He'd delivered. When the Mizukage had selected him for the Rain's Hidden Fangs, he'd been fifteen and one of the youngest ever chosen for such a prestigious position.
The Rain Of Fangs (or Fangrain) were other terms for it. A faked argument, running from their village, and then being officially listed as missing-nin. All just a cover story, of course. Word would be dropped to them of missions that needed to be undertaken, but with no direct link back to Kirigakure in case things got out of hand.
Kirin Nectar wasn't the only thing to come out of Mizu No Kuni, missing nin came also in large numbers. Hunter-nin would hunt those nin, but be redirected away from the Fangs. No point in losing the hunter-nin after all.
Kuromugi Himatsu knew the moment another team had shown up, that the mission had just gone to freaking bloody HELL.
"That group over there, I think they've all got bounties," mused his second in command, Morokoshi. "If we can't get the kid, that might be a good secondary."
The sole kunoichi of the Fangrain offered her own take on the situation. "The fu...?! There are seven, eight, crap - they're still arriving. Konohagakure has groups moving around to encircle, they haven't covered to the East yet, but they'll be there shortly."
Since Enbaku was a sensor, that gave some reliability to the info. Kuromugi didn't know WHY the natives had left the hole there, but it was the only way out.
"There's also something weird about the target's chakra," said Enbaku.
"Everyone ready, Enbaku - you'll grab and we all head East. Morokoshi, use Hidden Mist. Now!"
"Okay, those are our opposite number from Mizu. When we get the chance, eliminate them for copying an idea that started in Kumo!"
"Right bossu!"
"Those Mizu bastards, we ought to fillet them and see if they're as fishy on the inside," said Murasaki.
"Careful, girl," said the Grass-nin leader. "You'll get your chance. Eh? The Hidden Mist technique? Kasshoku!"
"On it already," said the portly grass-nin. "Hyoumenchouryoku!"
The forming mist abruptly fell apart.
"Oooh, I like that one," said Kakashi, his Sharingan focussed on the groups below. "Alters the way water behaves in the area of effect. I'll have to remember that one."
"Don't exhaust yourself before we even get the chance to battle," said Guy.
"You never can tell when an extra jutsu will come in handy," said Kakashi. "Besides, I can tell this is going to have some interesting things to learn."
Sometimes, in some situations, it's hard to light a fire. Anyone who has gone camping eventually has experience with this situation. It could be raining, or all the wood is wet, or the wind is just wrong, or something along those lines.
On the other hand, there are times when all it takes is one spark.
"The Mist is trying something! ATTACK!"
"Murasaki No Ame!"
"Hi No Yari!"
"Thunder Drill BREAKER!"
"Doro-Tekidan!"
Naruto saw the groups attacking each other, saw one member of each group darting towards him, and took appropriate action.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Which was to say he dropped the bag of popcorn and ran screaming away from the groups.
"Don't let him get away!" yelled a half-dozen intruders.
"Kyouzame! After him!"
"So, how do we advertise?" asked the sax player. "I mean, like, we can lay cool grooves on a streetcorner - but that's like no guarantee we can reach a decent audience."
The drummer twirled one drumstick a few times. "It's not like there's anything going on that would gather a crowd. Man, being a performer without anyone to perform for - it's a real drag."
"I hear ya, man," said the sax player.
The piano player sighed. How would he ever get to show off his mad set-up techniques?
BOOM!
"Eh?" asked all four musicians and the cat.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" yelled a blonde kid as he fast-footed it past them.
"Wasn't that the... kid?" asked the sax player.
"WAAAAAA!" yelled two groups in pursuit of Naruto and lobbing shuriken, kunai, senbon, the occasional jutsu, and in one case - what appeared to be live rats, at each other.
"That's it!" said the sax player. "We just gotta, like, take our show on the road."
"Like Kusa?" asked the drummer.
"No, man, like this literal road. That crowd's gonna draw crowds! After them!" said the sax player, already running and then putting lips to mouthpiece.
And the band played on.
"Okay, that's four groups fighting amongst themselves while they chase Naruto," said the Hokage. "With a band in pursuit of them all?"
"Catchy tune," said one the ANBU.
"This day has just been getting more and more insane," said the Hokage.
"Do you want us to interfere yet?" asked another ANBU.
"No, that might give them a common enemy to unite against," said the Hokage. "Let them tire themselves out before we reel them in, eh?"
Naruto's panic gave way to a feeling a deja vu, and from there he realized WHY it seemed familiar. And because it WAS familiar, he could throw the panic to the side and do what he'd done many times in the past.
Lead a group of pursuers all over the village as he kept one step ahead of them. Of course, these guys were a lot more of a serious threat than the chunin sent after him in the past - but then he could do THIS now too.
"Summoning jutsu! Carbuncle!"
A small critter with a red gemstone in his forehead cast Haste and Protect on Naruto and then, instead of dispelling himself, went back and grabbed the popcorn.
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(Posted Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:42)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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