Ino felt weak and allowed herself a moment of calm, collapsing to her knees as her tears continued to fall.
"We made it out alive... right?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the fierce battle between Kakashi and Suikan, the two men having distanced themselves from her.
"Sasuke!!" Her gaze quickly shifted to Sasuke, who had taken the brunt of Suikan's earlier attack. She then saw a familiar figure carrying him—Rock Lee.
Of course, Sasuke was unconscious after such a blow.
"Blondie, are you alright?" Shino stood beside her, speaking coolly with his hands in his pockets.
"Ah, Shino, Rock Lee... You're the ones who brought Kakashi-sensei?" Ino began wiping her tears, a flicker of relief in her eyes.
"More or less, yes. Anyway, was what you said in your message true? Naruto's hospital room is really empty?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest. That's what those two from the White Fang gang told us. We didn't go up to check yet."
Shino glanced at Ino, then over at Rock Lee. "White Fang, huh? What a mess we're in. No matter. For now, let's get you to the hospital. We'll confirm the room afterward. Besides, Kakashi-sensei said he sent two of his comrades to the Red Devil and Lily's locations, so they should be fine. That leaves the clinic where Sakura was. Rock Lee and I will head there to assist after we drop you off. Will you come with us?"
"Of course! I'm worried about Kiba."
"Kiba? Not Sakura?"
Ino stood up painfully, smiling faintly. "I'm not worried about her. She's a beast—literally."
"... Huh?"
---
When Sakura opened the door, she and Kiba found someone sitting on the bed. The person looked at them in mild surprise.
"Ah, it's you two."
They stared at each other for a few seconds before Sakura exclaimed, "Izumi?!"
And Izumi, with a similar expression to Sakura's, replied, "Sakura?!"
Kiba had question marks circling his head.
"What are you doing here?!"
Both girls spoke at once, staring at one another.
"Wait... you two know each other? Why does she look so familiar, anyway?"
Sakura stepped closer to Izumi, taking her hand. "Of course she looks familiar. She's a member of the Uchiha clan. Naruto and I used to see her when we visited Sasuke."
"Sasuke's relative? Now that you mention it, she really does resemble him!" Kiba scrutinized her features and noticed a faint trace of Sasuke in them.
"What a coincidence. I didn't think I'd see you again so soon," Izumi said quietly, gazing at Sakura.
"Same here! How did you end up here?"
"It's a long story..." Izumi responded, her voice a little distant.
Just then, the person known as Haku entered the room with a sigh. "That's why I told you two to slow down. I never said the boy you're looking for was here—yet!"
Kiba snapped, flustered, "What? Why didn't you say anything? And why hide it?"
Haku walked up and knocked him on the head. "How can you be so clueless? My gender is obvious!" he sighed, then added more calmly, "The lady took the boy to the hospital. She should be arriving there any moment now."
Sakura placed a finger on her chin, thinking. "You mean the hospital that's ten minutes from here?"
"Yes, it's the closest, considering his condition."
Sakura and Kiba exchanged a look of shock. Then, in unison, they said, "That's where Sasuke and Ino are!"
They both turned to leave, but Izumi grabbed Sakura's hand.
"Wait, isn't Sasuke in danger? I'm coming with you."
Sakura and Kiba paused and looked at her. She was still lying in bed.
"Aren't you sick?" Sakura asked with concern.
"I'm fine... kind of. I can come."
"But the lady said you should remain bedridden until tomorrow," Haku interjected, puzzled.
"As if I'm staying here a second longer. She already used enough sedatives on me. I'm escaping."
Both Sakura and Kiba looked bewildered, and Kiba asked, "Who even is that lady?"
Haku was about to respond when a notification chimed—someone had arrived at the clinic.
"Excuse me, I'll go check on the new arrival."
After Haku left, Sakura and Kiba stepped outside to give Izumi space to change and get ready.
Kiba opened the door to find a burly man standing there, a white scarf wrapped around his face. He stood before Haku, preparing for emergency tests. The man removed his scarf, setting it on a nearby table, along with his phone and an old pocket watch.
Haku's face lit up. Just being near the large man was enough to bring him joy.
"I'm ready to leave now. Let's go get Naruto back," Izumi announced coldly as she emerged from the room.
The burly man overheard her, but his expression didn't change.
"Alright, let's go," Sakura said, leading the way. Kiba and Izumi followed.
The three of them passed by the large man and Haku. Izumi glanced at him briefly, but thought nothing of it and kept walking.
After they left, the burly man continued his conversation with Haku for a while.
"I need to go now," he said calmly after putting his scarf back on.
"Where are you headed?"
"To the nearby hospital. I want to speak with the lady about something."
"Safe travels."
"Thanks."
The man left the clinic, closing the door behind him. Haku continued cleaning, preparing to close up.
Then he noticed a small pocket watch left on the table where the man had been examined.
"Did Zabuza forget his watch? How careless," Haku sighed, picking it up and slipping it into his pocket.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the watch—only to freeze at the photo inside.
It was a picture of a black-haired boy, smiling with one hand resting on the back of a chair. Sitting in the chair was another person with long black hair, wearing a tattered blue dress and a white hat.
"That idiot… and he claims he wants to cut all ties with me? Why does he still carry this picture…? I don't even look cute in it."
Haku wiped the tears welling in his eyes, then made up his mind to return the watch to its rightful owner.
Zabuza.
---
Meanwhile, inside one of the city's gambling halls, a man in a black suit walked nervously, trailed by three others—one of them holding a gun and smirking wickedly.
The man reached a particular door and knocked.
"Boss, it's me," he said, waiting a few seconds for permission.
"You may enter."
Just as he was about to open the door fully, the Red Devil kicked it in, sending him flying into the room. Shock filled the faces of those inside.
"What the hell?! Who did this?"
The Red Devil entered with a quiet laugh. "That would be me. Anyone got a problem with that?" He then aimed his gun at the gang boss, who remained remarkably calm.
"Are you insane?" Kojirō couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"This wasn't part of our agreement!" Ringo said anxiously.
"I don't remember agreeing to anything," the Red Devil replied coldly, tossing a photo from his pocket. "What do you know about this boy?"
The gang boss examined the photo, his expression unreadable. "Isn't he just some handsome, nameless kid?"
The Red Devil sighed. "You really don't know him?"
"Why would I lie? It's not like I'm scared of some kid with a gun—hahaha!" But as he laughed, a bullet grazed his cheek.
Blood trickled down his face as he muttered coldly, "You little bastard… do you want to die?"
"What do we do now? You've got us into deep trouble," Ringo whispered to the Red Devil.
"Relax. I've got this."
As tension peaked, a sniper round blew through one of the guards' heads—instant kill.
Kojirō and Ringo were stunned. The Red Devil's eyes remained icy.
The gang boss screamed, "You!! What did you do?! I told you, I know nothing about that kid!"
"Hah. That wasn't me. But seriously, how did someone like you end up running this place?" the Red Devil scoffed.
"Are you insulting me now?!"
The gang boss pounded the table in rage—luckily, too. A bullet whizzed by where he had just been standing, embedding itself in the table.
A sniper was firing from the building across the street.
Panicking, the gang boss dashed to hide near the Red Devil and his group.
"Hey! Why're you getting closer to us, scumbag?" The Red Devil kicked him away. Another bullet narrowly missed his foot, striking the wall.
Then he heard footsteps approaching.
"Someone's coming. Get down!" he shouted, pushing Ringo and Kojirō to the floor.
The gang boss heard him too and hit the ground just in time. Bullets from a heavy machine gun tore through the room—it was nothing short of a terrorist act.
When the gunfire stopped, the room was filled with smoke and the smell of gunpowder. The four of them rose, coughing.
"More rats, huh?" a lazy-eyed man entered, dropping the massive weapon.
The gang boss backed into a wall, trembling.
The man scanned the room. "One useful guy we're not supposed to kill yet... and three kids? What the hell are they doing here?"
"That's what I should be asking you, Jinpachi," the Red Devil said, pointing his gun at the White Fang gang member.
He fired several shots, but Jinpachi dodged effortlessly.
"Ugh… This is why I hate cleaning up after Mangetsu. Why didn't he finish the job properly? I'll tell Zabuza to sacrifice him next time."
Jinpachi scratched his head, then looked surprised. "Wait… How do you know who I am? Who are you?"
The Red Devil grinned darkly. "Me? They call me the Red Devil."
"Obviously a nickname. What's your real name?"
He was silent for a moment. "...Why would I tell you?"
"Isn't that what kids your age do? Declare your name, powers, and all that when you start a fight?" Jinpachi said wearily.
"Oh, you mean that?" The Red Devil smiled manically. "Sorry... but I don't consider you an enemy. Just prey. Why would I tell someone who's minutes from death my name? Haha!"
Jinpachi sighed again. "Great. I'm stuck with a psycho kid."
He stepped forward calmly. "Alright. We're both unarmed. How about a fair fight?"
He tossed his gun aside.
The Red Devil smiled and threw his own to Kojirō, who caught it in surprise. "He won't fire unless something changes. Consider this my guarantee."
Jinpachi rolled his eyes. "He probably wouldn't have fired anyway." He tapped his earpiece. "Oi, Mangetsu. Cancel the sniping. Come over. Plans have changed."
The two readied themselves, then charged—bodies colliding violently.
Jinpachi was shocked. The Red Devil could keep up with him for more than ten seconds.
"You're no ordinary kid! Who are you?"
"I told you—I'm not telling prey my name."
Jinpachi spotted an opening and kicked him in the stomach, slamming him into the wall.
The Red Devil got up, only to be punched again—hard. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
He grabbed Jinpachi's arm, laughing. "Haha! That was a solid 16 out of 10! Let me show you double that!" He wrapped his arms around Jinpachi's neck and kneed him violently in the face.
Jinpachi staggered back, dizzy, shielding his face.
"That was 32 out of 10! Show me something stronger—haha!"
Jinpachi growled. "You annoying little brat… you're seriously pissing me off."
The Red Devil laughed manically. "Is that so? Then try not to die too quickly… or maybe I should torture you until Zabuza himself shows up? Hahaha!"
Jinpachi chuckled darkly. "At your level? You couldn't even touch him, let alone fight."
The Red Devil went silent. In his mind flashed the images of Jin, Tiger... and Naruto.
His smile faded, replaced by cold fury.
"I'm tired of watching invincible monsters stand above me… Who says an ordinary person can't defeat a genius?"
He charged again, anticipating Jinpachi's low attack and blocking it with his palm, then kicking him hard to the side. Before Jinpachi could react, the Red Devil unleashed a brutal flurry.
"Ugh... why do I have to work this hard?" Jinpachi grumbled, taking hit after hit—until his eyes suddenly changed.
Their bodies clashed again—but Kojirō and Ringo couldn't tell who won.
As the dust settled, the Red Devil's hand was by Jinpachi's head.
But Jinpachi's fist was buried in the Red Devil's stomach.
They both stumbled back. The Red Devil dropped to his knees, coughing blood violently—but still upright.
Jinpachi stood, calm and cold, staring him down.
. . .
#To_Be_Continued