III

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Arc III Chapter 1

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Heavy snow covered the silent forest. The harsh forces of winter reigned the frozen lands, hidden beneath a blanket of ice and white. Nature had turned the world into a cold barren desert, hostile to human life.

But life persisted among the trees, refusing to bow to the forces of nature. A squad of Konoha ANBU moved through the trees with frightening speed, desperately running for their lives.

“We have to pick up the pace, Konosuke. They are right behind us, Captain!” Hachiro warned, his desperation palpable.

“I know, Hachiro.“ Konosuke gritted his teeth. Their situation didn't look good. He and his men were tired. They needed rest, but rest was out of the question. Their pursuers were right behind them, but they had to carry on.

“Hachiro, where are Masaaki and Yusuke?”

“No idea.” Uncertainty plagued Hachiro's mind.

“Masaaki and Yusuke are dead. They engaged the enemy as ordered, to buy time, but their retreat failed. They were eliminated.” Asami answered Konosuke, her voice dispassionate, icy, cold.

Asami wore her ANBU mask with pride. She was a little girl with an innocent white fur coat, but she was still one of them, an ANBU.

Asami was young, barely 13-years-old, but death didn’t bother her in the slightest. She accepted the deaths of her comrades with cold indifference.

Asami could be his daughter, but her heart was colder than ice. Did she feel anything?

“How do you know? Did you see them?” Konosuke's hands trembled, but he controlled his emotions. Anger, rage flared up inside him.

“I tracked their chakra ...“

“Their signatures disappeared a while ago. I drew my own conclusions.” Asami confirmed their deaths.

Konosuke trusted Asami. Her perception was excellent, her sensor capabilities well-known among ANBU.

“Shit!“ Konosuke clenched his fists.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

He sent two good friends to their death, but times were hard. Drastic measures had to be taken. Masaaki and Yusuke delayed the enemy, but they paid the highest price.

Konosuke knew they were running out of time. They had to reach the assembly point soon, as the enemy was getting closer and closer.

Norogumi and Karen slowed them down. They got wounded during the mission and had to be carried along. Norogumi lost a few ribs and bones while Karen lost a lot of blood. The fact that both of them were still standing, still conscious, was a miracle, but it was dubious how long they would be able to do so.

Norogumi and Karen grew weaker with every minute. They reached the limits of their endurance.

“Tell what?” Asami tilted her head.

“Them being dead.” Konosuke gritted his teeth.

“Masaaki and Yusuke might be dead, but right now we have considerably bigger worries. We will join them in the afterlife soon if we don't do anything!“

Konosuke clenched his fists. Once again, Asami attacked him. Behind her innocent facade, lurked a vicious little demon.

“Our Kiri friends are right behind us and they are rapidly closing the distance. We should hurry up.” Her advice went beyond mere suggestions. Asami meant what she said.

“We can’t, Asami. We can't go faster. Norogumi and Karen are in critical condition. They won't be able to keep up.” Konosuke grew enraged.

“I know, Konosuke, but I think I have a solution for our little problem.” Asami drew her beloved sword.

Konosuke’s eyes widened. He feared the worst. No, no, she didn’t plan to kill ...

Asami halted. She stopped on a branch as did the rest of the ANBU squad. Her radiant blade glimmered purple. Something was about to happen.

“I will confront them and delay them as long as possible. I will cover your retreat.” Asami prepared to leave.

“Are you crazy? You will die!” Konosuke paled. As much as Asami annoyed him, he didn’t want to sacrifice yet another life. Too many lives were already lost today.

“Konosuke, we don't have much of a choice. Either I stop them or we all die.”

Konosuke didn't say anything. Asami might be strong, but was she strong enough to face the Kiri-nin alone? He didn't know.

Asami sighed. “Konosuke, I have always told you, you are a gentle soul, but your heart is soft. You lack the will to make hard decisions when they are needed.”

Snow started falling. Countless millions of snow crystals turned the darkening sky white. Asami liked snow. She really did.

“And now go. I don't want my noble self-sacrifice to be in vain.”

Konosuke relented, giving up his resistance. Asami was right, something had to be done.

“Do your best and don't die, Asami. I don't want this to be our final parting.”

“Don't worry, Konosuke, I won't die so easily. I will return.“ Asami smiled and departed.

Their relationship wasn’t exactly the best, not to say abysmal.

Asami didn’t approve of his style of leadership. She ignored the majority of his orders, constantly arguing with him, constantly criticising him.

She openly considered him inept, pedantic, cautious, a subpar choice for captain, a typical narrow-minded wannabe master strategist like all Nara.

He lacked initiative. He failed to seize opportunities even when they were presented on a silver platter. He was foolish to believe battles could be won without casualties, without sacrifices. The price of victory was paid in blood.

Her accusations stung, but Konosuke tolerated her antics. Asami was a kunoichi without equal. Her talent was indisputable, her capabilities beyond doubt. Asami possessed immense strength for her age, strength that unsettled many.

Asami was a force to be reckoned with, a trigger-happy girl with a sadistic streak. She struck fast, she struck hard, and she never did things by half.

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