Hanabi's P.O.V
"L-let g-go of me...you filthy...s-snake", I gasped for air, which only made his grip tighten. His hand was ice cold, just like the look he was sending me right now. My feet were swept off the ground, and I helplessly clawed at his hand, but with no progress.
"You don't get it do you?", Orochimaru grinned.
My eyes widened as I felt the blood being rushed to my face, my wind wipe was being crushed to the point where it almost felt like it was coming together. My eye balls felt like they were popping out of their sockets as I desperately called out for help.
I didn't even get the chance to mark a place with my Technique Formula and I certainly can't teleport back to the marked location with Minato's kunai.
Why aren't they helping me?
Are they too scared?
Is Orochimaru that much of a menace?
I tried calling out for them, but no words eluded my blocked windpipe. My body was completely immobile and sweat began dripping down my face.
"Poor Hanabi Namikaze", Orochimaru mocked, his tongue moving in circular motions like a python.
In a flash of events, I was immediately casted towards the nearby wall, where my body collided then slithered down. All the while I was gasping for air, I tried to make out the picture in front of me. My heavy breath wasn't letting me focus clearly, but I still managed to see the two shinobi on either side of Orochimaru.
I dart my eyes towards the Anbu men and that's when my heart stops. They stood still like statues, indifferent to what's happening.
They never took their masks off in front of me...
They didn't initiate much conversation...
Owl, Fox, Mongoose, and Pika...
My breath suddenly hitched in my throat as I stared at them with wide eyes.
No way...
The blurry picture has finally come together the longer I stared at their masks.
The animal names they've used to identify themselves with all inhabit in the undergrounds...
As much as my mind detests to believe it, I can't be in denial when all the evidence and clues have been there all along.
Owl, Fox, Mongoose, and Pika are all a part of the separate military faction. In other words: Root Anbu...
Damn me! How clueless have I been?!
"Root Anbu?!", I growled, gritting my teeth together.
"I'm afraid it's too late, Hanabi", Owl deadpans.
I look back at Orochimaru, my entire body struggling to get back on its feet. On either side of him, there stood shinobi with the Hidden Leaf headbands. Their faces are completely unfamiliar, I've never seen them around.
"Does the Root Organization have ties with Orochimaru?", I demand, slowly managing to get back in my feet.
"Only when it's necessary", Owl replied in that same tone of voice.
"What do you mean?", I held my breath in anticipation.
Owl treaded towards me a bit before saying, "It means that we resort to this when there's a threat like you roaming around". His vague remark left me even more confused. He tilted his head to the side and said, "how foolish of you to think that you'll go around freely after interfering with Lord Danzo's plans".
"Is this what this is about?!", I gasped, still trying to wrap my head around everything. It was hard trying to keep an eye on both parties. It's six against one in here.
"You'll see", Owl wickedly laughed and turned to Orochimaru, "the three of us will withdraw for now and we'll wait outside".
"No, wait!", I yelled out after them as I managed to hold my posture straight. Owl stopped in his tracks, so did Mongoose and Fox. He took one last glance over his shoulder and said, "tonight is a long night for you, so don't tire yourself ".
What was that supposed to mean?!
By then, they've proceeded in escaping the hideout. I breath a bit heavily as they left. I know nothing about this guy's capabilities, but from what I've heard he is perilous.
"Now that it's only us, the fun can finally begin", Orochimaru announced, earning my attention. I fix my attention on him intently with my heart racing.
"Attack!", he shouted at the two shinobi beside him.
On orders, one of them hastened towards me. Broad-eyed, I registered the fact how fast this shinobi was. It's uncertain whether his speed is due to natural strength or my deteriorating physical strength. Either way, I'd managed to dodge the blow he was sending my way. His fist had collided into the wall, where it created a dent.
I stared at it in horror. That could've been me...
I forced myself to take a deep breath and clam down. Getting up to my feet, I positioned myself in a fighting stance and declared battle on him. So far, I knew he was going with the Taijutsu approach, which I was an intermediate in.
He lunged forward and pelted several jabs my way, all which I successfully dodged. I send a few jabs of my own, managing to strike him with three out of the seven jabs I delivered. The magnitude made him falter a bit, but he was immediately in the fighting stance again.
I'd felt a bit triumphant since I proceeded to mark him three times with my technique formula. One on his bicep, the other on his shoulder and the last was on his back of his neck.
I stepped back to catch my breath and think clearly. Staring right into his eyes made mine widen. His eye balls where so dark it seemed like he almost didn't have eyes at all.
Clenching my jaw, I glared at him with the noticeable crimson of my activated Sharingan. That's when I halted for a second. This shinobi was staring at my eyes in surprise.
Yes, we get it. It's not everyday you see a light haired Sharingan user a part from Kakashi.
His dark eyes glistened, but I couldn't make out what it was. With my vision being ten times better than its original view, I inspected his chakra points. This was scary, this man was overflowing with chakra. I darted my eyes towards Orochimaru and the other female shinobi, who stood back in silence.
"Splendid!", Orochimaru suddenly burst at the sight of my Sharingan. He stuck out his tongue in a thirsty manner and said, "you truly are the precious hybrid of the Leaf".
I disregard him completely and focus on the enemy at hand, but then he shouted, "Attack!".
From my peripheral vision, the other shinobi had pounced towards me, pelting a string of sharp shurikens.
Fortunately, I've foreseen the attack with my Sharingan and therefore, dodged it successfully. Both of them stand beside each other, thus posing as a double threat.
The female lunged forward again, but it was clear that she was only posing as a decoy since the other one hand jumped in the air. Hastily, I darted my eyes towards him, making sure I copy the hand signs he was so effortlessly weaving.
My hands moved automatically as my fingers began lacing and unlacing together.
Serpent, Tiger, Boar, Hare, Monkey, and Ox.
In heartbeat, I'd not only weaved his hand signs, but also read his lips to foresee the name of this Jutsu. My eyes quickly darted to his moving muscles and instinctively, I mirrored his actions smoothly and perfectly.
This Jutsu was totally unfamiliar to me. It did have some resemblance to the Hyuga's Gentle Fist, the exception being that there was no contact being done here. All it required was to channel your chakra at the tips of your fingers, until some of the air around you callouses into a striking blade.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade Strike!"
"Wind Style:Wind Blade Strike!"
I'd held my breath tight as I delivered the attack in the same exact moment he did. It was no surprise that the equality of the magnitude would collide together and therefore cancel out due to the equal force being exerted.
There was no aftermath of the attack, thus it had disappeared completely. Therefore, both of us remained unharmed. While that was a con on my side the pro was that I got to learn a new Jutsu. I treaded back a bit, observing both of them carefully.
I was yet to fight the other shinobi. She was calm and reserved, making me anxious.
"You're Leaf shinobi what're you doing with Orochimaru?!", I furiously demanded when the other shinobi lunged forward with her Taijutsu attacks. Shurikens were her speciality, I could tell. They didn't bother providing me with any answer, instead the two of them kept attacking me in turns.
They're really quick to jump into each other's defense, which makes it all the more tiring. I looked between them for any opening to strike an attack. For the meantime I decided to fight them continuously to find any weak points.
After a bit of time wasted on senseless Taijutsu attacks, I began seeing a reoccurring pattern.
One of them would always hold back while the other attacks, then they jump into the other's defense. Knowing this, my mind began weaving a plan. I made sure to keep in mind the fact that I have previously marked the guy three times.
It was time to show them the Teleportation Technique.
Biting my lip down with my fang-like tooth, I lunged forward with hastening speed. Utilizing my visual prowess, I knew what was to come, in fact I was more eager to execute my plan now.
However, something told me that they were holding back. Because their chakra is overflowing. And so the question circles: why?
Pushing the questions away, I focus on concentrating my chakra in the pit of my palm. I'd mastered this Jutsu two years ago, therefore no hand signs need to be weaved.
Lightning Style: Chidori.
My target was the woman who seemed frozen at the sight of me. First, I was planning on eliminating the other shinobi, which is why I pounced towards the woman with a handful of blinding Chidori. I out-sped them with my blow. From the corner of my eye, I saw Orochimaru watching the scene unfold before him. His face was a mixture of anticipation and intrigue.
I was ready to deliver the blow towards the woman, when, as expected, the man leapt right in front of her. In a flash of unfolding events, my arm was pierced all the way into his chest, my hand being visible from the other side. I'd used the Chidori exactly like Kakashi.
A triumphant smile appeared on my face.
"Impressive!", Orochimaru exclaimed, his eyes wide and his grin cemented.
Since I've previously marked his shoulder with my technique formula, I was about to teleport right behind him and pierce the woman with the Chidori as well.
But something was quick to captivate my attention, thus, postponing my plan. Staring right into this man's eyes, my face had scrunched in confusion. He looked down upon my face, inspecting every bit of it. The corners of his mouth were tucked up and his eyes...
His blue eyes filled with tears that eventually strolled down his face.
"I told you", the voice of the woman pierced the silence, putting me on alert again, but the confusion rendered me immobile.
"She's just as strong as us, Hayate"
His shaky hand reached out to cup the side of my cheek and he finally...smiled, "No doubt..", his gesture rendered me completely immobile, but what he divulged next was a direct blow to my life.
"I'd expect nothing less from my precious daughter..."
My heart had clenched at what he was saying. In an involuntary reflex I yanked my hand out of his chest, leaping backwards, I stared at them in horror. I glanced down at my arm but their was no blood stains. Which perplexed me further.
What's going on?
The man fell to his knees and clutched his chest.
Amidst all of the confusion and despite the intense atmosphere that drenched this place, Orochimaru stepped up towards me. I was terrified. My limbs began shaking as I heard the woman start crying.
"What is the meaning of this?", I pleadingly demand, my breath erratically heaves as I feel my hands tremble.
Aside from the woman's cries, the next thing my mind registered was Orochimaru's cocky laugh.
"Oh precious hybrid, I thereby present you one of the finest works produced by the Reanimation Jutsu", his steps echo louder as I struggle to hold up my posture.
"T-the Reanimation J-Jutsu?", I echoed back in a scarce whisper, my mind racing back and forth to get any recollection of what he's talking about.
His arm extends out and for a moment I thought he was going to attack. Yet the only thing he did was point at the two of them and say the thing that unbuckled my knees beneath me.
"I present you, The Yellow Spark of The Leaf and The Red Butterfly", he declared. After a few rounds of his bone-chilling laughs, he clears the confusion by adding, "in other words, Hayate Namikaze and Ichiko Uchiha".
The Yellow Spark and The Red Butterfly...
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A/N:- Buckle up them seatbelts...is all I can say...please let me know if you're enjoying the story so far! Next chapters are going to be critical. As always, if it's such a drag to pull up your keyboard and comment, then vote so I know y'all are enjoying!
~A