Well. Well. Shit.

I glare at the genin when they spring into battle ready positions and simply shake my head.

"No," I order. "Get back."

Aisa shoots me a look. "C'mon, Cashile," he complains. "We took on those bandits back in the village—"

"I said," I cut him off, allowing the persona of the Claw to take over slightly. All three genin pale and step back as the killer intent in the air doubles. "Stay back."

"But we're a team--" Michiko begins.

"No," I breathe. "You three are a team. I am your leader. And this enemy is nothing like the bandits you faced in that village. If you were to go up against them... You would be killed in an instance. So. Stay. Back."

I realized, in a split second of clarity, that I was far more terrified of fighting these Claws than I ever had been. Was it because I was out of the familiar territory of the Land of Fire? I dismiss it. I had fought in a variety of different territories as the Claw. Then was it because there were two of them? I dismiss this as well. I was wary, of course: two Claws could strategize and attack in synch. Incredibly dangerous, but there was no reason to be terrified of this—especially with a team of ANBU backing me up.

Was it because these three genin could easily die before the end of the day?

My heart skips a beat at the thought of the three of them dead, and I must acknowledge the truth of it. I didn't want to see these stupid little genin die.

Of course. It made sense. If they died here I would be responsible for it as their Sensei. I would be the one who would have to go to their parents (and brother oh god) and explain why they had died. People would treat me differently; Tsunade might think that my "rehabilitation" was interrupted and that could offset my plans for power—ANBU.

It made sense that I didn't want to see these genin die.

In a blur, the ANBU spring from hiding to join me, further cutting off the genin from the Claws.

The genin stood in shock, amazed. "Hey! Where did they come from?" Kento exclaimed.

"Shut up Kento, can't you see how dire the situation is? Just stay back and let Cashile sensei fight!" Michiko whispered aggressively.

Atta girl, I thought, keep them in check, don't let them do anything stupid.

I pulled out the twin knives from the sheaths on my forearms and held it in a defensive position in front of me. The Claws unsheathed their swords. They decided to go with swords instead of the double blades that I was more gifted at. Smart. I had dabbled with a sword as a genin, I muse, recalling the forest of death. I soon discarded it: boring and rather limited.

"Two of you watch the genin, two of you take the Claw on the right," I ordered the ANBU. There was a 82% chance that we would lose this fight if we didn't break the two Claws off from one another. When they were separate...well, the odds got slightly better.

Then I charged.

Of course I was aware of everything around me, just as I'd been trained. The three genin looked terrified as my knives clanged loudly against the Claw's sword in an x shape. They were grouped together tightly, and an ANBU stood on both sides of them.

The two ANBU weren't faring well against the Claw. I predicted this of course. As the Claw, I could take out at least 3 ANBU with no doubt or hesitation. ANBU—no one, really—just weren't prepared for the fighting style of the Claw. No regard to safety. No care for injuries or loss in life. There was just the mission. It was disconcerting and terribly difficult to defend against.

I was having a harsh time with my own Claw as well. If I could take care of the this one fast then I could deal a finishing blow to the other one, helping out the ANBU who were clearly struggling. I wasn't necessarily more powerful than the ANBU: I simply knew the enemy better.

I evaded the Claw's blade as it chopped deftly through the air, aiming for vital organs and body parts.

It was as fast as I was. I got close up to the Claw's chest and blocked it's sword with one of my blades. With the other blade I punctured his chest, jamming the blade underneath it's rib cage.

At least, that was my intention.

All of that happened brilliantly in my head. Before I could pierce the Claw with my blade though, it flipped over my head and slashed at my back.

I clenched my teeth, resisting to arch my back in pain. Fuck. I was too damn eager to end this fight and the Claw took advantage of it. The wound was shallow, I had no loss of sensation. Therefore, I was fine.

I turned around, whirling my twin blades and ignoring the blood droplets staining the ground.

This Claw was strategic. It was smart. But I was smarter. It relied heavily on it's sword and speed. Take that away and it wasn't half as powerful.

On the side, I noted that one ANBU was out. The other was struggling, and another ANBU joined in the fight, leaving the genins' right flank open.

I had to finish this. I feinted a side blow to the head and dived, hurtling to the ground, slicing at it's ankle forcefully. The Claw wasn't prepared for that: if my plan didn't work I would be on the ground with the Claw above me—a far too risky position.

But I didn't fail.

Crack.

Ouch. The Claw let out an unintentional scream and dropped to the ground. In a blurred move the sword was out of its hand and my twin blades were crossed over it's neck. Without hesitation, I pulled forward aggressively, swiftly decapitating the Claw.

I ran over to the fight with the other Claw. It seemed I had distanced myself quite a bit during the fight. I could see them in the distance. Three ANBU were out. One was dead. One was injured to the point it was unable to move. The last one had long knife sticking through his chest. He was breathing his dying breath.

The genin were in a defensive fighting position, trembling. None of them seemed injured. It looked as if they were smart enough to listen to me.

Then it all happened so fast.

"You know what guys, we're ninja of Konoha! We don't back down and we're not gonna just stand here trembling because we're scared. That's just pathetic!" Aisa yelled encouragingly.

Kento agreed, still shaking, but Michiko was unable to respond, frozen. Not even able to comment on how stupid Aisa was being.

"So come at us, baka!" Aisa threw a kunai at the Claw, which it easily dodged.

It didn't speak. They barely do. I barely had. But I knew what it was about to do: Aisa had gotten involved. Aisa had been an interruption in it's mission to kill me. Aisa had made himself the Claw's current target. There were no calculations, no percentages: this was absolute. There was a 100% chance that the Claw...

The Claw would kill Aisa.

It sprinted towards the defenseless Aisa, easily avoiding the ANBU and drawing back it's sword in preparation.

"Aisa!" I called, sprinting full speed.

I wouldn't make it. I wouldn't make it.

Please be smart enough to move, Aisa. To block. To avoid. To defend yourself.

But I knew that Aisa's eyes wouldn't even be able to register the Claw's movement.

I couldn't stop the Claw without injuring myself. Terribly. Not mortally. But it would hurt. Injury or death? My injury, or Aisa's death?

No competition. An injury vs a death? Without hesitation, I shoved myself between Aisa and the Claw. It's sword pierced through me, exiting out my lower back region.

I coughed up blood. Critical injury. Vital organ hit. It was either my liver or my kidney. My mind fogged up and suddenly; I couldn't tell. If it was my kidney, I would survive. It should have been my kidney. The Claw had jerked in surprise when I'd appeared directly in front of it, causing its sword to leave my predicted trajectory. The wound was worse than I was expecting.

I swear, if I knew I might actually be critically injured than Aisa could go ahead and have his head lopped off. Idiot. If it was my liver that was hit... It'd depend on how much damage I sustained, and whether the remaining ANBU could do basic medical ninjutsu.

The edges of my eyes were blackening.

No. These kids wouldn't survive without me. ANBU? The Claw could blow through them. But there was a chance the Claw would leave them be if I died. But then again,  they would, of course, be complete idiots and attack the Claw to "avenge" me or something.

The riskiest course of action, but one in which they all survived in...

I grabbed the Claw's blade and shoved it deeper inside my body. I could feel the genin's eyes widen at my actions. No big deal. It worsened the wound, but I should survive.

And my survival was all that mattered.

I coughed up more blood but now the Claw was in my grasp. This was the only way I would win: by doing something completely unexpected. It was momentarily stunned by my actions too, so that gave me a slight advantage. I grabbed it's wrist and kept a tight hold on it.

I used what was left of my strength to bring my blade twisting upright, and cutting right through both of it's carotid arteries.

With a bloody gurgle, it screeched involuntarily, and fell, dragging me down with it.

With it's last breath, it was barely able to choke out the words, "No...thing less... from Mu...jōna."

I spat on it. "Damn right."

I stumble back, holding the sword steady inside of me. I turn to the ANBU, who was staring at me. "I don't suppose," I sway and cough wetly with the effort, "That you know medical ninjutsu?"

The ANBU points blankly to the horribly injured ANBU. His leg was twisted around and even I wince at the sight. Kento retches, though nothing comes up. "He was our medic nin," the ANBU replied, seemingly shell-shocked by the sudden carnage surrounding him.

The ANBU with the mangled leg look up. "If you come here," he gasps, "I can heal you. At least partly. Enough so you can get to Sunagakure."

I nod and limp over slowly. The genin hover unsurely, eyes flitting around, trying to avoid looking at the bloodshed.The ANBU forces himself upright, his teammate helping as a small cry of pain escapes. "We have to pull out the sword, then immediately put pressure on the on your back."

"Wouldn't want me to bleed out," I mutter cheerily.

"I'll heal the internal damage first, then move outward. Hopefully I get enough work done before I pass out," he grits his teeth, clearly determined.

"Risu, you grab the sword and pull out when I say so. Kid," he gestured to Michiko, and she draws close, ignoring my smirk at the codename. Squirrel. Nice. "You take this bandage and press it to the exit wound. Turn on your side for me, Kuroki."

I do as he says without question, squeezing my eyes shut in pain as Michiko pressed the bandages into my back around the sword. "Good?" she checked with the ANBU, both hands and voice surprisingly steady.

"Perfect," the medic nodded. "Normally I have to order someone experienced to press harder."

"She is pressing plenty hard," I reply through gritted teeth. "And it's only going to feel worse when she's pressing directly on the wound."

"Saru," ha, monkey. "Ready?"

Saru tightens his grip on the sword.

"Kid?"

"It's Michiko," she snaps back. I snort, then regret it as the movement tugs at my wound.

"Alrighty," Risu announces. "Let's go."

It all happens incredibly quickly. Saru pulls on the sword, Michiko presses onto the wound to stem the blood, and Risu's hand is enveloped in a green glow. I glance down and can't pull my eyes away from the sight of my own grey pink viscera.

Saru snaps his fingers in front of my face, pulling my gaze away from my stomach. "Best not to look at that," he tells me lightly. I roll my eyes but listen to him.

"So," I smirk. "Squirrel. How did dear old Risu get stuck with that code name?"

Saru laughs, real and open despite the death of his teammates and I see suddenly how close he is, how both of them are, to breaking. How much strength it took to remain in their ANBU persona, to do what is necessary, complete the mission.

Saru chats while Risu works, telling stories about how when Risu was a kid he would climb a tree as easily as most people walk, going up to the highest branches, thin wood supporting his scrawny limbs. How he was nicknamed "monkey" because as a genin he would always chase Risu up the trees, follow him all the way up, until suddenly a branch would crack and he would be sent tumbling down. And then the talk turned to the dead ones, what they were like, what they would do. Risu's arms shake, but I'm not sure if it's from the effort of healing me, the pain in his own leg, or the pain in his heart.

Suddenly the green glow stops the hands hovering over my wound slip down and hit the ground. Risu is pale. Sweating. His leg is mangled. He's passed out. I stand. I need bandages; still injured, still hurt, but not mortally so. Saru squats beside Risu, and, with the help of Michiko, ruthlessly straightens his leg. Even when unconscious Risu cries out in pain.

Saru scoops Risu up and glances at the two fallen ANBU. I realize, suddenly, that Aisa and Kento are crouched beside the ANBU that was dying. I look questioningly at them, but they both shake their heads: dead. He was dying, mere feet away from me, and I didn't spare him a second thought. Sitting beside him while he died would do no good, so why had Aisa and Kento done so?

I suppose, I allow, they weren't needed here. They couldn't help me. And if comforting the ANBU as he died and letting him know we survived and that his sacrifice wasn't in vain made them feel better then who was I to argue?

Saru gives the fallen ANBU a long, hard look, but we both know; their bodies would slow us down. We had to leave them here.

My wound was wrapped--still bleeding, but not terribly heavily. I straighten. "Come on, team ten," I order. "Move out."

And we proceeded with the mission.

__________________________

Update!

You guys were so freaking worried the we would kill someone off XD

Well, we did, but just ANBU, sooo.

Anyhow please please please please comment! Please!

Alright that's all from me!

Hey guys!

I'm swamped swamped swamped with work so I can't really write much of an authors note! Buuuuut I can ask you to comment so I'm motivated to write!

Thanks!

-S

Comment, Vote, and Fan!

Ja ne!

Insomniac_Lullabies