"What do we do?"
asked Mei, perplexed. After about an hour on the road, they arrived near the location Temari had indicated, but to their great surprise, it was a full-blown brawl.
Deidara was making his clay explode everywhere, targeting five ninjas who countered with earth-style techniques. The fight here was on another level, a testament to the power of the opponents.
"I don't think we're in any shape to fight them," Takeshi finally said, looking thoughtful. "They all seem to be jonin… facing them would be like signing our own death warrant."
He wasn't wrong. In the team sent to find Gaara, only Kakashi was a jonin, the rest were just advanced chunin. Even thinking about facing five jonin was audacious on their part. They were all aware of that.
"We can't leave Gaara in the hands of those bastards…" growled Temari, unable to accept abandoning her brother. "Even if I have to go alone, I'll save him no matter what."
"Calm down, Temari. I didn't say we're just going to sit here and do nothing," replied Takeshi, his eyes on his status window.
[Status Window]
Name: Takeshi Sarutobi
Age: 15
Chakra Level: Jonin
Skills: Taijutsu (D-level), Bojutsu (C-level), Fire Release (B-level), Kenjutsu (B-level), Body Flicker (C-level)
Current Balance: 1,340 Merit Points
"What's your plan, Takeshi?"
Temari asked, impatient. Mei, in the back, also wanted to know how he intended to handle five jonin and a lunatic hurling explosions.
"We're going to cause total chaos, grab Gaara, and escape as fast as we can," answered Takeshi with a deadly serious expression.
(°_°)
Both girls looked at him like he was an idiot. Run from jonin? What a joke. Still, they didn't have many options, especially not knowing if there would be reinforcements.
"Alright, let's do it," sighed Temari, unclipping her fan.
Mei nodded.
"Okay, get ready to launch a big attack, Temari. You too, Mei," ordered Takeshi, preparing himself.
Temari stepped forward and opened her fan.
"Wind Style: Great Weasel Scythe Technique!"
At the same time, Takeshi emerged, forming three shadow clones.
"Fire Style: Blazing Swarm!"
Currents of air filled with cinders began to clash. Takeshi then clicked his teeth, igniting the cinders into flames.
A massive chaos erupted in the desert. The surprised enemy ninjas didn't all have time to defend, leaving one of them covered in scars and burns, lifeless.
"We're under attack!" shouted another, on high alert.
A huge black cloud of smoke mixed with desert sand blocked everyone's vision. Deidara, atop his clay bird, struggled to see beneath him.
"What the…"
Several shuriken flew toward him. He dodged some, but one nicked his arm, staining his black Akatsuki cloak with red.
"Who the hell are you?" he growled.
"The Angel of Death," replied Takeshi.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A fireball took Deidara by surprise. He grabbed the unconscious Gaara and jumped.
BOOM
His clay bird exploded.
One of Takeshi's clones quickly grabbed Gaara's body. When Deidara noticed, it was too late—the clone vanished using the Body Flicker, disappearing into the smoke and dust.
"Damn it!"
he cursed under his breath, quickly molding another clay bird.
Takeshi, katana in hand, stared at Deidara perched on a clay bird, a sly smile on his lips.
He had just accomplished the most important part of the mission—now he just had to buy time.
The Akatsuki member's blond hair fluttered in the wind, his hands already kneading his explosive clay.
"You sure you wanna die today, swordsman?"
Takeshi spat in the sand, his blade reflecting the light.
"Shut your damn mouth and come down here with your crappy art."
Hearing his art insulted made Deidara nearly lose it.
He dove, his clay bird skimming the ground. Takeshi charged, kicking up sand with every step. The bird spat a volley of small explosive beetles.
Takeshi dodged with a leap, but Deidara, quick, jumped off his mount, aiming a punch at Takeshi's face. Takeshi blocked with the flat of his katana, the impact vibrating in his arms.
"He's decent in taijutsu…" thought Takeshi, grimacing.
He countered with a knee to the gut, making Deidara grunt.
"Not bad, huh?" taunted Takeshi, spinning for a backslash. Deidara rolled backward, narrowly avoiding it, a lock of hair falling to the ground.
"You're fast—but you're dead!" shouted Deidara, launching a chakra-charged kick. Takeshi blocked with his forearm, pain radiating through it.
He countered with a punch that grazed Deidara's jaw, forcing him back, coughing sand.
Sweat streamed down their faces, the suffocating heat making every move heavier. Takeshi dove, his katana aimed at Deidara's shoulder. Deidara dodged, but the blade sliced his arm, blood dripping onto the sand.
"You bastard!" he growled, jumping back.
Deidara changed tempo, his hands diving into his clay pouch.
"C1: Explosive Spiders!"
A swarm of clay spiders rushed toward Takeshi. He quickly formed seals and used Body Flicker.
He reappeared behind Deidara, slashing down with his katana. Deidara, anticipating it, launched a miniature clay bird that exploded, throwing Takeshi into a dune.
Hmm
The sand cushioned the blow, but a gash bled at his side, his jacket torn.
"That'll teach you to mock my art," Deidara sneered, climbing onto a new bird.