Naruto: Lost In Kishimoto - Revenge [Book 2]

Chapter Seventy-Six: A Slave Freed.

Tayuya POV

Beth's presence at the west coast spread throughout the Allied Shinobi Forces like wildfire, whispers of her defiance against the Gokage's orders creating a divide amongst the shinobi soldiers. Many believed that she was an invaluable warrior, one who should have been utilised as soon as the Akatsuki forces were discovered. Others however, believed that her appearance on the battlefield would cause nothing more than dissent amongst the Allies, distracting them and potentially triggering deviation from the carefully laid out strategies formulated by HQ.

I could feel anger growing within the pit of my stomach, rage threatening to swallow me whole. But I couldn't allow it to control me. Instead, my anger would fuel me. That was what Beth had taught me, controlling emotions and using them as fuel which would drive our desire to succeed. As a result, despite my desire to pummel those expressing their disrespect towards Beth and all she had given up to the cause, I held my tongue. I had to.

As a member of the long-range Fourth Division I was charged with defending the southern edge of the Land of Lightning with Gaara as Division Commander. I recognised a few of the faces swarming the rocky cliffside, but not many. Gaara stood at the forefront of the cliff, staring out at the open rocky terrain, his eyes focused solely ahead of him. Utilising his sand technique, Gaara proceeded to spread sensory sand across the open battlefield, hoping to eliminate the possibility of an ambush.

Beside Gaara stood his sister Temari, her hands tightly gripping the metal frame of her fan. To her left stood Shikamaru Nara, Gaara's second in command. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of competitiveness standing so close to the boy who had almost cost me my life. But at the same time, there was a degree of respect I held for the young Nara, his skill undeniable.

Next to me stood Choji Akimichi, one of the many Konoha shinobi Beth called 'friend'. I was surprised to see Choji as a member of the Fourth Division, considering his brute force style of fighting, however I felt as though his presence was directly affected by Shikamaru. It wasn't a foreign idea that Shikamaru had requested Choji's presence in the Fourth Division simply due to their experienced teamwork.

From what I knew, Jugo and Kouta were placed in the Second Division's forces, their close-combat prowess dictating their value as one of the first points of defence against the Akatsuki forces. Karin was a member of the Logistical Support and Medical Division, a division which was spread out amongst all other divisions. As such, her exact location was unknown. Suigetsu was assigned to the Fifth Division due to his unique water abilities, another division which was spread out, their forces stationed across the entire border of the Land of Lightning. At first I was surprised that Suigetsu would involve himself in what he would categorise as a 'trivial matter', but something within me suggested that perhaps he wasn't as heartless as he presented himself to be. Despite Beth's inability to present him with the object of his affections, the blade of Kisame residing with the Eight Tails junchiriki, he seemed willing to maintain his loyalty to Beth. Beth truly had a knack for rehabilitating the lowest of the low. Myself included.

My flute rested carefully in between my fingers, poised like a blade. I could feel my chakra pumping in my veins, shouting to be released in a flurry of attacks. But I had to wait, the battle would begin within the hour. I was sure of it.

We had received intel that those from the Second and First Divisions had already been engaged in battle with the White Zetsu army, the Second Division suffering heavy losses. As much as I hated to admit it I could feel my mind drift to Kouta. His skills lay in gathering intelligence and one on one combat, war was certainly not his strongest form of battle. He could have been dead already, his body lying face down in the soil. Despite my attempts to push the image out of my mind, I couldn't help but imagine his body. His tanned skin would be pale, his body limp, his emerald green eyes lifeless and cloudy. And his smile, that snarky narcissistic smile that he always seemed to sport, it wouldn't be there anymore. He wouldn't be there anymore.