Little Boy Blue

Part Five

Mori let out another cry as the links cut deeper into her skin. If the creature-Mori couldn't call it a man-continued, she would be sliced in half. Blood spurted from her wounds as it tightened the chain again. She dimly heard a growl and a whirling sound before the metal links mercifully released Mori. She felt a hand tug the back of her shirt as the paper bomb went off.

BOOM!

Her wounds flared in pain as she scrambled to her feet. Hideo released the back of her shirt and gave her one of his kunai knives. The figure glanced up at the two siblings as they regarded it quietly. Blood dripped steadily from Mori's wounds and onto the ground as she gripped the kunai tightly in her hands.

"Look out!" Hideo shouted as the figure leaped at them.

Mori blinked in surprise as the figure's hand opened and small missle-like projectiles appeared. It grinned as the projectiles fired, and Mori and Hideo scrambled to get out of the way. Mori twisted her body as she avoided the missiles, but was too slow with the last one. It hit her in the back, and blood exploded from the woman upon impact. She barely registered anything as pain consumed her body and mind as she hit the ground, skidding a few feet before coming to a rolling stop. Mori's mind fled into darkness as Hideo cried out her name, fearing his little sister had been killed. He growled and took out another kunai, rage nearly blinding him as he saw his sisters limp body. The black and red coat the figure wore swayed in the wind as it regarded Hideo silently. It opened its bald head, light from chakra gathering in the hole. Hideo tensed as the light grew and grew, and jumped to the side just as the canon exploded, the chakra slicing through the building behind him.

The building exploded and dust and debris flew around Hideo. He coughed as the dust invaded his nose and throat, but then let out a choked grunt when the figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Hideo brought an arm up, shielding his face as the figure brought its fist down. The reverberation from the hit made Hideo's muscles scream as he gritted his teeth against the immsnese strength. Hideo felt some of his ribs snap when another fist flew at his chest, hitting its mark. Hideo flew back into the destroyed building, sharp concrete and blocks slicing into his skin. His ears rang as he laid there, consciousness flickering in and out. The figure in the black and red coat stared at the young man before jumping away, something calling it back.

Tadao continued running, his pants echoing through the alleyway he had run down. Debris was everywhere, and the young boy didn't know which way was safest. He just knew to run. He had to find someone he knew! Where was the hospital? The five year old skidded around a crumbled building and stopped short, eyes wide. Sakura stood there, helping some civilians to get to the safety of the hospital.

"Sakura!" Tadao cried as he ran to the teenager.

The pinkette gasped as the five year old grabbed onto the edge of her shirt, dirt and dust clinging to the boy.

"Tadao! Your mom and Iruka-sensei have been looking for you," she said.

Tadao nodded, biting his lip to stop the sudden tears that threatened to fall.

"I know, my mom and Uncle Hideo came after me but then this man came and-and they told me to run, and I did," he said, sniffing back tears.

"He was hurting my mom but I ran. It's all my fault," Tadao said, hiding his face into the fabric of Sakura's shirt.

"Tadao, it's not your fault!" she said, kneeling down to console the boy.

The five year old clung to her shirt, tears finally breaking free and running down his cheeks. They left dirty streaks on his skin as his shoulders shook.

"I-I don't kn-know what happened t-to my mom or dad or uncle," Tadao sobbed as he felt Sakura's arms around him.

"They're okay, Tadao. Iruka-sensei was still at the hospital the last time I was there," Sakura tried to console the child, and his red eyes peeked up at her.

"Really?" Tadao sniffed, taking a fist to rub his eye.

Sakura nodded and took one of his hands in hers.

"Come on, let's go see your father," she said, and the two began walking carefully back to the hospital.

Tadao held on to Sakura's hand tightly as they picked their way across the streets and over debris.

A sudden grunt of pain caught Tadao's attention and the five year old looked behind him. His eyes widened and he ripped his hand away from Sakura's, running at two people slowly making their way across a destroyed building.

"Uncle! Mom!" Tadao shouted as he raced to the two people, Sakura following close behind.

"Hideo, what happened?" Sakura exclaimed as she quickly gazed over the siblings.

Numerous cuts marred their skin and Hideo's temple was almost cut to the bone. He supported Mori with one arm as the woman lifted her head weakly, barely hanging on to consciousness. Mori bit her lip in pain as her back screamed in protest, the skin a mass of blood and clothing.

"Tadao," Mori whispered weakly as her son barrled towards her.

"Mom! You're okay!" Tadao said as he flung his arms around Mori, not hearing the small grunt of pain she had let out.

Mori wrapped her arms around her son, breathing a small sigh of relief as she felt his body fit around hers. Her baby was safe.

"We were held up by one of those unknown ninja," Hideo said as Sakura reached them.

"Mori, your back!" Sakura gasped, and Mori winced as she placed a hand on the ruined flesh.

"I'm okay, Sakura," Mori gasped out as a light green glow came from Sakura's hand.

Mori bit her lip in pain as the skin and muscles came back together. Mori's own chakra worked as well, healing the superficial cuts.

"Mom? Are you okay now?" Tadao asked, his eyes wide as his mother let out a breath.

"Yes, I'm okay Tadao," Mori said as Sakura moved on to Hideo's temple.

Mori slowly straightened up as she picked up Tadao. Even though he was a growing boy of five years old, she held him with ease. Tadao wrapped his arms around her neck, resting his cheek against her shoulder as he felt his mothers arms hold his legs in place. Mori could feel his breathing against her neck, and her muscles relaxed. Hideo nodded to Sakura in thanks as the gash on his temple was healed, and the group began walking back to the hospital where the people of Konoha gathered in safety. Even though Sakura had helped heal the wound on her back, the wound on her side flared back to life. It took Mori everything she had not to cry out as she felt Tadao's hands played with stands of her hair.

"Keep going, I'm going to see if I can be of more help," Sakura said and Mori smiled.

The teen had grown since she first laid eyes on her all those years ago.

"Thank you, Sakura," Mori murmured as the teen smiled.

She ran off, and Tadao's head lifted from his mothers shoulder.

"Is Dad still there?" Tadao asked as the three continued walking.

"I hope so," Mori said, shifting Tadao's weight to a more solid position.

"He must be really mad at me for sneaking out," Tadao muttered.

Mori looked at her brother and sighed.

"I don't think he will be mad, Tadao," Mori said as Tadao buried his face into his mothers shirt.