He halted her search as he placed a hand on her wrist. She looked to him surprised before he waved her off. "Don't act foolish Ginchiko…my time's up, we both know it. Get out of here while you still can."
She growled angrily as she continued rummaging through her pack. "You're a moron, a delirious one at that, so just shut up and let me work.
He grabbed he wrist again, stopping her. "Ginchiko, please." He whispered hoarsely
She stopped in her attempts. She bit her lip hard as she forced the tears back.
Naruto, watched the scene from above, his speed and greater sense of smell making it very easy for him to find the two before their pursuers.
She sighed in agitation, masking the pain she felt for her dying friend. "Damn you." She whispered harshly.
Hidetada smiled at her harsh tone. "Promise me one thing Ginchiko."
"What's that?" She asked, her voice going softer as she closed her eyes.
"Promise me, that you'll live beyond this day. So..." He paused as he coughed blood. "that you can fulfill our dream. Since I…won't be able to help you."
She smiled softly down at him "You're still hooked up on that dream of yours. Ever since sensei put it in your head."
He smiled and nodded. "Damn straight." He said coughing more blood as he slowly moved his hand to grasp her own.
Naruto watched the display with cold apathy. Not even phased by the man's dying words and increasingly laboring breath. He sensed the presence of the Anbu approaching. Soon, it would all be over.
"Promise me Ginchiko…promise me that you'll live and…bring peace to Kiri. Bring peace to our land."
Naruto stopped, taken aback by the request. Remembering the Sandaime's last words to be almost the exact same thing.
Did this man, and Sarutobi…share the same dream?
He was brought out of his musings as the stinging smell of salt reached his nose. He looked down to Ginchiko's silently shaking form. She was struggling to hold back the tears. It was then he noticed that Hidetada was no longer in the world of the living.
She was a good Kunoichi Naruto conceded as she took steady breaths in order to calm her emotions, recognizing that now was not the time for it.
Naruto was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even see the Kunai that approached her until it was too late. Judging by her scream of pain, neither did she.
The blade hit her left shoulder. Blood seeped from the wound freely as she pulled the weapon out with a grunt of pain.
Naruto debated weather or not he should interfere, in the end, he decided to hold his position for a while longer.
Ginchoko stood, holding her injured shoulder as she turned and glared at her attackers, the Mizukage and his five remaining Anbu.
"How careless of you Ginchiko, I merely intended that to be a warning shot."
She cursed as she threw the bloodied knife at him. He caught it between his thumb and forefinger easily as he smiled down at her, savoring this moment for all it was worth.
"Kill her." He said simply and the Anbu at his side immediately sprung into action.
She held her sword in a defensive stance as best she could with her injured shoulder. "Hidetada, I cant promise I'll live beyond this day but…" She paused as she looked up to the Mizukage's smug face. "Maybe killing him, will make your dream of a peaceful Kiri, a reality." She said with hints of determination in her voice.
Naruto watched her. Something about her stance had changed, whereas before there was defiance, anger and a bit of fear, now there was only resolve and…acceptance? Of what? Her death perhaps? Then what was the resolve he sensed? The desire to take them with her?
He let his eyes travel to the still form of Hidetada, the man simply lay there, his expression, one of peace…yet also an underlying sadness in his features. 'Does she fight for him perhaps, to fulfill your last request? Just as I fight to fulfill Sarutobi-sama's final command?'
He again let his eyes travel to the Kiri Kunoichi. 'Or is it something else.'
He was brought out of his musings as Ginchiko began to glow bright yellow. Then electricity cut through the air around her form, encasing her in a high voltage field of chakra.
'This technique…she is consuming her bio-electric energy…if she keeps this up, she will most certainly die soon.'
Ginchiko glared at her attackers, the Anbu having ceased their charge at the sight of her technique.
For a moment, all was still until one of the Anbu took the initiative and formed his hand seals. "Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" He yelled as he gathered the moisture from the surrounding mist. Using water against lightning was always dangerous, it had a fifty fifty chance that it would work or backfire terribly. It all depended on which attack held more chakra.
When the dragon hit the field of electrical chakra it simply exploded, scattering the small droplets of water everywhere. Ginchiko used the minor distraction and shot forward. Her lightning encased form appearing as nothing more than a yellow streak as she headed straight for the Mizukage.
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