Entangled

Precipice - Chapter Thirteen

Thank you to everyone who's read, voted, and commented on my story so far :) You're awesome! Hope you like this chapter :D 

[Also on the other site I post there was some confusion about age, so to clarify, for the Precipice sections (aka this chapter and last chapters section) Hinata is 13. For Eclectic Love section Hinata's 18 :) ]

Precipice — Chapter Thirteen

Hinata readjusted the suffocating mask that covered her face. Her heated breath fanned across the plaster puffing back at her. She shifted herself against the scratchy bark of the looming pine. Her teammates rested across from her as their Captain kept watch above them.

Even in the dead of night her teammates glares heated the chill air. She kept her head back, attempting to get some rest despite her bodies high. Her instincts hummed and howled, warning her of every little bump in the night. Every little flare of chakra from even the tiniest of creatures.

This mission was B-Rank and four days in length. But, it was day three and they had yet to even encounter their targets. Their teamwork was sloppy despite their Captain's prodding.

Their last teammate had been killed in action—K.I.A.—and the wound was still fresh. They didn't want some 'child' filling the gap. And they didn't bother to hide their opinion on the matter.

Worse: one was a member of the Inuzuka Clan. She was the one currently glaring holes in the side of Hinata's head.

Hinata accepted the grunt work, usually keeping watch while the rest stood the front lines. She agreed with the Captain's decisioning, their broken teamwork could prove fatal. Three missions as a team; all successful, all made more difficult than they should have been.

"Let's go."

Hinata stood with the order as their Captain landed in the middle of the group. She glanced at the Inuzuka before focusing back.

"Cat," their Captain continued, "Stay back and keep a perimeter. The targets should be crossing through in ten. Five kilometres east."

Hinata gave a nod.

"Bear. Snake." The Captain pointed their head in their direction of travel.

The other two members followed the silent command. The three bounded east, leaving Hinata alone in the thick forest.

Hinata activated her Byakugan. With her expanded vision she followed her teammates before checking the area around them. She pressed the button on her earpiece, "Clear ahead and behind."

They didn't respond.

Used to their behaviour she continued her watch.

Her heart stopped in her chest.

Her arm went up to block. Her body flinching away as a hand reached toward her head. She pivoted on the ball of her feet, winding up a kick.

The masked man dodged her leg with surprising ease before disappearing from her sight.

Hinata calmed her breath, her Byakugan searching. She reached for her ear, only to realize her sole communication device was no longer in place.

She turned sharply as the man reappeared behind her; his chakra manifesting from a pea sized dot.

Hinata narrowed her eyes at the man standing in the tree above her. She watched as he crushed the earpiece between his gloved fingers, dropping the crumpled remains to the ground.

Hinata didn't say a word. She eyed the black cloak decorated in red clouds; it prickled her skin in an odd sense of déjà vu. His long spiked hair fell to his shoulders around his mask covered face. The mask was a crusted orange, donning black lines that waved like the fur of a tiger. Only one hole, darkened by shadows, was cut into the mask for an eye hole.