Chapter 86: The Entangling Root
Kurosawa village lay shrouded in the silence and darkness of the early morning. The thatched hut, nestled amidst the serene surroundings, seemed to hold a mysterious tension.
Inside, Shino's clone sat cross-legged, his eyes snapping open with a sudden intensity. His bugs had already sensed their approach, and he muttered to himself, "It has begun."
A couple of bugs emerged from the slumbering forms of Hinata, Kiba, and his pet, Akamaru. The insects scurried out from their mouths and noses, signaling the completion of their mission and the awakening of their hosts.
Hinata, leaning against Shino's shoulder, blinked her eyes a few times before her consciousness fully returned. Slowly, her gaze traveled around the hut before locking onto Shino, whose unwavering eyes were fixed upon her, "Shino...kun- S-Shino-kun?!"
A blush crept up her face as she realized their ambiguous position, causing her cheeks to turn a deep shade of red like a ripe apple before she passed out again, overcome with shyness and embarrassment.
Shino's eye twitched in response, and he gently laid Hinata down on the ground, murmuring to himself, "Perhaps I shouldn't have gone so far."
Meanwhile, Kiba, who had been sprawled on the ground with his rear in the air, opened his eyes and found his face planted against the ground, staring blankly at the dirt beneath him.
With a sudden burst of energy, he bounced up, spitting out a couple mouthful of dirt, growling angrily, "Which jerk put me to sleep in such an undignified posture?!"
Standing up, Shino adjusted his glasses, his voice calm yet authoritative. "We have more pressing matters to attend to than your sleeping-"
"Arf! Arf!" Just before finished speaking, Akamaru's warning barks pierced the air, interrupting him.
A deep frown formed on Kiba's face as he strained to hear the sounds, his hand instinctively clutching his head as if plagued by a sudden pain. He muttered under his breath, "Why is the pain back at a time like this?"
But in mere moments, Kiba's attention shifted to Shino, who had picked up Hinata in his arms. Alarm washed over him, and he yelled out in a mix of concern and frustration, "What are you doing, Shino? Put her down!"
Shino cast a quick glance in Kiba's direction, his expression unreadable. Without uttering a word, he kicked a hole in the wall of the thatched hut and leaped out, taking off into the distance with Hinata cradled safely in his arms.
Behind him, the fragile hut collapsed inward, followed by a series of explosions that sent tremors through the air. The piercing screams of Kiba mixed with the annoying yaps of Akamaru, echoing from within the wreckage. "SHINOOOO!"
Moments later, the chaos subsided as Kiba and Akamaru burst through the remnants of the collapsed hut. Rubbles danced through the air and clattered to the ground as they crashed into the village's dirt ground, Kiba's outfit faintly charred from the recent explosions.
Growling fiercely, he fixed his gaze upon the masked ninjas clad in standard black cloaks who had suddenly appeared, surrounding him and Akamaru, "Damn you…"
While Kiba dealt with the new arrivals, Shino pressed on, his feet carrying him swiftly through the narrow streets of the village.
His sharp eyes scanned the rooftops, tracing the movements of the agile ninjas who pursued him relentlessly, their silhouettes zipping through the air. With one hand securely holding Hinata's waist, the other swiftly formed a series of seals.
"Water Release: Water Gun." Shino's command accompanied the swift formation of hand signs.
A glob of water materialized within his mouth, and he spat it out… towards Hinata's unconscious face.
Her shy antics were cute in a peaceful environment, but on the battlefield, it's a burdensome joke.
The cold splash of water doused the sleeping princess's face, jolting Hinata awake, her head cutely shaking off the droplets as her consciousness returned.
Blinking rapidly, Hinata's gaze settled on Shino, who was close by, his unwavering eyes fixed upon her.
A faint blush tinted her cheeks as she registered their close proximity once again. However, before she could succumb to her embarrassment, Shino's cold voice cut through the air, "Don't pass out, Hinata, there are enemies to face."
As if a switch had been flipped, Hinata's blushing countenance faded, replaced by a determined expression.
Her Byakugan, the iconic bloodline limit of the Hyuga clan, activated in an instant. Veins pulsated around her eyes as she surveyed their surroundings, her gaze sweeping over the masked figures closing in.
"We are already surrounded, Shino-kun," Hinata reported calmly, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.
Shino skidded to a halt, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. His gaze pierced through the veil of the imminent danger, fixating upon the multitude of masked ninjas squatting on nearby buildings. Behind them, the pursuers closed in, perching on rooftops and narrow roads, effectively sealing off any possible escape routes. The trap had been set, and Shino and Hinata found themselves at the center.
Gently placing Hinata back on her feet, Shino turned to her, his voice calm yet brimming with anticipation. "Can you do it, Hinata?" he asked, his unwavering gaze locked on the enemies.
A determined glint shone in Hinata's eyes as she raised her hand, assuming a poised stance. Her gentle fist clenched, ready to unleash the formidable techniques honed through her rigorous training.
"No problem, Shino-kun," she responded, her voice filled with quiet confidence. She was prepared to fight alongside her teammate, to protect her team... and each other, no matter the odds they faced.
The stage was set for an intense confrontation as Shino and Hinata stood poised on the precipice of battle, surrounded by a ring of adversaries. The air crackled with anticipation as the masked ninjas closed in...
Meanwhile, Kurenai, the crimson-eyed beauty, stood firm amidst the chaos. Two masked ninjas encircled her, one positioned in front and the other at her back.
Her scarlet gaze calmly scanned their figures, her mind already racing with questions. "Who sent you?" she inquired, her voice laced with an unwavering determination.
The silence that followed Kurenai's question spoke volumes. She had already deduced the answer, and a bitter taste settled on her lips as she muttered under her breath, "It's him isn't it? Why can't he let go of my student?"
The masked ninjas offered no response, their intentions clear as they closed in on Kurenai with swift, calculated movements. Kunai glinted in their hands, poised for an imminent strike.
But Kurenai stood her ground, her gaze unwavering as she brought her own kunai up, intercepting their assault with both hands. A metallic clang reverberated through the air as the clash of weapons echoed in the turmoil.
With deft precision, Kurenai utilized the rebound force from the collision, sliding back across the ground. Her face, once serene, now became a mask of determination.
She glanced upward, her eyes locking onto her assailants. Seals formed in her hand as her body began to sink into the earth, melding with the very ground beneath her.
The two masked ninjas found themselves momentarily trapped, their movements hindered by Kurenai's skillful genjutsu.
Kurenai emerged from the earth behind them. Her own kunai aimed for their throats, she declared with unwavering resolve, "This is the end."
In a stunning turn of events, both masked ninjas abruptly twisted around, their kunai plunging into Kurenai's body. Shock washed over her crimson eyes as she realized her genjutsu had failed. It was a trap, meticulously set to counter her every move… once again.
But her previous failure had finally engraved an unforgettable lesson in her mind.
As a puff of smoke erupted, leaving the masked ninjas momentarily bewildered, Kurenai's form had vanished. It was a shadow clone!
The eyes concealed behind their masks widened in surprise as they swiftly disengaged, their backs pressed against each other as they warily surveyed their surroundings.
Huddled in the shadows behind the protective walls of a nearby thatched hut, Kurenai Yuhi bit her lip, a mixture of frustration and self-mockery coursing through her thoughts.
"Why does everyone seem to be immune to my genjutsu these days?" she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of bitter disappointment, "My genjutsu master title can just go in the trash."
She couldn't help but question the worth of her title as a master of genjutsu, feeling as though it held no value in the face of her recent encounters.
As her eyes scanned her surroundings, a peculiar sight caught her attention. A transparent bug crawled along the wall of the nearby hut.
If not for the mysterious connection she shared with these creatures, she would have easily overlooked it. As her hands began to seal, Kurenai's narrowed gaze reflected her inner turmoil, the puzzle pieces of the situation slowly falling into place.
Suddenly, a kunai whizzed through the air, propelled by a swift and deadly force. An explosive tag dangled from its handle, trailing a fiery path. It passed right in front of Kurenai's face, the heat of the impending explosion brushing against her skin.
The resulting blast ripped through the thatched hut, reducing it to a crumbling mass of debris. The sleeping inhabitants within, unaware of the impending danger, were tragically silenced as the weight of the collapsing structure claimed their lives.
The ground beneath them became stained with crimson, a trail of red seeping out from beneath the rubble, a stark reminder of the brutality of the battle.
Unyielding and resolute, Kurenai emerged from the ground, kneeling on one knee with a grace borne of years of experience. She brushed charred bandages off her body, the remnants of an earlier encounter. Her gaze locked onto the two assailants before her, her teeth gritted in determination.
"I should have known," she declared, her voice tinged with a mix of calmness and realization. "Immunity to my genjutsu... Aburame clan. But there is no reason for them to target him. So, you two must be under the influence of that man."
With their identities laid bare, the two masked ninjas abandoned all pretense. Bugs began to flow out from their bodies, forming a swirling swarm that danced menacingly around them.
Kurenai's expression softened into a meek smile, a touch of irony tugging at her lips. "Not even bothering to hide it," she remarked, her voice laced with both resignation and determination. "It seems you have no intention of letting me leave here alive today."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone