H I R A E T H (Kakashi Love Story)

Chapter Two: Kikkoma

Chapter Two || 第2章

Kikkoma(n) || キッコーマ(ン)

"Kikkoma possesses a special kekkei genkai: Storm Release," Tenzou began as he and his team leapt through the shadows of the trees, sunlight scattered across the forest floor. "It's a kekkei genkai of lightning and water that only a select few in Kumogakure have, but Kikkoma hails from Amegakure, so it's unclear why he has it aside from speculation that he immigrated or defected.

"The report summarizes that he often uses said kekkei genkai, is within the age range of thirty to forty, and is a highly trained assassin. However, he hasn't surfaced much in recent years, so there's not much more information about him aside from that."

Kakashi and Kono nodded their heads.

Apart from the minimal rustle of leaves, there wasn't a single sound heard the entire way there.

~*~*~*~

Once they were ten or so kilometers away from the Hācho Village, the three ANBU stopped in their tracks.

"Tenzou," Kakashi began, "Use your wood clones to scope the perimeter for any chakra abnormalities in the area."

Tenzou nodded before quickly performing the appropriate hand seals, summoning several wood clones from the tree they were perched on.

Upon doing so, he gave each of his teammates a wooden seed to swallow, "Take these as a precautionary measure. I can track you two easier this way."

After taking Tenzou's directive, the kunoichi took out a gridded map of the Hācho Village from her pack before spreading it out on the thick branch. "Tāke?"

"Thanks," Kakashi pointed on the map. "We're currently here, about eight and a half kilometers from the village. Because the terrain is as mountainous as you said it'd be, we will use Formation C. Tenzou and I will attack head-on and try to incapacitate Kikkoma, while Raion will execute long distance chakra sensing in case the enemy has backup. She can handle most of them before they reach us."

"Our goal is to capture him alive. Understood?"

Kono and Tenzou gave Kakashi curt nods, "Got it."

Tenzou suddenly tensed, before saying, "I can't sense my wood clones."

Kakashi and Kono stiffened as well. An uncanny breeze swept past them. This wasn't good. Something was wrong . . . very wrong.

"All of them?" Kono asked calmly but with a nervous edge to her tone.

Tenzou grimaced, hands together in a seal as he strained to sense his clones. "They're all disappearing."

Despite trying to maintain her composure, Kono bit her inner lip. This was uncalled for. They had just started surveying the area five minutes ago. How on earth did the enemy already catch onto them?

Closing her eyes, she took a small deep breath before enveloping her right fist in her left hand to sense any chakra signatures nearby. After a few seconds, she abruptly opened her eyes.

"Five shinobi are closing in on us at two o'clock," she whispered quickly.

"Tch," Kakashi narrowed his eyes onto the map--a million thoughts and plans raced through his mind. He opened his left eye, revealing his Sharingan, as he scanned the area to see how he could use his surroundings to his advantage.