Arc VIII Chapter 4<div>
<strong>VIII</strong>
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<strong>Arc VIII Chapter 4
</strong>
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Asamigazedat the girl in her arms. Her tender heart pitied her. It pained her to see the girl sufferin the cold. The girl was such a poor,weakcreature.She wouldn''t abandon her. Not a girl with such lovely fluffy cheeks.
Her fingers pinched her cheeks, the victim of her affection unable to resist her nefarious attacks.
The girl''s silken hair. Her chubby face. Her adorable cheeks. The resemnce was uncanny.Her appearancescreamed doll, reminding herof much simpler, much happier times.
“...” Asami mustered a weak smile. Equally alone, equally helpless, equally vulnerable, but she was here to protect her. She wouldn''t surrender her to the dark, icy cold. Her kind heart didn''t permit such injustice.
Herhugtightened. Hugging was beneath her dignity, alittle bitofcuddlingwas allowed. The girlwas hers, hers alone.
“A girl.” Tobitilted his head. “What a curious find ...”
“Senpai~,why are you staring at melike this?”Tobigulped, her malicious smile sent a shiver down hisspine.
Asami beamed. “The girl needshelp. Sowouldyou please lend me your coat, Tobi?”
“My coat?” Tobi blinked.
“...” Asami nodded.
Tobi hesitatedbefore relenting.“Well, but I hope that senpai~will notleave poor Tobifreezingin the cold ...”
Asami snatched hiscoat out of his hands, wrapping it aroundthe girl,turning herinto a living,fluffy cocoon. The girl needed everyyer she could get.
Tobi''s teeth shivered in the cold. “Asami ?senpai, I amfreezing...”
Asami remained unmoved by his plight. “Stop this farce. You didn''t freezebefore. You won''tfreeze now. Take it like a man.”
“But ... But ... But ...”
“Furthermore, I doubt itwould be a tragic loss,anyway.”
...
...
...
“You are mean, senpai.Your words hurtTobi. Tobi has a heart too.”Tobi started sobbing, crying.“Nobody liking Tobi.”
This cheap trickwouldn''t work.
“Tobi unloved and forever alone.”
It didn''t work.
“Life has no meaning. Tobijumpingfrom the nearest bridge.”
It worked.Somewhat.
Asamisighed in defeat. “Don''t make thingsplicated for both of us, Tobi. Please don''t jump. I would miss you.”
Tobi regained his hope. “Really?”
“Yes ...” Asami nodded. Tobi annoyed her most of the time, but his presence was nevertheless ... appreciated in these dark times.
“That is the nicest thing Tobi ever heard. Asami ?senpai, you are the best.” Tobi raised his arms in joy and assaulted her with a hug,but Asami merely sidestepped.
“It''s still too early for a hug, Tobi.”
“Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm”, Tobimumbled with hishead stuckdeepinto the snow.“Hmemlmpmmem, smenpmami. I am dying!”
Hisnonsensical rambling continued, but Asami ignored him.Tobi would survive.Hewas a stubborn fool.
Asami scanned theirsurroundings, the Land of Iron, abarrennd of eternal snow and little hospitality.Day turned night, and a snowstormapproached. They needed ace forthe night, a warm ce.The girlwas cold, her limbs frozen, her pulse weak...
...
...
...
Tobi escaped from his snowy grave. His lungsinhaled the fresh air.“Finally free. Tobinearly suffocating ...”
“Tobi ... Silence...”Asami admonished him, her eyes narrowed.“We have got visitors.” Ninjaarrived. Judging by the appearance,they hailedfrom Konoha. What were they doing herein the middle of nowhere?
The ninjanoticed their presence, surprise was written all over their faces. Suspicion and distrust met them.
Their leader didn''t waste any time. His harsh voicecked any sense of friendliness. “Who are you?”
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“I ask again,who are you? Answer me!Immediately!”Their leader studied them, her, the girl, and a freezing Tobi.Judging by their forehead protectors, they were Konoha-nin. What a coincidence.
Asamired at the neerswith a hint of annoyance. “My friends, what''s the rush? No need to be so aggressive.”
The ninjareadied his kunai. “I don''t like to repeat myself, girl.Who are you? Identify yourself!”
Asami despaired. “Oh my, suchdreadful times. The youth these days. So bold and quick with theirkunai.No manners. Threatening a defencelessand innocent maiden in open sight. Has Konoha foregoneany sense of honour?”
Tobi blinked. “Defenceless? Innocent?”
The enemy ninjaclicked his tongue. “Stop your nonsensical rambling. Stop wasting my time,ss. We are way older than you!”
Asami tilted her head. “Do you think so? Appearances can be deceptive, my friend.What ifIamanancient spirit that feeds on the tasty souls of foolish humans? Delicious humanswho trespass their boundaries in their infinite hubris.”
Hiseyebrow twitched in anger. She was slowly, but surely getting on his nerves.“Listen, girl, mypatience is limited. So answer my questions!”
Asamipouted,disregarded his silly question. “You are boring.You guys have no sense of humour.What do you even want from me?”
“...” The ninjagritted his teeth.“We are searching for a certain girl. Said girl is apparently in your possession. We ask you to hand her over. We need her.”
“Which girl?”
“The girlin your arms.”
“You mean my cute little sister?”
The mannodded. “Indeed, your cute little sister... What?I think that you have got somethingwrong here.”
Asami tightened her protective hug. “No, I don''t think so. You want to steal my cute little sister, but nee-sanwill protect her.”
“She ... is ... not ... your ... sister!”The ninjaprotested.
Asami ignored him. “Doesn''t matter. I found her first, soI will keep her. She is mine, my cutelittle sister.”
The manfumed. “What kind of logic is that? Don''t beabsurd ...”
“Absurd?” Asami narrowed her eyes. “You are being absurdhere, you worthless peasants! Youe here, threaten me,and demand from me to hand overmy sister to a bunch of arsehole ninja I neither know,nor trust.How absurd does that sound?”
The enemy ninja clenched his fist. “Girl,don''t make things moreplicated than necessary. Hand over the gind we will leave you in peace.”
Asami refused. “No.”
The man restated his demand, “Hand ... over ... the girl!”
“Only over my dead body!”
“That can be arranged.” The man attacked, but Asami struck first with a sudden pulse of purple light, taking them by surprise. The man dodged, and so did his squad, her st passing over their head, hitting a mountain range.
The man grinned. “Nice try, bitch. Try to aim next time.”
Asami clicked her tongue. Her miss displeased her. A cruel joke of fate. “Annoying, but ultimately irrelevant.”
Her enemyraised his eyebrow.“How so?”
Asami giggled. “My friend, are you familiar withtheproverb, the unaimed arrow never misses?” The earth trembled, and the man sensed the danger.
He turned and froze. Endless masses of snow rolled down the valley to bury them all. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!! Avnche!”
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