Of Tales now and Long Ago

Of the Fall of Life and Team Riki

Chapter NINETEEN

Shikamaru withdrew a little, as his clan techniques were more supplementary.

Number wise, they were one short. Though Tochi hadn't received any training in a Hidden Village, he had his Inner's wish to protect their Outer. Instincts took one very far, especially when one was pushed into a corner.

Dojutsus flared to live, and Orochimaru's eyes widened just a little at all the different powers in that single area. Sasuke's Sharingan came to life as well, it's red matching Itachi's.

Itachi nodded, and Sakura smashed a hole in the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Recognition lit Orochimaru's eyes before smoke and dust engulfed the whole area.

According to the map Tochi had given them, the floor they were on was the second floor underground. There was another layer underneath them, and one above them.

Sakura and Tochi slipped through the hole in the ground and streaked away.

Orochimaru split his group as well. Sasuke and Jugo came after them.

Sakura created a Byakurinkai and smashed through several walls, bringing the ceiling down on the rooms.

Tochi made a set of hand signs."Raiton: Sandaboruto!" He weaved his arms to keep his techniques alive, and the balls of lightning released electricity into the air. Machinery began to give out smoke. Sakura punched a wall, causing the ceiling to collapse as she destroyed a supporting pillar.

Curses of annoyance from behind were cut off as they blocked the path behind them.

Itachi, Neji and Shikamaru were teaming up against Orochimaru, Kabuto, Suigetsu and Karin. Sakura was grateful that they had decided to trust Tochi, even if it had been for an emergency.

'If Tochi, a Banished was alive, maybe there are others alive too.'

'Why didn't Toneri hunt them down?'

Sakura frowned at the unenthusiastic tone of her Inner. 'Did you want them gone?'

'I never said that.'

Sakura could see where her Inner was getting at. Toneri was skilled, probably more skilled than anyone she knew.

The massacre of the Haruno clan had been planned generations, centuries ago, in order to protect the Otsutsuki secrets when the time came.

Did Toneri think that the Banished didn't count, as they technically weren't Haruno?

Or did he have some sort of ulterior motive?

Sakura shook her head. She was thinking about this too much.

All records of the Banished were erased from within the clan. Perhaps Toneri couldn't track Tochi down. Besides, that time, Tochi had already been with Orochimaru. Maybe Toneri couldn't risk being exposed for the sake of hunting down one banished Haruno.

Sakura inspected a room full if folders. She smashed open a safe, causing the alarms to blare, not that it mattered. With the commotion the others were causing, everyone would already know they were there.

"These are information on the results of the experiments done here." Tochi told her.

Sakura nodded, and sealed the files into her arm. She glanced around at the paper and the files lying around. If they weren't kept in a safe, they were important. She doubted that the ones she had sealed were important, as Orochimaru would probably keep the most important ones with him, but maybe it would help. She ran around, slapping explosive tags everywhere.