Team Seven's POV (Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
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Kakashi's POV
Kakashi didn't often feel tense in moments like these; countless encounters and loss had desensitized him to the nerves others would suffer in this moment. Yet there was an odd weight upon his shoulders, he always had some weight. He was a loyal soldier of the Leaf after all, but this was somehow heavier. He supposed he was fond of his new team, Hiruzen had been right again.
They were waiting for the signal for him and his small group of Naruto clones to make a frontal assault. But Kakashi flinched as he noticed each of the clones froze in sync. Naruto had lost or sacrifice a clone due to something new…
"Kakashi-sensei!" The clone yelled. "It's an ambush! We're all in serious trouble!"
Kakashi felt his single eye widen. He had wondered why any bandit group would be stationed here. Being so close to the capital ensured they would be a nuisance the feudal lord would see fit to swat. Predictably they had tried, which only raised another question for Kakashi. How did they ever manage to repel an assault from the capitol?
The guard and soldiers of the feudal lord were no shinobi, but moved in great numbers and were trained well enough to be considered a threat by most. The idea of mere bandits, even encamped, managing to repel them was absurd. He had found this suspicious before, yet he had never truly pondered it. His Genin may very well suffer from his mistake. He quickly dashed forward. If even a single hair was harmed on his Genin, he would slaughter any responsible. He would not repeat the s-
Kakashi, trusting the random instinct, ducked as a litany of kunai and shuriken flew over his head. Kakashi knew better than to lie still, he leapt back narrowly avoiding a double stomp attempt from a snake-camo-clad shinobi. As Kakashi did, thirty clones landed before Jounin. Defensively, they formed a perimeter around Kakashi as seven more similarly dressed men landed. All dressed in the same garb as the others.
"Copycat Kakashi of the Sharingan. A living legend, surely a future S-rank shinobi. Or you would've been, but we were assigned to kill you." The leader of the men stated. "Any last words?"
"Naruto's, go and help Ino and Neji. I'll dispose of these dead men and head towards them after." Kakashi ordered. His tone made it clear this was not a debate.
"Fine with us, they won't be able to save their friends, you all will die today."
"Just for that," Kakashi started as the clones quickly left. Exposing his Sharingan eye, it spinning with fury. "Your deaths will be painful."
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Ino's POV
Ino and Neji both tensed, the enemy first was quickly approaching. They both had combat experience but not against enemy shinobi, not ones that likely would intend to kill, or worse. Luckily, the two's composure held, Neji's grim determination gave her hope, she'd thank him for that should they survive. Her studies had shown people latched onto to each other in crisis, somehow they found strength greater than their own for others.
Ino flinched as the heavy footsteps of their foes landed. Four grown and grizzly men masked and outfitted with a strange camo. Enemy shinobi were something she'd know she'd see one day. There was some sort of primal fear and anger she felt facing them, pack mentality?
All of them were men clearly long lived in their craft, though one towered beyond the others in presence. He had an aura similar to Jounin; Ino had met many in her time. There was no doubt he was stronger than the other three. Likely stronger than her and Neji as well. The man wore a mask covering his head and shinobi fatigues marked with a snake scale pattern. The other three were also garbed similarly, though their faces were partially exposed. One had a face mask and prescription glasses. Another similar, but he wore sunglasses. The last man was bald and scared all over.
"Hello there, victims," The leader of the four said. "I was hoping there would be a kunoichi with you. It's been far too long." He chuckled darkly. "Yoroi, Misumi, Kaku, kill the male." The three nodded before charging toward the Hyuga. Ino went to join him before she had to dodge a line of flame that shot out between her and the Hyuga. "Sorry, beautiful, but we have a date." There was dark intentions in his words…
The man held a stance that showed it had been a ninjutsu. He never even called it out. Most had to do so to properly channel their chakra, only once one had fully mastered a technique could they do so silently. Ino was cleary outmatched, most took years to master a technique of that level! Ino looked over to see the three men engaging Neji. He was holding his own as the four engaged in a wild brawl. She was on her own… fear pulsated throughout her body. She was frozen. Maybe Neji would be able to somehow contest a man of this caliber. But certainly not her, certainly not alone.
"No need to be fearful. I'll beat you up a little, then we'll have fun. Well, I won't lie and say it's gonna be fun for you." The man cruelly promised.
Ino swallowed her fear and gripped a kunai. As a member of Team Seven, she would not back down. Besides, Kakashi would surely be there shortly. Ino would make sure this bastard was kept busy till then!
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Naruto's POV
Naruto blinked as the memory of the clone Neji destroyed flooded through him. He heard his clones yelling in alert and surprised. They had been alerted to the presence of an enemy or enemies due to their heightened awareness once they knew there would likely be enemies nearby. Naruto felt conflicted; The bandits were still a threat, especially if they were now under attack. But his teammates may very well be in trouble if left alone. Naruto himself may be as well, but he needed to prioritize here!
Naruto heard several clones pop in the forest, making it clear he did not have time to think this out. He summoned fifty clones, half charging into the bandit camp with a challenging roar, met with several more from within the camp as Ino's planted and unplanted clones wreaked havoc from within. The rest desperately rushed off where Ino and Neji should be.
Naruto nodded to the nearby clones as they all charged into the forest. His summoning of clones had been multipurpose, summoning and sending them off made it appear he was unaware of them. Allowing some to sneak off and engage their foes as he and the rest approached. Naruto and his small band of personal clones settled in some trees above where the mystery enemies fought his clones.
The three were dealing with them well using good teamwork. But it was clear the woman in the group was a bit damaged. The clone during the wild brawl had winged her several times, leaving a cut on her cheek and bruise on her wrist. She must be lacking in wide-scale attacks to deal with him, making her his first target. He signaled for the majority of the clones to rush her.
The second foes were more tricky, he cackled madly as he blew away clones wildly. Seeming to shoot out pressurized air from his palms. But his movements were wild and basic. Naruto would use his real body and a few clones to blitz the man if he timed it right.
The last one was better than the other two. Outmaneuvering the clones and destroying them with relative ease. He would hope to stall him out while he defeated the other two. Mother's lessons were paying off, before fighting three people at once would've seemed impossible, now he only saw victory.
Naruto could feel the blood pumping throughout his body. They were here to attempt to kill his friends. Naruto would rather die than witness such a thing. As a shinobi, he would face killers like this, he refused to turn away. He would be a killer himself; he couldn't afford to hold back with his friends' lives on the line. With a nod to the clones, they fired off an absurd amount of kunai at their distracted foes.
The enemy team noticed it seconds before becoming pincushions. The boy with tubes in his arm pointed his arms to the ground as many clones and kunai closed in on the three. The other two jumped out of the man's way as he roared. "Obliterating Airwaves!" The resulting invisible blast shattered the ground before him and annihilated any clone close by. The kunai were deflecting the blast, stopping them like an iron wall and scattering them to the forest floor.
"It seems our prey intends to become the hunter. Works for us, I personally hate chasing my victims. My name is Dosu Kinuta, and my teammates are Zaku Abumi and Kin Tsuchi. We have been tasked with killing you." The now-named Dosu started evenly. The other two spread out a bit, facing Naruto and his batch of clones at different angles. "I'd offer you mercy for surrendering, but we both know we're past that."
"Ya, you're right there. I can't afford to die here since I'll be in Hokage someday. And I can't afford to let you bastards bother my teammates. So…" Naruto and his clones drew their tanto. Suddenly, jumping around, shuffling the real and clones together before spreading out. No need to make it easy for the three to target him after all. Naruto and his clones leapt around randomly, which further confounded the two.
He subtly created several Walking Landmine clones as they did. If they intended to stand as his enemies. Then he would have to play for keeps. "I'll just kick your asses and check on them!" There were no words. Merely the whistling in the wind as the mob of clones charged the three assassins. Naruto grimly aware of what he had to do.
?'s POV (Unknown Bar - City Nearby Team Seven)
A bar was bustling with patronage as the humdrum of a busy afternoon buzzed. All manner of drinking, smoking, sex, and gambling were going on within it's confines. The location was known and most left alone, there would always be a place like it. She had frequented many in her day. Past the rubble of people gambling their life savings or lucky money was the VIP section. In this section were the rich of the area. It was a gathering spot for them to mix with the poor while enjoying their wealth. One of them did seem a bit different, though, wealthy, and yet… desperate?
At the head of the table was what appeared to be a young, beautiful, healthy young woman. She wore a green haori over a gray kimono and dark gray leggings. But she was the most famous and influential person in the bar. She had come to their village years ago seeking booze and gambling and had found it in their seedy town. But in time, once she owed money and they tried to collect it, the truth was revealed. The mob was who she owed, a powerful shadowy organization, even shinobi feared them. Tsunade however did not, she destroyed the group fully. Unknowingly saving the town she now resided in as a lord.
She had been labeled their protector and rewarded as a hero. As such, the Sannin realized she could do what she pleased here. In exchange for the Leaf allowing her to be on leave, she and the town paid taxes to the Leaf. As such, she was still a shinobi, and Hiruzen, the old fox, used her position for information. It was funny she had left the Leaf for freedom. But soon even estranged Hiruzen had her dutifully working. Shizune had been sent to the Leaf to lead their medical program. Tsunade missed her dearly, even if her nagging was annoying…
As such, the woman felt conflicted upon hearing the latest rumor in the bar. A caravan had reported Leaf shinobi being ambushed close by. Apparently they had heard the commotion and seen the combat, but lacking the shinobi, had fled. Tsunade felt she owed the Leaf nothing, countless shinobi died everday. But it would be bad for a woman of business to allow shinobi to attack her allies on her turf. With a sigh, the living legend left the table. Telling one of the attendants to take care of her debt. She had a mess to clean up. All the while she ignored the odd feeling that made her get involved.
It felt… important…