He hated the slums. Not because he had any aristocratic air of superiority - well...he did, in some ways - but because the slums were the moldy frosting on a rotten cake. The surface showed the run-down and the poor, but what wasn't obvious at first glance, was all the criminal activity underneath. Illegal substances, illegal activities...slave trading. It was as if these criminals thought that the village's authorities were too clean or afraid to step into the shadows. For Apex, the shadows were home.
The masked ANBU moved silently through the darkness, tracking his target's trail with his Chakra Sense jutsu. The target - a female of about eighteen years of age, long hair, slender frame - had been abducted by some rather unscrupulous men at the behest of one who called himself the Chairman. This "Chairman" was really just a petty crime lord with an ego. He ran a gang made up of a handful of idiots, with a few minor gangs owing him tribute. In the grand scheme of things, he was a speck, but somewhere along the lines, his small power gave him a big head. He dealt in whatever he could get his hands on or scrape up enough money for, always looking for a profit. Now, he was taking the young girl in exchange for some exaggerated debts he claimed their parents owed him before they died.
The girl's brother was quick enough, and luckily for him, Apex was nearby on patrol. Descending to hear the boy out, the ANBU was sympathetic and concerned. Slavery wasn't a thing he was fond of. The idea of a human being forced into servitude and abuse, denying their potential or chance at thriving, was abhorrent to him. And given the target's gender and description, it was fairly obvious what sort of servitude this Chairman had in mind.
Taking a scrap of the girl's dress from the boy, he attuned his Chakra Sense jutsu to the item, revealing her faint life force for him to track. It wasn't very hard, thanks to the boy's memento, and Apex was soon nearing the source - along with a few others he picked up.
Coming to a stop on the edge of a building, Apex looked down at the group. There were three men and the target, a bag over her head and ropes binding her hands, likely gagged to keep her from yelling out for help. As much as he knew that it would be beneficial to observe and report, to learn more about where these new slaves were meant to go...his conscience was overriding his curiosity. If he let them take her, he could follow and learn about the source, but it also meant that the desperate boy who pleaded with tears in his eyes for the dark knight of Sunan justice to save his sister would be forsaken, as would his beloved sister. He knew - the man under the mask knew - how it felt to lose your entire family to cruelty. How could he, then, stand by and watch as a small boy lost the last of his to slavery and abuse?
Gritting his teeth from under his enigmatic mask, Apex drew a deep breath. It was now or never, and never wasn't an option.
Focusing his chakra, the ANBU melded into the shadows, reappearing before the small group of thugs. The armored, masked man stood firmly in their way. "Give me the girl and I'll let you live," he offered, "Resist me and you will die."
Two men stood still, sizing the newcomer up. The third, however, stumbled as he turned to flee. With a flash, a senbon left Apex's hand and planted itself firmly into the spine of the fleeing criminal. He was paralyzed, whether temporarily or permanently would yet be seen.
"Last chance," the ANBU warned calmly.
One man threw a vial of something from beneath his jacket, bursting over the form of the ANBU and melting away the clothes beneath the armor until it began dissolving flesh. Without so much as flinching, the man stood still. It was then that the form dissipated into shadow and a new Apex stood behind the man who had thrown the vial. A chill ran down the man's spine, realizing that the man he thought he had killed was merely a shinobi's clone. The senbon that struck their friend had come from elsewhere, made to look like it came from the illusory ANBU. The twisting of a ninja-to in his frame told the thug that the man behind him was, without a doubt, the real ANBU.
Before the remaining thug could draw his sword, Apex performed a quick series of one-handed seals, releasing the Dragon Flame Bomb jutsu. A jet of flames formed the image of a dragon, roaring over the helpless criminal. As the jutsu dispersed, only ashes remained. The area was clear of hostiles.
Grabbing the girl, he removed the hood from over her head. She had a black eye and a few minor bruises, but seemed relatively fine.
"Are you alright? Can you understand me?" echoed from beneath the mask. The girl said nothing, but nodded as she shivered. She had been traumatized, naturally, but she would be alright in time.
"I am an ANBU. Your brother is waiting for us. Will you allow me to carry you?" he asked, earning another silent nod.
With a sigh, the tall Uchiha lifted her onto his back and helped her wrap her arms around his shoulders. He would return the girl to her brother before taking them to the Kazekage Tower for debriefing and some sort of asylum. Apex hoped the dead thugs would send a message, but in case the egotistical Chairman didn't get the hint, he wanted to make sure these kids would be safe...
[WC: 958]
The masked ANBU moved silently through the darkness, tracking his target's trail with his Chakra Sense jutsu. The target - a female of about eighteen years of age, long hair, slender frame - had been abducted by some rather unscrupulous men at the behest of one who called himself the Chairman. This "Chairman" was really just a petty crime lord with an ego. He ran a gang made up of a handful of idiots, with a few minor gangs owing him tribute. In the grand scheme of things, he was a speck, but somewhere along the lines, his small power gave him a big head. He dealt in whatever he could get his hands on or scrape up enough money for, always looking for a profit. Now, he was taking the young girl in exchange for some exaggerated debts he claimed their parents owed him before they died.
The girl's brother was quick enough, and luckily for him, Apex was nearby on patrol. Descending to hear the boy out, the ANBU was sympathetic and concerned. Slavery wasn't a thing he was fond of. The idea of a human being forced into servitude and abuse, denying their potential or chance at thriving, was abhorrent to him. And given the target's gender and description, it was fairly obvious what sort of servitude this Chairman had in mind.
Taking a scrap of the girl's dress from the boy, he attuned his Chakra Sense jutsu to the item, revealing her faint life force for him to track. It wasn't very hard, thanks to the boy's memento, and Apex was soon nearing the source - along with a few others he picked up.
Coming to a stop on the edge of a building, Apex looked down at the group. There were three men and the target, a bag over her head and ropes binding her hands, likely gagged to keep her from yelling out for help. As much as he knew that it would be beneficial to observe and report, to learn more about where these new slaves were meant to go...his conscience was overriding his curiosity. If he let them take her, he could follow and learn about the source, but it also meant that the desperate boy who pleaded with tears in his eyes for the dark knight of Sunan justice to save his sister would be forsaken, as would his beloved sister. He knew - the man under the mask knew - how it felt to lose your entire family to cruelty. How could he, then, stand by and watch as a small boy lost the last of his to slavery and abuse?
Gritting his teeth from under his enigmatic mask, Apex drew a deep breath. It was now or never, and never wasn't an option.
Focusing his chakra, the ANBU melded into the shadows, reappearing before the small group of thugs. The armored, masked man stood firmly in their way. "Give me the girl and I'll let you live," he offered, "Resist me and you will die."
Two men stood still, sizing the newcomer up. The third, however, stumbled as he turned to flee. With a flash, a senbon left Apex's hand and planted itself firmly into the spine of the fleeing criminal. He was paralyzed, whether temporarily or permanently would yet be seen.
"Last chance," the ANBU warned calmly.
One man threw a vial of something from beneath his jacket, bursting over the form of the ANBU and melting away the clothes beneath the armor until it began dissolving flesh. Without so much as flinching, the man stood still. It was then that the form dissipated into shadow and a new Apex stood behind the man who had thrown the vial. A chill ran down the man's spine, realizing that the man he thought he had killed was merely a shinobi's clone. The senbon that struck their friend had come from elsewhere, made to look like it came from the illusory ANBU. The twisting of a ninja-to in his frame told the thug that the man behind him was, without a doubt, the real ANBU.
Before the remaining thug could draw his sword, Apex performed a quick series of one-handed seals, releasing the Dragon Flame Bomb jutsu. A jet of flames formed the image of a dragon, roaring over the helpless criminal. As the jutsu dispersed, only ashes remained. The area was clear of hostiles.
Grabbing the girl, he removed the hood from over her head. She had a black eye and a few minor bruises, but seemed relatively fine.
"Are you alright? Can you understand me?" echoed from beneath the mask. The girl said nothing, but nodded as she shivered. She had been traumatized, naturally, but she would be alright in time.
"I am an ANBU. Your brother is waiting for us. Will you allow me to carry you?" he asked, earning another silent nod.
With a sigh, the tall Uchiha lifted her onto his back and helped her wrap her arms around his shoulders. He would return the girl to her brother before taking them to the Kazekage Tower for debriefing and some sort of asylum. Apex hoped the dead thugs would send a message, but in case the egotistical Chairman didn't get the hint, he wanted to make sure these kids would be safe...
[WC: 958]