To Yukigakure - Keisuke

Response to To Yukigakure - Mamoru

---

Looking at all the bandits caught in Mamoru's traps, Keisuke couldn't help but feel a little shocked. They were just dangling... like they'd been hammered to a cross. Keisuke was cruel but he never put his victims on display. He checked the pulse on the ankle of a few of them, they were alive. That was a good thing.

"I've got the last of the artifacts. Keisuke, you ready?"

Mamoru's transmission stirred him from the crucified bandits around him. "Yep. Just let me know when you clear the hideout." Keisuke answered quickly.

A second or two passed and Mamoru spoke again. "Alright. You're up."

Keisuke didn't respond the second time but tugged on the riggings he'd scattered throughout the ground floor of the bandit's lair. He pulled two more of his special kunai out of his pouch and jammed it into the wall on either side of him. Once those were secure he unfastened his upper leg weights and let them crash into the floor. He pulled the wire attached to each of his kunai into his mouth and just like his uncle Asuma taught him years ago...

Boom.

And like that he was gone in a flash and the hideout was crumbling around him. He dodged falling debris and fleeing bandits without breaking a sweat. They probably had no idea he was even there. When he finally made it outside a group of survivors spotted him, coughing and wheezing, they charged him. He sped past them, all dropping before they even had a chance to take a single step. They weren't dead, he knew better than that. Even those caught inside should turn out fine. Perhaps they'll be drooling on themselves for the rest of their lives but that wasn't his concern.

With the area clear and Mamoru back with Kimiko, Keisuke decided to head back and meet up with them. He walked somewhat calmly, cracking his neck and pulling out a cigarette. When he was close to his teammates he thought he heard something.

"That little punk and that bitch aren't going to see this coming." Someone cackled from the treetops.

Keisuke looked for the source of the sound. It was an archer. They probably saw Mamoru leave with the artifacts and followed him. Before Keisuke could really react the archer sent three arrows towards his teammates, one of which was different than the rest. Keisuke opened his eyes in shock.

"No..." He muttered as his cigarette fell to the ground

"See how they like my explosive shrapnel arrow!"

Keisuke bent over and quickly undid his remaining leg weights. He wouldn't be able to catch the first couple arrows, but that last one was going to be no problem. He released the First Gate, the Gate of Opening, and dashed for the arrow. With his legs freed and his chakra free flowing, it would be no issue. Once he finally got ahead of it he sent one of his kunai back at the archer and blew it up before leaping into the air and catching the explosive arrow between his teeth. At the sudden stop, the explosive detonated, burning Keisuke's face and neck and sending him right for a particularly large tree.

Now he'd been trained to endure severe pain, but the burns seared his flesh and it was almost impossible to grit back the pure agony of it all. He looked up, dazed, to make sure that Mamoru and Kimiko were alright, only to see that his kunai had missed its mark. The archer was charging for them. Not only did that piss him off, that severely pissed him off. You definitely don't attack Mamoru and get away with it. And you definitely don't mess up Keisuke's face. And if you happened to do that all in one sitting...

God have mercy on you.

Keisuke stood abruptly and ran at the archer. With his enhanced speed he was on him in a second, his fist pulled back and ready to do some major damage. Before the archer could really grasp what he was in for Keisuke had already followed through with his punch and sent that scum flying at least a few miles to the south... and through several dozen trees.

"NO ONE FUCKS UP MY FACE, YOU GOT THAT?!" Keisuke screamed after him, though he was probably dead. Most certainly dead. Keisuke didn't care. He didn't even care that he threw his shoulder out of its socket punching that worthless shit. It was worth it.

Still, thoroughly exhausted from opening one of the Eight Gates and getting his face blown up, Keisuke collapsed. Besides, they'd completed their mission. And the right side of his body was getting caked in his own blood. He thought he deserved a bit of rest.

End