3 Village hidden in the grass part 3

(Kaz Taberu)

He rushed through the trees, his senses strained to spot any more hiding ninja. The sun beat down on him,making him sweat profusely in his heavy green flack jacket.Through the trees ahead of him, a pillar of smoke billowed into the partially cloudy sky. Kaz felt through his tool pouch, reminding himself he only had four paper bombs left. He lit softly on a tree branch and overlook the village.Or what they left of the village. The hospital was the building causing all the smoke,and that pillar of fire.

The northern most field, usually lined with prefectly straight rows of tall green stalks was on fire and marked with dozens of blast craters.He crouched close to the tree, his fingers clutching the rough brown bark of the pine tree. The wind changed,and the stench of burning flesh filled his nose making him gag involuntarily.

Around and In the village were spiratic clashes,the high pitched ringing of steel carrying across the fields. He took in calming breaths,slowing his racing heart to focus on the chakra signatures through the village. Only one person mattered,if they were dead then this was no longer his problem. On the close end of the village he sensed a host of foreign chakra signatures, atleast twenty of them moving around in spiratic arch's.

Kaz felt it,the malicious and yet familiar chakra of zosui in moments, picking the familiar chakra from the crowd easily.The man was surrounded by a host of other's,and judging by the intensity of his chakra zosui was furious.Why couldn't Zosui just die?Kaz scowled to himself and searched the battlefield for a way to approach unseen. If he followed the tree line to the south where the trees, he could depart from cover right next to the village.This way he could approach under the cover of the trees and foliage instead of walking across the burning and crater marked fields in front of him.

The biggest issue with that course of action was the condensed cluster of enemies in that area.He could sense perhaps four unique chakra signatures in the trees.His heart skipped a beat,fighting four apponents would be risky,if any of them were jonin he would be hard pressed to win.

Moving cautiously Kaz followed the tree line towards the village,masking his chakra signature.The sounds of combat drew nearer,masking the sounds of his approach.Kaz crept through a thick tangle of thornfilled bushes,grimacing as the sharp barbs scratched his skin through his thin sleeves.His heart thudded and Doubt washed over him as he took in his four apponents.Judging by their green flack jackets all of them were chunin,or Jonin.Kaz swallowed, doubtful of his chances, as he examined each of them in turn.On the bright side, each of them had a small chakra pool,close in comparison to most of the village chunin that Kaz knew of.

He firmed his resolve,these were cloud ninja.And all cloud ninja deserved a horrible, painful death for what they did to him mom all those years ago.Kaz palmed two of his four remaining paper bombs from his tool pouch and attatched them to kunai without thin strips of cord.

His fingers brushed smoke bombs but he left those in his pouch for the meantime.Three of the ninja stood to the right, next to a large rock. They were heatedly discussing something,while the last was above them,hiding in the thick canopy. Her head was panning side to side, watching for any enemies.

Deciding he couldn't loose this opportunity,Kaz launched two paper bombs into the group of three arguing ninja.Two of them scattered,but the third,who was the one doing most of the talking didn't notice the attack in time.

As he expected,a point blank paper bomb to the face tore apart the to slow,hidden cloud chunin.Finally noticing their attackers location all of the cloud ninja moved.

"Lina! heal ferui! Janet, back me up, we will take him down!" the man who was arguing with the wounded man said.

Janet rushed over,beside their squad leader, her white hair tied tightly in a ponytail."Yoa,do you think he is a Jonin?"Janet asked, her Alibaster face scrunching In concern.

Kaz assessed the situation watching Lina leap down from her perch and rush over, kneeling next to the downed Ferui. He paused,taking in Lina, her dark brown hair, cute face and deep hazel eyes. She was cute,a little on the shorter side,but she bore a striking resemblance to the woman Kaz killed over a dozen minutes ago.Kaz was watching for their reactions,wondering if these were a new or an experienced team. There was hesitation and glances of uncertainty and maybe even distrust.Deciding he would stir the pot a little Kaz leaned back casually against his tree.

"You three are pathetic."Kaz said, taunting.

The leader,Yoa, weaved signs and took in a deep breath. His bright bright cloak billowed and he spoke.

"Water style,(Tearing torrent)Yoa shouted holding out his hand.

A jet of rushing water shot from Yoa towards Kaz. Kaz lept up into the foliage above hiding his next actions from view. He created a shadow clone and the clone transformed with a poof of smoke.His shadow clone grinned her smile seeming unnatural. Kaz handed over his final two paper bombs and the clones intense emerald eyes flashed in amusement.

"Mask your chakra, and attack me. That way their sensory ninja doesn't sense the ruse." Kaz said, exited.

Steel clashed and Kaz retreated into view of his audience.The transformed shadow clone attacked fiercely even slashing a small bleeding cut across Kaz's forehead. After several rapid clashes where Kaz retreated,the clone leaped back to land amongst the group of cloud ninja.Kaz scowled but inwardly he grinned, they didn't attack the clone.

"Damit, how did you sense me?" Kaz asked,landing on the ground and scowling at the four of them.

"Did you really think you could sneak past me?"said the transformed clone of kaz.

"Lina, how is ferui?"Kazes undercover clone asked. "Darla come help me patch him up,Ferui is hurt bad."Lina said her hands on feruis bloody chest.

"Janet,move,lests go show this looser how a real cloud ninja fights!"Yoa shouted,glaring angrily at Kaz.

Kaz retreated,dodging the hail of projectiles thrown at him. All the while his clone approached Lina. His clone discuised as Darla reached up and patted Lina on the shoulder sticking a paper bomb just below her neck. The clone crouched beside her and rested his hands on feruis battered and burned body. The clone raised and hand and said a word lighting both paper bombs before he puffed into smoke. Linas face turned from relieved, to confused and then to horrified, as she noticed the burning red paper on Farui's chest.

The bodies turned in to a red mist disappearing in the thunderous explosion.

Shielding his face Kaz ducked for cover,feeling small chunks of something warm stick to his face.The scent of cooking pork filled his nose and his ears rang. The triangle in the top right of his vision flashed blue,confirming at least one perhaps both died in the blast.

Kaz peered from behind his impromptu hiding spot giving both Janet and the leader of the group Yoa a wide grin.Janet reached up to her hair, her hands shaking.Her face turned horrified as she pulled a severed finger that was still dripping blood from her hair.

Only two left, he though.They both appeared shaken but they were sticking togethor. He needed to make them angry so they would act rashly.Given Janet's trembling he decided she would be the easiest to anger.

They both noticed him and launched several shuriken. Kaz jumped straight up grasping an overhanging branch and contorted his abdominals to flip up onto the branch in a acrobatic display.He was sure his opponents would have been impressed if they weren't so shocked with the recent deaths of their teammates.

"You almost hit me!That would be expensive to get my cloths retailored!"Kaz shouted. Yoa' face turned bright red in anger,his cheeks matching the red in his eyes.

"Let's get him Janet." Yoa said,his voice cracking as he glanced to the blood smeared crater.His red eyes swam with tears as they locked on Kaz.Yoa wasn't going to let this monster with blue hair get away with killing his squad.

Both of his apponents sprung into action at the same time.Janet threw shiriken which was deflected while Yoa weaved several signs."Water style, ripping torrent jutsu!"Kaz flung a single kunai towards Yoa, the man simply allowed the Kunai to pass him.Kaz released his transformation mid air and brought his kunai down into the side of Yao's neck. The blade sunk deeply parting flesh all the way to the hilt.

He released his shadow clone feeling the rush of chakra return to his body.

"Now there is just one left." Kaz said coldly,staring Janet down.The woman was shaking but she was still a chunin of the hidden cloud.He wonder if she would flee or if she would attack him?

Janet backed up wearily,eying Yoa with concerned eyes.

"You are a monster,you killed them all?"Janet said her bright grey eyes swimming with anger.

"I am no monster,I am simply getting revenge on the hidden cloud.But you don't need to worry,if you tell me why you are here then I will let you walk away." Kaz said,wiping something warm and sticky from his face.

"We are searching for a rogue medic ninja."Janet stammered eying Kaz with an expression that could only enraged.

"Does the man wear a white lab coat,and love to experiment on people for fun?"Kaz asked curiously.

"Yeah,he is tall,short black hair and is lanky as a pole."Janet said,her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"What did he do to deserve being in the bingo book?" Kaz asked,cocking his head.

Nearby the clash of steel drifted through the trees,reminding Kaz there was a fight nearby.

Janet started backing away,away from Kaz and the village.She look terrified but was still giving him an angry glare.

"That doesn't matter,just keep in mind that he is in the bingo book."Janet said, snarling she spit on the dirt between them.

Kaz turned to leave, keeping attention on the young women behind him.

"There is a huge bounty on his head,if you bring his corpse to any hidden cloud jonin you can collect!"Janet said,as though on second thought.

"Thank you!"Kaz said,appreciating the information.

Kaz felt her chakra retreating,as the woman rushed away,clearly deciding to cut her losses.Kaz took a deep breath,and gagged.The air smelled of burning blood,flesh and foliage.Adjusting his course Kaz rushed through the trees towards the ongoing battle.

In the top right of his vision the blue triangle was pulsing insistently.he focused and a screen similar to a television screen partially blocked his view.his heart lept in excitement.

[You have devoured a small portion of your victims chakra.Congratulations,you have received fifteen chakra points from three chunin level opponent's.

[please select one of the following abilities to add to your store.]

[water style, ripping torrent jutsu Rank C, Rarity common,Select for more details.] Kaz selected the ability. This technique creates water that spirals in the user's hand which fires at a high speed towards the enemy. It can also be conjured from the surrounding area in the form of a torrential wave. He remember the jutsu from the fight. It was definitely a good offensive or even defensive jutsu. It sounded useful,but Kaz wasn't sure how affective it would be with his earth affinity.

Deciding to check the next one he moved on.

[earth style bottomless swamp, rarity uncommon. Rank C,select for more details.] he selected the ability.The user turns the ground around a target into deep mud, causing the target to sink into it until reaching their neck. The mud is very thick, making it difficult for the target to free themselves.

[Warning, two of your victims lacked any jutsu that you don't already posses.To add more Jutsu to your store kill ninja who are stronger then you or have unique abilities.Warning killing apponents far beneath your skill level will offer diminishing returns.]

Kaz scowled in anger,what a load of crap.out of all three of those ninja and only one of them could use a jutsu that Kaz couldn't?That was a pile of shit!

Angry but in a hurry Kaz made his decision.[congratulations,earth style bottomless swamp has been added to your store.Select the earth tab for more details.] Kaz selected the earth tab and a blinking icon of a murky black mud pit appeared on the icon.

[Requirements, Earth affinity.Requirments met!for having the Earth affinity you are able to select a new option.Would you like to upgrade bottomless swamp to swamp of the underworld for fifty chakra points? Yes, No.]Kaz blinked, wait that was a thing? He hit no.

[Would you like to purchase bottomless swamp for thirty chakra points? Yes, or no?Warning,this is an inferior jutsu.To advance the power of this Jutsu purchase the upgrade.Warning the upgrade will increase the overall cost.]

Should He buy it now? And what was this upgrade option? He shook his head, he was still going to save up for minds eye of kagura.As that was a significantly better sensory talent then his own.Kaz selected no, and dismissed his store.The minds eye of kagura was to close, he only needed twenty Points.

The stench of death and burning wood grew sharper as he broke from the foliage into the south most edge of the city.What greeted him were two thatched building that looked as though they were never touched. Rushing between the two single story buildings Kaz walked out into chaos.

Bodies of both allies and enemies were skattered in the wreckage of the village. Despite only a half hour passing since the start of the battle, the village hidden in the grass was detroyed.He scanned the area cautiously. He could only sense around ten more chakra signatures left inside the small village and five of them were ninja.Kaz reeled at this fact, he could sense the five bright flames of ninja near the hospital,while the other much dimmer survivors were spread around the village.. How could they all be dead?Those monsters! Kaz glanced at a nearby two story grocery store.In was collapsed and the owners trapped underneath the rubble.As he watched,he could sense both of their chakra fade as they most likely ran out of air and died.

The streets ran with blood,filled with both ninja and villagers alike.His boot squished as he stepped on something that he hoped was mud.Kaz crept along the street,feeling vulnerable without anywhere to hide.As he approached the five person battle one of the chakra signatures disappeared, snuffed out.Suppressing his chakra Kaz climbed up the rubble of someone's house.The building was collapsed with one corner sinking into the earth.He peered over the top down at the ongoing battle. Four fighters remained,three cloud ninja, and Zosui.

Kaz glance around furrowing his brow.He found the rogue medic ninja face down in a expanding pool of his own blood with one ninja on his back stabbing a sword into his back.Three cloud ninja stood around the body,glaring at Zosui.

The one who just killed Azuki rose and limped as he stepped forwards. He was around sixteen,fairly tall, dark-skinned man with a slightly bulbous nose, black eyes that looked bored, and shaggy, white hair which covered his left eye. He wore a high-collared, sleeveless uniform with loose fitting pants, bandages on his wrists and the one-strap-over-one-shoulder flak jacket of a Hidden cloud shinobi.He held a two handed sword. It was short with serrated edges and a flat point.The man was surprisingly young, around fifteen or sixteen, with a black shoulder tatoo.

Next to him, Killer Bee has dark skin and a muscular build, as well as white hair and a goatee. On his right shoulder, he had a tattoo of the kanji word for iron Which is the Iron Armour Seal that was used to seal eight tails into him, and on his left cheek, he has a tattoo of a bull's horn. bull.If that didn't give it away then the eight needle like swords did.

There was only one man that fit that description,Kaz swallowed, crouching lower as he recognized killer bee.After all, there was no other ninja that carried that many swords on them.He frantically glanced to the last of them,sighing in relief when he didn't spot the riakage. It was only some white haired ninja.

Kaz didn't know the last one, but if they were with killer bee, they were undoubtedly strong.Not to mention both killer Bee and the woman had a chakra chakra pool that dwarfed any Kaz had ever seen.He honestly felt sick now that he could sense their might.

Killer B spoke,"We killed him ya fool,if ya keep getting in our way we are going to beat you until you drool!"

Zosui stood their unfazed by the horrible rapping, cradling his bloody right arm close to his side. Blood trickle down his forehead,staining the front of his pink and brown kimono.

"I'm not scared of two weak jinjuriki.Look around you,all of your comrades are dead."Zosui said,cracking a malicious smile and gesturing to the bodies spread around the village.

Kaz couldn't believe it.Out of forty attackers only three remained,and despite the odds Zosui was still alive.

"Are you a fool, ya fool? Me and my team saw the crime,if you fight us we will kill you in time!"Bee said punctuating each Rhym with his hands.

"And why would I let you leave after you destroyed my village?"Zosui asked his tone darkening.

"Do you know how much this mans body is worth?If you turn his body over in the village hidden in the clouds you will be rich." said the young man with the black lightning tatoo on his arm.

"I can just take his body for the money."Zosui said grinning evilly. Kaz shutter, he knew that smile al to well.

"Are you a fool, ya fool, we have three of us and one of you ya fool.There is a big bounty on our captive ya fool."Bee said, striding towards Zosui with confidence.

"But bee,he is a S ranked jonin."said darui,taking a hesitant step forwards and raising his serrated sword in both hands.

"The kid is right,just leave the body to me and I will let you leave."Zosui said coldly, holding his sword in his uninjured left hand.

"A ninja like you is shaking on your feet,against me, Zosui can't compete."Be retorted.Bee grinned and paused raising one finger and pulled out a small note pad and pencil.

Was this guy for real?What was with the pointless rhymes?The way Killer Bee acted spoke of bravado but Kaz knew the mans reputation.

"Bee,our mission is complete.If we don't hurry back to inform the riakage of our success he may get cranky."said the unknown woman of the group,her voice soft yet firm.

"Come on bee, listen to Yugito, we need to leave before the leave village learns of our presence."Daraui said, exasperated at Bees stubbornness. Bee turned slightly facing halfway towards Zosui and half towards Yugito.

The woman rocked back on her heels and tossed her shoulder length white blond hair over her shoulder.Yugito folded her arms under her chest excentuating her breasts. Her black eyes twinkled playfully at Bee.Despite the fact that Bee had really dark skin Kaz could see his skin flushing a bright red as he stare at her chest that was pressed tightly against her thin blue and white shirt.

"Yo,If I comply I can touch them with more then just my eyes?"Asked bee hopeful.

"Sure….if you want me to break your fingers."Yugito said smiling innocently.

Bee scowled and turned away gesturing emphatically.

"You we're lucky this time but it won't last,next time we meet you will see that I am fast."Bee said leaping to a nearby mostly broken building.

"Let's go ya fools.Big bro will be angry if you two make us get caught by the leaf village ninja."Bee said, shouting in triumph as he rushed towards the North.

"What? It is your fault this took so long!"Darui shouted Rushing after Bee.Kaz watched them all leave,noting the last, the woman known as Yugito glance right at his location.Kaz wasn't sure what the jinchuriki was capable of but he didn't want to faind out just yet.At least not until he was far stronger.Kaz felt the two massive chakra signatures of killer Bee and Yugito leave the city followed closely by the much smaller signature of Daraui.

Crouching low Kaz waited until they were long gone.He reached for the tool pouch at his waist and peered over the rubble at Zosui. The mans kimono was torn and slashed in several places leaking blood into his once pristine clothes.He crouched next to Anukis blood soaked body staring at the corpse with an odd expression.The mans once roiling chakra was thin nearly empty.Kaz grinned, excitement filled him.Now was his chance,he could finally get revenge for all that Zosui put him through.

Rising,his heart pumping in his chest,Kaz approached Zosui from behind his kunai in hand.His chakra was suppressed and his steps fell lightly between the rubble and on the hardpacked dirt.Zosui glanced over his shoulder when Kaz was ten feet away his eyes widening.