Chapter Twenty-Four: Rescue Daisy

"If you don't want to fight, then don't expect me to give up."

-MistyAnnE_04

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Ryoku's POV

I quickened my pace. Damn these short legs, dattebayo! I concentrated my chakra to my feet and leaped from tree to tree. I need to rescue Daisy-chan, no matter what!

'The little brat is at the Yonkasa Palace. Good luck if you make it there alive, kid.'

The knight's mocking words resonated in my head. My fists automatically clenched in anger. "Psh. Who does he think he's talking to?! I'm gonna be the greatest ANBU Officer who lived! Believe it!"

Dad thinks I'm a troublemaker. Mom thinks I'm still a baby. But I'll show them!

I wasn't named Ryuko Uzumaki for nothing!

After passing by a small stream, I came to a halt. The sun is finally setting. I wonder how they're doing back at Konoha? I sighed and walked towards the body of water to stare at myself in my reflection.

"Are you lost, little boy?"

Him.

My shoulders tensed the moment a plant-like man appeared behind me. I spun around and tried to slash him by the use of my kunai but he easily avoided it. I felt adrenaline rushing through my veins as the plantman grinned evilly.

"You should---be here, brat..--No body enters our territory without a fight."

He mused and stretched out his arms, vines attacking me. I jumped in midair and charged at him!

"No one underestimates me and gets away with it, freak!!!"

I shouted and threw senbon needles at him. But to my surprise, the needles just passed through his body. My mouth gaped and I felt my throat dry. Before I could recover, a giant branch suddenly caught me and soon enough, I was in a tangled mess!

The plantman----who I remember is also the one who kidnapped Daisy--snickered. "Stupid child.."

As if on cue, the branch tightened and squeezed my body in an excruciating manner. I let out a scream as air forcedly escaped  my lungs.

"G-GAAAAAH!"

"Aren't you gonna give up, yet hmm?"

Huffing, I glared at the enemy. "It's gonna take more than that to make me give up!"

Meanwhile, at Konoha...

Third Person's POV

"Shouldn't we be helping out the others? The enemies are outnumbering us!" A skinny raven haired man asked, raising his mask up, only to reveal a scowl on his flawless face.

Naruto, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at the officer. He never really liked Fukuji before, specifically, the man's frequent complaints.. But when you're in the ANBU unit, you just get use to it---whether you like it or not.

The blonde sighed.

"It's the king's order, buddy. Now if you're gonna rant about it for the rest of the day, then I suggest you let me shove your ass out the door, dattebayo."

The young ANBU deadpanned before wearing his mask and stormed back to his post where a blue-haired ANBU was waiting for him.

"The king's a pain in the ass! I mean, what could possibly happen to his wife? The palace is guarded by Sir Shikamaru and his team! We shouldn't be here. We should be kicking knight asses out there with the others!"

He angrily exclaimed and kicked the chair on his left.

The blue-haired man clamly smiled and shook his head. "The king must love his wife so much. I understand if he wants her safe until the war is over. She is at her vulnerable state, Fukuji-san."

Fukuji huffed and sat beside the man. "You're really a weird one, Genbo. I can't imagine myself being as calm as you are in a situation like this!" In return, Genbo smiled under his mask and handed Fukuji a cup of tea that he placed at the small table earlier.

"Here, this should help you calm down."

Fukuji shrugged and gulped it's contents down as if his sanity depended on it. Soon enough, Naruto Uzumaki approached them with worried eyes.

"You two stay on guard. Don't let anyone enter the Queen's room without authorization. I just received news that my son is nowhere to be found."

The two ANBU officers nodded at their elder and watched as he sprinted away through the corridors.

Fukuji snickered. "Bastard.... hey, Genbo, where'd you get that tea?"

"Oh, just somewhere. Why?"

The man placed a hand on his temple and closed his eyes. "I-I think it's effective and...."

CRASH!

Fukuji suddenly dropped the cup which shattered on the flooring. He clutched his head and grunted in pain, murmuring profanities as Genbo just stared at him with sheer amusement.

"W-WHAT THE FUCK'S HAPPENING?! UGH!"

When Fukuji dropped to the ground shaking, that's when Genbo stood up from his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. A playful smile etched on his face as he spoke,

"Do not resist, Fukuji-san. What I've mixed into your drink is a Class A+ type of Jojoba poison with a pinch of cocaine. In a few more seconds, you will experience multiple organ failures and vomit blood. Your heart will beat abnormally faster and in a couple of minutes, your body will shut down like a computer. So, farewell. I have something more important to do than see you suffer."

After that, Genbo fetched something from his pocket----a duplicate key--and opened the door to Sakura Haruno's room.

Fukuji cursed under his breathe and murmured the last words he could before finally closing his eyes, "You traitor.."

-*-

Zetsu stared at the boy in front of him, completely amused by his determination. Just then, a cloud of smoke blocked his line of view. The plant man frowned and tried to make out his surroundings but not before a kunai came flying from his left.

He caught the weapon, but the paper bomb attached to it exploded.

"LITTLE BRAT! Come out, come out wherever you are!"

When the smoke cleared, he scanned his surroudings but the blonde ninja was nowhere to be found.

A rustle in a nearby bush caught his attention. Zetsu smirked and started advancing towards it but just then,

RASENGAAAAAAAAAAAN!

His eyes widened when the little kid attacked from underground with a powerful gust of air jutsu concentrated on his small hand. It was too late to dodge it and so, he just smiled and accepted his defeat.

What a small brat.. with a big heart.

-

Ryuko huffed and wiped sweat dripping from his forehead. A few moments later, a victorious smile appeared on his lips as he recalled Zetsu finally telling him Daisy's exact location before merging back into the ground.

He stood straight, and marched North when a rustle in a bush stopped him. He turned to look at it and found a squirrel.

Ryoku Uzumaki picked the creature up and patted it's head.

"Thanks, buddy."

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