Chapter 6 - S

Civilians think ninjas don't sleep. Or that they do in a bizarre way, with one eye closed and the other open, for a lack of a better metaphor. They hear stories of assailants moving closer, attempting to kill one ninja in what they thought was their moment of vulnerability, but in the next moment, they attack the person as if they hadn't been sleeping in the first place.

However the civilians think, they're ninjas, so they aren't at risk for them. In their minds, before the no-name enemy can reach its sleeping victim, the sixth sense that all ninjas have makes them wake up completely and immediately. As a result, they can stop their attacker with flashy movements so afterward they can give a monologue of 'ha! You thought you could trick a ninja!' and then it's over.

The truth is not as fantastic as that. Or at least, not with all ninjas.

They don't have a sixth sense though some call it that. The thing is when one is used to death, battles, and ill intent being thrown on a daily basis as if it was nothing (and in most cases, it is nothing), your subconscious evolves in a way that can recognize it without trouble. It knows the feeling and that's where half of the reflexes come from. It's experience; the other half being brought by old, plain training.

One won't suddenly wake up and go all ninja if they're just some genin wet behind the ears who hasn't seen battle yet.

Coincidentally, Sasuke is not one of them. A rookie, he means. His training with Orochimaru made sure he was always attentive to his surroundings, without caring if he was up or asleep. That's how, even if he's unconscious and hurts all over, he still can detect ill intent.

'Someone's trying to kill you', his mind screams.

He isn't awake yet, his mind still foggy from pain and lack of rest, but adrenaline is already flowing through his system. His eyes are open so the Sharingan is quick to react and process the information he sees but his still clouded brain can't quite comprehend. He lets years of reflexes do his bidding and grabs the arm of the person holding the knife, leg moving to kick a stomach with all the strength he can muster even if his ribs protest. His body attacks without holding back.

The result is the person now doubled over on the ground.

The knife is now in his hand.

Another person scrambles backward, leaking fear all over the place and Sasuke, who is now standing, uses the back of the knife against his nose before sliding a foot under the person so it falls to the ground, too. There's another who is pulling some sort of weapon from their waistband, but Sasuke stops the action mid-way, quickly moving behind. One arm gripping the weapon away from them while he points the knife to the neck.

It's over in less than ten seconds and is not until pain shots through his left arm, the one not holding the knife, that he wakes up completely.

He swears he's able to hear his bones grinding against each other alongside his loud heartbeat and he holds a wince back. Definitely, something cracked there. He will be lucky if it's just bruised.

"…Thought ye said he wasn't going to stand up for a couple more days, doc," a man on the floor wheezes. He still seems to be trying to catch his breath from the kick.

The supposed doctor holds his own nose to check the damage; there are tears forming in his eyes from the pain, but he still manages to answer, "He's purple all over and has bruised ribs. His arm is not supposed to be working either, for crying out loud!"

So he was right about the sharp pain in his arm then.

"Young man, it'll be best if we sit and discuss. You don't want to do something you'll come to regret later," says the one in front of him nodding slightly to the knife on his neck.

Sasuke would scoff, but it's beneath him. He has the situation in control, he's not the one who will lose here.

"Who are you?" he asks calmly. His memory is vague and only remembers sealing Kaguya and then going through an open portal, his hand trying to reach Naruto before looking to the side to see a mass of red energy, who most likely was the Kyuubi, and then being thrown away from the blond.

One thing he's sure of: Somehow it's Naruto's fault.

"May we know the name of our kidnapper first?" At Sasuke's pointed glare, he continues, "You're in Woodbury, young man. A nice haven from the horrors of the outside. We're secured here and no monster can reach us. Not even if they're inside. There are more than just us, boy. We protect our people and if you think you'll be able to walk away harmlessly from here, you're sorely mistaken."

There's confidence in the man and arrogance that rubs him the wrong way, but if his guess is right and he's in another dimension, he needs information. He doesn't know how this world works and what's happening. What are these monsters the man mentioned? Are they truly powerful? He needs a secure place to heal his wounds and rest, but most of all, he needs the knowledge to survive.

Pressing the knife a little tighter to the neck and letting some of his killing intent soar, Sasuke whispers, "I don't think so."

The men go tense, sweat starts forming on their foreheads and there's palpable fear in the air.

-

-

Wanna read more chapters? Go to patreon(.)com/jorieds and support me!