Shifter_Master

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

Kakashi watched the fifth member fall out of the bushed with a small amount of surprise on his face. He wasn’t surprised to see the man dead, or that Airi had killed him or anything like that. No, the masked ninja was surprised he had over looked him despite him being so very close. A sharp pain in his left hand reminded him that he was hardly in top form at the moment, seeing as he was still healing from his last encounter with Zabuza not to mention the lack of sleep, the blind panic, and the mad rush here. ‘Face it Inu you’re not at Anbu levels anymore’ he admitted to himself silently as he turned back to Airi as she dropped to a knee hissing in pain.

Her question caught him off guard for a moment “The rest of Team seven is currently at my house.” He said with a sigh, not regretting his actions in the slightest. Still wasn’t looking forward to getting reprimanding he knew would be coming his way at some point. “We got out of debriefing less than an hour ago” he explained as he calculated how to deal with transporting everyone best. “Faulty Intel caused it to be ranked incorrectly, but we all got out alive. Naruto wanted to stop your place to let you know we were back, you can guess what was awaiting us.”

Having come up with a workable plan Kakashi quickly put it in to action. Starting off by summoning two of his Ninken, Akino and Bull “I need you two to deliver that one to T&I, he was the leader from what I could gather. If you encounter the other squad on the way tell them I’ve got it under control but help would be appreciated. And Let the pups know I’m okay when you get home.” He ordered to the two dogs

Both yipped in understanding, with Bull moving to wrench the prisoner free as he did. Akino on the other hand just looked at the surrounding and snorted “I asked the clone what happened and I’m just going to leave it at I told you” before turning to help Bull.

“Yeah yeah” Was Kakashi’s muttered response before shaking his head and moving back to Airi’s side “Lean on me, sooner we get the other the soon we can start heading home. Though it will have to be the slow way not going to have much after the clones I’m planning on.” He said offering his arm as he did.

The rest of his plan was rather straight forward, get to the other girls, make a shadow clone for each and start the walk back. With luck they would meet up with the other squad before to long.

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

Quick, quiet and quality work. Hallmarks of a good ninja. And while it might seem that Kakashi is being nice to the one who tried to kill Airi, he knows Ibiki and Anko, so letting him live might be more cruel in the long run.

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

Not many in Konoha are fully aware of Kakashi’s capability for speed. Yes he has the skills and capability of an Anbu captain, and as such few would consider him slow, but still his ability for high speed movement was often overshadowed by his extreme skill in all manner of ninjustu.

But one does not spend years besides the fastest ninja to have ever lived and not learn a thing or two about speed. It was these secrets, overlooked by many and forgotten by some, which was allowing Kakashi to catch up to his quarry. As he was no longer relying only on scent, as he found the start of trail that Airi had left as well as the tracks of the kidnappers.

He could tell he didn’t have much time, as the trail that Airi had left was not one that could be hidden easily, nor was it one that simple to cause. The time until her plan was discovered was likely measured in minutes at best. It was only moments later that he heard yelling from deeper in the forest, but it was hearing Airi’s pain filled scream that made him realize that he had only seconds.

But he knew where she was now, seconds was more than enough time.

In the next heartbeat he arrived above a scene from his nightmares, Airi pinned down and moments away from death. If he were dreaming he would never be able to make it in time, but he wasn’t dreaming and the four below him had no chance of living past the next few moments. Not after what they had done, knowingly or not.

There was no warning for the slavers of what was about to happen, no spike of killing intent, no threats to stall them or to make himself known. Thus the two men holding her arms died before anyone realized it, kunai lodged firmly in their throats. The leader was launched in to a nearby tree by a powerful strike with kunai and shuriken pinning him to the tree hardly a moment later, and the one holding Airi’s legs was crushed in to the ground by a lethal heel strike to the skull.

There was one still missing, but that could be dealt with in a moment. Airi was first priority; the next was the other captives. The leader was still alive, and could be taken back to the T&I division to root out the who’s, how’s and why’s. Everything else was irrelevant at the moment.

Giving one more look to the surroundings to make sure they were clear Kakashi finally turned to Airi “You okay?” He was quiet and his tone seemed even, but it was simply an act in case the fifth member was out there watching.

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

Kakashi is now out for blood, please prepare your last will and testment

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

It was late. It was late and Kakashi was tired. He had been running on half sleep the last few days of the trip home. Every time he closed his eye to get some rest he would relive the fight on the bridge but it would end with his students dead, making getting any rest very difficult, but they were finally back in Konoha. Back behind the great walls that defended this village.

That should have been enough to calm down the veteran ninja, but a sense of unease had been growing within him since Team 7 had started their way home and he didn’t know why. It had contributed to his restlessness, not that his students were aware. They all were just glad to be home and he could see that the near death experiences had brought them closer together.

They had just gotten done with the debriefing, having a C rank turn in to an A rank wasn’t unheard of unfortunately, but Team 7 was walking away alive with extra pay and time off to compensate. They would still be meeting up for regular trainings but they were barred from missions for a week to make sure the genin had recovered.

“Hey, hey let’s go tell Airi we’re back!” Exclaimed Naruto just as Team seven was starting head their separate ways. Said team took a moment to reply, partly due to exhaustion, partly due to not being sure if they heard a tremor in Naruto’s voice or not.

“You just want to spend your earnings on cake” Replied Sasuke His tone lacking the harshness it normally had when he was talking to his blond teammate. Rolling his eyes he sighed out “Fine” before bumping shoulders with Naruto to get the orange clad ninja moving.

“Will Airi still be awake this late?” Asked Sakura even as she started heading in the directions of Delicious Delights making her choice known with that act.

“She was a chunin once, I’m sure that she will understand.” Replied Kakashi with a soft chuckle, he could tell that none of them were comfortable with separating just yet despite the ways they tried to hide that fact. He could sympathize really.

--

The feeling of unease became one of deep foreboding as Team seven turned on to the street that housed Delicious Delights. As the store in question currently had Chunin standing guard in front of it, as team seven walked closer they started to learn why.
“Are you the squad sent to help with the investigation?” asked the taller of the two guards

“No” Kakashi replied as he forced himself to be calm “We just got back from a mission that went longer than expected and were just going to drop by a friend of ours.” He answered gesturing to the building they were guarding. The rest of team seven stood behind him with looks of worry plainly visable.

The two guards shared an uneasy look with each other that did nothing to help Kakashi keep his composure. Still it wasn’t these two who ended up being the bearer of bad news. It was a third member coming from inside that would fulfill that role.

“Is the Dog squad here yet? We not going to have any luck finding the kidnapped vicums if they don’t show up so…” the man trailed off as he realized his mistake as team seven stared at him in horror. Kakashi felt his blood turn to ice as the implications hit home. Outward the only thing that changed was the apathetic expression that he now was wearing. Internally Kakashi was preparing to kill someone, he didn’t know who it was yet, but they were dead.

Without another word Kakashi walked in Delicious Delights, none of the Chunin could bring themselves to stop him. His team was still too shocked to move.

Years of experience and practice helped Kakashi quickly take stock of everything, and it was due to his focus that only the things that were important stood out. Like the scent of sleeping gas that covered everything else except for Airi’s ever present scent. Like a blood hound he latched on to that smell and traced it back to where she had laid when the attack must have happened. From there he noticed the card. He knew her well enough that it took only a moment for him to piece together the hints she had left.

He had everything he needed, and it had only taken him five minutes.

“Tell whoever comes next that I’ve gone off ahead, we have seven missing with at least five collaborators. The owner was taken and all other scents are overpowered by the sleeping gas they used, so if they need a scent grab it form the living space upstairs.”

He was violating dozens of rules, and would likely get chewed out for it, but he did not care Airi was more important. Making a clone he turned to his team, “Follow the clone, it will lead you to my place. No you can’t join in, I’ll see you all when I get back” without waiting to see how they replied he blurred out of sight following Airi’s scent the entire way.
He wasn’t going to lose her, not if he had anything to say about it, not to anything or anyone.

Lunacy of Love: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

And I feel that I must rescind my prior statement. As much as I've enjoyed this Rp I find that I no longer can summon up the inspiration to write Penny at the moment, thus I feel I must bow out so people are not waiting for a post that may not show.

@Ariamis I pass Penny to you if you need her still. Hopefully I'll be able to come back to this later but I make no promises.

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

I've no opposition to jumping to Airi getting taken as nothing more comes to mind that could be written for this part.

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village. |Shifter_Master & EasilyAmused|

“Might as well get used to taking the fall for his antics while I have the chance” Kakashi said with a chuckle as he moved to help Airi with transporting her produce inside. The invite too food was a pleasant surprise that he was more than willing to agree to.

The walk to food was, as such occasion always were for the Jonin, a rare treat. The times in his life where he was free to just simply ‘be’ were limited. His reputation and skills tended to hound him everywhere he went. Not that this was an issue to him, but the times in which they weren’t interfering with his life always carried a refreshing feeling to them. More and more often those times always seemed to involve Airi as well, but that wasn’t a line of thought he was willing to follow right now.

It was what he almost talked to Rin about, when he went to visit her grave, but he chickened out. Too afraid to confront what it might mean if he admitted that he was starting to fall for his longest friend, that she likely had fallen for him long ago didn’t help in trying to avoid such thoughts however…

“Not like I could stay mad at you… I’m quite sure that my Team would mutiny if I tried, especially as free food is at risk” he said jokingly, though it was true he could never stay mad at her for long. “Honestly I’m more upset at Guy, you have a reason as to why it slipped you mind, he doesn’t.” He added looking skyward “Me and you don’t see each other all that often, but me and Guy? He tracks me down about once a week yet he still never said anything.” He sighed softly shaking his head as he turned to look at Airi “I always knew that something like this might happen, I’m just happy that I didn’t miss your wedding” he finished with an eye smile.

Nothing he said was a lie, but that didn’t mean it was the whole truth either. He was more than just upset at Guy, he had always feared missing out on the big events of his friends’ lives, and he wasn’t happy about the upcoming wedding. If he were being honest with himself he would know the reason why as well. Still it is hard to lie to those you care about, so glimpses of the truth could be seen as Kakashi spoke. Subtle gestures, or momentarily pauses that would seem completely normal to those who didn’t know the man behind the mask, but displayed that he was choosing he responses with more care than normal.

“Just tell me it’s not coming up soon? Team 7 is likely getting a C rank in the next few days, and I really don’t want that to be the reason I’m late”

Lunacy of Love: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

I am alive, I swear. Lot's of bad timing involved while the Guild was down, but I am back and I'll try and get that posted I mention up ASAP.

Lunacy of Love: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Now that my internet has stabilized, and the guild isn't falling apart, I'll endeavor to get a post up sometime with the next day or so.