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CHAPTER 4:
From the dust, three silhouettes dash out of it, but bloody chains as though with a mind of their own, slithers through the air towards them. Unlucky for one, who was the most severely injured, couldn't dodge the chains, binding his legs mid-air followed behind by his arms and waist, trapping him in the air
"Jiraiya!" Arashi calls out, his clawed hand still on the ground,his beastly eyes not leaving his targets. Jiraiya showing his prowess, not one to be outshined.
"Fire Release: Great flame!"
Large stream of flames travel towards the trapped enemy.
AHHHHHHHHHHH
A shriek echoes all over, one man down. Burnt to ashes.
Yet, Arashi does not relent, his chains flying towards their next targets. However...
"Earth Release: Rock Bullets!" x 3, the technique is recited by the three former opponents of Arashi, soon, a horde of stone bullets fly towards where Arashi and Jiraiya are stationed.
"Summoning: Rashomon!"
Orochimaro, steps up to block the attacks after separating from Aiko, who appears before the red chains,
"Earth Release: Double Rock wall!"
Two large rocky walls, appear one after the other, halt the movements of the chains, giving her and the injured Chūnins chances to further distance them.
Tsunade quickly lands besides Jiraiya, administering first aid through mystical palm technique on him.
Soon both parties distance themselves.
seven against four.
At first, the 'rogue' team thought it would be a quick work, now they weren't even sure if all of them would come out alive. The air thick with tension.
Orochimaro glance towards Arashi, his slit eyes shining with a glint that could mean mischief or excitement, either way, the Inuzuka had proven to be something with great potential.
Tsunade outwardly, calmly focused on the heavy injuries on Jiraiya but her mind is a whirlpool of thoughts. Her friend had confirmed her interest towards him once more. At first he was just an Inuzuka with nothing more than refined skills but now, she has been reminded of his Uzumaki blood. That technique was not something anyone could easily use.
She remembered her grandmother, Mito's hidden research journals she had glimpse while visiting her courtyard, she had seen that name of the technique he released before. How did he know it?
Jiraiya on the other hand was grateful, his recklessness had almost cost him his life. But he was thankful, Arashi still had tricks up his sleeves. A unique technique contrary to the Inuzuka clan. He really is a mix of both blood. He couldn't wait to see how far he would go. He may be the one Toad sage talked about when he first visited him after his training with granpa toad and grandma toad.
Daichi, his body twitching occasionally, even with the strengthened technique, his internals are having it difficult from Tsunade's heavy blows, it was unnatural for such a delicate girl to hold such power, yet she took his blows, a Jōnin's blow, equally. How powerful would she be if she was a Jōnin like him. This thought caused another bout of short spasm over his body.
Aiko's frown was deeper, she had been right about the three being beyond what their rank said—a lady with immense strength, a snake-eyed boy with techniques bordering creepy and the spiky hair, though jovial was still able to contend with three Chūnins linked together with the Earthpulse, a technique proven that with three elite Chūnins they could battle a veteran Jōnin as well and I'll and still escape unscathed even if they couldn't win. Yet all three Chūnins were still injured by him even if he took some injuries himself. Above all, she was too wrong about the fourth, the dog boy is was strong, he had been holding back even while fighting three Chūnins. Even cooperating to kill one of their own!
It was irritating!
Infuriating even. They had to make plans. The scroll had to leave this place or else they'll be in trouble. They were still far from a scouting team that could reinforce them. If only they were not arrogant. They may actually fail this mission due to her negligence, tsk!, she clicks her tongue in irritation.
"Daichi, we need to finish this immediately."
"Hmm" was all that came from the once arrogant grizzly Jōnin.
On the other side, Orochimaru's eyes never leaving their opponents as though he could read their every move.
"Arashi..." His voice eerily calm, Arashi glances at him to confirm his attention is on what he wants to say.
"Now is the time to give it your all...or most of it. If my guess is correct, the one named Aiko, carries a vital scroll on her jacket. While we were fighting every time I slashed towards that angle, she deliberately guards there. Even with more probs she didn't mind to prove me correct. And if I were in her shoes at this time, knowing that my opponents are stronger than I believed, I would do everything in my power to get that scroll out of here, at all cost."
"You mean..." Arashi couldn't finish before he was interrupted.
"Yes. They are stalling to create a diversion to escape...or at least let one escape. And I can bet it will be one of those Chūnins. The one who fought with Tsunade and Aiko are already resolved to die here to protect that scroll, their body language says it all." Orochimaru deduced. Causing the rest of the team to be tensed. "Tsunade... Jiraiya..." He calls out.
"I'll be fine, Tsunade-san has helped me enough. This time, I'll go all out too" Jiraiya says with a steel cold voice, far from the jovial personality he had at first.
Bam!
"I'm ready!" Tsunade causing a little noise with her palm-fist salute. Eyes raging with battle intent, far from what a princess should be.
"Good, here they begin. MOVE OUT!" Orochimaru orders as they all flicker to their targets.
"NOW!" Aiko issued at the same time, both teams already on the move. One planning a retreat and the other stopping them at all cost.
Soon the chaos erupts.
Jiraiya, more fired up, rushes ahead of the team, noticing the enemy spreading too far, flickers into the air high above them, soon he sends out, Toad oil bullets , in strategic places, followed by, Great flame, creating a large and dangerous wall of flames around the canyon, blocking all escape routes for the Iwa team halting their plans greatly as well as catching off guard one of the Chūnins, consuming him also, his bloodcurdling scream sending shivers amongst his former team.
Another man down.
"BAKA!!" Aiko screams out of frustration, eyes towards the sky focused on the descending figure, "DAICHI!"
Without a reply, Daichi rushes towards Jiraiya but a shadow blocking the moonlight overhead, looking up he sees his hated opponent.
"We have not finished what we started!!" Tsunade screams, sending a fist towards his way causing a booming sound.
"WE NEED TO BE QUICK!! GET THE SCROLL BEFORE REINFORCEMENT NOTICE THE NOISE OVER HERE!!" Orochimaru reminds the team as he obstructs Aiko, knowing she's no longer with the scroll.
"TENGAI!"
I'M HERE!!!
With a loud howl and roar from both man and beast, a hand placed on a furry head, both of their chakras surge, soon, their chakras intertwine, a link formed between the two and their physical appearance begin to change—Tengai growing two metres tall, furs wild and sharp and as for Arashi, his chakra wilder and suffocating, his eyes turn golden-red with a wolf-slit, his claws sharper and coated with flaming chakra up to his elbow, his fangs sharper. Their transformation causing a pause on the battlefield.
"What the hell..." Orochimaru mutters
Boom!
With a sonic boom, Arashi arrives fast enough to meet the first escaping Chūnin, his hardened clawed hand swipes downwards causing a crater over where the Chūnin was last seen. Crouching on the ground on all four, he sniffs hard, soon he finds the target he was looking for, and then he flickers.
Appearing before the Chūnin, his fist clenched, punches the opponent hard sending him flying backwards. On all four, he rushes towards the flying Chūnin, flickering directly above him, eyes roaming the passed out flying Chūnin mid-air, he spots the scroll. He snatches it and disappears, before the Chūnin could land hard on the floor.
After, he flickers besides Jiraiya, who quickly bites his thumb and forms a seal before slamming the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Poof!
From the smoke emerges a small frog. Jiraiya takes the scroll from Arashi and places it in the mouth of the frog.
"If I don't summon you within a three days, take it to my master, the Hokage" He issued, the frog without replying only nods in affirmation before disappearing in smoke.
Mission accomplished!
Now was the time for them to escape. Noticing the exchange and fight, Aiko who was held up becomes erratic, her screams and frustration shows in her attacks, Orochimaru now finding it difficult to cope even with unparalleled physique. With a little outburst, he separates from her. Blocking her view with his body before shifting enough for Aiko's eyes to widen with the body launched towards, unable to react quickly or trying not to, Daichi's knocked out body slams heavily on her sending both of them further before landing heavily.
Both now unconscious.
"We need to leave" Orochimaru says.
Tsunade and Jiraiya, already catching up to Orochimaru with Arashi following behind after knocking out the last two Chūnins.
The four-man team escapes the field.
____________
Through the forest four silhouettes speed fast. Arashi at the front with Orochimaru and Tsunade flanking his left and right, Tengai—now large, behind the rear with Jiraiya on his back still weak from his injuries.
The run was silent, the tension high. They were not safe yet. Human sounds had been heard from the battle ground when they left.
"They are tracking...five...but they are far away. As long as we don't stop...we will be able to cross over and call for backup before they get to us. If anything, I can take the tank, with you and Tsunade assisting. Tengai can escape with Jiraiya while we hold them off."
"Like hell I'll miss that. I may be injured but I'm not down. Sitting on your pet is alre—wooh" Jiraiya tried to defend before Tengai almost shook him off his back, with a heavy growl to back up his threat.
"He isn't a pet, you should take note of that. He is my partner...brother if you would say" Arashi scoffs at Tengai's faked anger as he corrected Jiraiya.
Silence reigned again as they continued their, however, the lingering question in everyone's mind was almost physical that Arashi could taste it in his mouth. He could feel the little glances coming from his teammates. A smile crept on his face. He had proven himself to them.
"How long can you last in this...form?" Tsunade biting the bullet, asked first. Her interest in his physique under this transformation was evident. Pure and unadulterated. Same, could not be said of Orochimaru, his screamed of wild desire contained in those serpentine eyes, brimming with ambitions, his smile even now never left his face.
"Not long enough as I want it. It's a partial form. Something Tengai and I discovered during our training." Arashi vaguely replied.
Everyone had their secrets.
Again, they fell into silence. Fortunately, their journey back to the post was uneventful, except for the playful bickering between Jiraiya and Tengai—it appeared that they were bonding quiet well.
They reached the post, explaining the current state they were in. Afterwards, the station was on high alert, patrols became tighter expecting a fierce counter from the Iwa scouts.
But it seemed the enemy wasn't ready for a full blown attack just yet.
After a night's rest, especially for Jiraiya, the squad resumed their journey. Arashi on getting close to the station had reverted back to his normal form, signs of fatigue was shown but his physiology gotten from his clans played huge role to a quick recovery.
On their way, they felt more relaxed, the hokage trio had unconsciously accepted the fourth man in their team, or perhaps fourth and fifth,seeing Jiraiya and Tengai discovering similar food interests in each other, their bond had been growing with promises of large buffet for themselves —a simple bribery from Jiraiya to Tengai for future rides. Tengai, wouldn't mind, at the end he would decide if Jiraiya was worth it.
They had finally come close to the grand gate of the village. Their hearts filled with satisfaction of another mission accomplished—somewhat. It was supposed to be a track and observe but ended being an ambush with a sealed scroll bagged to cover for their mission. After they passed through the check point, they went straight towards the Hokage's office. The receptionist, a shinobi like them, took their appointment and delivered it to the mission board.
Minutes later, they were called upon by the Hokage himself. This would be the second time Arashi would be facing the big man yet his teammates—if they will continue to be, felt unfazed by the invite. Jiraiya even had to complain, making his displeasure known and suggesting to skip the meeting for a hot bath instead claiming meeting the 'old monkey' was a drag. But a fist-filled love from Tsunade drew him back on track.
________________
The report was given, the five stood waiting for Hiruzen. Yet the silence continued for up to a minute, Hiruzen's eyes were closed in contemplation, the smoke from his pipe lingered. On his desk was the carefully placed scroll, it's content was still unknown to the elite Chūnins.
Jiraiya, slowly showing his impatience, vein bulging on his forehead. Any time from now he was ready to call off the man for keeping them waiting. Dismiss us and be done with it!
But the frequent cold glare coming from his right was all he needed to keep still. The look from Tsunade was just begging him to speak and receive more fist love. Orochimaru as usual, leaned against the door frame, unbothered about the atmosphere while Arashi was lost in his thoughts. If one took note, it looked as though himself and Tengai were having a conversation, with the regular little growl and barks as well as his humming and nods coming in intervals.
At least they found a way to ignore the silence.
"Cough"
A deep cough attracted all five, an "about time", as low as whisper was heard from Jiraiya's angle.
"It is good, you all came back safe..." Hiruzen paused, his fatherly voice coming with an approval, "...the mission can be said to have been accomplished. Well done...all of you" his eyes lingering longer on Arashi.
"You're dismissed, get some rest. I'll approve a 2-week break for you four. If you continue like this, then it is possible to be promoted to an Elite Jōnin. But tread carefully, every mission must not taken lightly" eyes landing finally on Jiraiya, who only responds was an awkward laugh with his hand behind his head.
"You can go now. I have told them to give you the necessary reward based on the report."
And with a nod, they left the office one after the other.
Bang
The door finally closed, Hiruzen leaned into his chair, turning it to face the window behind him. His eyes, containing wisdom far beyond what he shows the people. There was nothing but smoke, silence and his gaze.
Slowly his hand moved towards the scroll, unfolding it, he read through and then with a one hand seal ignited the scroll.
The glow of the fire illuminating his face before quenching, leaving behind just ashes on his palm, which he dispersed.
His eyes moving from the ashes and back to the window, a heavy sigh escaped.
"How long will they last?"
Standing up fully facing the window, one hand behind his back and the other placing his trusted pipe in his mouth, he takes a deep draw before releasing the smoke, below the life of the village exposed in all it's glory.
"Eagle..."
"Hokage-sama" an ANBU agent knelt behind him.
"What do you think of the boy, Arashi?"
"...he hid well"
"Hmm...put him under surveillance. I believe he will be a great asset for the village. He may join your ranks soon."
"Hai!"
Just as he appeared, the ANBU disappeared, leaving Hiruzen alone.