Decaying Bluebells

Arc III - Panic

Disclaimer: Naruto and the rest are Kishi's.

Warning: Fighting. Hysteria. Cliff. Hanger. ಥ⌣ಥ

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

Edit: 1/1/2018

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An hour later, literally out of nowhere, a huge blast of sheer power erupted in front of us. I barely had time to scream in surprise before I felt Sasuke's hand grab on to my own and I reached to grab Naruto's. However, the blast was too strong, and in a matter of seconds, Naruto was ripped away from us and we were sent hurtling through the forest like little pebbles that had been kicked aside by a child.

I twisted my body along with Sasuke and we landed with a thud in a small clearing.

I winced and turned around.

"What the hell was that?" Sasuke asked, his voice low.

"That was me."

Shivers raced down my spine at the slick voice, but it wasn't the voice that terrified me.

It was the killer intent.

That particular intent made Zabuza's look like a purring kitten. The sheer amount of desire for blood to be spilled—for our blood to be spilled—coupled with the amount of power that oozed out, along with the voice—

My stomach heaved and a whimper escaped me.

Kakashi wasn't there, though.

We were on our own.

I didn't even realize I was shaking so badly until I noticed Sasuke. He, too, was shaking with fear, his dark eyes wide with it.

The owner of the voice stepped before us, smiling twistedly. "Why hello, Sasuke-kun."

His eyes—oh sweet Kami, his eyes.

His eyes were like a serpent that had found its prey; like a mad scientist who found a new and fascinating specimen; like an insane killer who found his latest victim.

Us.

I whimpered again, cowering away from him.

Sasuke tore his eyes away from the man towards me. I met his gaze and saw something I did not like. The same small glow of determination in his eyes that he held the day he activated his Sharingan. For a brief panicked moment, I feared he was going to try and use himself as a human shield for me, but that thought was over quickly.

Because Sasuke had reacted already.

In a single movement, he pulled out a kunai and jabbed his leg with it. He grimaced in pain, but he had stopped shaking. Upon realizing what he had done, my only visible eye widened, but he was already on the move. He threw down a smoke bomb and grabbed me.

In seconds, we were flying through the trees.

Sasuke led and I followed blindly, my heart hammering loudly and painfully in my chest. My head was dizzy with fear, and my body sluggish and numb with terror. I didn't know how long we ran, but when we had finally stopped we were out of breath and my fear had subsided enough to think clearly.

We landed on a branch, panting heavily.

"We have to find Naruto," I breathed.

"I—I know," Sasuke said quietly.