Hot 'N' Dangerous

Chapter 48: The Hunt for Tsunade

The walls sucked at our feet, strapping us to the ground. Sasuke began to sink into the wall as well but Itachi still had his hand on him.

Itachi murmured something nearly inaudible to Sasuke, "You are weak because there's still not enough... hatred."

Sasuke didn't answer but he was almost completely sucked in by the flesh walls.

"Black magic was used to summon the esophagus of the giant toad from Myouki Mountain, Rock Inn. Hope you enjoy becoming a tasty morsel for Iwagama, you wanted criminals!" bellowed Jiraiya.

I felt the ground gurgle beneath me, "What's going on!" fretted Naruto as he looked at the fleshy ground wriggling about beneath our feet.

I was still seeing the world in blue and looking at Liz's eyes, maybe several different shades of white and gray. I tried to pull my own feet out of the sucking flesh but it was quite strong.

"Don't move, you guys, it's just my jutsu, don't worry," Jiraiya consoled.

"Kisame! Come!" Itachi beckoned and ripped his feet out from the ground, forgetting Sasuke and fleeing.

"No! You're not going anywhere!" Liz screeched and pulled her own feet out of the ground, racing after them.

I leaped after her, also desperately wanting to kill them. I felt the ground rumble again and the walls before Itachi and Kisame began to close in on them. I took advantage of their falter and attacked in sync with Liz.

"Damn it! You two are so annoying!" Kisame spat as he pushed our two blades back.

"We'll show you just how annoying we can get!" I snarled back and flipped over his blade, my leg extended towards his face.

Just when it was about to make contact, Itachi grabbed my ankle and swung me away, back into Jiraiya and Naruto who followed us.

"Vira!" Liz cried and Kisame took the chance to bat at her.

She managed to block the attack but Itachi and Kisame were able to escape from our attacks. The wall they were running at was pure flesh, they were at a dead end. I smiled as I straightened up.

"There's no where to run," I ran at them but then I leaped back as Itachi performed a weird jutsu.

I couldn't see his hands since his back was to us but black flames erupted into existence along the wall and Kisame's sword ripped right through the wall. They leaped out and escaped.

"They're gone!" Naruto exclaimed.

Liz angrily stabbed her sword into the ground and the chakra around her faded. I felt the wondrous strength leave my body as I let go of my own sword. My vision returned to normal, now seeing all colours instead of just blue.

He got away... I let him get away, I ground my teeth, He was so powerful... I... I'm so weak right now.

I looked at my hands curiously, "W-what was that power just now?" I whispered to Liz.

She stared at her sword, "I have no idea... but it felt good," she forced a smile, "We need to get stronger... a lot stronger."

"Together," I said and stuck out my pinky.

Liz hooked her own around mine and repeated what I had said, "Together."

While Liz and I were talking, Naruto had wandered over to the hole that had been blasted into the wall, "What's with this fire? It looks black," he stupidly stuck his finger out to touch it.

"Stop!" Liz commanded and threw a kunai towards Naruto's finger.

He snatched his finger back, "Hey! What was that for?!" he whined indignantly.