The cave was cloaked in an oppressive silence, save for the occasional rustling of leaves outside and the steady, rhythmic breathing of Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke. Ugetsu's eyes were a sharp contrast to the darkness around him, their electric blue glow reflecting the dim light seeping through the cave entrance. His gaze was fixed on his friends, their exhaustion and injuries weighing heavily on his mind. Yet, beneath the surface of his calm, a storm brewed—one of anger and a thirst for vengeance.
His vigil was abruptly interrupted by the faint, but unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching. Ugetsu's senses, honed from years of combat and training, detected the faintest disturbance in the air. His grip tightened around the kunai he had kept close by, his eyes narrowing as he strained to hear.
"Think they're still alive?" A male voice, dripping with malicious intent, floated through the air. The words were harsh and contemptuous, carrying with them a promise of trouble. Ugetsu's eyes flashed with a fierce, protective fire. These were no ordinary enemies—they were the Sound Shinobi, the same ones who had attacked his friends and disrupted their lives.
"Let's find out," another voice sneered. "Look at the state of them. They're just as weak as the last time we saw them."
Ugetsu's breath hitched. He could hear the distinct, cruel taunts and feel the malice emanating from outside. His mind was a swirl of conflicting emotions, but the primary one was a cold fury directed at the perpetrators who had dared to harm his friends.
Stepping out from the shadow of the cave, Ugetsu's silhouette merged with the darkness. His form moved with a predator's grace, each step deliberate and silent. The Sound Shinobi, too engrossed in their cruel gloating, were unaware of the danger that was about to befall them.
As he approached, Ugetsu's eyes found their target—two male Sound Shinobi, their expressions twisted into sneers as they poked fun at the condition of his teammates. The sight of Sakura's damaged hair and the pain in her face ignited a red-hot anger within him.
"Hey!" he growled, his voice cold and commanding. The Sound Shinobi froze, their eyes locking with his fierce gaze. "You've got one chance to leave."
The male shinobi laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that echoed through the night. "Or what? What are you going to do, cry about it?"
Ugetsu's eyes narrowed, his control slipping. The combination of their mocking tones and the memory of Sakura's distress drove him to the edge. "You've made a mistake," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't want to test me."
Still laughing, the Sound Shinobi made no move to leave. Instead, they continued to taunt him, pushing him further into the abyss of his anger. Ugetsu's patience snapped.
With a swift motion, he closed the distance between them, his movements a blur of speed and precision. He was upon them in an instant, a fierce storm of rage and skill. The first Sound Shinobi's eyes widened in terror as Ugetsu's kunai flashed through the air, a blur of deadly intent. A gash appeared on the shinobi's arm, a warning of the pain to come.
"Stop!" the shinobi yelled, but Ugetsu was deaf to his pleas. His anger had consumed his reason, and the only thing driving him was the need to protect his friends.
With ruthless efficiency, Ugetsu dispatched the first shinobi, his body falling limp to the ground with a sickening thud. The second shinobi, now fully realizing the danger, tried to flee. Ugetsu's eyes were a cold, unyielding storm as he pursued him, driven by a relentless determination.
He chased the fleeing shinobi through the forest, his speed and agility allowing him to close the gap quickly. The forest seemed to warp and blur around them, the trees casting long shadows that danced with the flickering light of Ugetsu's rage. The Sound Shinobi's desperate attempts to escape were futile against Ugetsu's relentless pursuit.
Finally, Ugetsu cornered him, his breathing heavy but controlled. "You should have left," he said, his voice a low growl. The shinobi tried to beg for mercy, but Ugetsu's expression remained cold and unyielding. With a final, decisive motion, Ugetsu ended the shinobi's life, his rage finally finding release in the stillness of the forest.
Exhausted but not yet finished, Ugetsu scanned the area for the female shinobi he had detected earlier. His eyes softened slightly as he caught sight of her hiding in the distance. Despite his anger, Ugetsu maintained his code. He could not bring himself to kill her
As he made his way back to the cave, he encountered a figure cloaked in sand—Gaara. The two locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. Ugetsu's gaze was a cold, hard stare, but there was no animosity. Gaara simply observed him, an unspoken acknowledgment of their shared experiences.
Without a word, Ugetsu turned and walked away, leaving Gaara behind. The encounter was brief, a mere intersection of paths in the chaotic world they inhabited.
Returning to the cave, Ugetsu kept his actions hidden from his teammates. He approached Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke with a calm demeanor, though the weight of his recent actions lingered in the shadows of his mind. He chose to shield them from the truth, protecting them from the darkness he had embraced in the name of their safety.