V

━━━━━━┓༻❁༺┏━━━━━━

Arc V Chapter 13

━━━━━━┛༻❁༺┗━━━━━━

Noriaki cleared his throat to grab their attention. ”Now that we have concluded this discussion, let's return to something more productive, how do we kill her? Any suggestions?”

Satoshi accepted his defeat only grudgingly. His personal rebellion failed and he lost the vote four to three with two abstentions. A close defeat, but the pro Danzo faction triumphed. They rejected his proposal to adopt a neutral stance in this matter.

Satoshi clicked his tongue. How troublesome.

”How do we kill her? Easy. A bit old-fashioned, but we just need something sharp and pointy. Stab her through the chest, and she is dead.” Natsu pointed at his heart.

Satoshi responded with his schooled glare. ”Thank you for your contribution, Natsu, but that's easier said than done. I doubt Asami will do us the favour and die peacefully.”

Natsu retorted, “Do you have a better idea, genius?”

“Not really, as every idea is a shitty idea.” Satoshi's voice betrayed resignation.

Noriaki furrowed his eyebrow. ”Care to explain?”

”Have you ever met Asami in person? Have you seen her fight?“

”Because I have. I assure you the girl shouldn't be taken lightly. Asami is dangerous, exceedingly dangerous. If we fuck up, she won't hesitate to slaughter all of us. She won't show mercy, nor consideration.“ Satoshi's words lingered in the room, and they achieved the desired effect. His words made them think.

”We have to be careful because we are playing with fire.”

...

...

...

Noriaki smiled. “Your observations are duly noted. We will keep them in mind.”

“I hope so.” Satoshi crossed his arms. He had done everything in his power. Now it was up to them to leave the sinking ship before it was too late.

His common sense warned him. It rarely failed him.

Nobody would miss him if he fell ill on the day of the invasion. He would contract a very contagious disease. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, very nasty stuff. His doctor advised him to better stay at home.

━━━━━━┛༻❁༺┗━━━━━━

Asami stood before her mirror and waged a war against a bitter enemy, an ill-fitting collar. Her collar wasn't perfect.

The collar was a trivial, an insignificant, a minor annoyance, but the perfectionist in her disagreed. Her collar was neither trivial, nor insignificant. There was no beauty without effort, no elegance without perfection.

Fortunately, the crisis didn't last long. She he had to be presentable for the chunin exams and the invasion that followed. This was the day she had waited for.

Asami didn’t know what the day would bring, but if she died, she would at least make for a beautiful corpse. Not that it mattered as she wouldn't die.

Asami adjusted her collar and completed her kimono. The result pleased her aesthetic eye. Her work, marvellous.

Clad in comforting black, Asami was ready to go, almost. Only her sword was still missing.

Asami glanced at her armour and her ANBU mask. They hadn't seen much use in recent times. A thin layer of dust covered the forgotten steel. They had become relics of the past, of an era that had ended, destined to never come back.

These times were over. Her time in the shadows was over. She wouldn’t hide anymore from the prying eyes of this world.

Asami grabbed her scabbard and inspected her trusted sword. The blade was sharp, the steel polished.

Motivated, Asami moved out on her way to the arena. The exams were waiting.

━━━━━━┛༻❁༺┗━━━━━━

Today was a joyous day. Contrary to all expectations, Asami didn't arrive late. She wasn’t even the last one.

Naruto beat her and claimed this position together with a certain absent Uchiha. Sasuke didn't make an appearance, which dismayed her.

Asami leaned over the railing and observed the first match from the stances.

Naruto fought Neji, nothing interesting. The outcome was predetermined, the victor predictable. Neji would win. His superior skill and experience would allow him to easily overpower Naruto. She didn't see him winning in any realistic scenario.

Naruto had no hope to overcome Neji unless her favourite jinchuuriki finally got his act together and put his favourable genetics and immense chakra reserves to use.

Neji deserved the victory, even when he was a Hyuga and therefore a hereditary enemy.

The match started and both sides clashed. Naruto attacked head-on, rushing straight into his demise.

Asami grinned. His idiocy amused her.

━━━━━━┛༻❁༺┗━━━━━━