Ambush!

     Chinatsu's cheeks were rosy red and her breath slow paced. She clung to her poncho trying to keep as warm as she could. Chinatsu wasn't one for the cold, she favored warm breezy days, not cold snowy days. As she walked she stared down at her footprints in the snow. Something felt uneasy for Chinatsu. She wasn't sure if it was the cold making her feel eerie or the quiet white abyss that lay before her. She looked around at her teammates and squad leader. Her teammates seemed to be unfathomed by the cold and bared through it, while she herself groaned wanting to be in a warm bath or anywhere in that matter that consisted of the sun for warmth. She waited patiently for the Squad Leader's command.  

Looking up at the sky, a single snowflake fell down. Chinatsu caught it on her tongue and smiled. She started to remember when she was a child she would always catch snowflakes on her tongue with her mother, making those cold days better for her to bear with. Suddenly, a voice broke her thoughts.

“Watch out!” the Squad Leader yelled. Quickly looking up, Chinatsu and her teammates quickly got their kunai's out and prepared themselves for any surprise given to them. Fifteen feet away stood a person. “Who are you and what is your purpose?!” shouted the Squad Leader to the man who made his way slowly towards them.

“Look what we got here. A group of 'shinobi' trying to act as if they are better than us.” The man looked over at his partner as a laugh parted from their lips. Chinatsu began to get irritated by their laughter and gripped her kunai tighter; wishing to attack them first hand and finish them off quickly, but held herself back knowing she isn't strong enough to handle them on their own.

“We only wish to pass by and make our way to our destination” the Squad Leader stated calmly and looked out the corner of his eyes at the young shinobi, “We can make this easy and painless if you let us by.” The two men looked at each other then looked at them. Both were about to draw their weapons, when suddenly another group showed up.

“Hey Jiro, you go handle those losers. I got these guys.” One of the men said.

“Damn right Kenji! Finish these guys and we'll meet back up.” Jiro ran off. The Squad Leader groaned as he was hoping it wouldn't come to this.

“You guys,” the Squad Leader looked at the young shinobi, “I need you to handle him, while I go help the other squad” he smiled and gave them a reassuring nod “I believe in you guys!” he yelled to them while running off to help the other squad. Chinatsu and her teammates looked at one another with a slight shocked expression on their faces. They weren't sure if they were ready to face this man by themselves yet. Their thoughts were broken once they saw Kenji running towards them full speed while drawing his katana. Chinatsu and her teammates quickly jumped back and separated as Kenji swung his katana at them. Gripping onto her kunai tightly, Chinatsu narrowed her eyes. She wasn't gonna let this guy beat her nor her teammates. She glanced quickly at her teammates as they began to clash their weapons with Kenji's.

Clank

Clash

Clank

Clash

The sound of weapons clashing filled the air. The white abyss was no longer quiet. “Ah! Damn it!” Chinatsu exclaimed loudly as she leaned back away from Kenji's katana. Quickly drawing her kunai, it clashed into the katana making a ding from the metals clinging. Pant pant pant. Her breath was becoming heavy as she used all her force to push Kenji back away from her. He was clearly bigger than her and more heavy, making it harder for her to push him. She began to swing her kunai around as she looked at him. “We won't let you win this” she said sternly. A grin crossed his face as he took another swing at her. Not backing up in time to dodge his attack, Chinatsu felt a sting cross her cheek. Blood began to stain the white under her feet. Chinatsu wincing from the cut held her cheek and quickly threw her kunai at him while retreating back. She hid behind a nearby tree as her teammates did the same. All three of them looked at each other knowing they needed a plan to defeat this bandit.

Devising a plan they all agreed on what to do and stood up. They all nodded to each other and quickly jumped out from behind the tree. Kenji was waiting for them though as he quickly ran towards them swinging his katana. Swoosh swoosh. He swung his katana fast as if he was cutting the air; but Chinatsu, Chieri, and Isao could feel the sharp wind from the blade hit their faces. Knowing they had to put their plan into action they readied themselves. Chinatsu took out her kunai and wrapped an explosive tag to it. Suddenly she heard a loud clank! Startled from the sudden clank she dropped the tag in the snow as Chieri was protecting her. Chieri and Kenji's katanas both clashed into one another as she used her force to hold him back. Isao was patiently waiting for his turn as he hid behind the tree. “Hurry up Chinatsu-chan!” Chieri exclaimed as she pushed Kenji back before he took another swing towards them. Ducking, Chinatsu fell to her knees and began searching for the tag. Chieri annoyed by Chinatu's clumsiness began to fight Kenji, katana to katana.

Clank!

Clash!

Clank! Clank!

Clash!

Chinatsu hearing the clanks began to worry that Chieri could not keep up with Kenji's fast pace swings and hard pushes. Isao watching from behind the tree was about to come help when all of a sudden he heard Chinatsu shout “Found it!” This time without fumbling she wrapped the explosive tag around the kunai and quickly got to her feet. Pulling Chieri away from the fight, they ran towards Isao. Chinatsu looked back to see Kenji running after them as she quickly threw the kunai and made the sign.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The explosive tag went off as Isao pulled Chieri and Chinatsu into him, pulling them down to the ground, huddling each other. They waited until the explosion ceased and the smoke began to lift. All three of them peaked their heads out, only to see smoke and soot in the air. Taking this as their chance, each pulled their scarves or hoods over their faces to block the smoke from getting in their system and ran towards where Kenji was. Chieri with her katana out, Chinatsu with her kunai, and Isao with the rope. As they made it to where Kenji was, they saw him laying on the ground from the force of the explosion pushing him down. Chieri and Chinatsu quickly jumped on him throwing his katana to the side and holding their weapons up to him, while Isao began to tie Kenji up. After the smoke cleared completely, the three of them stood up and grinned as they saw the bandit tied up. They won. Each of them gave a high five and fist bump to one another knowing that their planned succeded.

They heard a voice coming from the distance shouting, “Are you guys okay?!” They saw their Squad Leader running over. All three of them grinned and looked down at Kenji. To their Squad Leader's surprise, he saw the bandit tied up. Impressed he gave them a thumbs up and smiled. “Alright, let's bring him over with the other bandits and then continue our way to Kōsetsumura.” The three of them looked at one another and groaned. They were all exhausted from fighting, but they gave a nod as a smile of satisfaction crossed each face. They were proud to have defeated a bandit on their own through teamwork. Chieri, Chinatsu, and Isao all took each others hands and began to follow their squad leader to continue their journey to Kōsetsumura.