Chapter 148: Just a little more, we're almost safe, dammit!
Karin was startled by Hanabi's sudden change of expression and the activation of her Byakugan.
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes; she couldn't understand why this little girl had suddenly grown angry.
She nodded instinctively and answered in a small voice:
"Y-yes… my right hand…"
She lifted her right hand to show it.
"What's wrong?"
She couldn't see the problem.
"The right hand… is it…"
Hanabi's voice dropped. Those eerily pure white eyes, now glowing with Byakugan, locked dead on Karin's right hand.
In her mind flashed countless images of Big Brother Naruto holding her hand, patting her head, smiling at her—contrasted with the sight of this red-haired woman "holding hands while sleeping" with Big Brother Naruto. I'd only just accepted Sister Ino, so why has another one appeared?
Big Sister and I should have been enough—why do you all keep popping up to steal Big Brother Naruto?
What's worse, this Sister Karin actually looks like she's enjoying it, like she depends on him.
Unforgivable!
"Hanabi Style…"
Slowly lowering the bedsheet, the little girl sank into a perfectly orthodox Hyuga Gentle Fist opening stance.
Young as she was, her form was already impeccable; Chakra began to swirl faintly around her.
Veins bulging around her Byakugan eyes, she fixed Karin's right hand in her sights and, in a childish yet Killing Intent-laden voice, barked:
"Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Before the words had faded she shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Her target: Karin's right hand.
From the look of it she really meant to use the Hyuga Family's Gentle Fist to teach this woman who "dared" hold Big Brother Naruto's hand while sleeping a painful "lesson."
"Huh? W-wait! Little Sister Hanabi, what are you doing?"
Karin was completely bewildered, backing away in fright; how had tidying up turned into a fight?
Hidden Grass Village had never trained Karin—they needed a helpless blood-bag, not a Ninja capable of resistance.
Naturally, with her less-than-stellar shinobi skills, Karin was no match for Hanabi and barely blocked two strikes.
With a muffled groan Karin felt her Chakra severed and frozen; a powerful numbness swept through every limb, robbing her of all strength. She slumped against the sofa, unable to move.
Hanabi did not press the attack.
Her small hand stopped a finger's breadth from Karin's nose.
Those pure, all-seeing Byakugan eyes gazed down like an envoy from the Pure Land, no longer childlike but coldly analytical, pinning Karin's terrified face.
The look sent an icy shiver down Karin's spine.
Never in her life had she felt such oppressive, piercing eyes in a child.
"Sorry, Sister Karin. I got carried away."
Hanabi's voice sounded.
Tilting her head, still fixing Karin with white eyes, she asked an apparently unrelated question:
"Have you studied the Transformation Jutsu before?"
The question caught Karin off guard.
Staring at the little palm poised to drop and those eyes that seemed to read her Soul, she felt dread and confusion.
She didn't know why Hanabi asked, but completely overpowered and with her life in the other's hands she dared not hide or stay silent.
She nodded, and with her pressure points struck her voice came out weak and trembling:
"I… a little…"
"That's just wonderful."
Hanabi's lips curved.
————————————
"Crap! Have these Leaf maniacs lost their minds?!"
Several Suna Genin were now gripped by unprecedented panic and disarray.
They had started with nine members and, relying on Suna's Wind Release and teamwork, had kept a steady footing in the forest.
But moments ago they had the misfortune of running into the Leaf's Twelve Young Ninjas, who were sweeping the Forest of Death.
At first they tried to fight back.
Yet one glance at the enemy lineup almost made them cry.
Nearly every Leaf clan was represented.
"Pull out! Scatter and run!"
The Suna captain screamed himself hoarse.
But it was already too late.
Once the Leaf hunting machine starts, escape is never easy.
Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique and Shino's insect swarm sealed their retreat and broke their formation.
Then, with Naruto excepted, the rest pounced like sharks smelling blood!
The Suna team was scattered; only six fled deeper into the forest toward what they hoped was safety.
Behind them three figures clung like shadows: Kiba, Shino, and Choji.
The trio formed an arrowhead of pursuit: Kiba and Akamaru tracked by scent and speed, never losing the trail.
Shino's insects harassed from the flanks, slowing the Suna Ninja.
Choji barreled through obstacles like a rampaging tank, making escape impossible.
It was a one-sided game of cat and mouse.
And the Suna Ninja were the frantic rats.
The Leaf did not swarm all at once.
Using numbers, coordination, and terrain, they peeled the fugitives away layer by layer, like stripping an onion.
The first to fall tried to set a Puppet trap in dense bushes; Uchiha Sasuke stepped from the shadows and drove a Kunai through his throat—no scream, just a thud as he hit the ground.
The second climber chose the wrong tree; Hyuga Neji, waiting in the canopy, struck with swift Gentle Fist, sealed every Chakra point, then tossed the helpless Suna Ninja down to be finished off.
With Byakugan the Leaf side might as well have had wall-hacks.
The fugitives left were bait; aside from Leaf, Suna had entered the most Genin.
The survivors fled for their lives before a dozen pursuers.
They spotted Kankuro's marker—his squad lay ahead.
If they could lead these Leaf maniacs to that monster Gaara, they might survive; after all, Elder Sister Temari and Lord Kankuro were there too.
"Faster! Move it!"
"Right ahead! Lord Gaara!"
For the first time the lead Suna Ninja cried the title from the heart.
Just a little more—almost safe, dammit!
Read New BooKs In Profile
Loving Book So Far? Check Out 30+ Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/FictionOP