𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ ꨄ︎ ꜱʜɪᴘᴘᴜᴅᴇɴ

Explosions vs Implosions

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After the rain subsided, we took another pitstop to rest. The shining sun was enough to evaporate our drenched cloaks without the need to dry them.

My nose was feeling stuffier than before, and as my eyes analysed the black cloth cloaking me, I realised there's the tiniest pieces of cat fur sticking to it.

I've never been one to get so frustrated over the littlest of things, but I figured every minor inconvenience happening to me can all be blamed on Kabuto.

The rain hours ago? Kabuto. That group of pathetic bandits blocking our way? Kabuto. The cat hair sticking to my cloak? Kabuto.

I'm not crazy.

I'm just really pissed off.

Would it be too much to ask for Sasuke's sharingan eyes to individually pick up all the pieces of hair?

"Well, then, it's time to go." Sasuke stopped in the middle of a clearing.

We're on the outskirts of another village. When it was still raining, Sasuke came up with an idea to gather information from this place. There's traces of Akatsuki here, albeit we just didn't know which ones.

Suigetsu jumped away first before a hesitant Juugo. I instantly turn around to walk for the distance down a hill.

Karin's faraway voice still unfortunately reaches my ears. "Saasuuukee~ Just me and you, Sasuke! Just the two of us!"

Sasuke's is monotone in comparison. "You gotta go, too."

"Damn!" Karin kicked off, brushing her shoulder against mine on the way.

I stopped and stared longer than I expected at Karin's swishing red hair until Sasuke's hand on my shoulder pulled my attention to him.

"You're with me."

Huh?

I give him a look. "Didn't we discuss that I'll be on the opposite side of the village as Karin?"

His face leans to my ear. "We're being watched." The calmness in his voice mirrors my own. As Sasuke steps back, he speaks out a false explanation.

Playing along, I give in to his constant-changing demands and fall into step with his.

Upon reaching a vast field where the forest trees disappeared and the distant mountains replaced, Sasuke stopping has me do the same. He's right. I've picked up the faintest scent of chakra. The scent becomes overwhelming as I spin on my heel to face it.

Sasuke reacts straight after.

Approaching was a tall man in a black cloak with red unrealistic clouds. His entire face was covered by an orange mask that was carved in swirls all to one singular, dark eye. In a funny way, it reminded me of Hatake Kakashi's eccentric style.

But that humour is long gone when I can't help but express pure distaste for the red clouds. Stitched into the back of my robe is the semi-realistic grey cloud symbol of my Kumo clan.

Quite frankly, the Akatsuki's red clouds are an insult to my clan.

"That cloak, you must be..."

The mysterious member overtook Sasuke's words. "So, you're Sasuke-kun, huh? Hmm... You sure do look a lot like Itachi-San!"

Sasuke's chin lowered as he wore a peeved glare, which highlighted tiredness in his eyes.

"Damn, you're scary!" The Akatsuki zoomed away to hug a tree at a safe distance.