Lotus Of The Leaf ~Book One~

Chapter 54! Run, Idate!

~*****~

The rain is pouring down heavily as we race down the coast line. "There he is!" I snapped as I spot a ninja standing over him. "We need to hurry!"

"Oh, no!" Naruto gasped and started pushing his legs harder. "Idate!" He screams. "You rat," Naruto growled out as we skidded to a stop. "Are you in charge of those Rain Village Ninja?"

Sakura and I leap over to Idate. I lean down and press my ear against his chest. "Apparently they weren't quite up to the job. In a contest of genin, and one puny Chunin, it appears the Leaf Village are the stronger." The man mentions.

My hands glow green as I try to find out why he's down. "This is bad." I mutter.

"But Genin, no matter how strong they are, are no match against me." The man continues.

"Well, let's find out!" Naruto shouts as he and Sasuke leap into action. It's useless- the man leaps up, and slings an incredible wave of chakra down onto us. I brace the heels of my hands against the craggy rock besides Idate's shoulders as the pressure crushes against my body.

"As of expected of your squad. No more of a challenge than Idate, really." The man chuckles. "I'll just give you what I gave him." He stores his umbrella, and pulls out senbon. "No use in wasting my chakra."

"Watch out!" I snapped as he flings them towards us. The senbon dig into my shoulders as I pull Sakura underneath me.

"Needles," Naruto grit out as he tried sitting up.

"Needles that deliver a deadly poison." The man smirked. "No matter how strong you may be, you already have one foot in the grave."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto groaned as he stood on shaky feet. "We've heard that before." He fell to his knee after a moment. Distant cheers echoed over the mountain range.

"Fukusuke must have reached the Modoroki Shrine. The last sound you'll ever hear, the sound of all your plans going up in smoke." The man left in a hurry.

"Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura-" I breath as I pulled out a bottle from my pouch. "Take these. Lady Tsunade gave them to me before we left."

"Grandma Tsunade." Naruto muttered.

"It's an antidote," I explain as I push one passed Idate's lips. "He should come around, now. Take one." I hold out the cap before popping one in. "We can't just leave him out in the rain, either. We have to get Idate some place warm." I lean down and slip an arm underneath him.

We find a small cave, and Sasuke lit a fire for us. I pulled out rag and started patting the sweat beading up from his brow and face. After a few moments, he finally began to stir. "What do you know, he's waking up." Naruto chimed.

He tried sitting up. "Whoa, hold on." I helped him slowly sit up so he didn't hurt himself. "How are you feeling?"

"Where is he?" Idate quickly asked. "What happened to Aoi?"

"He's gone," Sasuke answered. "So you're telling me that's that character's name? Aoi?"

"Who is he? Do you know each other from somewhere?" Sakura asked.

"He was.... a sensei I knew back in my Leaf Village days." Idate explained softly.

"What? You're from the Leaf Village?" Naruto asked uncertainly.

"After he... betrayed the Leaf Village, he became a Jonin of the Village Hidden in the Rain." Idate explained.

"Hang on. What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.