The next morning after the group had a simple breakfast, Sasuke left with Katniss and Ciri toward their apartment, while Billy went to the apartment Sasuke told him about to check the walker and scavenge around.
Unaware that Sasuke had already stripped it bare of anything worthy.
"Are you sure Ciri should be seeing this?" He asked Katniss, not sure himself.
"Yeah, I talked to her. Ciri is strong, stronger than me, and I want her to be ready for the life outside soon. Starting from this, "
"You knew?" He hadn't told her about his plans after all.
"The walls are thin, and I'm sorry, but I heard your talk with Billy yesterday. I also think that we should start looking around for a better place. You don't need to worry about me."
Katniss patted his arm with a warm smile; she heard everything last night when she was eavesdropping, and she's happy to know that this man is really looking after them and thinking about her sister's safety.
"I'm good with bows; I never miss a target as long as it is within 30 meters [32 yards]. moving, stationary, multiple...it doesn't matter. I can take them down, but I only have two arrows left intact." Sasuke raised a brow at that but didn't comment, nor did he think she was lying.
He simply let it to be seen when the right time comes.
"Ciri, do you know what we are going to do next?" Sasuke wanted to make sure the little girl had it in her.
He didn't want to expose her to such things if possible, but that's a long wish in this kind of world.
"Yes, I do, Sasuke; I want Grandpa to rest in peace. I don't want that thing to use Grandpa's body anymore." Her firmness and matureness surprised him.
It pained him that kids here are slowly turning the same as the ones in the shinobi world, exposed to the darkness of the world at a young age, learning to fight for survival.
"Alright, I will go in first and restrict him so you can have your time. Just know that I won't do such action with every walker. This is a special case."
Katniss nodded with slightly trembling hands. She killed the walkers before, but this is different; this was her beloved grandfather, what is left of him.
Inside, Sasuke took the key from her, opened the door, and pushed the old walker who lunged at him back before circling him quickly and restricting him with a rope.
"Alright, Katniss, it's safe," he called after securing it to a chair; the old bearded walker kept biting and struggling to move close to them.
Katniss entered holding Ciri's hand tightly, her bow in the other hand.
Tears fell down their cheeks seeing his state, and Katniss wiped them using her sleeve before taking an arrow and nocking it, aiming at his head, still trembling.
Sasuke just stood by the side, ready to react in case of something going wrong, while Ciri held his hand with hers, crying as she witnessed what had become of her sweet grandpa.
*Guohr*
"It's okay, Katniss, he is no longer here. Say your goodbye and put his body to rest; Ciri and I are here with you," he spoke gently, seeing her hesitate.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to save you. I'm grateful for what you did for us, and I will never forget your teachings. I will make sure to take care of Ciri and keep her safe. We love you."
*Gaaarghh*
Sasuke patted Ciri's head and gestured for her to bid him goodbye. "Just sleep in peace, Grandpa, and watch us. I will grow to be a strong girl like my sister. I love you."
With that, Katniss fired the arrow, tears trailing down her cheeks before she turned and hugged the sobbing Ciri.
Her resolve grows firmer.
She will make a world where her sister will be protected and no longer live in fear and hunger.
She will do everything to make that a reality.
Following that, Sasuke helped roll him in clean clothes and carried him as they headed outside to the back of the building, where Sasuke started digging a grave in the surrounding lawn, which Katnis and Billy soon joined with shovels.
After a silent prayer everyone headed up again as Sasuke started detailing their future plans.
"And so, you just need to make sure the windows are covered, don't make too much noise, and cover the door with something heavier."
"I will, and we will join you once you have an armored car. I'm grateful for what you are doing for us, Sasuke and Uncle Billy. And I'm sorry about what I said last night."
"Don't worry about it, little one; it's what we should be doing."
After that, Sasuke equipped her with Billy's revolver and a few smoke bombs, explaining how they work.
The two of them checked their gear and set out with light backpacks. Ready to refill them.
Behind them the building became a living trap; Sasuke never left things to chance. If someone tries to force the door from the outside, the trap will trigger, and their fate won't be good.
"What about the restaurant? Our things are still there."
"I will retrieve the goods after we finish with everything. How much farther are we from the bar?"
"Not much; we will cut through the park ahead, then a block after it."
"And the mall?"
"The other side of the road from the corner, it's a small one, but we may find food, clothes, and even some weapons. As long as the place isn't overrun."
5 minutes later they arrived at the site, and Sasuke saw a truck that was overturned, blocking a part of the door at the entrance of the bar.
Sasuke turned to Billy, who smashed a walker while they were eying the place.
"We don't know what is inside from here, and we certainly don't know what is inside the truck, so...best I go first. One whistle if the walkers stroll toward the bar while I'm in. Two in the case of humans, and toss a smoke bomb at the truck if it is a horde. Hop up."
Sasuke backed to the wall of the shop and put his hands together, signaling for Billy to climb the small roof above them.
"It would've been a lot better if I had a long-range rifle. But sure, let's do it your way; call me if you need help." Sasuke nodded and helped him jump to the roof. tossing up his backpack.
"Go, I have eyes on you; there are two on the other side of the truck." "Alright."
The search was smooth; Sasuke did find a shotgun exactly where Billy suggested, with 20 more rounds hidden in a cabinet beside it.
There were few walkers inside the bar, and once again Sasuke stripped the place bare of everything worthwhile.
Liquor, few ingredients, and some good chairs and tables.
And soon he regrouped with Billy, tossing the shotgun at him.
"This thing produces a loud noise, so better not use it if we're not in a difficult situation."
"*Whistle* That's what I'm talking about. Was there anything else in there?"
"Liquors—I got a few for you."
"I'm such a lucky ass, hah. Let's go for our next—" Billy's sentence came to a halt as the duo heard the loud sound of glass breaking, coming exactly from the direction they were heading to.
"Let's go; keep an eye on the surroundings." They both ran as Sasuke took the vanguard like always, dropping heads at the front, while Billy smashed every walker that came trotting from the sides.
Soon the mall came into view, and they saw what caused the ruckus...
Three people were running away from the walkers chasing them from the side entrance of the mall.
Possibly a family: a grown man in his forties holding a stick and a gun, a boy running beside him holding a shovel, and a woman in front of them.
Tired and scared as the walkers came closer, and one suddenly lunged at the woman from behind a nearby car.
Sasuke, seeing this, had already swung his arm in a wide arc, throwing multiple shurikens.
Hitting the one who was about to catch the woman and three walkers behind the other two.
"This way!!" Billy called, dropping another walker, and it was then the family noticed them and the walkers that dropped by what the man had thrown earlier.
"Go, go, Jenny, run!!" The Black male holding the stick shouted at her, frightened at what was about to happen to his wife if not for that masked man.
He looked behind him briefly, seeing more coming, but the closest to them already dropped dead from those things the man was throwing.
Soon they came to their sides, and the bearded man holding a bloodied bat spoke to the masked man beside him.
"We need a place to hide in, Sasuke; they can't run more," Billy spoke, seeing the woman panting and holding her knees, already too tired; the young boy beside them was no better.
"The bar, follow me." Sasuke turned and tossed a smoke bomb toward the incoming walkers behind them.
It was the first time for Billy to see the ^little marbles^ in action, and he was surprised by the thick cloud of smoke that erupted instantly, blanketing the street behind them.
Sasuke turned, made the reluctant boy climb on his back, and ran ahead faster than all of them who ran by themselves, blade in hand, ready for any walker.
After a few breaths they were in the bar, and Sasuke made the family stay behind the counter while Billy closed the door from inside and pushed whatever few tables were left inside.
Meanwhile, Sasuke made another check on the whole place, wary of any walker that may have stumbled in after ha and Billy left the place earlier.
Soon they were all in front of the counter, sitting to regain their breaths.
"You good, mate? That was a close call. Fortunately we heard the noise."
"Yeah, we are, thanks to you. I'm Morgan Jones; those are my wife, Jenny, and son, Duan. Man, I'm grateful for your help; God knows what would've happened if it weren't for you two," the man panted, leaning back and comforting his son beside him.
"Thank you for saving us." The woman turned to them accepting the bottle of water, and thanked them too.
She was surprised to see that the one who saved her is surprisingly just a young man behind the mask, who looked to be in his late teens.
"Happy you made it; I'm Sasuke Uchiha, and this is my friend Billy Butcher."