ERADICATION

Bloody Twenty-six!

"Woah?! It's huge!"

"Shh! Keep quiet! Do you want to blow our cover?!" The owner of the boat scolded in a harsh whisper. "Why do you think I've put off the engine and I'm rowing instead. And that we're moving in the thickest part of the mist? This is dangerous as it is!"

"Gomen." The now less enthusiastic Uzumaki replied.

"What an idiot." His pink haired teammate frowned, worsening his mood.

Normally, his other teammate was supposed to add his own retort. But instead, he seemed to be extremely preoccupied with the 'cat' that he insisted wasn't 'his'.

The creature in question had curled up in his lap, snacking on an inanimate object. Sasuke blanched. As far as he knew about domestic pets, cats didn't chew stuff, they played with them. But the Uchiha was comfortable with neither option.

He just wanted the beast gone.

As if reading his thoughts Komi shifted slightly to give the boy a perfect view of the sharp sharp teeth that were destroying the toy...the toy being the Uchiha's scroll. Not like he could do anything about it anyways. When his master had told him to accompany the brat, he immediately hated the idea. But at the moment he was quite pleased with the results.

He certainly loved to unerve the boy. He could do anything he wanted with him without his mistress breathing down his neck. Well, anything except killing him of course.

At first it had wanted his blood. But now that it'd mastered it's thirst it simply wanted him gone. It'd never be able to understand what its maker saw in the human.

It wouldn't know of course. It'd only ever drunk the highly diluted version of the Uchiha's blood. It was too little of an amount, over too little time to ever become addicted.

Kakashi eyed his protégé from the corner of his  eyes. Sasuke was naturally broody and quiet, but ever since they stepped out of the village he'd sunk deeper into his shell. No, it was later, when they met the cat. Even though he'd never seen the cat before–—truthfully he'd never met a black cat in his life—–he couldn't shake off the familiar vibe it gave him. It was a strange feeling, as though in the presence of a predator. An image flashed in his head in response. Black hair, coal eyes, pale skin.

'Well, there's more time to find out the connection.' He mused.

Right now, he had to find a way to get their client to start talking. He had his suspicions before but after the discovery of that gory sight, he'd come to a conclusion. They were in more danger than his little Genin could handle.

'But how do I get the drunk to talk?' He thought, holding his chin. He was planning to use the demon brothers as an excuse but since they died before they made their target known that plan was out of the window.

'Hmm. Should I just come out with it?' He turned to the subject of his thoughts.

"Tazuna. You lied about the level of the mission didn't you?" Might as well get it over with. His students looked up on alert.

"Huh? He lied?" Sakura repeated in confusion.

Tazuna choked on his bottle of bear, releasing a heavy cough. "W-what? W-why would you e-even say that?" He spluttered.

The miniscule panther growled lowly. Up till now it had endured the scent of the man because

1. He was the sole reason it got to mess with the Uchiha in the absence of its maker.

2. It wanted to see the Uchiha fuck up as he failed to protect the old human.

Komi wasn't like other creatures. Its sadistic personality came alive when it turned. But along with that natural evil was a subtle skill that made it superior to the other animals in the forest. When it fed on the prey, it devoured everything. That included snippets of their memories as well.

It didn't fully understand why. Maybe it was because it was an animal and had no prior intelligence so the new body tried to provide it with one. Whatever the reason, it had been able to gleam from its 'snack' that they were after the foul scented human. And that a stronger prey would come along eventually.

Anyway, it was going to enjoy the upcoming events.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the bridge builder. "By doing so you've already put my team in danger. Our mission ends once you reach the shore. After that, you probably know what will happen."

"What will happen?" Naruto asked aloud but received no definite answer. The builder looked down.

"The land of Waves is a small poor place. We don't have enough money to even hire ninjas to protect us, but we survive all the same. However, sometime ago a man named Gato set his eyes on our land."

"Gato?" Kakashi enquired.

"Yes. He's a very powerful merchant who runs successful businesses around. However, below the surface is a crooked man who uses assassins and rogue nins to have his way. He monopolised the transportation here so that nothing could go out and come in unless through him. I started building this bridge to connect us to the mainland. Which makes Gato view me as a threat that must be eliminated."

"If that's the case, then this mission could be A rank or higher." The pinkette murmured in fear, remembering the image of the disembodied enemies, remembering their deadly weapons. "We could have died." She shook.

The atmosphere turned dim. Tazuna licked his lips.

"Well, I apologise for lying. You can leave me at the banks of the lake. Though I'd probably be dead before I reach home. My grandson will cry his heart out asking for his grandpapi and my daughter will forever curse Konoha. Why hadn't they protected him? Why did they abandon him?" He guilt tripped.

Sakura bit her lip. She didn't want that to happen. But a thought still fluttered into her mind.

'I don't want to die' But she couldn't voice the thought allowed. Not unless someone did so first.

No one did

The Hatake, seeming satisfied with the explanation spoke. "I suppose it can't be helped." He conceded.

"Don't worry old man. We'll get you to your grandson in no time dattebayo!"Naruto gave him a smile.

'Hmph' The builder thought. He could no longer bully the lad, seeing as his life depended on their leader. Now all he had to do was pray to kami to grant them a safe passage.

.

.

.

.

Kami did not answer his prayers.

"Get down!"

How did it come to this? One moment they were scolding the blonde brat for nearly killing a cute rabbit in his quest to protect him, and in the blink of an eye, he along with the kids were plunged into the worst possible danger.

'Gato... If I survive this I'm so gonna finish that bridge. I'll make it last a thousand years!' He proclaimed inwardly.

Sasuke was not ready for this at all. He flinched at the killing intent. It was suffocating. Although he had to admit, it was nowhere near that of the monster back at home. But even though his safety was sometimes compromised, he'd always held on to the belief that she wouldn't actually hurt him.

But this Zabuza guy. He totally could. He wouldn't even break a sweat.

'At this point, it's better to die.'

"Sasuke! Don't worry, I'll protect you." His sensei's voice rang in his head. But that wasn't what pulled him out of his fear. It was the low, cute meow that came from below him.

The creature sat on its hinges, staring up at him with big eyes. It opened its mouth, tongue coming out and let out small pants and wheezes. It was laughing at him.

'Weak.'It taunted.

Red creeped up the Uchiha's neck. He glared at it, having found something even more lethal than the silent assassin. Something he feared will haunt him for the rest of his life if it happened.

Letting the stupid cat win.

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