The rain hadn't let up, a downpour soaking everything, turning the path into a sticky quagmire. Since their arrival at the outskirts of Kumo, the rain hadn't stopped falling — it felt as if they weren't welcome.
"Tch…"
Takeshi slipped, nearly falling. It was the third time already, and once again, he cursed the weather.
Suddenly, a squad of five Kumo ninjas returning from a mission appeared on the path, their soaked cloaks clinging to their skin. Takeshi looked up at them with an irritated glare; he really wasn't in the mood for a fight. All he wanted was a nice, hot bath.
Their leader, a shaved-headed colossus, eyed them with a condescending smirk.
"What the hell are Konoha rats doing here?" he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. His men chuckled, their kunais sparking with Raiton chakra.
Was this supposed to be intimidation? From what Takeshi knew, Konoha and Kumo weren't at war — at least not yet. Whatever. The important thing was that he was really not in the mood.
Takeshi, his katana strapped to his back, felt anger rising inside him.
"Shut your damn mouth," he growled, his brown eyes blazing.
Anko, standing beside him, twirled a kunai in her fingers, a feral grin on her lips. "Oh, looks like someone's in a bad mood…"
The Kumo leader, amused, took a step forward. "You're cute, kid. Go home before we crush you."
Takeshi, out of patience, drew his katana in a flash of steel. In one fluid motion, he activated the Body Flicker Technique, reappearing right in front of the leader.
"Oh, I'm cute? Sorry, bastard, but I only like women."
His blade sliced through the air, and the colossus's head tumbled to the ground, blood spurting in a scarlet arc. The body collapsed, and the fight erupted.
"What the hell have you done, kid!?"
The four remaining ninjas, shocked but well-trained, reacted instantly. Their kunais, charged with Raiton chakra, crackled, extending their range and emitting a numbing effect.
Two of them rushed at Takeshi, their electrified blades aiming for his torso. He dodged with another Body Flicker, reappearing five meters away, his katana clashing against a kunai.
The electricity bit into his fingers, numbness spreading up his arm, but he spun, his blade slicing into one assailant's side. Blood spurted, staining the muddy ground.
Anko, agile and swift, dove into the fray, her kunai dancing between her fingers. She aimed for one ninja's throat, but he parried with his electrified weapon, the numbing effect slowing her wrist.
"Annoying," she muttered.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Shadowy snakes burst from the ground, wrapping around the ninja's legs and immobilizing him. She drove her kunai into his shoulder, blood splashing onto her cheek, and whispered, "Sleep tight, idiot."
The ninja collapsed with a groan.
Takeshi, moving in sync, feinted a frontal assault against another opponent but used Body Flicker to appear behind him. His blade aimed for the neck, but the ninja, quick, threw a Raiton-charged kunai.
Takeshi parried it, the electricity numbing his arm, and growled. Anko, seeing an opening, weaved a hand sign.
"Sly Mind Affect Technique!"
An illusion struck the ninja, making him see snakes crawling over his body. He panicked, dropping his guard, and Takeshi slashed across his torso in a clean, brutal arc. Blood sprayed as the body collapsed with a wet thud.
The two remaining ninjas, furious, combined their attacks.
"Lightning Style: Thundering Net!"
They hurled a volley of electrified kunais, forming a web of lightning. Takeshi dove, flickering between the arcs of electricity, but a kunai grazed his thigh, the numbing effect slowing him down.
Anko, cunning, threw a kunai as a distraction, then summoned her shadow snakes to bind one of the ninjas.
She charged, aiming her kunai at his heart, but he parried, electricity biting into her hand. She winced but pushed through, driving her blade into his side, blood spurting out.
Takeshi, regaining the initiative, threw a kunai to distract the last ninja, then Body Flickered to his side. His blade slashed the ninja's arm, but the enemy retaliated, his electrified kunai aiming for Takeshi's throat.
"Pathetic."
Takeshi dodged, the electricity grazing his cheek, and counterattacked, slicing the enemy's thigh.
"Aghhhh!"
Blood gushed out, and Anko sealed another genjutsu. The ninja, trapped in an illusion of flames, screamed and dropped his guard.
"Blame your arrogance!"
Takeshi lunged, his blade piercing through the ninja's chest. A wet gurgle escaped the man's lips as he collapsed, a widening pool of blood swept away by the running water.
Silence fell, heavy, disturbed only by the sound of falling rain and flowing water. The clearing had turned into a charnel ground: twisted bodies, red water soaking the earth, kunais scattered everywhere.
Takeshi, impassive, wiped his katana clean, his arm still numb from the electricity. Anko, a bleeding gash on her forearm, spat to the side.
She watched Takeshi closely as she retrieved her kunai. It was as if the kid she once fought had evolved — his movements more fluid, his ability to adapt to the terrain... everything felt new to her. Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind.
"You like me that much?" Takeshi said as he sheathed his weapon. "If you want, I'll take you to heaven…"
"You arrogant brat!"
Anko growled, her cheeks tinged red.