War Torn {A Naturo Fanfic}

Page 23

"You're beginning now." Konan and I followed him upstairs and I twisted the ring on my finger mindlessly.

I wonder who I'll fight. I'd love to destroy Hidan and Maeko right now, but it won't be them. Pein will probably pick someone I don't know well. He'll pick someone I don't expect. Maybe Sasori or Itachi? Well, now I'm expecting it. There's just no way around me.

Well, let's see. Who do I not think I can beat? Itachi probably has me beat and Kisame too. I think I've got a pretty good chance with Kakuzu, but he might have me beat; same with Sasori. I can take everyone else though. I've got the elements on my side so it might not be as difficult. I suppose I could always just flay Kisame. Zetsu would have a nice lunch.

There was no one left in the base and plenty of dishes for me to do later. I groaned inwardly at that. If there was anything I hated more than Hidan and Maeko it was dishes. It's so gross. The food is all mushy and soggy and the plates are slimy. The base needs a dishwasher. Wait, do they even have dishwashers here? I don't think they do. Maybe I should invent one.

Everyone was waiting outside, mostly arguing with each other. There was a nice, rocky clearing out there and I could smell a lake somewhere in the distance. There was a forest in front of the base and it was also a rather hot day. It would be easy for me to use all the elements. Even if I couldn't I'm always going to be standing on something to use for earth and it isn't as if air is going to disappear.

I stood away from everyone and waited for Pein to pick someone for me to fight. I figured it wasn't going to be easy to fight anyone. I met all of their eyes, making it clear to Kisame, Kakuzu, and Hidan that I was irritated with all three of them. They didn't know why, but they didn't have to. It didn't make a difference if they did or not.

"Maeko." Pein said and gestured to the clearing I was standing in. I smiled and looked to Hidan.

"I can kill her without her actually dying can't I?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "Yeah." That was enough for me.

"Good, because I intend to." I said as I faced Maeko, who was a good distance away.

"You wouldn't." She refused.

"Wouldn't I though?" I tested.

"Enough." Pein said calmly. Maeko and I kept our eyes locked. "Begin." Just as the word was out of his mouth Maeko threw a kunai at me. I almost had time to roll my eyes. I caught the end of it with the tip of my sword and flung it back at her along with two more of my own.

She dodged them and then created two clones. I was already tired of fighting her, but I drew Juryoku anyway. Without binding any elements I slashed her clones in two. She latched on to me from behind and held a kunai up, ready to stab me in the chest. I grabbed her arm and slammed her into the ground in front of me. I kept a foot on her back and the hand with the kunai pulled behind her.

"You're either weak or stupid. Do you really think you'll last ten minutes against someone who wouldn't hesitate to kill you?" I spoke coldly as she struggled under me. Suddenly she smirked and all that was under me was a puddle. My eyes widened and I turned around just in time to get punched in the face.

I stumbled back, holding my nose and glaring at her. She didn't come at me. Instead she yelled.

"You're not better than me, Etsuko! You're not and you never will be." So ignorant. If she were better than me she wouldn't have yelled. She would have attacked.