Kichimaru Tomaka, emotional ninja

Chapter 6

We're halfway back to Konoha when we get ambushed.

We've been tree jumping along the higher branches to avoid any traps may be laid with Kakashi-senpai leading the point. I have the missing nin in a fireman's carry over my shoulders, holding his bound arms and legs with my arms. He's an average height and only a little on the heavy side, with thick cloth tied around his face and limbs. As per usual, he under a sedative that makes the trip much smoother without his protesting. Honestly, I'm glad I can't see his face, mostly because it would humanize him. As a limp, cloth wrapped bundle he was just another delivery mission. Ignorance is bliss, and I didn't trust myself to stay impartial if I learned more about him. Regardless, my stomach still clenches in guilt when I think about his destination.

When we first set out Kakashi-senpai set a slow pace, making sure I could keep up and follow closely behind him. When my pace and breath kept steady, he began increasing the speed incrementally, trying to find my limits. I assumed he was trying to figure out my skill set in order to plan out any problems we might run into, but wouldn't he just ask? He shot me an appraising look when I finally started panting and struggling at low Tokubetsu jounin speeds. He adjusted his speed down until I could comfortably manage both my burden and the journey. My muscles burned and my heart pumped quickly as I enjoyed the runner's high. Adrenaline flooding my body and a manic grin barely hidden by my face mask. This kind of pushing your limits, throwing caution to the wind and moving, was what I lived for. As much as I enjoyed running through Konoha's back streets and alleys, Konoha's vast forest had a special freedom to it.

I keep my chakra coiled tight within me, hiding my signature as best I could while still keeping my senses stretched out. It's a small flickering and a swooping feeling in my gut that clues me into the ambush, but the first lesson I learned was a shinobi should always trust their gut. I turn my next jump into a chakra enhanced leap, shooting up to the thinner branches spread out above us, just before kunai whistle towards the now empty space. Before the blades even sink into the tree fully Kakashi-senpai is a blur shooting towards where they came from. While the attack did take advantage of the element of surprise, it also alerted us to their previously hidden location, which Kakashi-senpai was taking advantage of.

I touch down on a thin branch at least 50 feet above everyone else, large branches block my view with dense green leaves. As soon as I land, I release my cargo's legs to form a single-handed tiger sign. The body flicker jutsu allows me to rush forward, and I begin jumping between shadowy spots in the trees to lose any trackers. I pause and release the sign, once again grabbing the package's legs before ducking low against one of the many large tree trunks. My breaths are shallow and light, muffled entirely behind my mask, as I run against the branches looking for a good hiding spot. The body flicker jutsu, like all chakra justus, leaves behind a faint chakra signature that can be tracked, so I couldn't just stay put. I spot an appropriate tree close by and press my back into the trunk. I can hear the sounds of heavy movement and slight groans and just barely feel the flicker of Kakashi-senpai's static chakra jumping around the battlefield, but the thick branches prevent me for knowing much else.

My heart is thumping madly with adrenaline and I'm floating with the thrill of being alive. I don't see battle very often. I sparred with various senpai weekly, and dealt with bandits every couple of outpost trips, but I trained specifically to run away. I don't want the power to decide if someone dies, the responsibility of taking a life. I haven't been able to avoid killing entirely, the shinobi world was much too violent for that, but by specializing in courier missions I've managed to stay out of the action. And every time I saw someone die, I imagined their family getting the news that their loved ones had passed. Then the images morph and become my family, unable to move on after I'd been ripped away like so many shinobi before me. I bite down on my bottom lip sharply, this is not the time morality. This was a mission assigned by the Hokage, I would complete it or die trying. My breath steadies as I reach my right hand into my left sleeve from where I am firmly holding the prisoner's arms. The ever present senbon comfort me as I take three in hand and brace myself for action. I'm focused entirely on my chakra sense, trying to keep track of the battle below me when I finally catch the enemy's signatures. They're flared with aggression, enhancing the missing nin's sharp anger filled movements. Kakashi-senpai is facing two enemies, both with chunin level reserves working together to try and tag team Kakashi-senpai into submission with coordinated taijutsu. Kakashi-senpai is using large fire jutsu to catch the attention of the enemy nin, allowing me to completely and safely run and hide. I can't help but be in awe of Kakashi-senpai's obvious skill. Every misstep and overreach the enemy makes are quickly punished with smooth physical attacks, and any attempt to disengage is corrected with a fire jutsu. This is a jounin, one much to skilled to be my senpai. My eyes sparkle at the realization of my senpai's talent and ability, he was so cool!

The brief bout of fighting is settled quickly, Kakashi-senpai knocking both unconscious with hard hits to the head. Once their chakra flutters to sleep I flare my own signature to ask Kakashi-senpai if we were all clear. He responds in Konoha's standard signal for safe, so I quickly stand before putting my senbon away and begin to drop to where he stood.

"Senpai! You're so awesome!" I touch down behind him as he finishes restraining what I now realize are Kiri missing nin before continuing excitedly. "Can I have your signature? Wait... are you famous?" I finish with a sheepish grin as I idle up to his side. Kakashi-senpai gives a noncommittal hum as he considers our next moves looking at the rather average looking men in grey and blue toned clothing. As much as I want to ask him all the burning questions bubbling up with excitement, I bite my tongue and stay quiet to let him think. Any birds that might have been chirping had flown off by now, but I content myself with listening to the trees rustling as I settled to wait patiently.

Before long we're moving again. This time I have the original prisoner tied onto my back with the shorter dark haired nukenin tied to my front. The cloth wrappings that had been covering the prisoner were used to tightly secure both bodies against me. The final ambushing missing nin was secured on Kakashi-senpai's back, as we had just enough fabric to secure him as well. Both Kakashi-senpai and my arms are free now, and I honestly am stunned at his resourcefulness. After working in the Genin Corps for years, I was highly impressed at his skill and planning.

The rest of the journey is made safely, and we are able to take the three men to the T&I building without trouble. The whole process is so smooth that before I know it, we are reporting back to Sandaime-sama and debriefing.

"Thank you, Kakashi-kun. Anything else you'd like to add?" Sandaime-sama's deep voice rumbles at me steadily. I simply shake my head with a slight bow, indicating Kakashi-senpai's account had been fully accurate and I had nothing to add. He nods at my answer before reaching up to idly adjust the white Hokage hat on his head. "Very well, good work both of you. Tomaka-kun you're dismissed." I bow deeply before turning to leave the round office room. I pout playfully once the door closes, grumbling about having to wait for Kakashi-senpai to be done. I hadn't gotten the chance to ask for any tips yet, not wanting to interrupt the aloof man during the mission. Out in the hallway, I leaned against the wall to wait until they finished debriefing.

I hummed to myself to pass the time, earning a few stares from passing shinobi, but thankfully before long he's exiting the Hokage's office.

"Senpai!" I wave overenthusiastically towards him, earning another raised eyebrow, but Kakashi-senpai still walks over to where I stand.

"Hm? What did you want?" He lazily draws out while tilting his head questioningly at me. I beam at him in response, my eyes creasing shut with glee that he's even humoring me.

"I think you're really cool, Kakashi-senpai! So, do you have any tips for doing a seal less body flicker jutsu?" I peek out of one eye, sheepishly expecting to be rebuffed by my superior. His eyes go from questioning to plainly amused and he stuffs his hands into his pockets with a slouch.

"Maa, I suppose I do." I excitedly raise my hands into a pleading motion and bow my head dramatically.

"Please tell me!" He hums again, taking in my stupid grin and enthusiastic pose, before shifting his weight onto his other foot.

"It's simple, really." I shift close, eager to hear whatever advice such an advanced shinobi could give. He meets my eyes before closing his own to show his smile. "You just have to move with the chakra." A cloud of smoke suddenly fills where he was standing, and he's gone without even a hint of chakra to show where he could be now. My eyes fill is wonder at his display, before I process what he told me.

"Move with the-" I gasp as I realize what's happened. "That's terrible advice! So vague!" The realization makes me laugh at the gall of Kakashi-senpai. "Move with chakra! Never thought of doing it that way, ne? ~" I laugh harder with each sentence, now positive that Kakashi-senpai was in fact the coolest shinobi in Konoha. My good mood and wide grin follow me for the rest of the day and I can't help but tell Naru-kun and the rest of my family about him. Naru-kun doesn't seem to think he's as awesome as I do, but the twins revel in his mischievous gaffs.

Regardless, I become determined to master the body flicker jutsu seal less. No longer just for Chigao-senpai, but for Kakashi-senpai too.