WotN: Unexpected Encounter

Pencil, Micron 08

--

*tries vainly to bandage her injuries sustained in the brutal Plot Bunny Attack*

I tried to fight them off, I swear to you I did! They were just too much for me!

--

They were returning from an escort mission in the now-flourishing Wave Country when their senses alerted them to a sudden large surge of chakra from the west. There'd been a brieft debate as to whether they should keep going, but considering its proximity to Konoha, the squad leader decided it best to at least investigate.

With a quick burst of chakra that no longer needed the use of handsigns, he activated his family's Doujutsu to scour the area from whence the unsual activity had occured.

"What do you see?" one of his squadmates inquired.

"A small group of ninja - 6 in number," he answered. "There are no visible hitai-ate to determine what village they hail from."

"Nuke-nin?"

"It's possible," he murmured. "Or homeless-nin."

"Any idea what they're after?" asked another squad member.

He studied them closer, scanning the path on which they seemed to be on. His eyes narrowed as they zeroed in on a lone figure rushing quickly through the underbrush. "They're chasing someone..." He paused, his eyes widening in alarm. "A child...?"

"Six guys after one kid?" the final squad member exclaimed. "That's no fair at all!"

"We don't know what's going on, so let's not--" Before the squad leader could even finish his sentence, his companion shot off in a flash of orange, vanishing into the tree canopy. "...Get involved... Damn it..."

"I don't know why you're surprised," He turned, fixing a put-out glare at the pinkette who touched down beside him. "It's Naru, after all..."

"Yes..." he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But does she always need to be so reckless?"

"Oh please," They both turned to their other comrade, who despite the situation had already lit a cigarette. He regarded him with an expression of bored amusement. "If she weren't, you wouldn't like her so much."

He wanted to deny it of course, but the words refused to leave his lips.

The pink-haired kunoichi let out a delighted laugh whilst the smoking chunin smirked.

Embarrassed but too proud to show it, he let out a quiet snort of indignation. "Let's go get her," he ordered. "Before she causes another international incident."

"Ryoukai!"

--

Using her speed to her advantage, the blonde caught up to the mysterious nin easily. At the sight of her the group had started in surprise before immediately attacking. With no visible markers as to their affiliation, she was hesitant to retaliate. After all, relations between the Hidden Villages was tense enough as it was without pissing somebody off.

'So what's the big deal with pickin' on a little kid?' She wondered idly to herself, bright blue eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the child. Perhaps she should have waited to get an actual description of the kid before rushing off...

Rousing her out of her thoughts, one of the ninja rushed towards whilst rapidly forming handsigns. Not sure exactly what he had planned, she jumped away seconds before the tree beneath her burst into splinters.

"Shit!" she dove further upwards, taking refuge in the high branches of another tree. Although she'd escaped the attack, her ears were ringing slightly. 'Was that a sound attack...?' Her eyes widened in alarm; were these guys Oto-nin? 'But I thought the Village disbanded...?'

Not wanting her attackers to get another opportunity - her hearing was rather sensitive, after all - she quickly summoned a small platoon of Shadow clones to keep them busy whilst she went off in search of their victim.

As she dashed through the trees she soon picked up the scent. Exhausted, but not injured, and terribly frightened. 'But...' She frowned in confusion. 'Something about it's... familiar...'

After several minutes, her search finally brought her to a small clearing. Touching down nimbly on the forest floor, she quickly scanned the area before calling out softly, "Hey there... It's okay, you can come out now!"

There was no response.

She sighed softly. "Don't worry, I've taken care of those guys chasing you," she said. "They won't hurt you anymore."

There was a faint rustling from the branches of the tree to her left. "You promise?" a voice called faintly.

Goodness, he sounded so young! "I promise," she said. "So you can come on out now."

There was another rustle, and a little blur jumped out of the trees. However, rather than the ground, it seemed to be heading right towards her! She briefly considering going for a weapon - was this kid a threat, after all? - but before she could, a little blonde haired boy of four or five years toppled into her arms.

"Whoa! What the he--?" Her eyes met his and widened again as his scent washed over her senses. Why on earth did it smell so familiar?

The little boy seemed to be studying her as well, his little cherubic face scrunched up in confusion. However, after a few seconds, he let out a little gasp, his dark eyes welling up with tears.

"It's you! It's really you!" he exclaimed. "Okaasan!"

--

And the sad part is, I don't even feel the least bit guilty.



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