Chapter 56: Call of Duty (7)

Chapter 56: Call of Duty (7)

Life is... fragile.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade looked at the men and women they just killed. In the wide rocky clearing, the trio stood silently as the rainwater pooled under their feet was saturated with the blood of almost 29 dead shinobi around them. The trio had the same thought at the same time and they didn't let their feet submerge into the bloodied pool of water. No.

Jiraiya's lips parted and closed as his fists were clenched tightly. Blood of his enemies dripped down the veiny fists of his as his nails began to dig into his palm.

Orochimaru... recalled his adventure to overcome this fragility. The mark on his forearm ached as he felt his already 'feeble' strength get sapped away ever so slowly.

Tsunade sighed softly. These three weeks were exhausting, more so than the three months of their deployment before as Jiraiya whispered softly, "231..."

"I didn't think you'd still be keeping the count," Orochimaru blinked and let the past memories submerge before adding, "Half of the ones you should have delivered the final strikes were dealt by me, too... you're going soft, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya's jaws gritted in as his stomach churned and he growled, "I'm getting tired... this is fucked up. Hunting Chunin of Ame... it was no battle but a slaughter."

"Well, it would be quite hypocritical of me to chide you on your conflicting morals. That's life for you..." Orochimaru narrowed his eyes as he continued in a whisper, "If only killing didn't mean death... if only death promised a new life... would it always be such nerve-wracking wars?" He looked down, his yellow eyes shrinking as he felt his hands briefly quiver at the thought of... constant loss of life. And the idea that he may never achieve his dream because of something like death.

"We need to keep on continuing," Tsunade interjected, most muted of the three as she was neither as ambitious as Orochimaru of as idealistic as Jiraiya. And in times like these, she felt fortunate she didn't share the duo's trait that made Orochimaru Sensei's favorite and Jiraiya a hidden gem in the man's eyes.

"Hanzo..." Tsunade's remark made Jiraiya's and Orochimaru's expressions even more somber as they looked at one another and released exhausted sighs in tandem.

"It's reported that your boy is working with Hatake-san himself to secure our retreat. Makes me relieved," Orochimaru shifted the subject as Tsunade frowned.

"What is it?" Jiraiya questioned.

"I wish Hatake wasn't that close to Kai... after all, it's suspected that Chiyo herself is present here right now to keep Hanzo in check, too..." Tsunade's gaze flickered, "More than Hanzo, I'm fearing the battle during our retreat. And Hanzo alone has the strength to stretch the negotiations for days."

"We'll pass that trouble, too," Jiraiya scoffed.

"I don't share that confidence. Tsunade... what about the Antidotes?" Orochimaru inquired as Tsunade's scowl grew deeper and she shook her head, "His poison is organic. Fucker eats a new plant every day, digests, and gets resistant to the new poison as if it's nothing. Oye, I may not be able to heal it so be careful, both of you... I don't want to resort to the last option."

"How about you, Jiraiya? If you use that" Orochimaru was cut short by Jiraiya, "Never... not that. It doesn't give any resistance to poison. Besides, I can only last five minutes and I'll be drained completely. Five minutes in that technique wouldn't be enough on Hanzo..."

Orochimaru scoffed and Tsunade eyed him.

"What?"

"Did you get that Jutsu?" Tsunade inquired bluntly as Orochimaru's shoulder slumped before he groaned raspily and let out an annoyed smirk, "Damn... I will be the punching bag then..."

But the trio didn't move just yet. They waited in the same spot, close to a town surrounded by large cubes of rocks along the large lake surrounding Amegakure Village. The blood began to flow away as the corpses were drained of everything while the rain itself began to get harsher.

---

"Oh? What's wrong with you? Ah, and where's Uncle?" Yahiko arrived at the familiar plastic and rubber shag in some corner of the alley from that little cave of his. Kai had followed the trio long before and found where they lived but it didn't matter. He was indeed in somewhat of a sour mood.

Today, was the appointed day of negotiations and their objective was to secure a safe path of retreat alongside regaining the control of the town filtered with Jonins of Iwa and Suna... the usual S-ranked War Mission, of course. Yet, while Kai fantasized about naturally viewing the man's skills and later grinding it for himself, most probably increasing the grind of his physique, too, Sakumo understandably left Kai with the... smaller half of the mission Securing the path of retreat for the trio.

And that's where the kiddie trio, in front of him, came into the picture. He'd have to bank the opportunity to learn from Sakumo later. Nobody would really raise any brows if he decided to just ask for Sakumo's teaching later... of course, the man had to agree to it.

"He's out hunting for himself today," Kai smiled. That's right. His 'dad' would make a prey of the enemies with his dad jokes... and maybe his sword in tandem, too.

The trio and the dog were stunned before they followed Kai who just slammed the door open.

"Hey Oi! Fuck off"

Not caring about the drunk cunt who would even go as far as smacking the Munchkin, Kai grabbed several dresses with others quickly rushing in with a worried expression. But... Kai had solidified his trust enough over these two weeks and to be honest, war or not, kids are impressionable once you are close to them.

They ran out the next second with excitement and rush from committing the first robbery of their life heavy on their faces.

Kai noted this with a smirk before exclaiming, "Ah, damn, those dresses are slippery!"

His hands only clutched one dress in particular as others almost stopped when the bundle of clothes now drenched fell into the puddle right in front of the store of the kind aunty that gave them a potato once.

What a whore?!

Kai smirked internally as the old woman only shook her head and paid the clothes no attention.

A mistake.

Kai could feel the Ame Nin getting close with his chakra now somewhat available despite being strained, and his invisible chakra thread manipulated the number of senbon needles to remain in the puddle of water that he threw under the cover of clothes when he passed by the Suna Kunoichi's store even if the tailor took away the clothes with a scoff. How was he sure that she was a member of Sunagakure? Well, it was Sakumo's insight as he noted her accent in one of his begging tours.

The time was almost ripe. The Senbon Needles were prepared, the target was unaware and a group of Ame shinobi should pass in...

5...

4...

*Boom*

After all... it can't be seen as an attack from a spy but Ame to cause maximum chaos. The Suna Kunoichi would surely survive this and her gaze would fall on...

'Hehe, I should maybe consider joining Anbu after all. It's fun causing this much trouble~!'

While the trio behind him was shocked by the distant explosion, Kai shouted in a panic, "Damn it! It's those Amegakure Shinobi! We should quickly grab a few more things and leave!"

"Shit!" Yahiko cursed, "We'll do as you say... since Uncle isn't back and you should come with us later."

'Well, don't mind me then. Thanks for providing an even better location to retreat, too... since others would naturally look within the city.'

***

Read 30 advance chapters here

Patre /Fanharem

And do vote some powerstones~

Join the discord for well... uh, dead chat room~

https : //discord.gg/egdFUe5