War Torn {A Naturo Fanfic}

Page 26

I got as close to Kakuzu as I could and he created a shield of threads. They broke little by little as Juryoku came in contact with it. Before I could get to Kakuzu I was blasted backwards. I flipped and touched down on the ground in time to see the masks jutting from Kakuzu's back and forming giant monsters that one would expect to see in a child's nightmares.

One opened its mouth and sent a blast of fire at me. Instead of going for water, which would cause steam, I fuelled the fire with air and sent it back at him. A battle of elements and my blade went on for hours. We were cut and battered, but neither of us willing to admit defeat. Every time I staggered I thought of my father, who sacrificed his life for a village I became the ruined subject of.

Kakuzu and I watched each other's eyes as we stood hunched over, panting. I felt like my heart was going to explode. I couldn't catch my breath. Kakuzu's threads had retracted and I put Juryoku away. I could hear the other members of the Akatsuki murmuring to each other, wondering what we were doing.

"You're a worthy opponent Etsuko." Kakuzu breathed. "You're physical strength surprises me, and your chakra levels are unnaturally high." He told me.

"That's no different from you. The only thing is...you're faster." I let out another breath and went into close combat with Kakuzu. We each only had a kunai and couldn't get a cut in. I could sill see all his movements clearly, but it wasn't nearly as easy to react to them. I bumped his side and tripped. I pulled myself up from the ground painfully and faced him.

Before I could raise my kunai I was on my back and his arm was out stretched. Threads slithered out of his wrist and poked at my chest just over my heart. I looked him in the eyes. I watched him hesitate and didn't flinch as the threads broke my flesh. I waited for him to kill me, but he never got the chance.

"O teishi!" It was Pein. We both looked at him and Kakuzu's threads retracted.

I stayed on the ground, staring at the sky, not daring to move. I wouldn't be fighting anyone else today. I didn't even have the energy to get up.

"Etsuko, are you okay?" Chiya asked as she dropped down next to me.

"I'm fine, Chiya, just entirely worn out." I assured her and let my eyes fall shut. I still couldn't catch my breath or slow my heart down. My limbs were numb and I could feel ever laceration and break on my body. I would be nursing ribs and my right arm for a week.

I must have passed out because I was in an unfamiliar room when I opened my eyes. I was stitched, whole, and breathing normally. Chiya was sitting on a stool next to my bed, smiling and kicking her feet.

"What are you so happy about?" I asked her.

"Oh!" She exclaimed upon seeing that I was awake. "Well, Kakuzu couldn't do it so I stitched you up and fixed your broken bones. Konan said our mother was a healer and the trait passed to me." She told me with a smile.

"How are Maeko and Kakuzu?" I asked and move around carefully, testing what I could and couldn't do. I was very stiff and ached a bit.

"They're fine. I took care of them too." She assured me, still sounding proud of herself.

No one would let me up and no one could cook properly. By the time everyone finally went to bed I was starving and fidgety. They probably knew I wouldn't stay there once there was on one to keep me, but I remained as quiet as possible when I left the room anyway.

I snuck to the kitchen and stopped when I saw I wasn't the only one there. Maeko spotted me and Kakuzu's back was to me.

"Looks like we all had the same idea." I said and walked carefully through the kitchen.