Chapter 3: VIP Escort

Renji blocked against the attack and backed off, taking his position back to guarding Elijah. “Huh. That guy's pretty agile, " he murmured. “And that other guy is just relentlessly crazy. " "They're assailants, nonetheless, " Kazuma replied, "and we have to keep them back or take them down. " Kazuma threw two kunai in Zaku and Mukuro's direction, each tagged with a smoke bomb. The kunai landed at their feet and exploded.

"Annoying brats" thought Zaku. "Mukuro, just focus on the jonin. It looks like we'll need to kill these leaf shinobi if we're going to complete this mission."

"Like my sensei said, come and try," said a voice from above. It was Kazuma who, under the cover of the smoke, leapt in the air to drop down on Zaku and Mukuro with a spin kick.

Mukuro quickly grabbed Kazuma’s leg as he tried to kick him with a sinister smile. “Hee hee hee, with pleasure,” he said as uses Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder to shock Kazuma before tossing him aside, “you weaklings should know your place.” Mukuro takes out a rope dart and spins it around so fast it clear out the smoke.

Kazuma was able to kick Zaku in the cheek, but as his foot swung around to hit Mukuro, Mukuro caught it and shocked him. "Darn it," said Zaku as he rubbed his cheek and wiped some blood off his mouth. "I should've seen that kid coming."

"Well maybe you creeps should know not to underestimate your opponents," Kamiko retorted. As Kazuma struggled to get up, he smirked and disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing that it was a clone. The real Kazuma all with another one charged through the last bit of smoke from the bomb, kunai knives brandished. "Don't think I'm that stupid to charge in without knowing who I'm up against," he said. "We're a lot tougher than you think," said the other clone.

Mukuro laughed as he uses the rope dart to takeout the clone. “You kids couldn’t overestimate yourselves,” he said before using his blinding speed to wrap his rope dart around Kazuma’s neck, “aw, what’s the matter little genin can’t breathe.” As Mukuro choked Kazuma a blur moved across the deck hit Mukuro in the head knocking him into Zaku. “Word of advice: never attack a stronger opponent on your own,” says Kumori as she helps Kazuma to his feet.

Zaku pushed Mukuro off his body to see that one of the other passengers had joined the fight. "What the, who the heck are you!"

Kazuma shrugged the woman off, slightly embarrassed that he was helped. “Yeah, whatever. I had it, " he grumbled. I will admit though, she did save my neck. Literally.. “Wait, " Sanmaru said suddenly, “I know you. You're that woman from earlier. "

"You know her?" Kamiko asked. Sanmaru simply shrugged, replying, “Something like that." "Your lady friend got a name, sensei?" Renji asked slyly. "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!! " Kamiko and Kazuma shouted in unison.

Kumori look around at all the other pirates that have boarded the ship. “I’ll leave those two to you and your team,” she says to Sanmaru, “I’ll keep the small fry off your back.” Kumori run toward the nearest pirate and kicks him hard enough to knock him into the others. “Useless idiots,” Mukuro shouts angrily as he stands up, “I’m tired of this shit!” With his rope dart, Mukuro kills two of the guards protecting Elijah as he moves in on Renji.

The rope dart flew through the torsos of two body guards. The guards slowly collapsed. One of the other guards rushed over to Sanmaru. "We need to get Elijah below deck," he said, "Up here the only cover is other bodies."

"Alright, keep him safe; we'll deal with them," Sanmaru told him. Immediately after he dashed forward in front of Renji, intercepting Mukuro with a knee to the gut and sent him sliding back across the deck. "I think you've bullied my kids enough," he said. Sanmaru dropped his cigarette on the floor,snubbing it out with his foot, emphasizing his seriousness.

"This way sir!" yelled one of the guards. Elijah and the two guards made a mad dash for the lower deck. As the approached the door, Zaku got between them and the entrance. "I don't think so," said Zaku, "Me and Mr. Ramu have some business to attend to."

“Finally starting to get serous,” Mukuro says to Sanmaru as he spins his rope dart, “killing you will be fun, hee hee hee.”

"APPOINTMENTS ONLY!" shouted Renji and Kamiko in unison. They both knocked Zaku out of the way with a flying side kick. "You're in the clear, now go," Renji told them. "Yeah, this guy is ours," Kamiko grinned as she punched her knuckles together. "Yeah, just don't go overboard," Renji told her, "remember what happened last time?" Kamiko glared back at him, but reluctantly obliged. "Yeah yeah, I know," she grumbled, "I'll try to hold back."


"Kazuma, you okay?" Sanmaru asked.
"Yeah, never better."
"It's not like you to just charge in like that, I've taught you better," he joked. "You also taught us to be as effective individually as were are together." While this may be true, Sanmaru can usually tell when they bite off more than they can chew. "I understand. But for once, try to let go of the lone wolf style for a bit. You're not Sasuke Uchiha." I'm not, he thought, but he is one of the reasons I wanted to be a ninja... Him and Kamiko,now that he thought about it. He guesses that's why she wears the Uchiha Clan symbol on her clothes. "All right then, sensei, let's take them on together," Kazuma finally said.

"APPOINTMENTS ONLY!!!!" yelled two of the genin. Zaku looked over and quickly lifted his arms to defend himself. The force of the two kids pushed hims several feet away. "You're in the clear, now go," Renji told them. "Yeah, this guy is ours," Kamiko grinned as she punched her knuckles together. Elijah and his men sprinted for the door and ran downstairs. "Grrrr...stupid kids!" exclaimed Zaku, "We don't have time for all this."

Zaku quickly began to make several hand signs; a total of eighteen. "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!)" The water around the boat began to surge and suddenly a torrent rose up from the sea and into the air above the boat. The massive torrent of water came crashing down on the deck of the boat, denting the floor and sending waves of water in every direction on deck, washing objects, passengers, and pirates into the sea.

“Zaku you fool,” shouted one of the pirates as they were all swept off the deck along with Kumori and Mukuro.

"Hold on to something," Sanmaru told the others. All of them grabbed on to the side railing of the boat, holding for dear life as the torrent of water impacted the boat and pushed against them. "I really don't like that guy," Renji yelled.

At the last second, Kumori latch on to the side of the ship with Mukuro. “Looks like it’s me and you girly,” he said licking his lips. Disgusted Kumori drew two knives and ready herself, “Of all people I get this guy.”

The water washed the passengers off and into the water. Yoshino, who was also on the deck, got caught up in the waves. "Kazuma!" she screamed as she fell into the sea. Zaku directed the water around himself to avoid washing himself into the sea.

Kazuma turned to see the girl getting washed away. "Dammit, what was she doing here?!?" He immediately let go as he let himself slide off, diving into the water after her.
"Where the heck is going?!?" Renji asked. The rest of the team managed to get their footing together after the attack. "It doesn't matter, he'll be fine, " Sanmaru replied, " right now we need to end this."

Zaku looked over and noticed that Sanmaru, Renji, and Kamiko had climbed back on the deck. "What the?!" he thought, "These pesky leaf shinobi don't go down easy. Zaku pulled out two kunai and threw one at Sanmaru and the other at Kamiko.

Yoshino's body plunged into the sea with the rush of water. Unable to swim, she continued to sink deeper.

Kumori weaved back & front as she dodged Mukuro’s rope dart. “Ha ha ha! Dance! Dance,” laughed Mukuro as he keep attacking her with his weapon using it to keep her from getting closer. Unfazed Kumori threw one of her kunai at Mukuro who blocked it with his chain. She then closed in on him as he was distracted kicking him in his torso before turning around and driving a hook kick into his head sending him in to the water.


“Damn that woman,” Mukuro thought angrily as he sat underwater he looked over and saw Yoshino sinking, “hee hee I’ve got an idea.” He then jet over to Yoshino as fast as he could in order to grab her.

Kazuma managed to grab her swam up to the surface of the water. Just as they came up for air, he noticed Mukuro making a mad dash for them. Of all people, I get this creep, he thought angrily, maybe I could.... Kazuma began to reach for his sword strapped to his back but hesitation stayed his hand, as he looked at Yoshino held under his arm. No. Not here, not now. He began to see he had limited options; focusing chakra to walk on the water surface while holding off Mukuro and keeping Yoshino would practically drain him. The only other option was to run pass the assailant without exerting too much energy....

Sanmaru caught Mukuro out of the corner of his eye speeding towards the water, and turned to see him going after Kazuma. "Great," he sighed, "this day's becoming more and more of a drag. Renji, Kamiko, deal with this guy. I'm going after Kazuma."
"But you said-" Kamiko began to say.
"I know what I said," he interrupted, "but he's got little to no options right now. Just do it." Without waiting for a response, Sanmaru dashed after Mukuro. "Well, tough guy, guess it's just us and you," Renji told Zaku. "Go ahead. Your move."

Yoshino grabbed onto Kazuma tightly. She wasn't saying a word and was shaking both from fear and from being in the cold water.

Zaku glared at Renji angrily. Pulling out a kunai, he lunged at Renji and slashed at his head.