Naruto: The First Shinobi War

Tetsuya's grin was genuine when Ryuu replied, shrugging away the apology. As they were going to leave, Shikashi-sensei appeared before them. "Shikashi-sensei!" He squealed happily. The teacher undid their cuffs, allowing Ryuu to gather distance and then, behind the pretense of leaving in a nonchalant manner, flee from them. "See you later, Ryuu-san!" Tetsuya said cheerfully, watching Ryuu leave. Shikashi placed a hand on top of Tetsuya's head, stealing his attention. "I've learned a lot, Shikashi-sensei," Tetsuya complied, bowing his head to emphasize the point. To Tetsuya's dismay, Shikashi left, leaving the young shinobi with the kunoichi, Ryoko. It wasn't a bad thing, but he was so happy to see Shikashi that his sudden appearance and disappearance left the young Uzumaki somewhat sad. He quickly perked up, however, as he turned to Ryoko. "Hey look!" He cried, holding up his hand that was once bound to Ryuu's through cuffs. "I have my hand back!" Tetsuya continued to give his happy smile.

Though a dark cloud constantly hung over his head, Tetsuya defied the loneliness he felt with that very smile.

 

It was then, a building exploded and a flurry of people came rushing down the streets, away from the explosion. A young boy bumped into Ryoko and proceeded to cry. Children, elderly and mothers shoved Ryoko and Tetsuya aside as they fled. A single shinobi stopped beside them, picking up the child and speaking into his wireless mic. "There's no time! Send backup...the rouge ninja are fleeing the village. They've kidnapped the Jinchuriki! Where are the ANBU!?" Even as the shinobi shouted into the mic, he gathered up those that had fallen or were hurt and helped them away towards the hospital.

 

Ryoko looked in awe at the cloud of smoke that came from the explosion. The passing people didn't seem to register in her mind at first. What knocked her out of her trance was the final words of the announcement. Quickly reacting, she grabbed the Tetsuya's hand, pulling them, as she ran with the stream of people until she reached an alleyway that wasn't inhabited with panicking citizens.

Upon stopping, she let the Tetsuya go, while trying to grab her breath. "You okay," she heaved.

 

Tetsuya was stunned, unable to move amongst the pandemonium. He was shoved every which way, people ignoring him for their own fears and panic. He eventually heard something from a shinobi who appeared before them, a child under his arms. Lady Mito... was kidnapped by rogue nin? He thought, a sense of dread filling him. His belly scrunched up and he shut his eyes to keep the tears from flowing, to ignore the fear he felt upon his spine, which was caressed so gently that its cold touch made him shudder. Ryoko's touch, her urgency, comforted Tetsuya even as she dragged him into an alleyway, where they took a breather.

Tetsuya looked to Ryoko and nodded. "Ryoko-chan..." he began hesitantly. "I think... we should look for Mito-sama immediately. She needs all the help we can get." Even the young Uzumaki began to leave the alley as he spoke the absurd thought, feeling that it was a sense of duty. He even felt rage. He turned to Ryoko. "We have to go find her!" Tetsuya exclaimed, driving away his own doubt as he sought courage from his own statement. Tetsuya even wore a stern, determined expression, something that seemed odd on the usually goofy shinobi-to-be.

 

Ryoko nodded at Tetsuya, her face hardening. "I agree with you," she began, "but we need to come up with a plan, and fast. We're not much help to her if we end up getting killed because we are unprepared." Ryoko quickly brought out her map of the village from her backpack, first pointing at the the building that had exploded only a few seconds ago. "The explosion came from this area, and they'd probably want to leave the village as quickly as possible." it only took her a second to find the closest exit to the exploded building and pointed there. "The two of us could try to cut them to save her, or to at least stall them until the ANBU show up. Obviously, we're going to have to travel through the roof tops."

Crudely, she placed the map back I to her bag, standing straight up, already focussing her chakra. "Ready," Ryoko asked, cockily smiling at the boy.

 

Outside the Village~

Three Hidden Grass Shinobi stopped and set down the unconscious Mito. They panted and grinned at one another, "Success! One Jinchuriki down. I guess the Hidden Leaf has no other shinobi left to come after us. Most of them are still out dealing with the problem in the Land of Waves." "C'mon...we shouldn't linger here. Who knows when those ANBU guys will wake up and come after us." "But...you're sure the Hokage himself won't come? I heard...the Second Hokage is the younger brother to Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage...you don't think he'd come just to retrieve his brother's wife, do you?" Neither of them wanted to ponder it and thus hurried along through the trees.

 

Tetsuya attempted to memorize the plan, determined to get it right. He felt a little afraid, but he molded the fear into a tiny ball, focusing it into cold rage. He smiled and nodded to his companion, though he felt a little surprised she didn't try and talk him out of it. Not like he'd let her, anyway. "Alright," Tetsuya said. "Let's go, Ryoko-chan!"

 

"Let's go," Ryoko nodded as she kicked off of the ground and took the lead as they ran on the roof. They were running opposite of the crowd, making Ryoko think of her own family and if they were okay. Her parents were probably helping make sure that there is no panic outside of the village. She now had to do her part.

"You see anything," Ryoko called back to Tetsuya as they hurried to get to where they agreed to go.

 

Outside Konohagakure:

The three grass ninja skidded to a halt, scowling and evily smirking at their new opponent. "Tch...a Jonin..." "There's three of us...and on of him. Let's just take him out quickly and move!" "Done and done!" The three dropped the Jinchuriki and swarmed on the Jonin. Shikashi drew a kunai, countering two of the ninja. The third's kunai tore across his shoulder. "Ah...you three...return Lady Mito." They laughed and chucked paper bomb wrapped kunai at his feet, forcing Shikashi to move back or be burned. But nine kunai with paper bombs attatched to each was much too much for one shinobi. The explosion was far too large and easily seen from within the village.

 

While the explosion and the following chaos did surprise Kai, what shocked him the most was the new that followed. They've captured Lady Mito, then what happened to if ANBU? Since they weren't already rushing after the kidnappers, something must be wrong. I don't have time to worry about it know, I'll have to rescue her myself. That was when he noticed the explosion outside the village. It didn't take long for him to figure out that that's was the best place to head to, so he quickly made his way onto the roofs and headed towards the explosion.