Shooting Straight

Chapter 21

"We've secured food and water after spending half a day, and now most teams have halted their activity. As we planned, this is the time that we should attack. We'll split into three and go scouting. However, whether we find other teams or not, we return to this place." Neji Hyuuga spoke, his voice laced with trained authority. He swung a kunai around his finger, letting his view drop to the weapon as he released it, watching as it plunged into the ground beside his foot. He raised his head and let his gaze wander to his teammates, gauging their reactions. They listened to him intently and carefully, taking his words into deep consideration. It was easy to tell that they each respected him, and he was clearly the "leader figure" of the trio.

"Right," Tenten nodded, eyes drifting to the canteen of water in her hand. She sipped from it calmly before twisting the cap on and tucking it away. Standing up from the tree she was previously leaning against, her chocolate brown eyes raising to meet the intense pupilless eyes of her teammate.

"Roger," Lee stood up, looking at Neji and offering a salute alongside a confident and dedicated grin. The three of them shared a glance, silently wishing each other good luck and prayers of safety. Lee's hands came together as he cracked each of his knuckles, the sounds filling the silence that had fallen over them. Neji's face hardened as he focused his mind on the task, taking another deep breath.

"Alright then, let's move." At his command, the three of them disbanded into singles and went in different directions, leaving no trace of them ever being there except the kunai in the dirt. 

~~~

Tsukame had made herself right at home in the crevice she'd found in a tree that fit her and her team semi-comfortably. She naturally took up the most space, since she carried most of the team's main supplies. She had created a little bed for herself out of soft moss, and she sipped on a grape juice box she'd packed. She'd dumped her abundance of supplies beside her, pinning it with a kunai into the tree to secure it. 

"I wonder how Arrow is doing," Seishi said softly, looking up at the sky through a break in the tree canopy. Stars glittered above them, illuminating the teen's pale violet eyes. He was searching for constellations, reminding him of the times he did so with Naruto as children.

"He's probably fine," Tsukame shrugged dismissively, chewing on her straw as her eyes fell on the youngest of their team. His red hair was messy, with some pieces stuck to the gleaming sweat on his face. Her eyes shifted over to her other teammate, who returned her gaze with annoyance clear in his blazing scarlet red eyes. She chewed on her straw harder, splitting the side and grinning as he grimaced and his jaw clenched. 

"Pretty sure that's not what straws are meant for." Takeshi chided, narrowing his eyes at the plastic in her mouth. Her lips twisted into a catlike smile and her tongue flicked out teasingly, causing him to let out a small sigh.

Seishi let his gaze drift over to his other two teammates, more specifically Tsukame. He cleared his throat, successfully getting her attention. Her crystal blue eyes met his questioningly, and he lifted the side of his mildly torn shirt to reveal the smooth skin under his ribs that had been marred by a knife wound merely a few hours before. Her lips pressed together, forming a thin line and betraying her dismay at the topic about to be brought up.

"I had no idea you are trained as a medical-nin," He began, eager to hear her explanation. "Where did you learn?" Takeshi's eyes shifted over to his teammates, also impatient to know where her previously undisclosed ability had been taught.

Tsukame shrugged, discarding her now-empty juice box and reaching into her bag to rummage for another. Feeling guilty enough for not sharing all her skills with her teammates, she'd been dreading this conversation. Purposefully avoiding eye contact with the two boys intently staring at her, she scoffed slightly.