Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 18: The Slug Queen

Journey of the Three Failures

Eighteen: Queen of Slugs

Naruto ナルト

"I am TOKUGAWA IEYASU, of the LAND of RIVERS, son of Matsudaira Hirotada, WARRIOR of the Matsudaira CLAN!"

"I am ROCK LEE, student of Maito Gai-sensei and Master Washi of Mist and Iron, and the valiant GREEN BEAST of the VILLAGE Hidden in the LEAVES!"

"ROCK LEE, I hereby challenge you!"

"TOKUGAWA IEYASU, I gladly ACCEPT your CHALLENGE!"

"Very well then! Let us cross blades!"

Hinata shook her head. "These swordsmen..."

I only chuckled. "That's the thing about the 'ninja' of Kawa no Kuni. The country's a step behind, in a sense; with no hidden village, it's home to a number of clans that ally and clash among themselves, rarely involved in the affairs of the outside world. It's really not too surprising that this fellow wants to test himself against Lee's reputation."

"So we're ... not going to help him?"

I glanced to Gaara's nearly impassive face, and then to the pair of darting forms and dancing, ringing blades. "Then we'd outnumber the guy."

"They're using swords..."

My eyes traced flurry after flurry of rapid motion. I shrugged. "What can you do?"

"Aren't you concerned at all...?"

"I'm scared out of my wits. But that guy..."

CLANG!

"He fights as easily as he breathes," Hinata picked up at a murmur, eyes trained ahead.

I nodded. "We've got faith in him, too."

Kin-kin!

I swung my arm back; sand sprang to arrest my hand inches in front of Gaara's face.

"H-hey!" he said, offended, and gave a startled glare.

"Not everyone has an automatic absolute defense protecting them, but us regular humans aren't quite as fragile as you might think. Besides..."

Chink! Ten yards away, a sword plunged into the earth. Tokugawa Ieyasu, just beginning to sit up, halted under the steel of Lee's blade as it rested at his throat.

"I-I submit..."

Lee smiled, withdrawing a step and curtly stowing the katana away. "Very well. Thank you for the fight."

Neji ネジ

I bowed my head as I finished the report.

"Good... You are dismissed. Unless..."

"...'Unless,' Lord Orochimaru?" I echoed inquisitively, looking up to meet the Hokage's serpentine eyes.

"Unless there might be something more you would like to discusss...?"

I averted my gaze. My mouth opened briefly, and closed again. "No; it's nothing..."

A soft smirk tugged at his lips as he took me in with that knowing, golden gaze. "Come, now; tell me what troubles you, Neji-kun..."

Head down, I passed a moment in quiet thought. "The Hyuuga I've selected ... were all loyal and devoted followers. With the change this was only ... intensified, so to speak. But now, with Hiyuki..." I shook my head. "It's a bit startling..."

"You're unsettled...?"

"I have her complete obedience; she hasn't the capability to so much as question my word. But if she had any choice in the matter she would be back in New Konoha right now, serving Hanabi." I was silent another few moments. "I just..."