Everything was a blur of motion and pain. Yuumai violently threw her body to each side, trying to escape the arms closed around her. Ryu and Ino had just taken off, leaving them to fend for themselves. That was only natural. The moment she realized the Leaf team didn't provide her the best choice of escaping, she had tried to bolt as well.

Never turn your back on your enemy, Ryu's lesson from before basically chided. That means no running or turning. The moment you do, you have lost.

Enraged by her own inability to do anything, her thrashing became wilder. A whimper from the captured Shingi only fueled her flame more. "Let me go!" she cried.

At first her only reply was a snort and tighter grip. A moment later he cried out as Yuumai clamped down on his arm. She took her opportunity and jumped forward, wrenched her body from his grip. Although off balance, Yuumai managed to turn and face her old captor. A stream of uncomplimentary words flowed from his mouth as he examined the puncture wounds in his forearm.

"You're going to pay for that, you little brat." The man swung wildly at Yuumai.

To her amusement, she realized this was exactly how she used to punch, and it was absolutely pathetic. Even if they had been trained, they made such an idiotic mistake as to underestimate her. With a superior feeling, she blocked with ease. She was shocked when she stumbled to the side. The man had a great momentum that left her arm tingling to the point of near numbness. She may have training, but that didn't bring physical strength or great pain tolerance. Maybe she could take a few more hits, but the guy would keep coming with more. How could she run if she couldn't take him out?

Her answer came in the form of a giant fist crashing down on the bandit. She yelped and jumped away before realizing it belonged to Chouji. When she looked at him, he was already turning back to his own opponents, barely able to keep the arm free that had just saved her. Surely it had been an accident, right? No idiot would use what could have been their last attack to save someone else. Even if it stung, Ryu had done the smart thing in running. They should be trying to, too. Anything to save your own butt.

Yet right before she ran, Yuumai paused and glanced back at her wild dog. Shingi was still giving it all to break the wrapping around his snout and claw at the bandits who had captured him, but still he continued to watch her. If anyone had ever been her friend, it was him. No matter what happened, he didn't judge her or grow angry at her. He was just there for her.

Now she was leaving him. How could she save him, though? He was tightly within the bandits' clutches. It would only get them both captured. Something in Shingi's eyes told her even if he was a dog, he knew that as well. He wants me to go, Yuumai realized. He doesn't want me captured any more than I want him captured. Only thing is, he's the one that is caught and I'm the one who is free. I'd want him to run if he could, too, wouldn't I?

Despite the biting guilt eating at her, Yuumai turned from Shingi and took off. Shouts followed after her. Something must have made them stop, though, because she heard no sign of pursuit. Maybe they had decided she wasn't nearly as big a threat as the two shinobi they had grabbed. It made sense seeing as she had only about a week of training. Even if it had been a short week, she could definitely notice her increase in stamina as the distance between her and the struggle grew.

Yuumai came to a panting stop as her energy ran out. She had at least made it a mile or so. Even if she felt a bit safe without hearing anyone behind her, she began to search for cover. It was idiotic to stand exposed out in the open.

The only suitable spot she could find was in the trees. With an annoyed huff at the need for more energy, Yuumai focused her chakra to her feet. Unlike when she first learned it, she didn't even pause before climbing the tree. Her journey was slower than her usual one as she tried to quiet her footsteps. If the men chasing her were skilled enough, though, surely they would hear her anyway. This was her internal argument as she finally just darted up the tree.

Finding safety within the green cover, Yuumai began to relax. Then everything came rushing back. She bit down on her lip, trying to keep back the fear as it all replayed. Sitting down on the couch while Aiko prepared dinner. Listening to Chouji fuss about running out of chips. The cries from outside. Their own door crashing down. Aiko's shrieks as she struggled, crying to Yuumai to run. Her struggle with Chouji and Shikamaru to defeat the bandits that stayed to deal with them and running into the battlefield outside. Her home, completely invaded by the Shira Forest bandits.

She was shocked to find her body trembling and small tears trickling from her eyes. Mentally berating herself for being so weak, Yuumai wiped away her tears. "I'm just pathetic," she grumbled. "Stuck here and unable to do anything."

All she could do for the next thirty minutes was listen. Although the rain brought her some peace, she stayed alert for the tiniest sign of the bandits. It grew hard as her thoughts strayed, running in circles of questions.

What should she do? What could she do? Could she save Aiko and Shingi? If so, what could she do to achieve that? Should she save the rest of the villagers as well? Then again, they weren't her concern. She just couldn't leave her sister and dog. It would be nearly as bad a betrayal as her brother's.

"Any sign of Ryu?"

Yuumai had been so lost in thought she didn't realize bandits were below her until she heard the voice below her. And it wasn't just any bandit either.

"No, sir. I've searched the area around the river," someone else responded.

Although their voices had already confirmed it, part of her still didn't believe her bad luck until she looked down. Asuma and Daichi stood right below her, speaking as if they really were in leagues with each other. Were they? Shikamaru said that Asuma was under some genjutsu, but what if he was wrong?

Daichi glared at nothing in particular. "They couldn't have wondered too far," he said. "Both would have been at least injured or tired. Neither could have moved far if they carried the other. Senshi also cannot sense the Sarutobi boy with the jutsu he had placed on him either, but you have not taught any of them how to dispel genjutsu placed on them."

The jounin exhaled from his cigarette. It was such a disorienting feeling to see Asuma by a man associated with many Forest villagers' nightmares. How hard must it have been on Ryu seeing as he knew both much more than she did? "Could Ino's slap have shocked him out of the jutsu?"

"No, that isn't possible. I asked Senshi. The only way to get rid of is if he or an outside source messing with his chakra."

Ryu was under a genjutsu? As Yuumai thought it over, it wasn't too surprising. Senshi would have had plenty of time to use it while they waited for Daichi and Asuma. What did it do, though? How had Ryu acted different besides being so afraid? Any normal person would have reacted like that, though.

There was a small whispered exchange between the two, and then Asuma asked, "What would you like me to do, Lord Hokage?"

"Send Senshi," he replied. "If nothing happens by nightfall that could lead us to Ryu, he can bring them back."

Yuumai stared in confusion, but nothing else was said before they headed back toward the village. As they passed directly under her, she held her breath. Her precautions were unnecessary. Moments later they were gone and she was alone again.

Even if nobody was around that she knew of, Yuumai relaxed against the tree again rather than moving. How could she know if all the bandits were gone? Daichi seemed to be searching for Ryu and Ino. That meant somehow they really had escaped. It also meant the bandits could be scouring the forest for them. Most likely she'd have to wait until early morning to move. The only upside was the rain was beginning to fade to a mere drizzle.

Minutes ticked by into hours until night had fallen. The rain had ended, and a few stars peaked through the clouds. Although highly uncomfortable, her eyelids began to feel weighed down. With a yawn, the young girl sunk down into the tree. It wouldn't be too dangerous if she slept, right? They were searching for Ryu, and if neither Daichi nor Asuma had been looking around when she saw them, they must have already covered the area.

Darkness closed in on her as she grew closer to drifting to sleep. Images drifted through her unconscious state. She saw a familiar dead body on the ground, blood caking the ground beneath. Two pale faces stood out against a dark table, Aiko standing on the opposite side with tears streaming down her cheeks. They're dead. I'm all alone.

No, go away! Yuumai cried at her memories. She clawed at head, as if that would chase away the dream.

The sudden creak of the branch jerked her, somewhat thankfully, awake. It was harder to adjust to the night with her tired eyes. When she saw who it was, Yuumai screamed and kicked wildly. Senshi easily caught her foot.

"That won't work on me, kid." He twisted, causing Yuumai to roll off the branch. If Senshi didn't have a grip on her leg, she would have fallen to the ground. The bandit jumped to the ground and took her with him. She kicked him in the jaw when they landed. With a grunt, Senshi released Yuumai.

She quickly scrambled away. To her surprise, her new opponent made no move toward her and simply smiled. It made her more uneasy than if he had chased after her. Rising to her feet, Yuumai began to back away even more.

Senshi raised an eyebrow. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked as he brought his hand into a tiger sign.

Her body suddenly began to tremble to the point she dropped to her knees. She was alone with nobody to save her. It was absolutely hopeless. The feeling was strangely similar to when her parents died and her brother betrayed them. Why, though? Of course she'd been afraid before. Maybe she had even felt alone. But why would it suddenly amplify with Senshi suddenly making a hand sign?

"I bet you don't want to move." As he spoke, the dark haired man walked toward him. His smile never wavered, not even when he knelt down before her. "You disappoint me a bit. I was really hoping you'd go find Ryu. Then again, it's just natural for a selfish human to try and hide themselves rather than help others."

Yuumai could do nothing but watch in her paralyzed state as Senshi wrapped his hand around her throat. When Asuma and Daichi had spoken about it leading them to Ryu, they had meant her. All along they'd known she was there, and had sent Senshi to watch her. Now that night had fallen, he was going to take her prisoner. There was no fighting it, only accepting it.

Weakling. You shouldn't be so afraid, she chastised herself as she continued to do nothing as Senshi prevented her from breathing. Why would I be able to, though? I can't do anything and I'm against an opponent stronger than me. It's hopeless.

Ryu wouldn't give up. He fought Toku anyway.

Any amount of hope that stirred into her was too late. The darkness already had her in its grasps. Nobody was going to save her this time. Yuumai had been on her own, and she had failed.