Sasuke drove the Humvee, having Guillermo sitting on the passenger seat beside him, while Jorge and Miguel took the back seat.
^Ghost^, as the Vatos group came to know, sat beside Felipe, who was driving the ambulance that was following behind the Humvee, while Carlito was tending to the two elderly in the back seat inside.
Guillermo finally had his share of sleep after he reviewed the recording Billy sent him.
He knows they were heading to a prison instead of the town shown in the recording, and he believed it to be better than an open town if what Sasuke said about its security was right.
Sasuke signaled with the rear lamps to Felipe that he would brake, and the two vehicles came to a halt.
"What's going on?"
"Just a bunch of them blocking the way ahead, don't worry," Sasuke told Guillermo and got out. Taking his sword with him.
It was already midnight, past the schedule he planned to be at home, but, Glenn incident called for a different schedule.
The headlights were shining over the 8 or so walkers standing in the midst of the road ahead; they turned and started shuffling toward the light.
Guillermo took his shotgun, ready to assist, just to witness the spectacle of the man beheading all 8 of them in seconds and kicking their bodies out of the way like he was kicking logs.
'What in the?...'
"That stick was a sword?" Guillermo turned to Sasuke, who started the car and drove.
"Wasn't it obvious?"
"Not really, man, you didn't seem..."
"Strong? Skilled to kill walkers?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean it to be—"
"Eh, don't worry, I'm just messing with you. I get that a lot."
"Were you a champion in some sword-play events or something?"
"Nah, just a regular ninja."
Guillermo nodded his head before looking over to Sasuke. Did he just say "ninja"?.
Sasuke explained feeling the stare.
"The ones who move in black sleepwear, wearing masks, broody, killing like they are taking a stroll...yep, I am that ninja."
Guillermo looked at him in confusion.
Clean biker suit, gloves, white unblemished skin, soft hair, no beard, no scars, harmless smile, lean build, and a toy in the shape of a sword that looked like it couldn't do anything more than cut the already rotten meat of walkers.
'Well, I guess a little delusion is not bad to keep him fired up.'
"Yeah, I'm gonna back to sleep." He closed his eyes, thanking Sasuke for taking the burden of the danger. At least the guy seemed to be a strong one, enough to back up his delusional claims.
'It's fun to mess with them.' Sasuke smirked and focused back on the route; he took the one that Glenn would more likely walk through tomorrow if he followed through with his decision, clearing as much as he can of it from dangers, both to help him and to reach the amount he wants of chakra.
He currently has 178 threads of chakra.
And his shadow clone jutsu was ready to be used; the second he is alone, he will do it.
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"So he went to bring some people."
"He did."
"After he went to bring you, and some people"
"Mhm."
"And you let him."
"I did."
"Alone"
"With Ghost"
"Yeah, Ghost, a random guy in tactical gear and a Halloween mask."
"True"
"And he won't be back tonight like you told me."
"Maybe..."
"*Siiigh* whatever, congratulations, Billy. Martha seemed to be a nice person."
"Thank you, little one. So? Am I free to go, or am I still being charged for more crimes?" he smirked, looking at Katniss who stood ahead, hands on hips, trying to keep her stern face. Ciri beside her mirroring her actions.
"I suck at this; I'll be sure to be more convincing when he is back home."
"Well, good luck with that," he chuckled and slipped away, leaving Katniss to turn to the little Everdeen, who was in the same pose as her. Feeling thrilled for no reason.
"Chips?" "Pepper flavor"
"Alright"
"And it's my turn to choose. Hmm, what about Frozen? I like Elsa."
"Just because Sasuke said you look like her and calls you princess, but sure, let's go."
"Will Sasuke-nii be here tonight? He can sleep in the middle like usual and watch it with us."
"No, your lovely ^brother^ will sleep in the upper cells when he comes back, for a week."
"With Rowan? Or maybe Amy?" Ciri smiled slyly at that. Just to receive a pinch to the cheek from her sister. "Ouch!"
"I'm your sister here; you should be my ally."
"But Uncle Daryl said Sasuke will get all the Pokémons..."
"Daryl is long dead; his jokes died with him."
"..."
...
...
.
5:23 am.
The Humvee and ambulance towing behind pulled to a stop outside the gate of the outer fence.
Billy stood there waiting for them and smiled in relief at seeing Sasuke emerging with others.
"Welcome back."
"Morning. Billy, Morgan." They exchanged greetings and moved inside with others.
Once in the yard, Sasuke turned to introduce others to Morgan, William, and Jeffery (Woodbury man), who were on watch duty.
"Those were some friends we knew some weeks ago, and we got to regroup yesterday.
This is Guillermo, the man who was leading them. Then we have Felipe, Jorge, Miguel, and Carlito." Sasuke pointed to the five men who exchanged greetings, with Guillermo talking to Billy, who was the only familiar person to him here.
"We got two elderly, Luiz and Marcello in the ambulance; let's get them in, Jeffery. Can I trouble you with calling over to Jenner and Raya?"
"Sure," Jeffery, who got to know how things work here and who Sasuke truly is and his status, nodded and went inside while Sasuke and others helped move the old people inside.
"I see they made good progress with the walls," Sasuke remarked, recalling the wall that was taking shape in the outer fence.
"Indeed, considering we lacked someone who used to speedrun the process of building," Morgan joked with Sasuke.
Guillermo and his group moved with them, glancing around; the place was... different from what they'd imagined of a prison.
There was light, the smell of paint was still fresh, it was warm inside here, the few people they met all seemed nice and friendly, and they were geared.
The walls, one that seemed to be that of a fortress, was already taking shape outside there, while the other one, smaller but built around the yard, gave a real feeling of security, especially with the watchtowers around, which surely have someone in there right now keeping watch.
"You found a great place."
"It wasn't any close to this, but everyone worked to make it better, and we are still working to get it to be even more secure and comfortable. Here we are." They reached block D, which was empty, as the other two are already full with the addition of the 11 from Woodbury.
They moved the two elderly in a cellblock and placed them in beds.
"Thank you for everything; may God bless you." The old man reached for Sasuke's and Guillermo's hands with his frail ones, squeezing them in a thankful gesture.
"Rest; you are safe here," Sasuke said as footsteps sounded closer.
He turned to see Jenner and an old lady walking toward them.
"Sorry for the disturbance at this hour."
"Welcome back. I got the serums, 8, right?" Jenner smiled seeing the wonder boy back home.
"Yeah, thanks, Lady Raya. Can you take a look at the two of them?"
"Sure, son, can I have some space?"
"Of course," they moved outside as Sasuke told others to sit on the stairs while Jenner injected them with the cure.
"Is it really as Sasuke said? We won't fear the people turning to them after this?"
"Just in the natural deaths, bites from walkers are still fatal."
"That's great, thank you for this, for the effort, Doc. You saved and will save many lives thanks to that cure."
"I did my job; it won't have happened without the one who made it possible. You need to rest after this."
"Yeah, thanks." Jenner stood and tilted his head, looking at a figure wearing tactical gear and a skull mask, covered from head to toe, who hadn't spoken a word since he saw him.
"This is Ghost; he will be with us from now on," Sasuke explained, receiving a nod from Jenner, who finished his job with the two elderly inside and went back to sleep after talking more with others and telling them what they should and should not do after the injection.
It was still 5 am after all, and he slept late, busy with his researches that showed signs of success.
"So, I'm sure you are all exhausted; have a rest, we will talk in the morning, and you will get to meet the people here."
Raya walked out and told Sasuke that they just need to be taken care of until their time kicks, as that is just how old age is. And walked back to have her sleep.
"Thank you again, all of you." Guillermo shook hands with them, his men too thanking all of them, and moved in with others to the cells, which were no different than a normal room, just a bit cramped.
Sasuke walked with Billy and Morgan out of the cellblock, made Ghost move to an office that was cleaned and all, and locked him inside. He left his matter to be dealt with tomorrow.
"So Morgan, you're worried about Rick?"
"Was it that obvious?"
"Pretty well, he is lucky to have a friend like you, Morgan, but...your questions, which I believe are, 'Why didn't I go to them?' Or us? Or what are they doing?.
In brief, they discussed it and came to the decision of going their way to find another shelter. I made my summon drop them some supplies and guns that should keep them steady for some days. I'm not going to search for them; I still have many things to do here, sorry."
Morgan processed what the boy said and sighed. In the end, Rick did that to himself. It would be unreasonable to tell Sasuke to go and bring them, knowing how they viewed him; he himself won't leave his family and go to find them.
"Don't be; I merely found it to be a shame. People should be unifying to push back against this madness. They chosed otherwise, so be it. Go have some rest; see you later."
They parted, Billy and Morgan returning to their watch duty, joining 5 others who were spread at checkpoints.
Reaching cell block C, Sasuke found Jim reading a book beside the gate.
"Morning, Jim."
"Sasuke, great to see you." Jim smiled passing him a cup of warm tea.
Sasuke thanked him taking a sip
"Are they still having someone guard here?"
"Daryl saw it to be a contingency."
"Mhm, thanks for the hard work then; see you later." He emptied it in one gulp and waved at Jim who was reading a book about some engine gear pieces and how they work.
"later"
Sasuke walked, took the key, and opened the door to the cell of the Everdeens, and his by extension.
He stepped forward, seeing a barrel aimed his way.
"Light sleeper as always, I'm back." Sasuke smiled at Katniss, who turned the safety on and stood hurriedly embracing him.
"I missed you."
"Same here." He glanced at Ciri, who was sprawled on the other bed with no care or awareness. Chuckling at the sight.
"You must be tired; lay down to sleep for now." Katniss helped remove his jacket and sword.
He nodded, took off his shoes, and washed his limbs briefly before joining her in bed.
"Nothing beats this," Sasuke sighed in comfort as he hugged her closer.
"You mean nothing beats hugging Katniss, right? The ^me^ part is necessary." Sasuke blinked at that, not catching up.
"Alright, alright, I will leave the moody talk for later; welcome home." She smiled seeing him burying his face on her cushions and tightening his hug.
A minute later and the ninja was in dreamland, having not had a wink in the past couple days.