Growing Pains

Chapter 16

A sudden rumbling caught both of their attention.

"What was that?" Araile whispered, fingers tightening against Shinrai's neck.

Shinrai looked around, eyes alert and darting. He too had felt something, and it felt extremely dangerous.

He sat up on his knees, twigs and leaves falling from his rumpled shirt. Araile's eyes scanned the forest and the tops of the buildings, looking for any signs of danger. An explosion suddenly blasted through the nearest building, making her gasp. Shinrai quickly covered her body with his own as the sound wave came hurtling in their direction. Dust and debris pelted against their unprotected skin, leaving scratches and marks.

Her ears caught the sound of screams of the villagers. Eyes wide, she scrambled up from the ground, knocking Shinrai over in her haste.

"Araile! Wait, where are you going?!" Shinrai shouted as he watched her running form.

"I have to go back and find Kakashi!" she shouted back to Shinrai as she ran as fast as her legs could manage towards the panicking village.

'Please be okay!' Araile thought desperately as she ran towards the growing column of smoke.

Skidding to a halt, her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped as the sight in front of her: building debris littered the ground, people running and screaming for cover, and some people not moving on the ground. Blood was everywhere: on the ground, on the buildings, and even on some villagers. What happened?

Ninjas screamed out orders to their teammates as they ran to different streets, some up on the rooftops of burning houses. Everywhere the teen looked there was chaos. Clashes of weapons sounded here and there as rogue ninja battled against Konoha ninja.

Eyes wide, Araile was knocked onto her back as another earth-shattering tremble ripped through the street. Her back slammed against the concrete, leaving her gasping for breath.

What was that?!

Coughing from all the dirt and dust in the air, Araile managed to get on her hands and knees. Footsteps appeared in front of her suddenly, and she looked up. A male figure stood in front of her staring calmly down at the gasping teen before raising a foot, slamming it into her forehead. Yelping, Araile flew back and smashed into the side of a building. She lay among the fallen bricks, gasping for breath as her head throbbed. People screamed and ran from the building, trying to get out of the way. Dark laughter floated over to her as the footsteps got closer to her. Gritting her teeth, Araile pushed her body up and out of the rubble, blood trickling down from her temple.

"Hello, my dear. Did you miss me?" a cold and smooth voice asked.

'That voice...' Araile thought, eyes widening in surprise.

"Don't remember? Oh, I'm insulted," the figure stated with mock sadness, before letting out an evil cackle.

"Let me help you remember!" the man said as he swung his foot around and slammed it into her ribs, sending her flying onto the street.

The teen cried out as gravel and rocks dug into her skin. When she skidded to a stop, she slowly pushed herself up, wincing as her scraped skin protested.

"Ishimaru," she hissed in anger.

"Ah, you do remember me. How touching," Ishimaru grinned as he slowly walked towards her.

Growling, Araile stood up on shaky legs as the demon walked slowly towards her.

"What do you want?" she spat, blood trickling down her body in a steady stream from the many cuts she had gotten.

"Want? Why, I just want to destroy everyone. Starting with you and your friends!" Ishimaru said gleefully as he suddenly rushed towards her.

Araile leaned back at the last second, just barely managing to dodge his attack. He brought his hand up and aimed for her chest, managing to hit her sternum. Gasping and coughing, Araile jumped back. Laughing, Ishimaru darted towards her but disappeared in front of her eyes. Her eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint where Ishimaru had gone. A punch to her back caused her to spin around in the opposite direction, but no one was there.

She turned her head quickly when she saw a flash of silver to her right. A hard kick to her side forced a yelp out of Araile as Ishimaru continued his assault, an evil laughter echoing in her ears. Gritting her teeth, she scrambled up off the ground. She couldn't react in time! He was too fast for her eyes to follow!

Panting, her ears caught the sound of the villagers screams. Maniacal laughter sounded from behind her, and Araile quickly turned her head around as Ishimaru slammed his foot into the middle of her back.

The force of the blow slammed her body to the ground, and she rolled until she smashed into a vendor cart. Wood and nails flew in different directions as she struggled to get on her hands and knees.

"In your position my dear, I highly suggest you just give up," Ishimaru laughed as he walked towards her.