Mugen Ryukyu
Active member
?What did you say, Mizukage-sama?? Sakura?s voice was quiet, or at least it seemed quiet to her because the Mizukage?s slick words still rang in her ears. The crocodilian man pulled off a twisted smirk, his glowing yellow eyes staring at Sakura with disturbing fixation.
?You heard me, Kohona girl. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. Tit for tat. That sort of thing.?
Before Sakura could utter a word, Shikamaru placed a firm hand on her shoulder and stood up. ?The Treaty of the Five clearly states that all POW?s of the War of the Dawn will be returned to their nations without any questions. No money going back-and-forth, no trading of humans.? The not-quite-a-man?s voice was far from its usual molasses tone, clear and strong like glass.
?But my dear boy, the Kohona POW?s are in fact, no longer POW?s.?
For a moment, Shikamaru?s steady gaze faltered. ?What do you mean by that??
The Mizukage laughed. ?You youngsters are far too na?ve for your own good. I mean that your men are probably circulating in some god-forsaken slave market. Now that?s where the compensation part comes in. Locating all of those former soldiers one-by-one will cost a fortune, and recovering--?
?YOU SON OF A BITCH!? Sakura roared like a lioness that has just found the carcass of its cub. A charka-loaded fist ripped through the air, aimed squarely at the Kage?s jaw. For a split second, she saw nothing but the startled look in his sulfur eyes, then a brilliant flash of gold.
?Now, now, Sakura-chan, you really shouldn?t go berserk in front of the entire council. Then I?d really have to consider replacing you with Kohonamaru.?
?Na--Naruto? Where the hell were you?? Between her and the Mizukage stood a tall, smiling figure with the trademark Kage hat hanging lopsidedly off his back, looking all in the world like a beam of sunshine. His rough palm blocked Sakura?s fist, gently pushing it away in a single liquid movement. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, ?Just sit down and look pretty, Sakura-chan, and leave all the blood and guts to me.?
?Well if it isn?t the Rokudaime Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto. Weren?t you supposed to be busy with some kind of Otogakure outbreak?? Somehow, the Mizukage had instantly regained his composure, the perverted grin securely put back into place. Naruto turned around, his own face a fa?ade of nonchalance.
?The rebels had been extinguished before my arrival. Actually, Ashiru, a little bird told me that you want, what do you smart people call it? Oh yes, ?compensation?.? The blatant usage of his given name without any polite honorifics rather bothered the Mizukage, and he let it show.
?Surely you must understand that Kirigakure is going through hard times? Or are you so well off that you are ignorant of your brothers? pain??
?Ashiru, I really don?t see how the financial hardships of your village have anything to do with selling off my people as slaves.? Ashiru no longer minded the absence of his precious honorifics, because suddenly he could see a rapidly flowing current of air circling the area just above his collarbone.
?Hokage-san, really, th--there?s no reason to act brashly--?
Naruto?s eyes narrowed dangerously. ?Just shut up and return my men.?
?But I don?t know where they are!? The Mizukage?s slimy words turned into high pitched whimpers of panic.
?Fine.?
As the council was scared shitless, a spectacular blast of a wind cut through Ashiru?s jugular, blood bubbling upwards like a fountain.
To Be Continued
?You heard me, Kohona girl. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. Tit for tat. That sort of thing.?
Before Sakura could utter a word, Shikamaru placed a firm hand on her shoulder and stood up. ?The Treaty of the Five clearly states that all POW?s of the War of the Dawn will be returned to their nations without any questions. No money going back-and-forth, no trading of humans.? The not-quite-a-man?s voice was far from its usual molasses tone, clear and strong like glass.
?But my dear boy, the Kohona POW?s are in fact, no longer POW?s.?
For a moment, Shikamaru?s steady gaze faltered. ?What do you mean by that??
The Mizukage laughed. ?You youngsters are far too na?ve for your own good. I mean that your men are probably circulating in some god-forsaken slave market. Now that?s where the compensation part comes in. Locating all of those former soldiers one-by-one will cost a fortune, and recovering--?
?YOU SON OF A BITCH!? Sakura roared like a lioness that has just found the carcass of its cub. A charka-loaded fist ripped through the air, aimed squarely at the Kage?s jaw. For a split second, she saw nothing but the startled look in his sulfur eyes, then a brilliant flash of gold.
?Now, now, Sakura-chan, you really shouldn?t go berserk in front of the entire council. Then I?d really have to consider replacing you with Kohonamaru.?
?Na--Naruto? Where the hell were you?? Between her and the Mizukage stood a tall, smiling figure with the trademark Kage hat hanging lopsidedly off his back, looking all in the world like a beam of sunshine. His rough palm blocked Sakura?s fist, gently pushing it away in a single liquid movement. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, ?Just sit down and look pretty, Sakura-chan, and leave all the blood and guts to me.?
?Well if it isn?t the Rokudaime Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto. Weren?t you supposed to be busy with some kind of Otogakure outbreak?? Somehow, the Mizukage had instantly regained his composure, the perverted grin securely put back into place. Naruto turned around, his own face a fa?ade of nonchalance.
?The rebels had been extinguished before my arrival. Actually, Ashiru, a little bird told me that you want, what do you smart people call it? Oh yes, ?compensation?.? The blatant usage of his given name without any polite honorifics rather bothered the Mizukage, and he let it show.
?Surely you must understand that Kirigakure is going through hard times? Or are you so well off that you are ignorant of your brothers? pain??
?Ashiru, I really don?t see how the financial hardships of your village have anything to do with selling off my people as slaves.? Ashiru no longer minded the absence of his precious honorifics, because suddenly he could see a rapidly flowing current of air circling the area just above his collarbone.
?Hokage-san, really, th--there?s no reason to act brashly--?
Naruto?s eyes narrowed dangerously. ?Just shut up and return my men.?
?But I don?t know where they are!? The Mizukage?s slimy words turned into high pitched whimpers of panic.
?Fine.?
As the council was scared shitless, a spectacular blast of a wind cut through Ashiru?s jugular, blood bubbling upwards like a fountain.
To Be Continued
