Expect the Unexpected - Part 2

"Are you going to be a man of honour and accept the consequences of your actions, Sarutobi?" Naru asked, now sitting forward.

"I am a man of honour... which is why I will not die for something I have not done. I will be keeping my honour by not allowing an injustice to be committed here."

"You have truly... let me down, Sarutobi. You are an exceptional person. This really is a shame." Naru Takamori stood up from his chair, placing his hand on his sword.

As he did so, the surrounding Fang members took their fighting stances. Sasuke remained flat-footed, eyes locked onto Naru.

"Naru... you're making a big mistake. I don't want to kill anyone here." Sasuke pleaded.

"You made the mistake of killing innocent people."

"I will not let you kill me. I will defeat everyone you command to kill me, without killing them. Then... we can talk this out." Sasuke assumed his stance, not once taking his eyes off Naru Takamori.

"We will do this hand to hand. I'll at least give everyone a chance by not using ninjutsu."

"Even on the brink of death, you continue to mock us." Naru disappointingly stated.

As Naru and Sasuke were fixed to the spot, staring each other in the eyes, the door burst open. Two Fang members barged in holding a captive.

"Itari!" Sasuke shouted, "What are you doing here?!"

Itari, head bloody, raised his head and looked at Sasuke. Just as he did, Sasuke and Itari were alone. There was no one else present.

"Don't panic, Sasuke. It's a genjutsu. We need to figure out how we get out of here."

"We aren't killing anyone here. I've been accused of something I haven't done. I need to figure out what led them to this conclusion."

"If we aren't going to fight, what do you suggest?"

"Itari... you shouldn't have followed me here."

"I had a bad feeling about it all. Seems I was right."

"I have a kemuridama. When I throw it down, I'll snatch you from those two holding you and we get away."

"A smoke bomb? Well I can't think of anything better right now. Okay, let's do it."

"How did they catch you, Itari?"

"I was fine, as soon as I reached the misty part of the forest I could sense I was being watched. But... I suddenly began feeling dizzy. My senses felt slow."

"This is why you should have told me you were gonna follow me. The mist is not actually mist. It's created by a plant they burn here. Burning it causes the release of something in the smoke which causes you to feel weak. Your senses and your reactions slow down. These lot live here, so they've grown to ignore the effects of it."

"Smart. So it's a defence mechanism?"

"Exactly."

"I don't think I can go through the trees. My balance is unstable... I'm still dizzy from the mist."

"Fine, we will keep our feet on the ground. Let's just get out of here."

The genjutsu had been removed. Itari watched Sasuke, waiting for him to start the escape. In one swooping motion, Sasuke removed the smoke bomb and threw it down. Simultaneously, he rushed towards Itari, grabbing him at the waist and forcing him out of the Fangs' grasp.

Once outside, Sasuke created a clone, sending it in a direction opposite to the one they would take. He told Itari to do the same.

"This way, they'll have to split up." Sasuke explained.

Sasuke and Itari jumped up into the trees above. They waited as they watched Fang members follow the tracks Sasuke and Itari's clones had made.

When they felt the time was right, they jumped onto the ground.

"You okay, Itari?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

They ran in the opposite direction to the Fangs, trying to get out of the mist as fast as possible.

"ARGH! NO WAY!" Sasuke screamed in agony. Itari, shocked, froze in panic.

He got himself together and looked down. Sasuke's foot had been caught in a trap used to capture small beasts. It hadn't cut all the way through his leg, but there didn't seem to be a way to remove it.

"Sasuke I can't open it. It's too rigid and heavy."

"You can't remove it. It needs a locksmith to dismantle the whole thing. I need to cut my leg. It's the only way."

"Don't be crazy, Sasuke! There has to be a way."

"We don't have the time. They definitely heard my shout." Sasuke placed his hand on the ground and waited for a second.

"They're already making their way towards us. You need to go."

"Me... and what are you going to do?"

"This is it for me, Itari."

"Sasuke hurry up and do what you need to do. I will carry you the rest of the way."

"Itari stop being stubborn! If you carry me, we will just be slower. There's no need for both of us to die."

Itari knew Sasuke was right. He just couldn't bring himself to admit it out loud. Not after everything Sasuke has done for the village.

"Sasuke... I'll meet you back at the village..."

"I know... I won't be long after you."

Refusing to show the tears in his eyes, Itari turned around and threw his kunai to the ground beside Sasuke. He then carried on his way out of the mist. Sasuke took a couple of deep breaths before reaching over and taking the kunai. He cut a piece of material off his sleeve and placed it in his mouth. He then wrapped his belt around his leg.

He counted down from three, biting down with all his might on the count of one. He vigorously cut through his leg, going back and forth without hesitation. When he reached the bone, he angled the kunai at an angle, using his other foot to kick down on it. As he got all the way through, he fell back onto the floor, trying to compose himself.

Even though his breathing had steadied, his vision had worsened. He was seeing double. However, he knew there was no more time to waste. He held onto a tree beside him, pulling himself up. He stumbled through the forest, struggling to remain upright. He fell to his knee, beginning to think there was no point in trying to run away. He looked around trying to focus his vision. He saw what seemed to be a cave a little further down, and made his way towards it.