Third Person POV
Right after Shisui's last remark, the trio headed toward the sound of the clash unfolding ahead, but the brothers soon realized something was wrong clearly not part of the training exercise:
A man in the standard Anbu uniform was being attacked while trying to flee along the creek bank. His mask resembled a bird, due to its curved beak-like shape.
A wind-style slash struck his back, and his left leg was yanked backward by a nylon line, making the man crash into the water.
Amaya and Shisui exchanged a brief look and stopped next to Itachi in front of the downed Anbu. The older Uchiha, tantō already in hand, cut the line tied to the man's ankle.
– I'll help you with all my skill – Shisui told the Anbu, glancing at him sideways.
Amaya kept her attention forward, where she could sense the chakra of other people—even though they were trying to conceal it. Shortly after, three figures emerged from the shadows, all wearing masks like the Anbu on the ground.
– Anbu pursuers?! – the Uzumaki asked, confused. After all, it seemed the three ahead had been attacking a fellow villager and organization member.
– Is this an exercise? – Itachi asked more quietly, almost as confused by the situation as the siblings.
– No... – the older Uchiha replied in the same tone – Forget about that for a minute.
With just a look from Shisui to Amaya, and without a single word needed, the redhead moved closer to Itachi. Although the siblings knew the Uchiha was skilled, they both understood that if the Anbu tried something against him together, they would be in trouble.
– Why are you attacking fellow Konoha shinobi? – Shisui questioned the three ahead of them.
– How about you forget what you saw and walk away from here? – the woman on the team, wearing a mask with feline features, asked.
– If you are going to kill a comrade, I can't ignore it without hearing your reason – the older Uchiha continued the dialogue.
– The thing is... We are after those who betrayed the village – the stockier man with a rat-like mask stated calmly next.
– Where is the proof that he is a traitor? – Shisui questioned them.
– What a waste of time... – the third member of the group, with a dog-like mask and a scar on his head, complained – Let's kill them all – He raised an arm blade near his face, as a threat.
– Wait... – the rat-masked man said.
The three Anbu exchanged a brief look among themselves. Just as they knew their mission should be completed quickly and without much fuss, they were also aware they could not harm a certain person present.
– It's not that he is a traitor – the woman spoke next – But he has evidence of who the traitor is on that scroll. If he hands it over, we will disappear.
– That's what you say... – Amaya said seriously.
– You want information... – the wounded Anbu spoke and the attention turned to him – But why?
– Isn't it obvious? – the man with the dog mask said – Anyone who threatens the village must be punished. We maintain order in Konoha with our shadow code!
– You have no right to judge! – the Anbu on the ground continued – I will deliver this secret scroll to the Hokage. He will make a fair judgment!
– A fair judgment? – the woman asked with a cynical tone – How naive... Traitors must die, that is the truth.
– Even traitors have reasons for acting that way! – the Anbu insisted – The Hokage's wish is to investigate this carefully.
That is one way of thinking, Itachi pondered internally. But this involves the whole village. The gravity of a betrayal against the village is too great. What about Shisui and Amaya...
But his thought could not be finished because a kunai passed between him and Shisui, who was to his left, hitting the spot where the wounded Anbu was. However, the man's body turned to liquid.
– He took advantage of us talking to you to use a Substitution Jutsu... – the stockier man commented.
– Don't worry – the feline-masked woman said unconcerned – My wire is poisoned. His body will go numb and he won't get far.
– Without words, they fulfill their duties with swords – Shisui took the floor, attracting everyone's attention – As expected of the Anbu. Or rather, of Danzō's Foundation, right?
(At that moment that information wasn't so relevant to any of those present, but by the end of the night, especially for Amaya, that piece of information would be of great importance...)
– Nameless individuals who keep the peace from the shadows... – Shisui continued – I believe that is a true ninja.
– So you understand us – the woman with the cat mask said and the older Uchiha quickly denied.
– No, you are wrong! Order maintained by force... – He glared at them, irritated, his Sharingan active – Is not true!
Itachi looked at his friend, surprised by his stance and posture before the Root Anbu, and Amaya just glanced sideways at her brother. Although her expression was impassive, she smiled inwardly at the conduct the Uchiha was upholding.
– I'm with you – the Uzumaki informed her brother and placed her hand on the hilt of her wakizashi, which was still in its sheath.
– I... – Itachi began to speak, but the older Uchiha interrupted him.
– Itachi, stay out of this – Shisui requested.
– I am Itachi Uchiha! – the younger Uchiha declared to the Root Anbu – I will fight with Shisui and Amaya!
The siblings momentarily looked at the boy and then exchanged a quick glance. Amaya nodded and for a few moments rested her hand against the guard of Itachi's tantō, and when he looked at her, the redhead nodded.
Without wasting another second, the Root Anbu advanced against the trio of youngsters. The woman from Root went straight for Itachi, while the other two went for the siblings the stockier man against Shisui and the dog-masked one toward Amaya.
The pairs that were fighting took some distance from each other, and the Foundation members momentarily stepped back from the younger ones.
– The Uchiha dare to challenge us? – the woman questioned irritably, removing her black cloak like her colleagues – We will show no mercy, not even to children!
– At least entertain us! – the man with the dog mask provoked in a sadistic manner before charging the redhead.
(The first clue for the Uzumaki's intuition to warn her about that trio emerged there: Their need for "entertainment" amid a deadly fight with their opponents...)
Even before the man's arm blades could reach the blade of Amaya's wakizashi, her Sharingan was already active.
Unlike her brother and Itachi, she wasn't using it to gain an advantage by predicting her opponent's moves, but to be able to have control over everything that was happening in the battles.
Once again she was worrying more about others than about her own situation.
The redhead let the man with the dog mask advance and attack her, so that she could learn his attack patterns and immediately begin devising her own counterattack.
– Watch out!
Shisui's voice invaded the Uzumaki's ears and her eyes rose to the figure falling toward her with a large sword in hand. The girl didn't even need to think that she should dodge the blow from that Root Anbu.
The Foundation member with the dog mask had tried to distract the redhead while his companion left his battle against Shisui to attack the girl by surprise—which did not succeed.
(The second clue came there, and this time not so unnoticed by the redhead: The attack patterns, the combat style of the Root shinobi, the intention to separate allies in the middle of the fight... She was sure that, at some point, she had already experienced fighting against that type of adversary...)
Shisui ran closer to where his sister was and stopped a little ahead of her. They want to get rid of Amaya first..., the older Uchiha deduced.
– Your friend's opponent is an unmatched kunoichi from Root – the stockier man calmly warned – If you don't stop him, he will die. Fall back!
– Don't underestimate the Uchiha! – Amaya said, annoyed, to the Root members.
– Besides, he is exceptional! – Shisui said right after.
– Then let's see if you are exceptional! – the Anbu with the canine mask said and joined his hands, quickly forming the seals for a jutsu – Water Style: Raging Water Wave!
The only type of jutsu at that moment that would be strong against water style would be earth style, but since the Root Anbu was using the environment to employ his jutsu and chakra, a normal protection wouldn't work.
And Amaya and Shisui understood that quickly.
– Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu! – Shisui launched against the Anbu.
And any ninja knew that fire style is weak against water, but when combined with the element it is strong against, it becomes even more powerful than water style using the environment.
– Wind Style: Breakthrough! – Amaya used right after, in the same direction her brother had launched his jutsu.
The fire and wind unified and a great mass of burning fire hit the Anbu's jutsu, neutralizing it completely and forcing the water style user and his companion to retreat.
And when they could get a view of Shisui and Amaya, they noticed that only the Uchiha was there. The Root member with the dog mask quickly searched for the Uzumaki's chakra, sensing it a little farther from them, where his Foundation comrade was fighting Itachi.
The younger Uchiha was keeping his fight with the feline-masked woman balanced—using his Sharingan had turned out to be a positive point for that clash. And just as the woman was preparing a trap for the boy, he was also already a step ahead.
She threw the last shuriken and kunai to finalize her trap and ran along one of the nearby walls, watching the Uchiha's movements attentively. I thought he was just a child, but he already has a Sharingan...
And because her eyes were on Itachi, who was still on the ground, she noticed the Anbu member she and her comrades were chasing, fallen on the ground without moving. Now!, she thought.
Itachi ran in the direction of the wall where the Root woman was, and before he climbed, or anyone noticed, Amaya used her Hiraishin seal placed on the guard of the younger Uchiha's weapon without his knowledge to go to where he was.
Itachi quickly climbed toward the Foundation woman and dodged without any difficulty the senbon she launched. However, her target with that attack had never been the boy—it was the Anbu who was on the ground.
The man on the ground felt his body disoriented by the paralyzing poison used on the wire that had previously cut his ankle, and he saw when the three silver objects came rapidly in his direction.
And in any other situation, at least one of the senbon would have hit him. However, with Amaya's presence there, the redhead blocked them to protect him.
(The third clue appeared there, in the kunoichi's action of attacking even a wounded, disadvantaged, and immobile opponent...)
The Uzumaki turned to the Anbu next, quickly checking his condition.
– It's a paralyzing drug – she explained to him and knelt before him – I'll neutralize it so you can move.
– No, help your friend... – the man said with some difficulty and turned his eyes to Itachi.
Amaya did the same and saw when the younger Uchiha caught three shuriken thrown by the Root kunoichi, stopping while standing on his own tantō. The redhead smiled weakly.
– He is fine – she simply said and focused on starting the Anbu's treatment.
When he stopped on his sword, the younger Uchiha noticed Amaya's presence further ahead, in front of the Anbu being pursued by the Foundation members. Then his eyes returned to the kunoichi in front of him.
– There is no right or wrong way to fight – he said calmly – But I have already understood all your attacks – The woman forced a weak laugh.
– I don't think so... – she said and straightened up – You fell into my trap. You are great, even being a child.
She brought the blade of her sword to one of the wires closest to her and cut it. Itachi remained motionless as the wires extended and tangled with each other for the trap.
But unlike what the Root Anbu had planned, the wires did not catch the Uchiha, but rather herself. Her right wrist was caught first, then her neck, legs, and the other wrist.
– What?! How?! – she questioned, unable to accept it.
– I told you... – Itachi repeated calmly – I already understood your attacks. I slightly changed the trajectory of that ninja tool with a line that you threw.
– Damned Uchiha! – the woman cursed quietly, due to the suffocation the lines were causing her.
And just as Amaya was attentive to everything happening on the battlefield, Shisui was too. With his sister taking care of the wounded Anbu's situation and Itachi having defeated his opponent, he no longer needed to buy time against his own opponents.
– They are doing well, so I'll finish my work here!
The Uchiha jumped back, gaining distance from the Root shinobi, sheathed his tantō, and joined his hands for a few seals.
– Teleportation Jutsu!
Utterly confused...
That was the only thing Amaya thought about the Root Anbu members her brother was facing. The two shinobi didn't seem to know how to deal with the situation Shisui had put them in, and that was the ruin of both in that fight.
The dog-masked Root member was knocked out and the stockier man had Shisui's tantō against his back. However, that fight had ended there when the loud sound of a whistle echoed through the area.
– Seems the jounin observing our training exercise noticed... – the older Uchiha commented and then directed his words to the rat-masked man – Take your comrades before they get here.
The man, even against his will, agreed. His mission had failed and if they were discovered by other jounin everything would become even worse.
He placed one of his comrades over his shoulder and held the other with his arm. Before leaving, he looked again at the three young people there.
– We will be watching you from the shadows... Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha – His eyes lingered on the redhead at the end – And Amaya Uzumaki.
Although her expression didn't show it, inside the redhead felt something bad. A sensation she hadn't felt too long ago. And she shuddered slightly.
(And at that moment the Uzumaki was certain that something very wrong was connected to the Foundation members...)