Second time

53

Clang!!!

"Indeed. You can really fight mobs with fast movement. But, facing me wasn't going to be the same." The Iwa leader said as he stopped Hoseki.

Hoseki jumped backwards as he threw shurikens and did hand sign.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone."

The numbers shurikens flew towards the Iwa leader were multipled.

The Iwa leader jumped backwards as he dodged the shuriken and parried some of it.

Ting!

Ting!

Ting!

Suddenly he saw a kunai amongst the shuriken.

"Katsu."

Boom!! The Kunai exploded.

As the smoke left, a boulder was seen in front of the leader blocking him from the explosion as he finished his hand sign.

"Doton, Rock Hammer." He sent the boulder flying towards Hoseki.

"Doton, Earth Swamp." As Hoseki was about to dodged, the ground suddenly turn into mud and hold him.

"Crap.." before he could do anything the boulder crush to his body and sent him flying.

As he was landing, Hoseki did somersault and ran toward the leader with a new hand sign.

"Futon: Vacuum Sphere." Hoseki shot multiple wind bullets towards him.

"Doton: Mud wall."

As the wind bullet crashed into the wall, he lost sight of Hoseki.

<Blind Stinger>

A kick came from his side.

****

Not far from Hoseki, Fang was fighting two ninjas. As he realised that the support had arrive more and more. He knew that they will be exhausted at this rate.

"Tail, Rabbit. Make sure he is sent to the village."

"Yes." Both of them answered. Hearing Fang's words, they knew what he was about to do.

****

As Hoseki sent his opponent flying, he ran towards to finish him out. However he was blocked by Rabbit.

"We need to go." Rabbit said as he move. Hoseki immediately followed as he heard that.

Understanding the situation, Hoseki nodded and followed him.

As Hoseki, Rabbit and Tail passed him, Fang jumped to block any shinobi who was about to chase them.

"Katon: Great Dragon Breath."

A huge explosion was heard as Hoseki moved forward. When he heard that sound, Hoseki almost stopped as he was pushed from behind.

"Don't stop. Focus on your mission." Tail said as he ran beside him and activated the CT.

"..." Hoseki silently followed them as he watched Fand holding the enemies at on their back.

Before long, he lost sight of Fang and activated his vest.

Speaking about sacrificing a teammate was easy without experiencing it. That was what Hoseki felt as he left Fang to hold their retreat.

Even though he didn't even knew Fang before, his emotion was triggered as he felt it wasn't acceptable just to leave him like that.

He wondered what he would do if the person was Kakashi or Guy or anyone else who were close to him like his teammates.

For the first time, he experienced a real sacrifice. The bitter situation that he would face in the future. A death of comrades.

Hoseki thought all these time that he would be ready for it. But facing the real situation he understood that all his thoughts were joke.

He thought he had a strong mental strength because he could kill without been shaken. But the reality was, he lacked of mental strength to face this kind of situation.

He understood that being offensive was easy but on defensive, he need more metal strength to coop with it. He realised that this was not the first time that he had been like this. If not for Draco intervention, Hoseki might lose to his emotion during Sakumo poisoning night.

"Weak. I'm still weak. If only I had more strength." Hoseki cursed himself as he followed Rabbit and Tail.

****

Standing not far from ruckus, Sakumo watched the struggle that Hoseki and his team were facing.

"Sir, it had been arranged." The old fisherman said as he appeared.

'Hoseki, you need to be stronger for the sake of Konoha. This will be a good lesson for you.' Sakumo had his last glance on Hoseki.

"Let's go." Sakumo nodded and moved.

It turned out that the ambush was compromised by him.

****

As the time limit for the CT was ended, they decided to hide.

The CT that was created by Hoseki had a fatal weaknesses. It left a small energy on the body that stopped the second activation of the next CT. The period was half as they activation. While the talisman can hold for 5 minutes, it needs 2.5 minutes for the energy to leave the body.

"We need to choose a new route. Our original exit points had been blocked. Not only that, we need to move fast." Hoseki said as he opened his eyes.

Having left the iguanas at important point of his route, Hoseki could see the Iwa shinobi was waiting for them to emerge.

He looked toward Rabbit who was laying on the ground weakly. During the fight, he was struck by poison weapon. While he was able to hold for awhile, he had no more energy after their escape.

Of course, as a medical ninja, Hoseki immediately treat him and eradicate the poison. But his body was weakened badly as he had held it for a long period and caused the poison spread to his bone. He needed to rest for a few days before he could move again.

However, the situation didn't allow them to stay like that. The Iwa shinobi had called for sensory ninja to scan the area while looking for them.

To Hoseki observations, it won't be long until they were found out.

"Use route C. Leave me and go!" Rabbit took out a map and threw it to Tail.

Hoseki frowned as he heard that. He had left Fang. Now he needs to do the same to Rabbit?

"I'll carry you." Hoseki grabbed Rabbit and put him on his shoulder.

"Do not delay the mission." Rabbit said as he struggled to escape from Hoseki.

"Don't worry. If I am slowed down by you, I'll throw you away and continue this mission. Just focus on activating your CT." Hoseki said as he squatted and reached something on his leg.

He put down all the weight on his body to the ground.

Yes. This whole time, Hoseki was moving with weights on his body. It wasn't that he didn't want to put it down before, but the fight was so sudden and intense. It made him have no time to throw it out.

Then he stood up and looked towards Tail, "Let's go."

Tail nodded as he moved followed by Hoseki.

(A/N : I have decide. Every taijutsu will be using symbol < > to paraphrase them)