The Future: Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter 162-HANNAH VS SHAO CHIN

South Aturia

Hannah and Claude remain in the snowy plains of South Aturia, sheltered by the evergreen trees. Now is the time of day when Hannah rests, and when Claude watches their surroundings from the top of one of the tallest trees. From his vantage point Claude should be able to see any predators that approach, he prides himself on his eyesight. Even the smallest insects cannot escape his gaze.

Even the eyesight of Claude has a weakness though. He has to turn his head in order to see. If he is not looking in the right direction at the right time, then he may miss a predator. After many years of experience, he believes he has found systems to overcome this weakness. He has found the perfect timing for when to turn his head and where to look when he does. If someone were to avoid him with all these factors taken into consideration, that would be a feat of remarkable skill.

There aren't many people with such skill, however, one of the few is approaching.

Shao Chin has finally found Hannah, a few thousand yards in front of him. A hunter of his distinction doesn't miss the owl though, he knew Claude was around here from the moment he arrived in this biome. When he was finally within the range to accurately pinpoint his location, Shao Chin cycled back through his many memories, working out the worst-case scenario. In the event that Claude had worked as a scout before, there is an optimal search pattern he could be using. If the hunter can manage to avoid that search pattern he will not be detected.

Shao Chin weaves between the trees with precise timing, hiding behind them when the bird's head turns in his direction. When he gets the chance to move, he treads lightly, avoiding leaving any detectable footprints in the snow. He slowly but surely gets closer and closer to Hannah, arriving within a stone's throw of her.

He takes a moment to soak in the sight of her. Purple eyes, as unusual as he had suspected they would be. It is obvious at this distance that Hannah was indeed born an adult, her height is not much different from his own, but there is something behind those purple eyes. There is a naivety that makes it clear to him that she has very little experience, even less than the pocket-worlders. She is an unfortunate victim in all this.

Shao Chin knows that Naruto wanted him to find Hannah and to bring him to her. He has no intention of doing that though, this has been the hunt of his life. He promised not to kill Hannah, but he is going to defeat his prey in this hunt, that is his intrinsic right as a hunter. Then he will bring back the defeated experiment to meet with the man who sent him.

Shao Chin positions himself perfectly beside a tree, making it impossible for Claude to see him and practically impossible for Hannah to spot him. He readies his bow and pulls an arrow from his quiver, making sure to blunt it so as not to kill her. He places the tail of the arrow against the string and draws it back, aiming it perfectly at her head to knock her out.

While she has been difficult to track, he has had a lot of fan. His only regret is that she did not put up more of a fight during this final chase so that he could not enjoy his victory more. It is a pity, but she has without doubt been worthy of his time.

The fight hasn't even begun yet though.

Hannah's arm swings backwards, the impulse that initiates it shocking her awake. From the tips of her fingers fly energy both 'darkness' and 'light'. Her body is immediately wrapped in a dual-element divine cloak, half shining brightly and half enveloping her in darkness. None of this even happens of her own free will, but as she looks over her shoulder, she sees the target of her subconscious attack.