Downfall (A Rock Lee fanfic)

They Took Her

Chapter 14: They Took Her

(A/N: Hey everybody, sorry for the wait but here you go, the next chapter of Downfall. Also I'd just like to say that I began writing this right around after Neji died in the actual Naruto manga, so any events after that will not be incorporated into this story. That is all.)

"Wow, looks like there was some fight here." Spoke the upside down Uchiha as he rotated around on his hands to look over the whole area, giving a low whistle.

Some trees were completely studded with kunai and shuriken while others were left barely even standing with large chunks clean off the trunk; some trees weren't even left standing. The dirt was roughly turned over, sharing the same large dents found in the trees.

Without a doubt, Lee knew something had gone down here with powerful opponents. Yet for some reason the areas battle scars seemed... familiar.

Sasuke let out a small breath after a quick look around, gaining Kankuro's attention from the deeply studded kunai he was admiring, Shino's from his somewhat concerned thoughts, and Lee's. 

"Whatever happened here has nothing to do with us, we're wasting daylight. Lets move." Sasuke spoke in his detached tone, already moving to leave. Rock Lee and Kankuro followed obediently but a certain bug master didn't budge.

Lee, on his hands still, looked back with a large, raised eyebrow. "Shino, are you coming?" His words stopped his painted companion and his cousin, but only the Subaku looked back as well.

Shino seemed to snap out of his thoughts and orient himself again. "This place..." he began, encouraging Lee's brows to crease in concern. Shino stayed silent.

"Well what is it? I didn't join this rag-tag group just to stand around." Kankuro scoffed, placing his hands on his hips. He blew out a huff of air from his large nose and shook his head, grumbling, "In fact I wonder why I even came along in the first place."

The Aburame looked up at Lee solemnly. "Earlier I sensed Sakura and Tenten's chakra here."

Only then did Sasuke Uchiha turn around. 

Lee's large eyes widened even further. "Wh-what!?"

Shino remained perfectly still. "They were here earlier but I didn't think it was important enough to tell you both. Why? Because between the four of us it would be easy to fend them off and continue."

Shino spoke so coolly about the girls, like he decided that they lacked the talent; but that wasn't his decision to make, was it?

Rock Lee swiftly flipped onto his feet and grabbed fistfuls of Shino's coat, pulling the kikaichu user closer to Lee's rage filled gaze. He was boiling inside like he had been personally offended.

"Do not ever doubt Tenten." Growled the green boy in a slow, forceful tone. "She may not be physically as strong as me but she is resourceful and her mind is as sharp as her speciality. She has the courage and righteousness of a lion and if she really put her mind to it she could take out all of us with no problem."

With that, Rock Lee released his companion and set to looking around the area again, more fervently this time. The girls were gone and he needed to know why and where they were. At least Lee knew now why these kunai formations looked so familiar.

Sasuke chuckled low and humorlessly. "Shino, you're In the village more than I am and yet you still doubt Sakura? Even I have seen the change in her. The strength. Why do you think some of these trees have fallen? Sakura hit them, maybe not on purpose but it shows you that she has power, not to even mention how clever she is. Her intelligence even surpasses mine. Do not take her lightly, bug boy." The level of animosity simply from the Uchiha cousins words was dangerous. Clearly they were related deep down.