Chapter 4 - "Captured" Arc- Chapter 4

Please note: This is one chapter that justifies the heavy advisory content I put on this fic. Please enjoy while keeping that in mind. If you don't enjoy parts like that, then read the next 16 paragraphs, then skip to the next chapter.


I decided to let Naruto-dono and Sakura-Ojousama sleep in today. That festival had been a lot for them to take in. It wasn’t everyday that you got attacked on your own home turf. Even though they hadn’t actually fought, Sakura had been taken hostage. That was a taxing situation. I hoped by leaving them alone, they would gravitate closer to each other.

For once, rather than fight to belong, I was pushing myself away. That was really hurting now.

I stripped off my clothes in the men’s changing room, preparing for a dip in the hot spring. I was never one to let others see my body, but I found that today I didn’t care. This time of day, the hot spring should be mostly empty. There were businesses to run and missions to complete. Since I didn’t fall in either of those categories, I could have some quiet time.

Indeed. Time enough to think things through.

I stowed my clothes in a cubbyhole, grabbed my towel and washcloth, and made my way into the onsen.

The steam wasn’t too thick, as the moisture from nighttime weighed it down. The water was perfect, though. But first, I had to get myself bathed at one of the taps lining the onsen itself. By experience, I knew to start with very tepid water. That way the onsen’s almost boiling water would feel that much better.

After I washed my hair, I made sure my body was clean. My mind wasn’t exactly on this task, and as a result I tripped over the bucket I had just used to dump water on myself.

I had no idea I’d be shaken up this badly… Well, either way, I can think in the hot spring. That’s why I’m here. …
I’m not alone.

I turned my head slowly to show I meant no harm to whoever was with me. Old warrior habits die-hard. And boy, was I thankful for that.

“Did you miss me?”

Before I finished turning my head and could get a look at whoever had joined me, I heard her voice.
‘Her’ voice? A girl? Wait… Azami!

I spun quickly, covering my privates with one hand. I turned to see Azami lounging on the edge of the onsen, only a towel covering her. She gave me a grin.

“What’s with you? After bending the rules for me last night, I didn’t think you’d be such a prude.”

I didn’t instantly have a reply. I was just shell-shocked. I never thought I’d see this girl again. Certainly not in the men’s bath! And I hadn’t expected either of us to be naked.

“Come on, relax!” Azami chided. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. Besides, two friends lounging in a hot spring isn’t a big deal, right?”

“Two friends of the same sex isn’t a big deal. When you start getting into the opposite sex, then it rarely stays lounging…”

“Oh, so you’re ‘experienced’?”

“No! er…” Damn, this girl was good. I had talked myself into a corner.

“I see…” she said, nodding. “You DO seem like the type to save it for your true love. You know what I mean by ‘it’, right?”

She was totally purring now, playing with me. Teasing me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. But it felt like a guilty pleasure. I had to stay focused. She was just playing. Right?

“Of course I do! But that’s not the point. The point is… why are you here?”

She shrugged. “I dunno. Last night, you were…well, different. I haven’t quite been able to figure you out. And I’m the kind of girl that needs to know the answers to questions. I can’t leave a puzzle unsolved…”

She seems genuinely nervous. Or perhaps ‘curious’ is the better word?” Either way, that’s not the only reason she’s here.

“Why I’m the way I am? That’s what you want to know, right?” I asked. She nodded her head in the affirmative.
“Well…There are lots of reasons. But in this case, I didn’t sense you to be a bad person. You seem too…genuine, I guess.”

I doubted that explanation cleared anything up. It didn’t make much sense to me. But Azami seemed to be satisfied. That was about when I began to sense something else from her. I couldn’t tell what, and it reminded of just how much of an enigma this girl is.

“I think I understand now…Just what kind of man you are…”

Fwoop. My eyes widened as her towel hit the floor. She strode over to me, an arm across her chest. She was so casual about it! But that didn’t shock me half as much as when she cozied up to me. I was just a little taller than her, maybe two, three inches. That meant we were just about chest to chest.

She looked me square in the eye and giggled.
“You’re one of those ‘rule-happy’ types. You don’t just need rules- you LIKE them…”

I was standing military straight, not moving my head. Only my eyes followed her. Her hand met the hand in front of my groin. She pulled my hand away gently.

“…No need to be so…stiff,” she said with a wink. “Formal, rather. Just relax. That’s what you came here to do, right?”

She pulled me by my hand into the water. She settled down onto a narrow step, just big enough to sit on. She situated me next to her. Apparently sensing my trepidation/innocence, she slid her bottom closer to me, so we were hip to hip.

“Ahh! The hot springs here are soooo nice!” she commented, stretching her arms high above her head. She didn’t bother to cover up or anything. And yet, I didn’t think she was a whore or anything. She didn’t have that look to her. It seemed like she genuinely just wanted to hang out. Maybe it was my hormones talking, but that’s how it felt.

“…” I kept silent. I really wanted to just relax and enjoy this, but there was no way I could. I had never dated a girl. Never even flirted or anything. So all of a sudden this knock-out is hitting on me?

Azami gave another little giggle. “You are just too cool, you know that? You haven’t even looked at me. I’m not going out of my way to cover up, either. It’s totally fine for you to take a look. We all have those desires… Or maybe you need an invitation?”

Before I could protest (Yeah, like I was gonna protest. I’m a guy, I can’t help it), she pulled my head down toward her breasts. She was so incredibly gentle about it, too. I titled my head up so I could look her in the eyes. She had one hand on the back of my head. But her other hand…

“!”

I gave her a shove high up on her chest as I twisted to the side. Where my neck had been a split-second earlier, now there a needle sticking out of the rock wall of the onsen.

“Very good!” she applauded. “Most guys wouldn’t have been able to dodge that. I can’t chalk it up to you not having an interest in me- you’re plenty interested, from what I see- so how did you know?”

I focused my chakra to my feet so that I could stand on the water.
“I’ve been stabbed a few times before. Call it a sixth sense about a knife aiming for my back.”

Azami slowed for just a split second. “…I see. Well, I’m really sorry about this. Just so you know, you’re the first guy I ever enjoyed doing the seduction bit with. I’m sorry I’ve got to eliminate you. You’re the first interesting boy I’ve met!”

She threw another few needles, moving into motion so gracefully and efficiently I was impressed even in the throes of battle. I dodged them easily enough, but I sensed another attack coming. This time from the water. I kicked backwards, skidding across the water, making handsigns.

“Water Style: Water Wall!”

Just in time, the water came up to protect me. Two water clones of Azami had leapt up to grab me. They hit the water wall and melted back into water.

Why is she trying to kill me?! Damn it! This makes no sense!

As if sensing my thoughts, she gave me an answer. Standing on top of the water, mist and chakra swirling around her, and a menacing-sounding wind filling the semi-enclosed area, she told me:
“It’s nothing personal. You’re just one of my targets. But I won’t insult you by asking you to come quietly. I’d rather earn your respect before I finish this!”

I was unarmed, and that was bad. But I could rely on my jutsus. Especially genjutsu, my strong suit.

More needles flew toward me. I dodged them- or so I thought. Instead, I felt the skin tear high up on my left shoulder, and then one cut me just above my left nipple as I turned to let it go by. Instantly, I knew something was wrong.

Poison slowing my reflexes…no. This is…genjutsu!

I thought about grabbing a needle and stabbing myself, but that would be bad if they were poisoned. Instead, I forced myself to focus. As I performed the release technique, I felt the world speed up to it’s normal pace- and it just kept getting faster!

Genjutsu without handsigns…just like me. Wait…she used another one! Now things are too fast! Release! Damn it! A third? Release! How can she do that?! I’ve only ever done two without handsigns before!
-

Azami charged toward Ryouko, throwing punches and kicks. Ryouko dodged, ducked, and blocked, trying to figure out a way to counter.

“My sources were right!” Azami declared, her breathing not the least bit ragged as she kicked for Ryouko’s head again. “They said you wouldn’t strike a girl! And they were right, weren’t they?!”

This made things problematic for Ryouko, now that she knew that. He might have to break that rule. As yet another punch came in toward his head, Ryouko countered by pulling that arm forward. Azami’s other hand stabbed low, aiming for his groin, but Ryouko knocked that aside with his forearm. He stepped right through and clotheslined her, taking her down to the floor. She hooked his ankle and he crashed with her. And right on top of her!

“Don’t you know you’re supposed to ask a girl before you push her down?” she smiled and leaned up toward him. “How about a kiss?”

That made Ryouko hesitate for one split-second. Now a needle he hadn’t seen hidden on her naked body was at his neck. Azami was laughing yet again.

“You did very well. I’m impressed. But you know I’ve got you dead to rights…”
-

“Then kill me,” I told her. “You got me, fair and square. So finish it.”

Azami didn’t. Instead, she kicked me in the stomach to knock me backward and rolled on top of me, the needle at my neck. She laid completely dead weight on me, with one knee in between my legs. I laid still. It was her right, since she had won. More than that, I was waiting for an opening. That opening wouldn’t come yet, as she put her mouth near my ear.

“I like you… Maybe we can work something out. You arrange for me to live here and be safe in the Leaf Village. In return, I won’t kill you AND I won’t kill any more Leaf Ninja. Not even Naruto. He’s high on my hit list too.”

My eyes widened. But her knee against my groin warned me not to make any moves. She ground her knee in to make her point. I winced, but managed to catch the groan of pain/pleasure in my throat.

“Now, now, you behave! I don’t want to have to use force on you…” she warned, smiling again.

“Kill me,” I repeated. “Because once you do, all the pieces will come together. I looked up your records, right in front of the Hokage’s assistant. So that means they’ll know who killed me. And they’ll find you. And they’ll send someone ten times stronger than me. And as for Naruto-Dono and Ojousama…I’m only a teacher. My death will hold no sway with them, if you plan to use me to lure them out.”

“…You planned ahead, didn’t you?” Azami said mockingly. “Well, let me show you some of my power, then!”

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