasuke.

"Sasuke! There's a blade flying toward you!"

When it's getting too close, Sasuke's not showing any sign of dodging.

Has paralysis poison gotten into him!?

Since I don't have enough strength to snap that blade into two or kick it back to its owner. The only option is to push Sasuke out of the way to save his life.

And the price I have to pay is a full blow of metal to my left shoulder.

"You idiot! What did you shield me for?"

Sasuke scolds me for my recklessness when I collapse next to him and cough up blood.

Damn it! That hurts like hell. Hopefully I won't bleed myself to death before returning to Konoha.

Fighting off the sharp pain, I try to pull the damned blade out of my shoulder.

"Stay focus or we'll get hit by needles again."

To stand up straight, I borrow Sasuke's free arm and give him the sabre. So that Kibutsuji won't have his weapon to use against us.

"Stand back. You won't be able to fight anyone in that state."

Sasuke pushes me to stay behind him. By now his Sharingan has been deactivated in order to save some energy.

"...And just who are you to talk?"

So I point at his trembling legs, which are now deeply infected by the poison.

Sigh... Hell is going to break loose if Kasumi sees me in this pathetic state.

More than half of my torso has been drenched in blood and ruined the beautiful Kimono that Kasumi has given me for my birthday. This is bad, I'm getting dizzy because of blood loss.

"Play time's over, kids."

Kibutsuji approaches us, that annoying smirk has yet to fade ever since we encountered him.

"Couldn't agree more."

Sasuke signals me to leave him to save myself and search for help from the others.

Like hell I'm going to agree with that suicidal idea.

When I refuse to follow his plan, Sasuke adds.

"You will only be a nuisance if staying. I'm not going to die that easily."

What's with him acting so heroic all of the sudden?

"And you're expecting me to get out of here safely? With this wound?"

So I smack him out of his fantasy, by pointing at the big hole on my left shoulder.

"I'm pretty much stuck here with you, Sasuke. Whether you want it or not."

There's still traps being set everywhere, god knows if I will fall into one of them and die before getting back to our team.

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 don't get in my way."

Is Sasuke's answer before rushing forward with the sabre in his hands. He's trying to land his first attack onto Kibutsuji. Also risking to drain his chakra even faster and worsen the poisonous effect on his body.

"Sasuke, run!"

When seeing Sasuke to moves slower and gets hit more frequently. I throw a smoke bomb at them to help him escape.

"Everyone, gather to me!"

Getting bored by the lengthy battle, Kibutsuji orders every last one of his men, including the ones watching my back, to get out of their covers and focus on Sasuke. Blocking his path and stop him from moving any further.

"On the count of three."

Kibutsuji gestures his hands toward the subordinates to wait for his signal. When it's down to zero, they all jump in to strike.

"Sasuke, watch out!"

When I attempt to charge in to aid him, Sasuke stops me. "You stay out of this!"

Just what the hell is Sasuke thinking! If I don't do something, he will die!

There is no choice left, there is no time left. Even though I'm not allowed to use this.

Ryu nii-sama... I'm sorry. It looks like I won't be able to keep our promise. After all...

With Sharingan activated, Sasuke tightens his grip on the sabre and waits for the big counter.

Come at me, you trashes. For this shall be your last memory to never underestimate the Uchiha, ever again.

Before any of them can reach to him, however, they're torn into pieces by a mysterious force and drop dead. Blood is splashed onto the ground and trees, while body parts are scattered everywhere.

What... Just happened?

It's so fast that he couldn't see what or who caused it.

Was it her doings?

Looking at Nina, Sasuke realizes that they are the only ones left standing.

Still in a drenched kimono and the butterfly pin is almost falling off her messy hair. Nina's holding tight onto the bloody twin daggers in her hand. While her entire body's burning in some kind of red colored chakra(?) that he has never seen before.

"What are you?"

Those topaz colored eyes are no longer fill with warmness and enthusiastic that he's been familiar with. But cold and deadly.

"..."

Not responding to his question, Nina closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. After putting the twin daggers back into its cover, that strange aura is fades away.

"What the fuck was that?"

Another question is ignored as Nina approaches him. When she gets near, a gust of cold air which is the same with the one he sensed earlier, lashes over his body. Causing Sasuke's muscles to twitch and he flops down onto the floor.

"Are you okay, Sasuke?"

With that usual tone, she asks him.

"Here, I still have some left from last night."

He's irritated by the fake kindness Nina's showing. By checking the cuts on his skin and offering him the remedies that Kakashi has given her to heal his wounds.

Acting as if nothing has happened...!

This newfound attitude of hers - being cool all over the top- is starting to get on his nerve.

"I asked what the fuck was that!? Are you deaf?!"

Shoving those filthy hands out of his face and and let the remedies fall off onto the ground, Sasuke yells.

"I... only wanted to save you, did I do wrong?"

Startled by his loud voice, Nina bites her lips to calm herself before answering. While reaching for her pocket and take out something else, a salve.

"You do realize that's not what I'm asking you right now, right?"

Still, that's not what he's expected to hear.

"Stop doing that and speak!"

Seeing that her hands are still working on treating the wounds on his left arm, Sasuke shoves her away. And just as she's about to open her lips to say something, a yelling cuts them off.

"Sasuke! Nina-chan!"

It's Naruto high-pitched voice. Then the entire team 7 arrives to the scene.

"What's going on?!"

Everyone's shocked by the horrendous sight. 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.

"Naruto! I was so scared..."

The moment seeing Naruto, Nina returns to her casual lame self and starts crying.

"...?"

Confused by sudden her change of attitude, Sasuke stares at her.

"Why did you run off on your own! You could have waited for me, you know!"

While Naruto is giving her a lecture for doing something too reckless.

Oh? Is Sasuke-kun trying to heal his wounds?

Seeing an opened salve lying next to Sasuke's leg and the wounds on his left arm are being covered with the stuff inside it. Sakura picks up the salve and continue treating him with it.

"Who did this?"

After having a quick scan around the area, Kakashi asks them.

"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!"

While Sakura blushes at the image of the overpowered Sasuke wiping out an entire army.

"Eh? For real?"

Naruto looks like he doesn't want to believe it.

"..."

As much as wanting to point out her white lies before everyone else, Sasuke decides to play along and saves the serious talk for later. When both of them are in better conditions.

"Yes. He protected me from the bandits when I was injured. And..."

While explaining what happened to them, Nina loses her balance and stumbles.

"Nina-chan! She's burning up!"

Both Naruto and Sakura hurry over to check on Nina's condition. Finding out that she's fallen unconscious due to blood loss and exhaustion.

"Alright everyone. Let's us get going."

Therefore Kakashi orders Naruto and Sakura to bring the injured members back to the Konohagakure's hospital for the treatment. Not forgetting to retrieve the lost package that is lying on the ground not too far away.

By chance he also discovers Kibutsuji, or what's left of him, a wanted criminal worth of 50,000 ryo along with a big sack full of stolen treasures and decides to bring them back to retrieve the reward money.