Chapter 34

Image reference for chapter

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Chapter Inspiration: I, Pet A Goat II by Heliofant

*warning, the music video animation is political and has brief breast nudity so if you're under the age of 18 you have been warned; I only chose this because of the music, not the content so you don't have to watch

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Naturally, it would start raining today of all days when moving out that morning. Securing her hair in place Mai locked the door behind her and trekked out towards the gates. The weather wasn't unbearable, but would make tracking a bit difficult if it washed away a trail.

"Quite a day to go out on a mission," Izumo stated at the exit. He examined her papers and wrote her into the records if someone should question her whereabouts.

"Hopefully it will let up," the Be Fong answered.

"Just ask to go tomorrow," Kotetsu stated from his perch above. "You wouldn't be the first to ask."

Her head shook. "The Hokage said this is important. Shouldn't put it off."

"Be careful out there then."

"I always am." With a wave over her shoulder Mai was off.

Surprisingly the rogue ninjas ventured closer to Konoha than expected, which struck the older teen as odd hours later after finding a lead. That had not been in the report, and their appearance was becoming a daily occurrence. They weren't sticking to the shadows like a normal rogue not wishing to be seen. This mission was becoming stranger by the moment as Mai exited the small town. Nothing was as it seemed and the Rain Ninjas were leaving a very clear trail to follow. That was something to be on guard about.

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Shizune began to clear up the Hokage's desk regarding the number of mission scrolls that were about to come into the office. Many needed to be sorted as she accidentally bumped into a stack causing them to scatter about the surface. Sighing heavily in annoyance for being so clumsy, the young woman began to gather them up once more. However, something caught her eye, picking up one report. There was something odd about it, glancing over the contents. She sensed a hint of unfamiliar chakra latched onto it. Muttering a jutsu to cancel out any in effect the surface began to shimmer before warping and contorting. The writings in place began to change. Nothing was as it seemed in this mission report. Shizune's eyes landing on the name of the ninja who had been assigned.

"Lady Hokage!" the young woman shouted completely dropping the items in hand, forgetting what she had been doing in the first place.

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The rain was slightly letting up as Mai continued through the forest. She had removed herself from the main road to travel further inside the trees. There wasn't a soul for miles, but the rogues had been here. Even if the trail appeared old. It was growing a bit chilly, the Be Fong tugging a lower face covering that had been around the neck up to remain warm. Mai paused, listening through the rain.

"If you're done hiding and being scared, come out," the Be Fong shouted. "I'm tired of waiting."

The trees began shifting. Ninjas covered from head to toe in dark red uniforms covered them from head to toe. The only thing visible were their hands and the area around the eyes.

"We've heard rumors of you Mai Be Fong," one spoke.

There were about twenty of them, possibly more that were still hiding and they were in a half circle formation. Trying to cut off all escape attempts. Still, this number was not normal for rogues.

"And have been curious for some time now to test our strength."

Strength? Why?

The leader of the bunch raised an arm to reveal a blade in his grasp, the metal surface black as night, the handle equally dark. There was something off about it that had her brows narrowing.

"This will be our only judge. It is time brothers, to eliminate another that could stand in our way. And this one's name will make us legends in the Shinobi World."

There was a dark aura rolling off of them. The darkest of it coming from the sword. It must be enchanted, or fueled by some jutsu that gave this man the power he was talking about. Enough of it flaunt around. If that was the source then the Be Fong had to remove it from his grasp. And eliminate those following him in the process because if any harm would come to their boss, they would most certainly protect him. Mai didn't want to drag this out any longer than need be, fingers flexing at her sides to tighten the web in place.

"This won't take long," she stated, removing a short blade.

"No, it won't!"

They gave a battle cry, all lunging from the trees at the same time towards the Be Fong with their weapons drawn. Shifting her weight onto the back foot and poising the blade in hand the Phantom Ninja lunged head on with an unwavering expression cutting through them.

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"There is no time to explain in detail," Kakashi stated.

The Jounin had gathered Sakura, Sai, and Naruto as they immediately left the gates, even blowing past Izumo and Kotetsu. The men ordered them to slow down without success.

"But someone broke into the Hokage's office and altered a report."

"Altered?" Sakura questioned. "How?"

With so many guards in the Village, how would someone even be able to slip in? Unless they directly worked with Tsunade, but it was highly unlikely that someone was a traitor amongst them.

"The facts on the mission itself were false and Mai is walking into a trap." His brows narrowed. "Whoever it was knew how to word it carefully so she would specifically be placed on the mission. It's her area of expertise to track these kinds of criminals down."

"Then why are we worried?" Naruto asked. "She's taken care of herself before."

"She's walking into an ambush, and it's the item in their grasp that worries us the most. Either it will kill her... or worse..."

"Worse?" the Medical Ninja asked. "Sensei, what is worse than death?"

The Jounin remained silent for a moment before saying, "Just keep moving." Hopefully, she had not gotten far.

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The rogue ninjas were swift as Mai spun out of reach of their flying kunai and shuriken. It was no easy task due to their numbers, but the strings could at least pick up on their movements to give her an idea as to where they'd strike and were attempting to hide. A good handful of them had already been dealt with, but only more seemed to appear. And they weren't clones as blood flew through the air when her blade ripped into skin. They were living, breathing ninjas. But why were they throwing themselves at her as if they had a death wish?

Strength. Power. They were testing themselves, Mai realized. They were twisted individuals as she cut through one.

The blade black sliced through the air. The Phantom Ninja barely managed to dodge as it passed overhead. Righting herself up the Be Fong's eyes honed in on its wielder when others blocked them from each other. They just had to complicate things as a tug sent them flying in different directions.

"Stop hiding behind your followers and fight me if you're so powerful," Mai stated.

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"We're getting close," Sakrua stated. "I can sense her chakra." And it was growing alongside another one that was much darker, and tainted.

The section of forest they were moving through was ripped to pieces as trunks littered the ground or leaned propped up against others that remained rooted. Obviously, the Be Fong had been here.

"Move faster," Kakashi ordered.

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With clenched teeth the strings ripped five ninjas to pieces landing once more from her flight through the air. Crouching low, her eyes turned up to the branches where the Rain Ninjas where perched. Their stillness did not last long as the two sides were careening towards each other once more. Enough of this, the Be Fong declared, clearing the path before her with the flick of the wrist and throwing those unimportant out of the way. The leader's eyes widened as they both clashed, the scrapping of metal echoing in the air. They twisted around each other, as Mai looked for an opening. The moment it presented itself she was diving forward no matter the danger.

The strings held the ninja in place, while her blade threw off the direction of his own. It sliced into a cheek though due to being too close and his body suddenly convulsed releasing a strangled gasp of breath. Mai's weapon was running straight through the heart and out the other side. In the process the weapon flew from his grasp and became stuck in the ground feet away.

It was over as his body slumped to the side. For a moment the Be Fong thought she saw his mad expression clear before becoming lifeless. Those that stood by his side began to scatter and flee, but met a gruesome end as they ran into her invisible web and were captured or torn apart trying to fight them off. She didn't care about them though, walking towards the discarded weapon. The ninja wasn't sure what was so special about it, but it would need to be handed over to Ibiki immediately for further inspection. Sure, the man had been strong, but once those around him had been dealt with it wasn't as difficult to deal with him. She had faced worse before.

The sword was beautifully crafted meaning it had been crafted by a noble, not a rogue. It had to have been stolen and someone was looking for it. Reaching forward, Mai clasped the handle tightly to pull it free feeling a shock go up the arm in the process. [song ends]