Chương 130: Finishing Touch
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow upon the dense forest surrounding Naruto, Ino, Shino, and Anko as they made their way back to Konoha.
His hand casually crossed behind his head, Naruto exuded a carefree aura that seemed to defy any imminent danger as his boisterous voice reverberated through the trees, his steps filled with energy and excitement, "Yusha! We're going to be back to Konoha soon! With the mission reward, I will definitely go to ossan's place for some ramen, dattebayo!"
Ino, walking beside Shino, rolled her eyes at Naruto's cheerfulness. Her blond bangs swished with the motion as she shot him a glare. "Ramen, is that all that goes through your head? Seriously, and I thought Sakura was exaggerating it when she told me."
Anko, trailing behind them, let out a hearty laugh, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hahaha! Eating more is a good thing, Ino! It'll help you grow, in many ways. It's always good to eat more, and it doesn't matter what you eat…
Then, her voice took on a dangerous edge as a devious smile curved her lips, "As long it's not my dango."
A drop of sweat rolled down Naruto's face, a fleeting memory flashing before his eyes. He mumbled, "It was just one time... didn't have to be so stingy-"
Suddenly, Naruto froze in his tracks. Anko had appeared behind him, a gleaming kunai held close to his face. She licked her lips playfully, her gaze filled with threat. "Ah? Are you talking back now?"
"Sorry. Forgive me," Naruto muttered softly, his body tensing under the threat of Anko's blade.
Ino, standing next to Shino, observed the scene with a mix of fright and concern. She leaned closer to Shino, her voice a hushed whisper. "Seriously, sensei is dangerous. You think so too, Shino?"
Shino adjusted his glasses, his eyes glinting with hidden amusement, but just as Shino was about to elaborate, Anko's urgent shout tore through the forest. "Shino, watch out!"
Shino's eyes sharpened, a sly smile curling beneath his collar.
In one swift motion, he moved towards Ino, encircling her in his protective embrace. With a graceful leap, he evaded a barrage of shuriken and a kunai with an explosive tag that had been aimed at their previous location.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
The deafening sound of the explosion shattered the peaceful atmosphere, sending a shockwave through the forest.
After stabilizing herself, Anko instinctively assumed a combat stance, her senses heightened as she vigilantly scanned their surroundings. Her gaze locked onto the enemies who had appeared, their black attire unmistakably familiar.
"Anbu?" Anko muttered, a frown etching across her face. The appearance of Konoha's elite covert ops unit could only mean trouble.
Naruto snapped out of his momentary daze, his features hardening with determination. He pointed at the assailants, his voice dripping with anger. "Who are you guys? Why are you attacking us?"
The enemy ninjas remained silent, their movements coordinated and precise. They divided into two groups, one engaging Anko and Naruto, while the other set their sights on Shino and Ino.
Anko's brow furrowed in concentration as she skillfully blocked the onslaught of attacks coming from multiple enemies, kunai clutched tightly in each hand. Her piercing gaze flickered towards Shino, a hint of concern clouding her features. "Tch... Did they come for him? Or..."
Her eyes shifted, scanning the chaotic battlefield, where Naruto's clones fought fiercely. A moment of hesitation gripped her heart.
Should she abandon her position to support Shino? But if this was merely a diversion and their true aim was the powerful Nine-Tails within Naruto, the consequences for Konoha would be dire. Anko couldn't afford to let such a valuable asset fall into the wrong hands, at least… not when she had to take the blame.
Unsure of the enemy's true intentions, a whirlwind of thoughts swirled through Anko's mind. Could these assailants really be from within Konoha? And if so, what possible reason could there be to brazenly attack their own comrades? Or could they be imposters?
Either way, since they are now enemy, she didn't have to hold back. This time, she wouldn't allow herself to conveniently lose consciousness, as she had during the mission.
On the other side of the battlefield, Ino's heart raced as she clung tightly to Shino, her mind racing to make sense of the sudden attack. "Shino, what's happening? Who are these people? Are they really from Konoha..."
Shino's gaze turned fierce, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "I don't know, Ino, but we can't let our guard down. Stay close to me."
Despite being outnumbered, Shino's calm demeanor belied the intensity of the situation. He deftly blocked another enemy's attack, his leg sweeping out to send him hurtling backward. Then, with a blur of motion, he shifted behind Ino, using his kunai to shield her from a subsequent strike. Clang!
Ino let out a relieved sigh, her hand still cupped as she aimed at an enemy. "Mind Destruction Technique!"
A brief moment of silence hung in the air before panic flashed across Ino's face. Her voice trembled with shock as she made a startling realization. "They don't have consciousness?! No... there's someone else controlling them, and I can't take over! Another member of the Yamanaka clan? But that's impossible!"
Anko's eyes darted around, searching for any signs of a controller amidst the chaos, but her efforts proved futile. Frustration crept into her voice as she fought off her opponents. "Tck... Where are they hiding?"
Suddenly, Naruto's voice rang out from behind Anko, his words filled with determination. "Hah! Rasengan!"
Naruto's spinning ball of chakra collided with the enemy. And it was unknown if it was simply a stroke of luck or if it was Naruto's combat instincts, but he attack struck perfectly against the abdomen of the enemy, destroying a critical point, and undoing a transformation!
However, the enemy seemed prepared. As its transformation dispelled, before the smoke cleared, a smoke bomb was thrown out, momentarily obscuring Naruto's vision.
Through the smoke, Naruto looked up, a mixture of anticipation and concern etched across his face.
However, before he could make out the appearance of the enemy before him fully, Anko's keen senses detected imminent danger. Instinctively, she lunged forward, dragging Naruto away as she shielded Naruto from an impending threat. "Danger!"
An ear-splitting explosion erupted, shaking the nearby trees. Debris filled the air, momentarily obscuring their vision. When the dust settled, the enemy had vanished, leaving behind only remnants of destruction. Anko lay unconscious atop Naruto, whose features contorted with frustration. "Damn it! So close!"
"Sensei! Naruto!" Ino exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm as she saw the fumes of the explosion obscuring Naruto and Anko.
Her momentary distraction proved costly, as an enemy blade almost found its mark, but Shino's quick reflexes saved her. He pulled her into his protective embrace, intercepting the blow meant for her. A spray of blood painted the air as Shino retaliated, forcing the enemy back.
"Shino!" Ino's voice trembled with worry, her eyes welling up with tears as she witnessed the gash on Shino's back. A sense of helplessness washed over her, threatening to engulf her spirit.
But Shino's voice rang out, resolute and unwavering. "Don't worry, Ino. I'll do my best to protect you."
Standing in front of Ino, Shino prepared to face off against the encroaching enemies. They encircled the pair, a momentary pause in their assault as reinforcements from Anko's side joined their ranks.
Ino couldn't comprehend the reason for their sudden focused assault on them, her mind spinning with questions. But before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Anko's urgent scream pierced through the chaos.
"Danger! Shino! Ino! Run-"
Ino's eyes widened as realization struck like a bolt of lightning. Time seemed to stretch into eternity as her gaze locked onto the enemies surrounding them. The adversaries' bodies swelled with an ominous glow, fiery streaks of flames bursting forth from within. The explosive power within them threatened to consume everything in a cataclysmic inferno.
Despair gripped Ino's heart, the crushing weight of impending doom pressing down upon her. Is this truly the end? Is she fated to be swallowed by the flames along with her enemies?
Yet, in that moment of despair, Ino felt a strong arm encircle her body, a sensation all too familiar but fleeting. Before she could fully register what was happening, she was propelled into the air, ripped from the encirclement by an unknown force.
Time snapped back into motion as Ino soared through the air, her body propelled away from the impending destruction. But her wide eyes remained fixed on the scene unfolding below, forever etching it into her memory. Shino, her steadfast protector, still stood in the midst of the encirclement. And in the next moment, he was engulfed by a raging sea of flames.
"SHINOOOO!"
Ino's anguished cry tore through the air, carrying her heart-wrenching sorrow. As her head knocked against a tree, the world seemed to fade away, replaced only by the searing pain in her chest and the overwhelming grief that consumed her.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions reverberated through the forest, shattering the tranquility and engulfing the area in flames. Naruto was thrown across the ground, tumbling uncontrollably. The scorching heat and billowing smoke enveloped the scene, distorting reality itself.
Anko, her determination unwavering, gritted her teeth as she defied the force of the blast. With lightning reflexes, she leaped into the air, intercepting the unconscious Ino, and cradling her unconscious form protectively in her arms to prevent her from falling into the flaming inferno below.
Riding the currents of the explosion, she soared outward, crashing into the safety of the forest. A grimace etched across her face as she expelled a mouthful of blood.
As the echoes of the explosion faded, the aftermath revealed a charred landscape. Lingering embers danced among the ruins, casting an eerie glow on the scene. Naruto, struggling to his feet, stared blankly at the devastation before him. Disbelief etched deeply onto his face, he muttered in disbelief, "No... it's impossible. Shino is strong, dattebayo... there's no way..."
Fiery red-orange chakra began to leak from Naruto's trembling body, an ominous aura seeping outwards.
However, before his rage could consume him entirely, a hand settled upon his shoulder. Anko appeared in front of him, shielding his vision with Ino held in her arms. Her voice cut through the chaos, commanding him with a solemn face, "Naruto, calm down."
Naruto's fierce gaze bore into Anko's, his whiskers elongating as he clenched his teeth. "Sensei! How can you tell me to calm down?! Shino... Shino just... right in front of me! I will kill them all! I will—"
SLAP! Naruto's head snapped to the side, his face fixed in shock. Slowly, his gaze returned to Anko, his confusion apparent. Why had she struck him?
"Get yourself together, brat!" Anko's voice dripped with intensity, her expression dark and dangerous. A palpable atmosphere emanated from her. "Look around! They're already gone! And don't worry, Shino should have been a clone."
"A clone...?" Naruto's voice wavered, his daze gradually dissipating. The torrent of nine-tails chakra ceased its leak. Anko breathed a sigh of relief, a sliver of hope piercing through her own doubts. She circled around Naruto, her tone growing more confident. "There's a high chance that it was. You know Shino - he's strong and wouldn't die so easily."
However, doubt gnawed at Anko's core. She couldn't entirely convince herself of her own conjecture. Yet, as their Jonin leader, she had to stabilize Naruto's emotions and ensure his safe return to Konoha, even if it meant telling a lie.
"The enemy is already gone, but we can't rule out the possibility of others lurking in the shadows," Anko declared, her voice laced with urgency. "We don't have time to linger here. Our priority is to return to Konoha, report what happened, and get prompt medical treatment for Ino. Everything else can wait until you've calmed down. Maybe Shino will be waiting for us at Konoha..."
Naruto bowed his head, his clenched fists trembling with a mixture of anger and sorrow. He struggled to fully accept Anko's reassurances. Nevertheless, with one final glance at the destruction surrounding them, he turned resolutely, determined to chase after Anko.
The journey back to Konoha was cloaked in an eerie silence, each step carrying the weight of their unspoken fears. Their pace, however, remained resolute, driven by a sense of urgency.
But just as they approached the forest of their beloved village, a squad of ninja clad in Anbu attire materialized before them, halting their progress.
Swish! Swish! The sight of the Anbu triggered a primal ferocity within Naruto. His body surged forward, instinctively ready to confront the perceived threat. "Damn you—"
A firm hand latched onto Naruto's collar, yanking him back forcefully. Naruto's furious gaze locked onto Anko, demanding an explanation. "Why stop me, sensei?! They are-" he growled, accusatory finger pointing towards the Anbu.
"Calm down, Naruto. They are from Konoha! You can't attack them," Anko replied in a soft yet commanding tone. "Let me handle this." She positioned herself protectively in front of Naruto, her eyes locked onto the Anbu with vigilance.
Her voice carried a solemn weight as she questioned the Anbu. "What is the Anbu doing here?"
Behind Anko, Naruto's fierce glare caused the Anbu to exchange uneasy glances, their cold demeanor failing to mask a flicker of discomfort. With a voice devoid of warmth, one of them responded, "We are here for Shino Aburame."
Anko furrowed her brow, a mix of confusion and concern etched across her face. "You's looking for Shino... but why?"
There was a brief pause, tension hanging heavily in the air, before the Anbu revealed their startling proclamation. "Just a couple of hours ago, the Hokage declared that Shino Aburame has betrayed Konoha."
"Impossible!" Naruto recoiled in shock, disbelief painting his features. His voice trembled with a mixture of denial and desperation. "No! I have to go see Tsunade-oba-chan! There must be a mistake!"
"Wait! Naru- Tsk." As Naruto darted away, driven by a determination to seek the truth, Anko's gaze followed him, a chill creeping down her spine.
Her mind spun with confusion and doubt, unable to fully grasp the implications of the news, as even she couldn't believe the news after all she had witnessed during the mission, "Just what in the hell is going on?"
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