Suna's Ninja (Gaara Love Story)

39: Manchineel

During the fight, Akimi fastened a mask over her nose and mouth as tight as she could. Her hands and arms were covered throughly and protectively. She wasn't going to risk any chance of becoming lethally poisoned as well. Now all she had to do was to put her plan into action.

Found it, Akimi thought. With a kunai in hand, she cut a few inches of her hair off, catching the cut hair in her other hand. Once she was close enough, she dropped the hair at the base of a Manchineel tree. Just before she left, she dropped a lit match next to the cut hair, allowing the hair to kindle a small fire. Secodns later, the tree trunk was instantly in flames.

I'm sorry, Kazu, Akimi thought, turning around to face him. "This is your last chance, Kazu. Wake up!"

No answer.

"Alright then, I'm sorry, but you need to go down!"

SNAP!

Akimi activated her ability to form Snap. Instantly, in a flurry of movements, Akimi started attacking her ex-teammate with venom and anger. Shigekazu was able to keep up with her for a few minutes, but Akimi sped up her attacks and he couldn't pinpoint a blind spot anymore.

After landing hit after hit, Akimi made a final speed-leap towards him and grabbed his shoulder. With a solid kick, she sent him flying towards the burning tree. He dodged the small flames by jerking his body to the side and only scrapped his hand against the bark. Unfazed, he darted after Akimi again.

Minutes later, however, he slowed down. He began coughing. Akimi mainted a safe distance from both him and the tree that was in flames. She watched as the smoke from the Manchineel tree slowly poisoned her teammate to death, the smoke blinding him physically. Shigekazu bent over, coughed blood, and writhed on the ground. Silent screams left his mouth, saliva trickled down his face, and his eyes were blown wide.

"Kazu...why?" Akimi called out to the boy. He gave no answer. Akimi furrowed her eyebrows and wiped the tears away. She watched as the tree's poison began to deteriorate him. However, she had to go. She couldn't let the smoke reach her either or else she would meet the same fate.

"Goodbye, Shigekazu. Rest in peace," she whispered, turning away from the scene. She left immediately.

After enduring two constant hours of suffering, Shigekazu died shortly afterwards.  His face was in boils, his arms had rashes, and the hand that had been scrapped against the tree was the worst mark of all.

While Shigekazu died a slow, painful death, Akimi searched for a way towards the desert. Unfortunately, however, she was nowhere near a desert. She searched for a way out of the massive forest, but only ran in circles.

Curse it, Akimi thought. I don't know where that blasted Manchineel tree is anymore. For all I know, I could be meters away and be dying slowly. I need to see where I am exactly, so I'll scouting from above.

Akimi scaled a nearby tree, taking care to rely on her hands and legs. She decided to conserve her chakra in case of emergencies. Well, I don't know what I could use my chakra for. I can't use delusional plain.

I think I see the...top? Huh? Akimi furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. I should have reached the top minutes ago. Why is this tree so tall? I swear it was like twenty meters or something...

Akimi jerked her head downwards at the ground. "Am I even moving?"

Genjutsu? Release!

Akimi resumed climbing. "Am I hallucinating?" After a while, she dropped to the ground and looked around. Everything looked the same every other direction.

"Akimi? Is that you?"

She whirled around, and her eyes widened.