The Celestial Charge (A Naruto FF)

Chapter One - Enter, Team Minoru!

WARNING: Chapter contains swearing, violence, and hints of sensitive topics.

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*Flashback - Third Person P.O.V.*

A slight breeze ruffled the vibrant green forest, the sound of thousands of leaves brushing together replacing the usual cacophony of the forest animals, which was eerily silent. Cotton candy clouds drifted across the sky that was painted with a variety of red and orange shades.

Glinting in the light of the setting sun, a kunai sliced through the air only to be knocked to the ground with the clash of metal.

Slowly putting their arm down from blocking the attack, the target of the kunai glanced about him warily, taking in the sight of the twelve bandits that were surrounding himself and his three students.

The blonde-haired man knew that he could take out all these men with a bit of difficulty, but with his three Genin here it would be that much harder. He didn't want them to be injured.

Although, injuries, and even death, were simply unavoidable in the ninja world.

"You three, Manji formation! Quickly!" The four ninja stood back to back, each wielding a kunai.

"S-sensei..." A girl with long honey-blonde hair shrunk closer to her companions and away from the leering faces of the bandits, seemingly folding in on herself. There was slight fear and uncertainty in her light blue eyes. She thought that this was supposed to be a simple C-rank mission.

The way the bandits were looking at her, with lust and greed written all over their faces, was scaring her more than her worst fear ever could. She couldn't keep her body from trembling. It was as if she was watching herself from the back of her mind as her vision tunneled, and her grip on the kunai in her left hand became slack.

The teammate that stood to her left quickly glanced over his shoulder at the terrified girl, one bronze eye studying her in concern. He could see her knees quake, could see the terror in her eyes. Hatred coursed through his veins and made his blood sizzle. These bandits were scum, he thought, and scum didn't deserve any mercy from him. Determined to keep her safe, the boy shifted to the right until he was partially standing in between his teammate and the bandits.

Their sensei glanced over his shoulder at his shy female student, false confidence hiding the concern in his onyx eyes.

"Don't worry Suzuki. I won't let them hurt you, any of you." His voice was soft, placating, and sent a rush of relief through the young Genin's veins.

The bandits burst out into a fit of laughter. One stepped forwards, presumably the leader of the group based on the air of power and confidence he exuded.

He was an older man, with a bit of spiky green hair peeking out from under his black bandanna. The cold gray eyes that were set in his pale, thin face wandered over each of the four shinobi, lingering for a bit longer on Suzuki's back. The look in his eyes was wicked and depraved, and the thought of what the man might do to his student sent a chill down the blonde man's spine.