After The Storm *Kakashi Hatake* (Naruto Fanfiction)

Chapter 22

Some combat action in this! (Finally!) 

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I made my way through the trees, quickly speeding along. Within a few hours I reached my first village, walked around a bit, and found nothing. I stopped in a few more villages, until finally I decided to rest for the night in the next one I came to. 

Upon reaching the village, I walked through the streets and listened in to conversations; trying to catch any word that might involve my mission. Yet, all I heard were the usual everyday conversations, for example, 

"How's the family?"

"Weather's been nice, hasn't it?" 

"The dog pooped in the house again." 

"The meeting is set for the bridge at midnight. We'll commence planning there."

"I hear there's a new dumpling shop a few blocks from here." 

"He walked into the door and then fell down the stairs *sigh* he's just to clumsy, really." 

Wait, hold up, back track. Bridge? I shift my direction of walking, and stroll into a bar. It's windows are open due to the hot summer air. I focus chakra to my ears as I listen for the voices again, finding a few murmurs in the alley beside the bar. Their mumbling comes into focus as I perk my ears and continue listening. 

"How do you know we can trust them?" a slightly timid voice questions. 

"Of course we can't trust them. We just need the money right now, once we're all set, we're out, then it's goodbye Akatsuki, understood?" a second, deeper voice replies. 

"Yes, sir," the first voice answers. 

"Now, go inform the others, and don't be late," the second voice orders in a controlling tone. 

"Right away, sir," the first voice replies. 

The sound of moving air is audible after that, then silence. 

I release the chakra from my ears, and close my eyes, thinking of what my next move will be. 

My mission was to go after this smaller group. Now, with the Akatsuki involved, it proves a rather large bump in the road. Then again, if I elimante the group, before the meeting, there should be no problems or hinderences. I'll have completed my mission, and I won't have to worry about the Akatsuki possibly interfering. 

With that decision settled, I place some money on the counter, paying for the beer I'd ordered while sitting. Then, with quiet steps, I exit the now bustling bar. I move into the alley and begin tracking. 

It takes less than an hour to find one, the first voice it seems. I wait only a few moments as I listen in on the conversations. I scan the room and find a few men, and a couple of women standing around a long table, as well as a boy tied up like an animal in the corner.

At this my eyes narrow, I then proceed to take out my mission scroll. Crossing off the people I see on the list. Everyone on the list is here, except for the second voice from earlier; the leader I'm assuming, and of course the boy in the corner isn't part of the group. 

With quick feet, I'm behind the boy in a flash. He only gasps slightly as I pull a blindfold across his eyes, my intentions: to block the sight of the blood about to be shed. No one turns to look at him, and with quick movements I manage to catch them off guard, the group goes into an uproar as they try to find and fight me. But, I'm just to quick. 

Within a few moments, most of them are dead or dying. The ones left, stand with weapons up, some shaking, and some glaring. 

I stop my killing frenzy, and allow them to catch sight of me. Once their eyes fall on me, I am surprised to find that they hold their own. They all attack at once, lashing at me with kunai, and trying to catch my vital points. Yet, though they may be more skilled than I'd originally thought, they still were not skilled enough. They to, were soon scattered across the floor.