[46] It’s a Trap…! Rock Lee, break the barrier!

Nikko winced.

Her shoulder wound was acting up again. All the movement from Rock Lee's running was bumping her repeatedly. Warmth, of the red variety, tinged Neji's beige shirt top.

The City of Rice was just up ahead. Or, it should be.

"Lee-san..." Nikko began, seeing familiar things around her, "...haven't we passed this stump before?"

He stopped.

It did appear that they'd already been through this area before. Lee remembered the stump too, as well as the fallen log after it. "No...it cannot be," he replied. "I know my sense of direction is true!"

"Then..."

A purple chakra shot out from behind them. It wrapped like a rope around Nikko and drug her from Rock Lee's back.

"Ah!" She screamed, "Lee-san!"

"Nikko-san! Hang on!"

Rock Lee ran towards her as fast as he could and karate chopped the strange purple ooze. It burst like a water balloon before the scattered droplets came back together and tightened their hold around Nikko.

"Guk--!" Pain shot through her torso.

"What could this be?" Lee asked. He once again sliced it but it only formed back, unharmed.

"Don't know..." Nikko grunted. She strained to see behind her. But when she did, there was a man there with a flute in his mouth. He wore a light purple top and dark purple pants. On his forehead was a single star. His long dark hair came down in waves.

"Utsuri Nikko," he said slowly. "Imagine my surprise to find you so far from home."

"Who are you! And how do you know my name!" She shouted.

"...My companion came by yesterday. He said there was a girl who had the power to stop time." The man replied.

"That could only be Toguro," Rock Lee stated.

"It seems your friends took him out. It's a shame. But he wasn't the strongest of our kind by any means.." He picked a tune on his flute and the ooze around Nikko pulled her right to him.

Nikko coughed in pain, "W-Who are you, you bastard?"

"You can call me....Mitsuhara. I am Tengu's older, wiser brother." The flute player said.

Lee ran over and kicked towards Mitsuhara, but was reflected by a type of barrier. Mitsuhara smirked at Lee's efforts and went on talking calmly: "I have plans for you, Utsuri Nikko. Come with me. I can make you great, give you all that you desire."

Nikko grit her teeth and pulled back to snarl at him, "Get a life! What's with you people! Everyone's always going on about my kekkei genkai--it's not that great!"

Mitsuhara laughed and replied, "Oh, but it is. You see...your dear old grandmother Utsuri Hana was a splendid user of the Time Jutsu. In fact, she was so great that it drained her life energy...and left her crippled at a young age."

"What...?" Nikko gasped.

"Don't tell me you didn't know?" Mitsuhara asked. "Hana had mastered the power but was unable to control it properly. You see...back during the war, she helped Sunagakure by protecting the entire village. What a beautiful creature she was, much like you."

Nikko had heard that story growing up. Hana's powers of Time far outmatched Nikkos', and Governess Gale had been plain in telling her that many times. Much to the former girls displeasure.

"...So? What does that have to do with me!" Nikko spat.

"You don't get it. As long as you're alive, any shinobi village who had you could win in an instant. That Time Reversal....could change everything. But there's one more Jutsu you don't yet possess..." Mitsuhara said.

One I don't possess? She thought.

Mitsuhara motioned with his hand and Nikko was lifted to him. He stroked his hand down her cheek and said, "The Time Warp Jutsu."

"...Time...Warp...Jutsu?" She repeated.

"Yes, little girl. That Jutsu is only for those who have mastered the kekkei genkai entirely, putting their bodies through strenuous torment to do so. Didn't it ever occur to you there could be repercussions for using the Time Jutsu?"

Lee stepped forward. "Nikko-san, do not listen to him! He is our enemy!"

Nikko nodded. "Right. I've never heard of a Time Warp whatever. How do I know you're not just making that up?"

Mitsuhara narrowed his dark eyes. "I do not lie. Hana Utsuri and I...have a history, you could say."

The girl had heard enough. She didn't care about the past all that much, and only saw Mitsuhara as a former lover of Hana and thus cast aside his words. "...Let me go," she warned.

"Hm. That fire in your eyes. Yes, it's just like hers."

Rock Lee began to undo the bandages on his arm. He held it out in front of him. "I warn you, if I use this, there will be no coming back. If you're prepared to die then I will face you. If I win you will let Nikko-san free."

That made the flute player raise his brows. "Oh, we've got a brave one. Ignorance is bliss. And if you lose?"

"...I will forfeit my life." Lee replied.

Nikko quickly shook her head and told Lee, "No! Don't do this!"

Rock Lee gave the girl a confident smile. "...I am prepared to do whatever it takes to protect you, Nikko-san. That is my mission."

"...Lee..."

Mitsuhara's purple ooze held Nikko aloft above both men as they faced one another. Lee beckoned Mitsuhara, who rose his flute and began to play a tune.

As he played, purple chakra came forth from his barrier and created a beast with two heads. Lee saw it and stepped back with his left foot and gave it a glare.

"You manipulate your chakra to create a monster using sonic sounds, amplifying your chakra." Lee stated.

"That is correct. My demon energy can do many things, but I find this the most enjoyable. Art is quite beautiful," Mitsuhara said. "But enough talk. It's time for you to die shinobi of the Leaf Village!"

The two headed beast loomed towards Lee. He flipped backwards to avoid being chomped by the left one's large jaws and jumped to it's face, kicking it in the chin. The force from his kick was strong enough to send it twirling away. The right head was enraged and roared loudly.

"Lee-san! Get out of there!" Nikko told him.

Rock Lee shook his bowl cut head. "I will not. If it were Neji-kun or Naruto-kun, you wouldn't be so worried."

Nikko's eyes widened. "No--that's not--"

"While it is true that I only have taijutsu to rely on," Lee interrupted, "I have trained my body to it's limits. A real shinobi never gives up and never gives in. I am one such shinobi! Don't pity me."

"...Lee-san..." Nikko smiled sadly. "I understand. But...it's not because of that. I just...don't my friend getting hurt."

His round eyes grew rounder. Then, a deep flush erupted. "I-I-I won't let you down. Guy-sensei has taught me many things, and I will always do what is necessary to complete my mission. Shikamaru-kun left you in my care and I can't stand by and watch as you are taken away!"

"Thank you, Lee-san."

Mitsuhara laughed at both of them. "Ah ha ha! The bonds of friendship run deep in the Hidden Leaf. It's...sickening." He rose his flute and played another tune, and the two headed beast turned back to Lee with a load growl. Rock Lee focused once more and leaned down, saying, "Take this! Leaf Hurricane!"

It had little effect. It was as though the tune Mitsuhara played created a buffering to the enemies strength. That left Rock Lee with one option left. He shut his eyes, thinking of Guy sensei who'd told him only to open the gates as a last resort and only to protect someone.

That day had come.

Rock Lee opened the first gate in order to perform the 'Front Lotus' technique---and it was enough to destroy the first beast's head.

Mitsuhara stumbled back in apparent shock. He hadn't realized that a genin was so skilled at such a young age. "...I underestimated you," Mitsuhara admitted. "Let's see you try that again!"

Nikko strained against the purple chakra bind around her torso. But the more she strained, the more pain set in, until she was panting to remain conscious. She could only squint through tired eyes and watch as Rock Lee opened two more gates and pray it worked.

Lee ran towards both beasts at once. To Nikko he appeared to vanish from thin air, appearing beneath the beasts where his bandages then wrapped around both, compressing them together. He spiraled round and round until both beasts where pummeled into the ground so quickly and forcefully they exploded into water droplets, the remaining chakra steaming off the crater left behind.

"Good work, Lee-kun!" Nikko grit out.

Mitsuhara smacked Nikko's face. "Quiet! He may have defeated my Aura Beasts, but he won't be able to break my barrier. Nobody has ever been able to do that."

Nikko's cheek stung. She spat out blood and glared up at Mitsuhara, wanting nothing more than to freeze time and run him through with her katana.

Lee stepped forward to his opponent, who quickly yanked Nikko to his chest as a hostage. The purple chakra turned into a blade instead and he held it to her neck.

"If you come any closer I'll end her life," Mitsuhara threatened.

"Lee-kun!" She shrieked.

Rock Lee caught her eyes. Nikko was blinking a lot, he thought. Maybe there was something in her eye? No--wait,

--It was morse code! 'D-O-I-T-I-W-I-L-L-D-U-C-K'

Lee smirked and raised his hand once more. "You say nobody has ever managed to break through that barrier. I will show you what determination and passion can do!"

To himself he added, "Sorry, Guy-sensei. I must do this! Forgive me!"

Rock Lee opened the fourth gate. His skin became red toned and his teeth gnashed together as he sprinted towards the barrier--

--And cracked it.

"Hah! You can't win!" Mitsuhara said, seeing that Lee's attack hadn't worked as Lee wanted it to.

Lee was panting from exhaustion. Sweat ran from his cheek as though he were crying. But seeing Nikko prisoner in Mitsuharas' arms, and the look of assurance on her face, he knew he needed to keep going. Nikko believed in him! He wouldn't stop until he'd defeated his enemy.

"RAAAHHH!" Lee shouted, running once more--

--It worked.

He broke through the barrier just as Nikko squeezed her arms and slid down Mitsuhara's chest, avoiding the blow that would have killed her instantly.

Mitsuhara slammed back through the trees and smacked into a trunk, shaking the tree top hard enough that a large limb crack and fell, ending any retaliation by ending his life.

Nikko fell to her knees as Rock Lee staggered.

He was clearly pushing himself too hard, Nikko knew, and would likely faint. With that in mind the girl swiped some of her blood, crawling over to him. "Lee-kun...Lee-kun," she cried, grabbing his leg. "S-Stay still."

"Huh? What are you doing?" He asked.

"Jikan henko no jutsu!"

Nikko did a time reversal and focused all the chakra she could on Lee's body.

Rock Lee's fatigue began to rewind until he was feeling much better, as if he hadn't fought at all. "W-What is this?" He asked, looking at his healed body in amazement.

Nikko didn't answer.

He looked down; seeing her by his sandal unconscious. "Nikko-chan!"

***

The Tiger's Inn was nice enough. Not as nice as the one from before, but Shikamaru and Neji and their entourage of leftover samurai weren't going to complain. Plain wooden walls, a humble offering of rooms and dingy, scratched waxed floors said The Tiger's Inn got a lot of business. Probably due to it's situation of being in the middle of the City of Rice.

Neji, done up in Yuki Mizu's thick kimono, was busy searching the streets just past dark with his byakugan. Not only to watch for Nikko and Rock Lee, but to check the Inn for traps and hidden enemies. It all checked out though. Neji and Shikamaru sat down at the bench just outside the Inn's door. Both were growing more concerned by the minute.

Shikamaru growled in aggravation. "This is bad," he said to Neji.

Neji nodded. "...They must have been ambushed on the way."

"Shimatta... this is all my fault. Again." Shikamaru sagged into the bench further and gazed up at the bright moon. He clenched and unclenched his hands, trying not to think the worst.

"So much for my plan," Shikamaru said. "They had to have figured it out somehow."

Neji closed his beautiful eyes, done up with makeup. "Clearly."

"I...keep screwing up," Shikamaru growled. "I'm supposed to be the Squad Leader. Have it all together. But instead...tch!"

"I was there as well and didn't see that we were being watched. Whoever heard your plan was highly skilled at stealth."

The sound of footsteps.

They both looked up, seeing Rock Lee slowly walking. On his back was Nikko, only she was unconscious and draped over Lee's shoulder.

Quickly the two benchwarmers rushed up.

"Lee-kun!" Shikamaru said, "Is she okay?"

"I think so." Lee replied. Neji walked over and pulled Nikko from his back, checking her over with his byakugan. When Neji saw that she was fine, just out cold he sighed with relief and said, "She's fine."

"We were attacked by the brother of Yokai Tengu." Lee told them.

As Rock Lee explained why they were late, Shikamaru swore under his breath. Nikko had been targeted again. All because it was his idea split up and try fooling their enemies. But the enemy had been using some way to--

--wait. Shikamaru remembered a crow. That black crow Yokai had called 'Kuro' had probably been present last night as they'd went over the plan.

"That black crow Yokai had," Shikamaru broke in, "...I'd be willing to stake my life that little bastard was our night time eavesdropper."

Neji nodded. "You're right."

They looked down at Nikko asleep in Neji's arms. Her wounds had definitely been reopened. Rock Lee said of her, "Nikko-chan used all her chakra to heal my body. I'm truly grateful. If not for her actions I wouldn't have been able to make it here tonight."

"That's her," Shikamaru said with a gentle sigh, "...helpful to a fault. She doesn't have a bad bone in her body." He looked to Neji and told him to bring her up to a room.

****

Nikko had a fever dream.

[Sasuke gripped his kunai knife in his hand and leveled it to eye field. He smirked across from Nikko, who was preparing to dodge his onslaught. "Get ready." The Uchiha boy said.

"Mhm. Don't hold back, okay?"

"Hn."

They were training at night just outside the The Land of Greens. Their newest place of residence, but only for two weeks. Sasuke had been freed for a time as Orochimaru left to take care of some unknown business. Thus, Sasuke and Nikko took their chance to spend time together before they'd be separated again.

Sasuke rushed towards her, appearing to vanish. Nikko looked around the trees, expecting him to spring out at any time. When he didn't, she dropped down and put her head to the forest floor to listen for Sasuke's foot falls.

Not there, she determined.

"Up here!"

Nikko rolled just out of reach of his arms just in time, swinging her left arm back to clank her kunai against his. The two strained against one another before Sasuke jumped back, turning his knife--

--and dove for her. Nikko side stepped, grabbed his arm and flipped him onto his back. She pounced on top of him and held her knife to his throat.

Sasuke lifted a brow, "Doing this now? Out here?"

"--Pervert," she accused with a smirk.

Nikko leaned, capturing his mouth and their tongues twined together only for the boy to squint in pain. Nikko, seeing it, pulled away. "Acting up again?"

"...I'm fine." Sasuke said.

But the squint in his eyes said otherwise.

Nikko used her knife to cut a slice of her index finger, drug it across her eyes, only for Sasuke to snatch her wrist and roll so that he was dominant. He shook his head. "You...don't always need to do that, Nikko."

"But...I can't stand to see you in pain."

"Hn. I'm not a child who needs their scrape kissed."

Sasuke brushed aside her bangs. The two drowned in each other's eyes as their memories consolidated to one of resounding determination.

"..My brother..." Sasuke began, "...if he hadn't destroyed everything, then you and I--"

"--I know. It's okay, Sasuke." Nikko ran her thumb across his cold and smooth cheek, smiling. "I'm happy to be beside you."

"..."

Emotions played across his face. Finally they settled into admiration. He softly kissed her forehead. "Idiot."

"But I'm your idiot."

"Hn. I'm supposed to be grateful huh."

"Mhm!"]

Nikko woke with tears in her eyes. She swiped them off and saw that it was night time, and that she was now in a bed. "..."

The room wasn't empty, however. It was filled with the longing Nikko felt for Sasuke--his dark eyes that ran down into her heart and pulled all of it's strings at once with their deep and lonesome call. How she'd wanted to help him, even at the cost of no return to civilization.

Confused tears ran down her face. "Sas..ke...I...want to see you.."

"He's not here."

Nikko looked up, hurriedly wiping away her sadness.

Leaning against the door was a silver haired jonin wearing a mask to cover most of his face. She recognized him to be, "Kakashi-sensei?"

"Hey."

"What are...?" She blinked in bewilderment.

Kakashi pushed off the wall and shoved his hands into his pockets. He sighed a little, saying, "The Hokage sent me here as backup. Seems like the mission assigned went from a C rank to a A rank over night."

"...I see. O-Oh!"

Nikko quickly pulled the cover up to hide her exposed and bandaged chest. Kakashi paid it no mind, adding, "I got held up by some samurai for hire. They're working for Aoi-san, Yuki Mizu's elder sister. From the looks of things...we'll have our hands full tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Hmm, yeah. The wedding ceremony."

Nikko's eyes grew large. She quickly looked around, not seeing the disguise anywhere. "W-Where is everyone? Why am I here--?"

"I sent them ahead to scout out the city." Kakashi answered. He then admitted, "I was going to bring you along, but with the fever...well, it wouldn't be a good idea."

"Fever?"

"You uh...don't seem to remember very much. Rock Lee brought you here. At the time, you were out cold with a fever. Looks like it's just now breaking. Don't worry; the confusion should pass, too."

"...." Nikko wrung her cover in thought. She'd let her team down twice now. Instead of recovering, she was only getting worse. "...Kakashi-sensei, please, I--"

He shook his head. "--Forget it. Sorry, kiddo. You're coming back with me to the village."

"No! I can help! Please!"

"The only help you can give right now is resting and getting better." Kakashi informed her.

Nikko tossed aside her cover and stumbled until standing. She gave the copy ninja a glare and began to bite her thumb, fully intending to go meet her team without his consent, when he vanished and appeared to her, snagging her wrist.

"Now, now, I don't advise doing that," he said slowly.

"I--I have to do this!" She exclaimed.

Going back to the Hidden Leaf was out of the question. Nikko couldn't face her allies if she didn't give it her all. Kakashi, seeing her determination, gave a resigned sigh. "...Look. Let me check your cuts out. If they're doing better, I'll let you leave in the morning with Naruto' group."

It would have to do.

Nikko sank down on the bed like a good girl and let Kakashi examine her wounds. The copy ninja said, "You...spent a lot of time with Sasuke-kun didn't you."

"...Yes."

"How is he?"

"That curse mark...would act up from time to time. I'd help him tame it down...but without me there now...I wonder how he's doing..." Nikko sadly looked to her hands that once were held by Sasuke, imagining he were there and telling her what an idiot she was for using all of her chakra.

"Hmm. I see. Well, we both know how stubborn Sasuke-kun is. I'm sure he's fine." Kakashi reassured the sad girl.

She nodded. "Yeah. I hope for that, too..."