Under My Skin

Chapter 5

Amaya (Ame)

They woke before sunrise and set out towards Land of Birds. They had to make their way through the Land of Rain and the Land of Stone.

Winter seemed to take a turn and true to the country, the rain fell on them relentlessly the entire day. Their cloaks were pulled over their heads and their masks in place. The skies seemed to open as they passed through, frigid water managed to soak through their water-resistant cloaks.

They were perched on a branch hidden by shadows watching merchants pass underneath them. As soon as they were out of sight Kakashi nodded over to her and they began leaping through the treetops.

The rain came down heavier by nightfall and their sight had been limited. They settled a few miles out from the border of Stone.

"I'll take first watch" she called out as they leapt down from the treetops. Kakashi stayed silent but nodded in her peripheral. They'd managed to find a shallow cave as the forest thinned out. The light was none existent now as they made their way towards the entrance. She placed her hand on her throat, infused it with chakra and whistled, sending high-pitched waves through the cave. It was a higher frequency than the copy nin would be able to hear. When the waves reverberated towards her she began making her way in.

"It's clear" she stated. He looked at her quizzically as he lifted his kitsune mask over his head. His cloak hood fell down and she could barely make out his face in what little moonlight penetrated the clouds. The rain drummed down and only when she crossed the threshold into the cave did she realise how loud it had been for her.

"Another byakugan secret?" he mused. "Don't even need to activate it now?" he mocked her. She ignored it as she pulled her cloak off and began digging through her small pack. He echoed her and routed through his own pack. Water had somehow got through her cloak and made it into her pack and she sighed pulling out the contents.

"I didn't use my byakugan. I need to rest my eyes" she explained. She is sure they'd be fine by now but she didn't want to strain them when she knew she'd need them for the mission ahead.

"Hn," Is all he responded. They sat in silence as they chewed their dried meat, seaweed and cold rice. They'd only have dried meat left after this evening and will need to make do with whatever is in the forests.

She summoned her bats and they disappeared into the cold night. They remained silent after clearing the area.

The temperature dropped rapidly and the rain turned to sleet. It was no use trying to start a fire as the wood would be too wet. They didn't discuss the possibility, Kakashi puffed up his pack resting his head on it, lying on his back. He pulled his cloak around him and closed his eyes.

She watched as she sat against the cold stone wall. She brought her knees up to her chest trying to conserve warmth for the night ahead.

Tiredness didn't set in for a few hours but now she was fighting her eyes. She monitored the area occasionally calling for updates to her summons. It wasn't until her shift was almost up that she picked up signals from her bats.

3 hostiles inbound, moving quickly and directly towards them.

She jerked and silently made her way to the copy nin. She leant above him quickly nudging him awake. His eye opened immediately as if he weren't even asleep. She brought her index finger to her mask warning him to stay silent. She held her middle three fingers up and pointed to the cave entrance.

The night was dark as they both exited and staked out the cave from above. Kakashi had made two shadow clones and henged them to their appearances. They lay faining sleep below. The 3 hostiles slowed down their pace and fanned out below them. They masked their chakra signature and stayed silent waiting to ambush the ambushers. She felt the adrenaline coarse through her veins and she removed her cloak. It was cold but the rate of her heart warmed her through.