Rescue (2)

Two flickering shadows could barely be made out against the night sky as they ran through the trees. Although they produced almost no noise as they moved, a palpable hastiness and tension could be felt from them. The clamorous sounds of the battlefield rang out with sharp contrast to the tight lipped silence of the two figures as they moved around the edge of the scene of combat.

'Should be almost there now.' I thought.

'Although there fortunately hasn't been anyone on the outskirts of the fighting yet, I'm sure they'll have guards around the prisoners.'

Just as I thought this, I caught sight of faint glimmer of steel under the moonlight.

'Did I jinx myself?'

Mio had seen them too, and they immediately slowed and hid behind a tree to observe the guards.

There were two of them visible, leaning against two trees a short distance from each other. They were small - they looked more like fresh genin than hardened jonin. Not much more of their features could be made out in the poor light. Kilo's voice confirmed my thoughts.

"They both have genin level chakra reserves."

Alright. We could do this. Although we weren't quite at the genin level yet, we had our own advantages. It was possible.

I looked over at Mio questioningly, gesturing that I would go for the one on the right while she went for the one on the left. She nodded her assent.

Although she showed no outward signs of it now, I could tell she was afraid. Maybe it was because I felt the same fear.

'They might only be cannon fodder genin... but they still have more training than either of us.'

No. We could do this. I was sure. Not only were we able to surprise them and attack on our terms, but both Mio and I had powerful Kekkei Genkais.

I took a deep breath, then silently darted into the underbrush on the right. Mio disappeared to the left.

--------------------

Kaito POV still.

I split my attention as best I could, keeping an eye on the genin I was targeting and trying to move through the underbrush without making any sounds. I could no longer afford to pay any attention to Mio.

The forest had never seemed so hindering before. Every branch seemed to try to catch on my shirt, every twig seemed to position itself just under my foot. A bead of sweat dripped down my brow as I concentrated on not making any noises as I moved. Slowly, I was getting closer to the enemy ninja.

He still hadn't noticed me. Good.

When I was almost directly in front of him, I formed a small shard of ice and placed it flat on the ground, out of his line of sight.

I then crept around behind his right side, and took out a kunai. The cold steel felt oddly comforting in my hand.

'No hesitation Kaito. For mom!'

Concentrating a bit of chakra, I raised up the piece of ice on the ground so it reflected a ray of moonlight towards the genin. He immediately looked at the shard of ice, distracted.

Now!

I rushed out towards him from behind at full speed, abandoning all attempts at remaining hidden.

The genin whirled around, pulling out a kunai. But it was too late, I was already on top of him with my kunai slashing down.

Clang!

He barely managed to deflect it with his own kunai to avoid a fatal hit, but my kunai still ripped deep into his shoulder and sent him staggering back with a scream.

I immediately flashed through a series of familiar hand signs.

"Ice Release: Certain-kill ice spear!"

A large speaker shaped icicle suddenly shot out towards his stumbling frame, piercing into his chest before he could react. The speed of its emergence was simply too great - his eyes remained widened in surprise even after his death.

It was an almost perfect kill. He only had time to let out a small scream before it was over. But I felt anything but pride in that moment. Instead, a feeling of nausea rose up in me as I stared at his face. I could make out more details from this close. He looked young. At most ten years old. He had soft brown hair and eyes. He would have looked kind and gentle if not for the blood trickling down his chin and his widened, glaring eyes.

His pale face was imprinted onto my mind, adding itself to the list of brutal images I would never be able to forget.

Fortunately, the adrenaline pumping through me pushed down the nausea I felt at my first kill.

A chilling scream suddenly pierced through the air from my left.

"Mio!"

I rushed back towards the left, my concern for Mio immediately pulled my attention away.

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Mio POV

I watched silently as Kaito disappeared into the underbrush. The calm front I had put up nearly crumbled then and there when my eyes could no longer find his small figure.

'Why does he seem so dependable even though he's even younger than me?'

'No. Not now.'

I shook my head, trying vainly to clear it of any distracting thoughts. I had to focus. Although this wouldn't actually be my first kill, it would be the hardest.

I followed Kaito's example and slipped into the thicker areas of the underbrush, slowly creeping my way towards my target.

I circled around to his left, and created a water clone from behind a tree, hoping he wasn't a sensor. Fortunately, he didn't notice anything.

I sent the clone around behind him, and jumped up onto a branch of the tree I was hiding behind. I had a clear view of him now.

A pained cry suddenly sounded out from Kaito's side, sending a moment of crushing fear through me. But it wasn't Kaito's voice. I would recognize it.

My attention went back to the genin beneath me. He had turned away towards where the scream came from, seeming unsure of himself.

'Now! This is a perfect chance!'

I flashed through a series of hand seals.

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

Taking in a deep breath, I blew a could of corrosive mist towards the genin beneath me as hard as I could.

He immediately turned, raising a kunai to defend himself.

'Unfortunately, a kunai won't defend very well against my mist.' I thought.

"Aaaahhhhh"!"

The mist immediately enveloped him, causing him to shriek in pain.

Soon after, he came stumbling out of the cloud of mist, burned hands clutching his equally burned eyes and face.

My water clone appeared in front of him, easily plunging a kunai into the side of his neck.

My clone confirmed the kill, and then dispersed into a puddle of water.

I jumped down from the tree, feeling slightly queasy. It never got easier, killing someone.

For now though, I needed to check on Kaito.

A branch suddenly snapped behind me, and something heavy slammed into my back, sending me sprawling forward face-first into the ground in a daze.