Chapter 68 - Substitute

"Kazu… Keiji…"

A woman spoke softly but if one paid attention they could hear the pain in her voice.

Biting her lower lip, she had tears falling down her face.

"Vi."

A man called out to her as his hand landed on her shoulder.

Vi turned around, her usual beautiful blue eyes were now red. Was it due to her tears, or was it due to the anger she felt.

"I don't understand!"

Vi shouted to the man as her fist landed on the tree next to them. The tree shook as leaves fell.

"Why aren't you angry! Where's your emotion Urek!?"

Vi yelled as she asked her brother a question.

Urek looked at her, and clenched his fist. Someone had to remain calm, and since Vi was bursting with rage he had to be the one to stand firm.

Urek hit his chest with his fist.

"Here! But, now is not the time to grieve Vi! They started a war with us, to break us down and kill us off. I'm upset just like you about Kazu and Keiji, but we can't let anger cloud our minds. We need to find Sumire and the others!"

Urek told Vi as he held her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

Vi bit her lip hard, drawing blood as she looked down at her two younger brothers.

She couldn't understand. Why? Why would they take their eyes?

Vi understood that the Reitgan was unique just like all other dojutsu, but what made it so special someone would take it? It's not like it was just their clan, the Uchiha, Hyuga and Chinoike clans were all facing the same situation. However, the perks their dojutsu gave was much better than the Reitgan.

Vi hated it, both her younger brothers were the only ones to awaken it. She had hope that it was the key to awakening her father.

'I'm going to kill them all!'

Vi swore to herself.

"Let's go!"

Vi said as Urek let go of her shoulders.

'Why am I remembering that?'

Vi asked herself as she opened her eyes.

Brushing her long silver hair back she looked at the seemingly endless forest in front of her.

Touching the silver ring on her thumb she sighed.

In her mind she knew they were both dead, but she just couldn't shake the feeling she would be seeing them again real soon.

"Had a good nap?"

A man asked her as he got up from sitting down.

Vi nodded as she glanced over at the well-built man with waist-length white spiky hair.

At the same time Vi began traveling with the long haired man again, Gin was confronting Ren.

Ren's hand touched the mask on his face as he laughed.

"Soon i'll be adding yours to my collection."

Ren told Gin as he began making hand signs.

Gin looked at the three genin and observed their opponent. Gin knew that the man couldn't be in the anbu due to the way he was dressed. There was also this feeling had that his skill level wasn't on par with Ren's.

Feeling this, Gin felt that those three should be alright. At least until he finished off Ren.

It was only for a moment, but Ren already finished his signs and launched an attack towards Gin.

"Earth bullet barrage!"

Gin swiped his left hand as a wall of wind appeared in front of him.

The earth bullets hit the wall of wind allowing Gin to stay unharmed.

From what Gin knew about Ren he was a high ranking Jounin that's part of the hidden stone village, not to mention he also had the four tails sealed inside him.

Not every jinchuriki is treated the same as most are only used in wars, but Ren's influence and power before he became a jinchuriki allowed him to roam freely like any other shinobi.

'It'll be dangerous to fight him here, especially since they are behind me.'

Gin thought to himself.

A blue swirl appeared around Gin's body as it continued to pulse as if it were alive.

"What is this feeling…?"

Karin asked as she looked over towards Gin.

However, her attention was soon drawn back towards the man with dual swords.

Gin's body seemed to fade as he left behind an afterimage.

Ren jumped back, while two kunai landed where he was.

Gin materialized behind Ren.

As Gin moved to stab Ren, smoke appeared and with a thud Gin's kunai was embedded into something.