Warning: The chapter is probably not good. Especially because I haven't written anything for so long... I've been struggling for some reason and I've been hesitant to write for so long ... But after a friend gave me advice I decided to start writing for fun again and find my groove back.

There may be tons of grammatical errors... but that's what happens when I don't write as I used to... I feel like I'm starting back to square one...

Oh well, I'm still going to update my stories just so people can have something to read.

If someone is interested in reviewing my stuff before I update let me know.

And I know... it's been years I've updated this story... three years...

Chapter 29

The four walked through the dark forest in silence.

They didn't utter a word as they continued with the little strength they had left.

After they had reunited, Kabuto had sent them a snake with a message of a place that could help them till they recovered. Supposedly a friend was there waiting for their arrival. The four had wished Kabuto would have come back to them, but it seemed the kidnapped children he had saved were more of a priority.

So, without wasting any more time, Obito led his Genin under the full moon to their new destination.

Obito had to admit, he was exhausted… His muscles felt as if they were tearing apart as he moved, but he dismissed the agonizing pain. He did his best not to show any weakness, but his students could clearly see how he couldn't continue any longer without a full night's rest. He would stumble once in a while and would lean against a tree to catch his breath every five minutes.

"Sensei…" Mitsuki whispered to Obito who once again held himself by the tree, his legs quivering as he was taking long deep breaths. "We should really take a small break." She rubbed her eyes as they craved to rest as well as they didn't rest enough after their reunion. "We shouldn't waste the little energy we have left…"

Miso and Chan looked around their surroundings, fully alert for any upcoming danger even though they were tired.

"Kabuto said the house should be up ahead," Obito said tiredly, pulled away from the tree and continued on walking. "We will be safe there. We can't take any more risks."

"But," Mitsuki wanted to argue, but Miso stopped her by grabbing her arm from behind.

"Don't worry Mitsuki, we're almost there," the boy gave her a small assuring smile. "The village isn't so far, I saw it earlier." He reminded her he had seen the village with his byakugan before they began their journey.

Mitsuki pressed her lips into a thin line and gave a worried glance to their struggling teacher.

"Come on, standing around won't help our situation," Chan told his teammates as he walked past them.

Mitsuki let out a sigh of defeat and followed her team, but mentally told herself to have hope that things will turn out well. After all, there was a moment she had thought her best friend Miso was long gone, but here he was, walking along side of her now.

She gazed at Miso who was tightening the strap across his chest that held the sword he was carrying on his back.

"Where did you get that sword?" Mitsuki finally asked as she was very curious where the boy got it. For some reason it looked very familiar…

"It's Ashizame's," Chan said over his shoulder.

Mitsuki blinked with confusion.

"Ashizame?"

"The pervert, remember?"

Mitsuki's mouth slightly hung open for a moment as a tall blue skinned boy appeared in her mind.

"Wait, what?" she was now lost.

"He saved us…" Miso admitted, looking down at his feet, avoided stepping on some branches. "After Chan pushed me off the cliff, we almost drowned, but Ashizame pulled us out on time."

"And he helped us fight some of the jerks before Kabuto appeared." Chan revealed.

"Yeah, he really did help us…" Miso admitted quietly.

"Is he…dead?" Mitsuki forced the question out from her lips quietly, noticing how troubled her friend looked. She felt her stomach drop at the thought that the older teen getting killed after helping her friends.

She remembered her last interaction she had with the older teen and couldn't help but feel guilty….

The blue skinned boy seemed like he wanted to talk to her but she fully on rejected him…

"Ashizame was fighting one of the bandits before he was separated from us. After Kabuto helped us, I sent a clone to look for Ashizame, but I couldn't find him…" Miso said. "Kabuto says he's not dead, but…"

"I don't think he's dead," Chan spoke up. "He's too strong to have lost against those losers."

Miso and Mitsuki quietly hoped Chan was right before putting their attention back to their teacher leaning on a tree once again.

After a few more stops, they stepped out of the forest and into a small quiet village. The houses were small, but there were a good number of them scattered up leading to a hill. A bunch of crops were growing besides the surrounded houses.

There was no one in the streets and it was clear to them everyone was asleep except for a fox that was hiding behind a gate door with it's eyes set on a kitchen coop next to one of the houses.

"The house should be up in the hill," Obito slowly said, the kids looked ahead at the hill before them, a half of mile away.

Miso's shoulders dropped, the hill was steeper than he would have liked.

"A yellow roof with a bunch of flower pots by the front, right?" Chan repeated the description that Kabuto had told Obito.

Their teacher just stared at the hill with half lidded eyes.

He really hoped Kabuto's 'friend' could help them. They desperately needed a safe haven at this moment.

As much as he didn't like accepting help from anyone, he needed it now. He wasn't going to place his students in any more danger as long as he was alive.

He swallowed his pride and dragged a foot forward towards the village before his legs finally gave out.

The Genins' eyes widened to see their teacher collapse to the ground.

Miso and Mitsuki kneeled next to him, rolling his teacher to his back after he didn't move at the slightest.

"Sensei?" Miso let out quietly, noticing Obito had passed out. His face was pale as snow and his breathing was a bit too shaky for Mitsuki's comfort.

"Gees, he doesn't look so good," a voice said with dark amusement, making the three kids look up, alarmed to see a man sitting on a tree branch near them.

Chan pulled out his kunai and stepped between his fallen teacher and the stranger hidden in the darkness.

"Damn it…" Chan hissed under his breath. They were so close…

For once couldn't they just have a break from the bastards?

"Show yourself!" Chan yelled at the darkness.

"You're in no the shape to dance with me, boy." The stranger mused, making the kids confused as the stranger's voice sounded just like…

Miso got up, also pulling out a kunai. He wasn't sure what was going on. For a moment there he thought the man's voice was just like Obito's when he wore the mask.

Maybe they were caught in some sort of Genjutsu…

The man chuckled darkly before jumping off the tree before them.

The kids braced themselves for a fight, but then they lowered their weapons, confused to see who was standing before him.

The man was wearing a black kimono, with his long hair pulled up in a ponytail, and a black cloth completely covering his eyes… and he had some sort of walking stick held his by right hand, helping him balance…

"Who are you…?" Miso blinked to see the man's appearance.

"Hmmm, who knows…" The man hummed playfully. "Maybe an enemy…maybe a friend…"

The kids took a step, unsure what to make from his words.

"Or maybe neither…" he said, giving them a dark smile.