Chapter 23: The Kurosuke Family

The group were too late to save Rokusuke, as he made it to the graveyard where his comrades were buried alive. Found by the Korosuke family, he was set to also be buried alive. Sansho stood in her curry shop, stirring the large pot of curry she was making while she worried for the ninja who were still out scouring the town, looking for information on the gang. 'They'll be alright, they'll bring Karashi back safely to me…' She thought before returning to her task.

The group of four jumped down from the cliffside, landing behind some rocks. Hinami crouched in back of Neji behind a rock, with Lee crouching next to her behind another rock, Neji crouched in front of her with Naruto in front of Lee

"So, that's the place? Katabami gold mine. Ya know, instead of just rescuing Karashi and Rokusuke. I say we finish off this gang once and for all." Naruto said and Hinami hummed, 

"We don't want to bite off more than necessary right now." Hinami said, with Neji agreeing, 

"Yes, lets not get carried away." he commented, looking towards the boy.

"So what's the plan then?" Naruto said looking back, as Lee took out a notebook, looking towards it a moment. 

"Remember what Gai sensei said, that worries me…" Lee commented and Hinami hummed

"Those seven swordsmen are definitely strong, if their leader is one, we'll have to be careful." Hinami said 

"Ah come on Hinami. If he is one, it'll make this more interesting, ya know." Naruto said looking towards the group as Hinami shrugged her shoulders, 

"I don't know, we can't really be sure that Gai-sensei was right about that anyway." she commented, 

"What are you talking about? Gai sensei is always right!" Lee said, 

"We need to investigate first." Neji commented, with Naruto ready to go. 

Up near the top of the mountain, Rokusuke had been caught by the Korosuke family. Forced to kneel before the men in black cloaks which hid their features aside from their eyes. They laughed at him, their eyes looking at him cruelly. It was a group of 6 people, Rokusuke was shaking in fear in front of them. Moments from begging for forgiveness for what he'd done, going for his friend who, by now, was definitely dead. One of the Korosuke family shoved him to the ground as they called to their master, Raiga. 

"Raiga. We've caught one of the villagers who tried to run away." One of them called to their leader, the door to the house opened slowly, the wood creaking with age. A taller man walked out, wearing an auburn hood with a cloak that trailed to his ankles. Looking towards Rokusuke who shook on the ground,

"Well done, seems they thought to run and get help from ninja in the neighboring village." Raiga spoke, his voice was deep, and commanding. One of the underlings kicked Rokusuke in the face, knocking the man to the ground as he cried, glaring at him from behind his cloak his brown hair fell over his nose and on either side of his face.

"Where'd you run to?" He demanded, looking towards Rokusuke who began to beg for his life

"Rookie. Back off." Raiga commanded, who stepped back as he was addressed. 

"Yes sir." He said, Raiga's green eyes looked towards the group 

"Why? Rokusuke? After what we've done to establish a good relationship… I thought we were friends…" Raiga questioned the man, like he really thought he was helping the village, Rokusuke remained bowing on the ground, looking towards Raiga as he stuttered in fear

"W-we are, I mean--." He stuttered out before he was cut off by Raiga once more who looked towards the man on the ground, 

"You broke my heart, leaving like that." he stated, running through his memories, as Rokusuke begged for his life, bowing to the man over and over again, only for his cries to fall on deaf ears. Raiga declared they were going to arrange for Rokusuke's funeral, for the man to be buried alive. Rokusuke begging him not to, as he begged for his life, bowing to Raiga over and over, though, once again, his pleas fell on deaf ears. 

"Funerals bring people together, for them to remember good times…" Raiga said, one of the goons hitting Rokusuke in the back as he tried to run away, declaring they'd have his funeral. 

At the bottom of the mountain, the group continued to watch the mine, people moving in and out with rocks on their backs, under constant watch of one of the Korosuke family. Naruto looked forwards and scrunched up his face, 

"That's gold? I though it looked different…" he commented, 

"It has to melted and refined first. The gold is only part of the ore, the mercury and impurities have to be removed." Lee said in return,

"Hinami, what can you hear?" Neji asked and the girl hummed a moment, 

"They're working those people too hard. I don't hear Rokusuke… He's not here." She said in return, 

"That's a lot of work for a few pieces of gold, people really buy this junk?" Naruto said and Hinami looked over, 

"You don't have to understand it." Neji commented as they continued to watch the miners walk out of the mine and into another part of the cave, carrying rocks as they went. Before an elderly man collapsed from exhaustion, hie rocks clattering to the ground as he followed. The Korosuke family that stood near the doors of the warehouse noticed this, and looked towards him.

"What do you think you're doing old man! Get up!" He yelled in anger. The man on the ground, threatening him with a funeral, the man begging him not to. Hinami watched from the hill with the others, cracking the rock in front of her as they looked on, 

"He's exhausted and overworked, if they keep pushing him like this… He'll die." Hinami said looking towards the scene unfolding, 

"That's it!" Naruto said ready to move, Hinami shaking her head, 

"We need to finish our reconnaissance before making a move." Neji said 

"Let's just sit here and watch him drive that old man into the ground." Naruto said, Lee looked over from his rock, before deciding to handle it himself, knocking the family out before they could retaliate. 

"I'm a medical nin, I can heal you if you'd like." Hinami said the man refusing her offer, asking the girl to injure him instead, which she refused, he turned to the other ninja nad asking them to do the same before punching himself in the jaw and face, to make it look like he couldn't complete his job. Explaining they'd hold a funeral for him if they thought he knocked the Korosuke family to the ground. A loud gong sounded, causing the old man to look fearfully ahead towards where it was coming from. 

"What does that gong mean?" Hinami asked, standing in between Neji and Naruto, using medical ninjutsu on the man despite his requests, she only healed him minimally so he wouldn't collapse from exhaustion again. 

"An alarm?" Lee said in question and the man shook his head as he remained kneeled on the ground

"Summoning everyone to a funeral." He said and Neji looked over, 

"A funeral?" Neji asked and the man nodded,

"Yes. If any of us displeases Raiga, the leader of the clan. As punishment he arranges a funeral where the guilty person is buried alive." he said and the ninja looked at him in shock, the man went on to explain Raiga weeping over the coffins of those he buried as though they were friends

"He's a psychopath…" Hinami said, 

"We're dealing with a nutjob here, that's for sure." Naruto said 

"Who's funeral were they ringing it for? It can't be yours, can it, old man?" Neji said in return, looking towards where the gong was heard, 

"No, but I heard they caught Rokusuke this morning. It's gotta be his." the man said and Naruto looked over urgently, 

"What? Rokusuke?" Naruto said in surprise

The Korosuke family carried Rokusuke in a coffin towards his grave, Raiga stood overtop the cliffside, talking about Rokusuke, and how he liked the man. While his gang stood below, he called funerals nostalgic as he spoke with the child on his back, Ranmaru. He wore an oversized cloak which hid the child completely from view. When the boy asked about Raiga holding a funeral for him, Raiga denied such notion.

"You aren't going to die. Besides, I don't need a funeral to remind me of our good times." Raiga said in response, 

"Raiga." Ranmaru said and Raiga hummed, glancing back towards the boy, 

"They're coming. They'll be here soon." He concluded, and Raiga hummed in curiosity, 

"Good… I'm curious who's come to rescue him." He said looking towards the coffin. The ninja on the ground watched from a short distance away, hidden behind mounds from other peoples graves. 

"Let's save this guy!" Naruto said and Neji hummed as Hinami nodded, 

"Right." She said, with Neji activating his byakugan. Looking towards the coffin, noting Rokusuke was still alive inside the coffin.

"We need to draw the guards away, and get him out." Hinami said looking forwards, 

"We'll hit em fast and hit em hard." Naruto said definitely, 

"Let's begin." Lee said, Rokusuke banged on the coffin, begging to be released from the coffin, much to the enjoyment of the Korosuke family. The goons laughing as they stood around his coffin, before what looked to be rocks were thrown towards them, rolling just in front of their feet, before releasing smoke. Forcing the members to jump back and declare they're under attack. With the rookie running the opposite way while the rest readied for a fight. The group running forwards. Looking towards the Kurosuke family who turned towards them ready to fight. Running forwards and the group hummed,

"I'll take these two on the right." Hinami said as they ran, moving her hand out to the side, causing vines to come up from the ground and send the two goons crashing into eachother, before trapping them to the ground. Neji taking some goons that were running towards them, hitting them with gentle fist, and causing them to crash to the ground. Naruto using the shadow-clone jutsu to kick one of them in the air for his Uzumaki barrage, before jumping overhead, and kicking him into two of his friends. 

"Alright! That was easy!" Naruto said

"Don't get cocky. There are three more." Hinami said in return, Naruto humming as he looked over, a man jumping behind them from the tree, Hinami placing a wall of wood has he did so, causing the man to hit the wood and fall to the ground.trapped to the ground by roots of a tree as he yelled out a moment, 

"Sorry, I meant two more." She corrected, Lee kicking one of the guys who came from underground, before setting his sights on the last remaining member who stood in the graveyard. The last one seemed to be more of a coward, hiding behind tombstones instead of fighting headon. 

"W-wait…" The boy tried, as Lee ran forwards, intent on finishing this. Just as his fist was about to reach his face, Lee froze. It… It was Karashi, his old friend, whom he'd been looking to save. The boy fell to the ground. 

"Is it you?" Lee questioned, looking towards the boy, as the group came up, 

"Who's this guy?" Naruto asked, looking over at Lee

"This is… This is Karashi." Lee said in return, 

"He's the one grandma Sansho told us about?" Hinami questioned and Lee nodded

"This guy's Karashi?" Naruto questioned as Karashi crossed his arms and pouted like a child. 

"Karashi, is it true what grandma Sansho said? That you joined the Korosuke clan." Lee questioned, 

"So what if I did? What of it?" He said, Naruto raising his fist as he leaned closer, 

"What of it?! Are you serious!" Naruto said, but Karashi continued like he hadn't heard Naruto say anything

"Sure I did! Their leader's a great man. He took the gold mine back from those evil men, he liberated the whole village." Karashi said

"That poor old woman worries about you all day while she cooks that curry!You ungrateful little…" Naruto began, 

"Hold on, Naruto. Perhaps it would be best if I handled this." Lee said as he turned to Karashi, and questioned the boy on his decision, he was good at making curry. Karashi stating he wanted to be part of something bigger, and now, he was.

"He's never going to listen to reason!" Naruto said, ready to punch the guy before Lee beat him to it, sending Karashi flying to the ground, 

"Ouch…" Hinami said looking over from where she stood next to Neji, Lee looked angrily at the boy on the ground, trying once more to get through to the boy. Telling him he was a better man before, when he'd saved Lee's life, than when he was right now. Asking him to turn away from what he did now. 

"I've been a fool, please forgive me." Karashi said, Hinami looked over, 'He changed sides quickly… Too quickly.' She thought, looking towards the boy before they let Rokusuke out of the coffin. 

"It's you." Rokusuke said in shock looking towards Naruto who'd lifted the lid

"Sorry to keep you waiting." He said sheepishly, 

"Forgive me. But when I thought of my friend, buried alive, I couldn't do nothing. I wanted to help." Rokusuke said as he looked down, 

"I know how you feel…" Naruto said looking towards the man, Neji and Hinami were looking towards the mountain range, 

"You felt it too? That presence?" Hinami questioned and Neji nodded in return, before they both gasped, 

"This feeling…" Neji questioned, looking over, 

"What is it you guys?" Naruto said looking over at Hinami and Neji, 

"We're being watched. By Raiga, from that cliff there." Hinami said in return, 

"Let's go get him." Naruto said 

"Karashi. You stay with Rokusuke." Lee said with the boy agreeing, before they jumped away, intent on handling their stalker

"There's… noone here?" Neji said as they reached the cliff, he stood next to Naruto who stood next to Lee with Hinami on the other end and Naruto glanced over, 

"You sure?" Naruto asked, 

"No, there's definitely two other people here. I can still sense them…" Hinami said in return as mist covered their feet. 

"What's going on?" Naruto questioned

"This is the mist's jutsu. Stay on your guards." Hinami said As Neji looked forwards, laughter rang out, 

"Ninja art, hidden mist jutsu." He spoke and Hinami turned her head, looking towards the voice that'd spoken, 

"Here. The hidden mist jutsu is a trademark of the mist village." Lee commented as he flipped pages, 

"Neji, can you see anything, or is it just me?" Hinami questioned, the boy hummed,

"You can't see anything either?" Neji confirmed and Hinami nodded, 

"So even the byakugan is blind in this mist?" Lee commented

"No. I've dealt with this jutsu before… Something else is blocking the byakugan." Hinami said

"You guys really can't see anything?" Naruto said looking to the two who were looking around with the Byakugan, 

"I've never heard of a jutsu stronger than the byakugan." Neji commented in return, the four looking forwards. 

"Hinami what about your hearing, you could hear senbon needles drop from 15 km away, this mist is nothing compared to that." Naruto questioned and the girl hummed, 

"I've been able to pick up two voices, but I can't pinpoint their location at the moment, But I was thinking the same thing." Hinami said in return, Raiga stood on a cliff, looking towards the four ninja.

"Well, Ranmaru, what do you think?" He asked, Hinami's ear twitched as she picked up his voice turning her head slightly listening to their conversation, 

"It's amazing. Two of them have eyes with the power to see the chakra network. They must possess the Kekkei Genkai. And the girl, she can hear us right now, it's incredible. That must be from a kekkei tota. To be able to surpass my abilities like that." Ranmaru said in return and Hinami's eyes widened, 

"I carry the burden of the hopes and fears of everybody who works in the Katabami gold mine. The people depend on me to keep the village safe from intruders." Raiga said in return

"Will you arrange a funeral?" Ranmaru questioned, Raiga sounded disgusted as the ninja were strangers to him, therefor they would not receive a funeral. Revealing his twin swords, lightning fang. 

"No way, what is this power…" She said quietly, 

"What is it? What did you hear ya know." Naruto said and Hinami looked over, 

"A child is blocking the byakugan. They're watching from..." Hinami started before lightning danced in the sky, 

"What is that?" Naruto said looking towards it, 

"Move!" Hinami said as Raiga commanded the lightning forwards, towards them. The group looked shocked for a moment before they jumped apart, leaving clones in their place, the lightning destroying the rock where it landed,