Chapter 5
Ai inhaled sharply as she got kicked in her gut, flying back a few meters. 'Her speed has increased, and I’m running low on chakra...If I want to detect her, I’ll just have to listen to her movements from now on.' She wiped the saliva that dribbled from the corner of her mouth, before shakily standing up, grabbing the wound on her arm. “Move!” Akane shouts as Hideki dashes forwards, so much chakra surrounding his body that the forest ground was kicked up.Hotaru and Akane jump separate ways, narrowly avoiding the attack. “That day, on our mission together, were you thinking properly?” Miyako asks while smoothly pulling out her katana. The blade glistened in the small amount of sunlight. Kohaku pulled out his tanto, sending lightning chakra through the metal. “Of course. My question is, how did you survive?” The blonde laughed humorlessly, tossing her sword up high and catching it with her other hand.
“Someone saved me. It most definitely wasn’t you.” Tilting her head to the side, Miyako instantly ran towards Kohaku, slamming her blade down hard. The brunette remained silent, easily deflecting her attack. He swiftly ducked down, swinging his leg to knock her off of her feet, only for the blonde to jump over it, back flipping away from him. “You’re too slow.” Kohaku announces, suddenly appearing behind her. “Is that so?”
Hotaru’s face contorted into an expression of pain as he tumbled onto the ground, grasping his burning abdomen. 'His strength isn’t like before.' Akane nibbles on her bottom lip, green eyes watching the fight and waiting for an opening. The ravenette pushed aside his discomfort, quickly yet unsteadily landing back on his feet. “What’s the matter? You had no problem throwing a blow at me earlier.” Hideki taunts, smirking slightly.
“Akane, hand-to-eye coordination.” Hotaru says, confusing the red head. 'The hell? Hand-to-eye coordination?' “What are you talking about?” The taller Genin ignores her, backflipping away from a dangerous punch that caused the ground to crack. “Hand-to-eye coordination, dumbass!” The kunoichi felt a vein throb on her forehead. “I don’t understand, jerk!” Hotaru clicks his tongue, throwing down several smoke bombs.
He grabbed Akane, tossing her into the smoke before leaping away. 'It’s the only way that idiot will get it…' “You brat!” The red haired teen barely dodged a badly thrown hit. 'Hand-to-eye coordination…' Ai shifted into a fighting stance, listening intensely to the sound of footsteps. It was a bit hard to identify, due to the fact that there was a lot of footsteps. So, instead, she settled for the one that seemed to head straight for her. It was light and quick ─ definitely the one she needed.
The bluenette swiftly pulled out a kunai which rapidly twirled around her index finger before landing on her palm. 'She’s a bit sloppy…' Ai ducks underneath Ayumu’s blade, the sound of wind harshly pushing against metal alerting her of the attack. The blind kunoichi spun around, slicing the albino on her arm that held the kunai. Cursing, the taller woman jumped away the same time as Ai did. “You seem to be catching on, little girl.”
Kohaku moved away from Miyako in alarm as blood began dripping off of the tip of her katana. “Secret Jutsu: Blood to Blade Technique.” Her blood decorated the blade with a floral vine-like pattern, and in an instant she was gone. “Kuh!” The brunette’s feet skidded against the ground as the woman attacked, her speed and power much more improved. “From the looks of it, you’re too slow.”
Gasping in pain, Kohaku narrowed his eyes as the blonde vanished and reappeared in different areas, cutting him each time while he briefly avoids it. 'Damn, I need to think fast.' Akane evaded a high kick, swooping low to strike Hideki’s legs. It wasn’t enough to make him fall, but it did make him stumble. 'Hand-to-eye coordination. I’m the perfect opponent for this guy. He uses his eyes first, before attacking, therefore doing eye-to-hand coordination.'
The smoke dispersed and Akane was quick to move away as Hotaru slid in, sending a bone-crushing blow to the bluenette’s stomach. “That’s for earlier, bastard.” The blue eyed Genin snarls, as Hideki wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. “Smoke him.” Akane demands, catching her breath. 'As long as he can’t see, he can’t fight. And if he tries to escape, Hotaru will shove him back inside.'
The ravenette nods his head, a smoke bomb in-between each of his fingers on both hands. He tossed them flawlessly as his teammate dashes back inside, releasing a battle cry. “This plan won’t fail.” Hotaru murmurs confidently. Ai somersaulted backwards, landing gracefully on her feet. The odds seem to be in my favor. 'A lousy fighter ─ how lucky of me.' The kunoichi swiftly counterattacked Ayumu’s kunai, barely grazing her face with her own blade.
The blue haired teen, took notice that whenever Ayumu prepared to strike, the opposite leg from the arm she’s going to swing with, sounds significantly heavier. On top of that, the albino tends to unconsciously grunt when planning out her next move, letting Ai know where she stands. “Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall!” Miyako was forced to stop her attack as for walls protruded from the ground.
“Coward! That’s why you couldn’t save me that day!” Kohaku winced a bit, the truth really did hurt. “I was...but not anymore. Not while my students’ lives are at stake!” The blonde was tempted to scoff, as she cut a part of the wall off. “You never change, Kohaku.” She landed in front of him, causing the Jonin to ready his tanto. Miyako dropped her katana, arm shaking from losing too much blood. “You’re still the same dork who was eager to be ‘cool’ like Kakashi.”
The woman grinned bitterly, leaning in close. “If you interfere, a man by the name of Shin Hayashi will be after your life. All of yours.” Kohaku stares at the blonde with an surprised expression, before nodding his head. “Ayumu, Hideki, it’s time to retreat. Our time is up.” Hotaru raises a raven brow, staring at the trio of enemy ninja. 'They’re on a time limit? For what…?' Ayumu pockets her kunai, jumping onto a tree branch.
“Can’t believe I got my ass kicked by a bunch of kids...” Hideki grumbles, dusting off his clothes and cracking his neck. “You both make a deadly combination.” He compliments, before taking off with his other teammates. Akane grins, fist pumping the air. “We were awesome!” Hotaru scoffed. “Don’t get too cocky, idiot.” “A-Anyway’s...Let’s get going.” Kohaku’s voice interrupted the two before they began. “Hai!” The trio chorused as they turned to their sensei. Meanwhile, Minami sweatdropped as she gazed at the team. 'Well that was an interesting fight.' She sighed and shook her head before following after the squad.
It was late at night when Team 11 arrived at The Village Hidden By Sound. Everyone felt rather worn out whether it be physically or emotionally. Akane wasn’t even shouting! Kohaku quickly walked to the nearest hotel and booked two rooms, right across from each other. One was for Minami, Ai and Akane and the other was for Hotaru and himself. The two groups parted ways and headed to their rooms where they soon fell asleep. The next morning the five met downstairs where they discussed the plan. It was decided that Kohaku would go check out the presumed location whilst Akane and Ai would ask around town. Minami and Hotaru were to stay at the room.
~~~
Akane skipped alongside her sister. “Ooh! Look at all these cool items!” The cheerful girl shouted. Ai flinched. Akane soon realized how insensitive that comment was. “Sorry!” Ai only gave a weak smile. “It's okay..” She murmured. “So, about the mission..” Ai trailed off, trying to move onto another topic. “Hm? What about it?” Akane questioned. “We should spl ─ Akane, Akane?” Ai decided to frown as she couldn’t sense her sister’s chakra. 'Great. I’ve lost her.' Seeing as she couldn’t really see, she decided to just wander around. Perhaps she would end up finding her sister by chance.
Ai strolled along, searching for her sister when she suddenly bumped into something or rather, someone. She fell to the ground. “Sorry!” A voice called out. Ai blinked. “U-Um..G-Gomen but I can’t see you..” She whispered. “Eh? What was that?” The voice repeated. Ai was puzzled. 'Was this person deaf? Or was she just too quiet.' Ai assumed it was the latter. “Kiyoshi Tsukino! Get over here!” A gruffer voice called out. “A-Ah! Sorry, I need to go! Bye!” The sound of footsteps were heard. Ai rose to her feet. 'How odd...' She made sure to memorise the chakra before she turned around. “Ai! Ai!” A voice shouted. Akane. Ai smiled slightly. Guess Akane found me first. “Hey Akane, where did you run off to?” The younger sister chuckled nervously. “Sorry! I found something I wanted to check out. On the bright side, I have information! Let’s head back, ne?” Ai nodded. “Sure” The siblings turned and headed back to the hotel.
“We’re back!” Akane announced. Hotaru immediately glared. “Took you long enough. Keep it down, idiot.” He hissed gesturing to the sleeping Minami. Akane muttered a sorry before sitting down. Just then, Kohaku walked into the room shirtless causing Akane to blush. She didn’t have a crush on her sensei or anything, but she wasn’t used to guys walking into a room half naked. “Sensei! Put a shirt on!” She shouted. Kohaku grinned. “Why? See something you like?” He teased. Ai sweatdropped. “Please don’t flirt with my sister in front of me.” She sighed as Kohaku chuckled. “I was just messing with you.” He turned away and walked off. Moments later, he came back. This time, he was wearing a shirt. “Okay, enough playing around. I went to the place. The rumours are true. I’ve got an idea but you may not like it Akane.”
He spoke, voice grim. Akane (who previously held a rosy flush to her cheeks) frowned. “What is it?” She asked. “We need someone to infiltrate the place, act as a spy. The only option is Ai. Akane, you’re too noisy and loud. They’ll probably see you as more trouble than what your worth. Hotaru...I won’t even go there. Ai is blind. No offense to you Ai, but they’ll see you as weak and a perfect target. I know you’re not weak but for the sake of the mission, please act like it.” He muttered. Akane glares, “What?! No! What if something happens to her?!” She yelled. “It won’t.” The male replied. “How do you know that?” Akane retorted, still glaring. “Akane. Enough.” Ai interrupted. “I’ll do it.” The bluenette responded, turning to where she felt Kohaku’s chakra. Kohaku nodded his head. “Tomorrow.” 'If Ai gets hurt, Akane would never forgive me.'
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