"You said 'worlds like a string of pearls'?" asked Sakura. "I don't see anything like that."
"Same," said the ANBU.
"Who are you, anyway?" asked Sakura.
The mask just regarded her for a few moments.
"He's ANBU, Sakura," said Sasuke to break that silence. "He has an ANBU name, and everything else is classified. They hardly ever speak either."
The ANBU considered for a moment before speaking. "Bat."
Sasuke looked over the mask, then the tall muscular form, wondering what was supposed to be bat-like about this guy. The build and height looked more like he should be named "Ox" and the mask just had a couple of slashes of red under the mouth-line with a couple of others leading from cheek to temple.
"Okay, 'Bat', how'd you get trapped here with us?" asked Sakura, curious if she could get a better conversation from the raspy-voiced ANBU.
That look focussed on her for a moment longer. "Patrol. Bad luck."
"Huh? WHAZZAT?!" asked Naruto.
Sasuke sighed and let Sakura explain things. He was more interested in what the ANBU was doing.
A summons?
"Hokage-sama! A bat just landed at ANBU headquarters! It has a message from the missing patrol!"
"Finally, something then," said the Hokage, seating himself back down at his desk. "A bat summons?"
"Bat. Chunin level inducted into ANBU four years ago. Has done quite well despite injuries taken to his face and throat. Has a minor summoning contract with bats, he mainly uses them to scout or carry messages." Ox paused. "According to the message, he has found the missing Team 7. He believes they are in some sort of summons space. Requesting orders."
"Is he able to reverse-summons to return here?" asked the Hokage. Bat was rather nondescript as an ANBU. A reservist, if he recalled correctly. Hadn't there been some odd note in his ANBU psych eval?
"No. His contract with the bats is only a minor one," said Ox. "Only objects that can be carried by a normally-sized bat."
"Hmmm," hmmmed the Hokage. Oh yes. Lower end of ANBU skills, primarily a stealth and taijutsu specialist. Last mission out of Konoha went completely pear-shaped, some significant trauma from childhood - unrelated to mission.
"He tried that before, when Houshou was stuck in that ravine in Iwa," said Ox. "One of the missions he failed."
Sasuke paused. Something was different.
"Pressure, humidity," said Bat.
Sasuke nodded. Yeah, that seemed right.
"How long have we been walking?! It seems like DAYS!" complained Naruto.
"You could have left Sakura behind when she couldn't keep up," griped Sasuke.
"NO, I could NOT," insisted Naruto. It wasn't Sakura's fault they'd been walking for three days or that she'd twisted her ankle jumping over that broken column.
"Tch," indicated Sasuke, back to thinking his 'team' were just hindrances in his path for strength.
The ANBU made a 'wait' gesture, then disappeared in a blur of motion.
Sasuke didn't see a reason to stay put. Naruto followed, possibly because Sakura kicked him in the ribs from where she was imitating a backpack.
Walking through a wall, and finding that it had turned solid behind them, wasn't too surprising after the day so far.
On the other hand, heading up a slight ramp, the erstwhile Team 7 certainly hadn't expected:
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(Posted Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:20)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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