Naruto: Tango with Death

To read up to 15 chapters ahead: https://www.patréon.com/SlyOW

-------------

After treating my wound to make sure it wouldn't get infected, I covered it up before tying up my captives. I used both sharp and rubbery wires to tie them up, so that if they tried to free themselves, they would cut themselves, but not enough to bleed out, just enough to feel great pain.

Then, I dragged the leader away from group, having tied him up too. Once we were far enough from the group so that they wouldn't hear a normal discussion but definitely hear screams, I slapped the leader awake.

The convicts' leader opened his eyes heavily as he looked around himself in confusion, before his eyes set on me. Holding up his chin, I said, "I have questions to ask you."

He coughed, an after effect of getting punched by my full strength in the solar plexus, and said, "I knew Konoha indoctrinated them young, but I thought even they had limits."

I rolled my eyes at him and said, "Never thought I would get to meet a righteous death row inmate."

The man looked away, clenching his teeth and clearly showing anger. Good, he wears his heart on his sleeve, it will make it much easier to read his words.

Slapping him to get back his attention, I grabbed his wrist and asked, "How did you escape the prison?"

"There was a riot."

Truth.

"Who started the riot?"

"I did."

Lie.

My grip on his wrist tightened as I once again asked, "Who started the riot?"

"I did."

… Truth. Strange.

"Did you plan it on your own?"

"Nah, I had the Daimyo's help."

No need to be a ninja to get that one.

"Did you get help from the outside?"

"No."

Lie. Until now, everything checks out with our mission.

Coating my fingernail with some chakra, I pressed it onto a place in his arm where a lot of pain censors gathered, and slowly cut into it as the man took a sharp breath.

"What's your name soldier?"

The man stopped for a moment this time, reminiscing something, and finally he mumbled, "Captain Katai."

Truth. Regret.

"I don't know what you did to end up in there, nor do I care, but if you have any pride left as a soldier of the Land of Fire, answer my questions truthfully."

His guilt instantly turned into rage as he mocked, "Pride as a soldier? Betrayed by my nation, what pride is there to be left? Just kill me and be done with it you little freak."

Truth. Self destructive thoughts. Interesting.

Ignoring his insult, I asked, "How were you betrayed?"

Katai snorted, "Why would I tell you?"

I tilted my head, and after a moment made puppy eyes, "Pretty please?"

Katai's eyes widened in surprise, and he eventually spat out, "Cold hearted devil."

I rose an eyebrow, dropping the act and said, "Devil? That's an improvement, compared to the usual demon. As for why you should tell me, I think you would rather go away with someone who knows what you went through, or this injustice will remain unknown."

Katai looked away, the look in his eyes hurt, and finally he sighed, "I used to be part of the elite forces of the Daimyo, I was captain of a squad."

Truth.

"Then how did a man like you end up here?"

"We were betrayed. False crimes were put on our heads, and my entire squad was sent to die."

Truth. Things sure are getting interesting.

"Who betrayed you? And why?"

He replied, "I don't know who, or why, just that they weren't patient enough for the prison to kill us, and they sent a bunch of ninjas to kill us."

Both truth and lies. He really didn't know why, but he definitely knew who it was. And there really were ninjas that were sent after him.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, I realized something weird. This man was a little too strong for my mission, or at least I should have been given a heads up about him, to be careful of him or something.

But there was nothing, as if the village didn't know such a man was imprisoned in the prison. Were we under Hiruzen, I would have suspected that was a test from either Danzo or himself, but I doubt Minato would endanger my life for that kind of test.

So I asked, "Are you sure those were ninjas?"

Katai spat to the ground and said, "Of course I am. But they weren't from Konoha."

Damn. Fuck. Truth.

I held my face as I released a sigh, and finally asked, "Are any of the other inmates in the know about this? And who plotted against you? This is very important, a high dignitary having relations with another village could be devastating."

Katai sneered and replied, "I already told you I didn't know who it was. And the others don't know about it."

Lies. Both of them.

Placing my fingernail back into his arm, I started slowly cutting down his arm as I asked, "Do you know who had you escape."

In between two breaths as he tried not to cry out, Katai replied, "No."

Lie.

"Were they from another land?"

His heartbeat and blood pressure spiked as he replied, "I don't know."

Lie. He knew where they came from, and they didn't come from another nation. So to sum things up, there is a high dignitary with relations to another hidden village, who plotted against this man, who himself was freed by people from our land.

I don't want to be a jinx, but why does it feel like there is a civil war on the horizon?

Letting go of his arm, I knocked Katai unconscious before summoning Yuki. The moment she appeared, I said, "I want you to find my team and tell them to get here. Tell them it is extremely urgent, S Rank Secret."

Yuki nodded shortly, but then another voice rose.

"Unfortunately, it would seem that yet another blaze will have to turn into ember. How unfortunate. Truly a misery."

I turned around, and saw a man standing on a tree branch, looking down at me. He was masked, so I immediately recognized him as a member of Anbu.

Taking a step back, I whispered to Yuki, "I'll give an opportunity, use it to escape and bring the team here."

Yuki complained, "But I can help you…"

I shook my head and cut her off, "I'll be fine, just do as I said. Go as fast as possible."

Yuki relented and nodded, while the Anbu disappeared. At first, I thought he would target me, but I then realized his true target. Without looking back, I made a whirlwind kick, spinning back.

The Anbu dodged, so my leg hit the tree I had tied Katai to, breaking it in half. At the same time, Yuki disappeared.

Landing a few meters behind, the Anbu whistled, "That's one powerful kick, it makes killing you even worse. Truly a pity, couldn't you have killed him?"

I hummed lowly and easily unbound Katai, who was still unconscious. The Anbu did nothing to stop me as he said, "Well, not very talkative. It doesn't matter, it's time to finish you."

He quickly weaved several handsigns and threw a giant fireball at me. I could have easily dodged it, it wasn't moving very fast, but I couldn't. I couldn't let Katai die, and this Anbu knew it.

Slapping my foot on the ground, several pillars appeared in front of the fireball. They were completely obliterated, but they stopped the attack. However, the Anbu was nowhere to be seen.

Without hesitation, I unsheathed my blade as it clashed with a kunai slashing down at me. The Anbu and I locked eyes for a moment, and I saw he was amused. Not good.

We separated, and he said, "You have great reflexes, almost feels like I am fighting an Uchiha. I wonder though, how are you going to block that?"

I felt the ground around me shake, and as I looked around, my eyes widened in shock, and fear.