"We will just have to finish this quickly then." Akari said to her sensei as she unsealed Rumi once more, keeping it in it's meteor hammer form. She'd have to refrain from changing it's form in this battle to avoid using too much chakra.
"That's going to be difficult. The man across from us is Buri Aogawa, an A-rank shinobi known for his brutal fighting style. He just barely missed the cut for being a Swordsman of the Mist, mostly due to the fact that Jinin Akebino died with Helmsplitter in his possesion." Her sensei shook his shoulders to relieve tension, "If we are going to have any chance at defeating him, we are going to have to cover each other's weak spots. I attack, you defend and vice versa. Got it?"
Akari nodded, twirling Rumi to build momentum.
"Let's go!"
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Flashback Start
Iwabi sprung forward, sickles flashing as he rushed to meet his opponent in battle. Akari followed behind her sensei, keeping her distance in order to jump in when she saw an opening.
Akari watched intently, still twirling Rumi as Iwabi and Buri engaged in combat. Sparks flew where her sensei's sickle met his opponent's hammer as they moved back and forth, ducking around each other's strikes and going in for their own. Iwabi was clearly at a disadvantage, his superior speed the only thing keeping him alive against his opponent's incredible strength. The Uchiha watched, sharingan flashing as she looked for an opening that would help her sensei end the fight quickly.
'There!' she thought to herself, flinging Rumi in an arc, wrapping around Buri's arm as he went to bring his hammer down on Iwabi's back. She grabbed the chain with her other hand and pulled it taut trapping the mist nin's arm in the silvery links of the weapon.
Iwabi capitalized on the opening he'd been given and brought his sickle up to slide along Buri's unprotected throat. The mist nin snarled, grabbing Rumi's chain and using it to block the sickle before throwing his leg out in a kick that hit her sensei in the ribs and sent him flying several meters away.
He then grabbed the chain with his other hand and heaved, swinging around and pulling Akari off her feet with a yelp. He spun for a moment, building momentum before releasing Rumi, sending Akari flying to land painfully beside her sensei with a thud.
Akari lay there for a moment, groaning in pain as across from them, Buri spoke up, "You know," He began, rolling his shoulders slowly as he paced back and forth, "you treehuggers have given me a bigger challenge than I expected. But I guess that's my fault, I should have realized you two were different the moment I saw that girls's weapon."
Akari froze which Buri noticed as his sharp grin grew larger, "What? You didn't think I'd notice the seals on that weapon when you were practically flaunting it in my face. Please," he laughed maliciously as Akari slowly stood up, "I'd know that sealing style anywhere, after all it's the same as the one on the legendary weapon I so badly wished to wield."
Buri stopped pacing as Akari finally got to her feet and stood beside her sensei, twirling Rumi warily, "I missed my chance to use Helmsplitter when that weakling Jinin died killing that treehugger Might Duy." He shook his head again as he put his hammer's back on his belt, bringing his hands in front of him to form seals as Akari and Iwabi watched warily.
"That's fine though," the mist nin spoke as he began speeding through seals at a pace Akari could barely keep up with, "I'll just take it from your corpse after I kill you. That man just wanted your Sharingan, he never said anything about your weapons."
As Akari began to parse out that statement, her sensei's eyes slowly grew wider beside her as he recognized the seal sequence Buri was using. "Akari!" Iwabi shouted from beside her, jolting the Uchiha out of her thoughts, "Make a wall, now! Make it as strong as you can or we're dead!"
Akari immediately sealed Rumi and began running through seals as she recognised her sensei's frantic tone. Beside her, Iwabi began bombarding Buri with kunai in an attempt to buy her some time to no avail as the mist nin simply dodged out of the way each projectile, grin growing wider with each second.
"It's too late for that," He laughed maniacaly as he finished the sequence with his hands in the Dragon seal and inhaled deeply, "Say your prayers, Water Release: Great Heavenly Weeping!"
From his mouth and the mist around him, thousands of impossibly sharp water needles emerged. They crossed the distance quickly, reaching the leaf nin just as Akari finished her own technique. Clapping her hands together before slamming them on the ground, she shouted, "Earth Release: Gaia's Protection!" and from either side of them came two large half bowls which quickly slammed together, creating an earthen dome which nothing could penetrate.
Or at least that was how it was supposed to be, but Akari could already feel the water needles beginning to drill into her defences, forcing her to expend even more of her already dwindling chakra to keep the dome intact. Her forehead was soaked with sweat, sticking her hair to her skin uncomfortably and forcing her to blink rapidly as the sweat soaked tresses continued to bother her eyes.
She grit her teeth, keeping her hands on the ground as she turned to address Iwabi, "Sensei, what do we do? He's breaking through! I can't keep this up forever!" Judging by her chakra stores, Akari could only keep the technique intact for another minute, two at most.
Iwabi took a deep breath and dug into his tool pouch, bringing out a canteen of water which he took a sip from, before holding it up to Akari's lips for her to drink. The chunin drank deeply, taking in large greedy gulps of the soothing water even as a large portion of it ran down her chin and fell to the floor below, soaking into the earth.
Once the canteen was empty, Iwabi removed it from her lips before putting it back in his pouch. He turned to address her as the vibrations of water impacting earth began to die off. "How much chakra do you have left?"
Akari grimaced, "Barely enough to keep the jutsu up sensei, and I'm out of soldier pills as well. Not to mention the mud clone is still sapping my chakra."
Iwabi turned his attention to the walls of the dome as the vibrations died down completly, "When I say, I want you to let go of the dome and create a smokescreen for me. I have an idea but it will require precise timing from both of us. He won't take long to realize the dome doesn't have chakra fueling it. While I distract him, I need you to deal the final blow." he turned back to her, taking in her disheveled appearance, "Do you think you can do that?"
Akari took several deep breaths and took stock of her chakra stores. She had enough chakra for maybe one B-rank technique, three C-ranks if she wanted to risk chakra exhaustion and her clone dispelling.
She nodded, "I can sensei." It was enough, it had to be.
Iwabi studied her for a moment, face softening as she gazed back at him with a determined expression. "Alright then. On my signal." He brought his hands up in a cross seal, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A second Iwabi appeared in a puff of smoke which clearly dissipated. The original Iwabi panted harshly as his chakra stores were cut in half. He took a moment to catch his breath, nodding at his clone which it returned before he looked at his student, "Now!"
Akari pulled her hands from the earth, cutting off the connection to the dome and immediately bring her hands up to form seals once more. There was a tense silence as Buri wasn't yet aware of the dome's sudden weakening. That didn't last long however as Akari soon felt another surge of chakra from Buri's location and a water bullet came surging through the wall in front of them heading straight for the chunin.
Iwabi's shadow clone jumped in front of Akari, taking the attack to the chest and dispelling into smoke as she finished her jutsu. Slapping her hands together, the Uchiha announced her technique, "Earth Release: Dust Cloud!"
It was as if a large gust of wind had rolled across a beach. Dust flew in every direction as Akari's jutsu kicked up the earth around them bringing the already low invisibility to zero.
The Uchiha frowned as she took in the effects of her jutsu. She had felt a surge of chakra enter her system as she executed her technique, leading to it being much more potent than she had intended. Akari shrugged, chalking it up to a spoiled soldier pill taking effect later than the rest. She was notoriously bad at chacking her supplies after all.
She didn't have time to dwell on it for long as her sensei rushed out of the dome, Akari herself following from a distance as she started suppressing her chakra in order to get the jump on her opponent. The chunin could hear the clashing of steel as Iwabi engaged the mist nin one last time.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
As the Uchiha reached their location, her eyes were privy to the sight of Buri breaking through the other jonin's guard to bring his hammer down upon Iwabi's leg with a loud *Crunch* leaving him to fall to the dirt with a cry of pain, sickle falling out of his hand and landing just out of reach.
Buri smirked as he approached his downed opponent, "Where'd that little Uchiha brat go treehugger? Did you tell her to run in some pathetic attempt to save her life?" The mist nin chuckled as he came upon Iwabi, raising a hammer for the killing blow, "Oh well, I'll just chase her down and kill her too!"
Just as he began to bring the hammer down on her sensei, Akari struck. Leaping from the cloud of dust, the chunin brought a kunai to bear and struck out at Buri's stomach. The mist nin just barely blocked the strike with the hammer in his offhand, he brought the other around in an attempt to strike her across the head with it but to Akari's Sharingan he was just a step too slow.
*Squelch* Hot blood ran down her hands as she twisted her kunai in the mist nin's stomach before ripping it out violently and sidestepping the retaliating blow, cutiing the hand holding the hammer off at the wrist with another spurt of blood.
Buri swayed unsteadily, staring at the space where his hand used to be before falling on his back with a thud.
Akari watched his fallen form warily for any more attacks when a cough behind her reminded her of her sensei's condition. Rushing over, she threw Iwabi's arm around her shoulder in order to help him stand. The jonin hissed in pain as weight was put on his destroyed leg, leaning on his student as they made their way over to the fallen form of Buri.
The mist nin was still alive if just barely. He chuckled wetly as he eyed their approaching forms, "Guess you treehuggers aren't all so weak after all huh?" Blood spilled from his mouth to land on his shirt as he spoke, "It's too bad not everyone in that pansy ass village is as strong as the two of you. Though I guess that doesn't really matter anymore. Neither of you are making it back to your village alive." He chuckled again, spilling even more blood and filling the air with the scent of iron even as the two leaf nin tensed in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Iwabi demanded from his place hunched over her shoulder.
Buri just shool his head, "Did you really think I was the only jonin he sent to take care of you two? No, my reinforcements should be arriving any second. They'll be able to succeed where I failed." He stared at Akari, blue eyes meeting crimson, "And judging by the strength of that last jutsu, your little friend with the sword is already dead." He smiled maliciously through bloodsoaked teeth.
Akari froze as she recalled the surge of chakra she received when she had created the dust cloud. Horror filled her mind as she realized what she thought was an expired soldier pill taking effect was in actuality her mud clone dispelling. And her mud clone dispelling without her say so could only mean one thing considering she still had chakra.
Denji was dead.
As her numb mind processed the fact that both of her best friends were gone, Buri chuckled weakly below them, "You know," he gasped as bloodloss finally began to set in, "I don't know how things work in those clans of yours, but you really must have done something horrible for another Uchiha to want you dead so badly. Especially one as terrifying as him."
And with that, Buri died, leaving Akari more confused and horrified than ever before.
She stared at the mist nin's corpse, as if she could will him back to life to answer the questions racing through her mind. She glanced toward her sensei for some form of reassurance only to find him staring into the distance with a grim face.
Following his gaze, Akari reached out her senses and gasped in horror as she felt several chakra signatures approaching them rapidly. They had maybe three minutes before they would be swarmed by enemy shinobi.
"Akari…" Her sensei spoke, leading her to look over at him to find him staring at her with a look of resignation, "Akari you have to leave me behind."
As she went to deny his request, eyes filling with tears, Iwabi pinned her with a look, "Akari, we both know both of us won't make it out of here. And considering the state of my leg, you have the best chance of getting away alive."
"But sensei-"
"Go Akari." the jonin spoke softly as he pushed himself off her shoulder and made his way to the lone sickle still lying on the ground, "I'll do my best to hold them off while you escape."
Akari sniffled, doing her best to hold herself together as she watched her sensei shamble to the center of the clearing, grunting in pain with every step, "Please sensei!" Her vision was blurry with tears, "Please don't leave me too…" she begged softly.
Iwabi took a deep breath and looked back at her, smiling softly, "I'm so proud of you Akari. You've really blossomed into the incredible kunoichi I knew you could be. I know you'll be a force to be reckoned with one day."
He straightened, forming handseals as the enemy chakra signatures nearly reached the cusp of trees at the opposite side of the clearing. "But to do that you need to survive. So go! Go and become the legendary ninja I know you can be!"
Akari nodded, tears beginning to make their way down her face as she turned around and leapt to the trees. Her hair stood on end as her sensei filled the clearing with lightning chakra in preparation for his final technique.
She leapt from tree to tree as quick as she could. Behind her, the sounds of battle rang out but were quickly silenced by a deafening *BOOM* and a massive surge of lightning chakra that shook her to the core.
Tears streamed from her eyes as her sensei's chakra signature flared brightly before disappearing completely, signifying his death. Akari sobbed lightly as she realized she was now alone. Her team was gone. She was the last one left.
She was interrupted in her mourning by a water bullet slamming into her side.
The Uchiha cried out in pain as she was sent barreling to the forest floor and her ribs creaked ominously as she slammed into the ground. The breath was knocked out of her by the impact and as she lay there gasping, she heard laughter from above her.
She looked up and was met with the form of a female mist ninja. Long blue hair hung down to her waist and a sword hung on her back. The only other distinguishing feature was the sharp grin that sat on her face, teeth sharpened into points signifying her rank as jonin as well as her loyalty to her village.
"Well well well, what do we have here?" She began, jumping down to land beside Akari who swiftly roose to her feet and pulled out two kunai. The mist kunoichi simply laughed mockingly in the face of the sharpened lengths of steel, "Look at this, the little treehugger has fangs! I can't wait to rip them out of your face!"
She unsheathed her sword, rushing foward and Akari met her halfway, determined to make this as quick as possible so she could still escape. She would not let her sensei's sacrifice be in vain.
They met in a shower of sparks and Akari quickly discovered she was outmatched. Her Sharingan whirled rapidly as she desperately parried and deflected her opponent's sword, cuts appearing on her body in places she failed to defend, all while her enemy mocked her.
"Weak! You're so fucking weak!" The mist kunoichi laughed as she continued her rapid assault, intent on cutting Akari to ribbons, "All you treehuggers are the same! Nothing without your precious team, no personal strength!" She kicked Akari in the chest, the chunin's already bruised ribs fracturing with a pained cry.
She landed on her back and swiftly rolled out of the way as the length of her enemy's sword impaled the earth where she had been moments before. She brought a kunai up in an attempt to capitalize on her opponent's imobility by slitting her throat only to have her wrist be caught in an iron grip.
Her opponent laughed mockingly as Akari struggled to free herself to no avail, "I can't believe Buri lost to someone like you. He must have been even weaker than I thought Haha!" She lifted Akari up and kicked her in the chest once more, sending the Uchiha flying back to painfully impact a tree behind her.
The mist nin rapidly moved through handsigns as Akari recovered, finishing just as the Uchiha looked up at her, "Water Release: Ripping Water Prison!" She leapt foward in an attempt to catch the chunin in her technique but Akari managed to dodge at the last second, leaving the mist nin to grab onto her left arm.
Akari's vision went white with pain as her arm was torn to shreds in the whirling water prison. The clear water turned red with blood and flesh as her she screamed in agony as her skin an muscle was torn away.
She could distantly hear the kunoichi laughing at her pain, "I love that sound! You know it would've been easier if you just let me catch you in the technique, it would've been over much faster. Not that I'm complaining or anything! Hahaha!" Akari focused on the voice, using it as something to ground her. She just needed a single opening.
She got it soon as the mist kunoichi leaned her face down next to Akari's. She probably planned to gloat some more but she never go the chance as Akari quickly turned her head and caught her surprised eyes with her Sharingan.
Genjustu had never been Akari's strong suit, but the Sharingan made it almost laughably easy to intertwine her chakra with the other kunoichi's. It only took a single moment to make her believe that she had gotten bored and slit Akari's throat, killing her and leaving no reason to keep up the water prison.
The moment her arm was free Akari whirled around, using her free hand to thrust a kunai into the soft meat of her opponent's throat.
The clearing was silent apart from the surprised gurgling her enemy made as she choked to death on her own blood. Confused green eyes met crimson as the kunoichi attempted to comprehend what had just happened. Akari's Sharingan could see the exact moment the other kunoichi connected the dots and realized exactly what had lead to her death.
She gave Akari another wide grin, teeth soaked with blood, before falling face first onto the ground, blood creating a pool around her.
Akari stared at the corpse for a moment, panting as she came to terms with how close she had come to death. She shook herself, she still wasn't safe yet, not until she was back home.
She reached down into the mist kunoichi's tool pouch and pulled out a soldier pill. She swallowed it and immediatly leapt into the trees making her way back to Konoha.
By herself.
Flashback End
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Akari felt numb as she came back to her body. Tears soaked her cheeks despite the hollowness in her chest. She barely felt like a person as Inoichi removed his hand from her head, she just felt empty.
The Yamanaka clan head stepped away from her, face full of sorrow. He held her hollow gaze for a moment before turning toward the Hokage and shaking his head, "She's clean. She had nothing to do with the massacre." He hesitated for a moment, "I recommend immediate therapy and temporary expulsion from the shinobi force. At least until she has time to cope with the massive amount of loss she has experienced. She most likely has acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as possibly developing a minor addiction to soldier pills."
The Hokage met her gaze, eyes hard before his gaze softened and he nodded, "Very well. Akari Uchiha." He spoke with authority and she straightened unconsciously despite her current state, "You are hereby suspended from the shinobi force until you are cleared by the required professionals. Effective immediately."
Akari nodded numbly and the Hokage turned away from her and began walking back to the entrance to the cell. As he reached the doorway, he paused, "And miss Uchiha," he began, looking back toward her once again, "I as well as all of Konoha am sorry for your loss."
He turned and left the room, white robes fluttering as he closed the door behind him and leaving Akari in darkness.
All alone once again.