Neko: You can litteraly answer 'that's what the government wants you to think' to anything.
Sasuke: That's what the government wants you to think.
Cassandra: Come on guys, the shows about to begin.
Anyway the dumb blonde doesn't belong to author-sama, only me, Neko, Ireene and the others and our plot lines belong to her.
Enjoy the chapter. All I'll say is that auntie Mikasa knows something that we don't, how will red handle this new information.
Neko: ...Or that's what the government wants you to think?
Casandra: *sharply sighs exasperatedly* Enjoy
⟨AT THE MARKET PLACE⟩
Neko and I were walking down the seaside open marketplace "Like I said this town is very favorable in trade, but the inactive Caldera produces some of the most valuable minerals and riches; You can especially in that mountain-you know, the one we went through to get here."
"Yeah, I kinda thought so. I mean if the glowing stones didn't give it away" I lightly joked.
He smirked back -more like grinned like an idiot "Exactly red, Mikasa obasan said that's how they fund with the other exports also."
"She seems nice."
"Yeah, way nicer than that scumbag that's our father" Nico clenched his fists to the point they started to turn white, I grabbed his somewhat tense knuckle and rubbed it lightly making him relax a bit, meeting his eyes and giving a curt nod. "Yeah, you're right." he muttered "Arigatō"
I flashed one last bright smile at him and glanced and started humming to myself trying to find the right melody in my mind.
♪Shining bright, like the sapphire sky♪
♪Where it meets the ocean, shining like crystals under the day light♪
"What are you humming?" Neko questioned
"Oh, its just something I've working on."I answered
"It sounds nice. Did you come up with that all on your own?" he muttered, I nodded "How lucky am I to get such a talented friend." he complimented making me slightly blush.
A few minutes later Casey meet up with the other two "Sumimasen, sorry I'm late. Mikasa obasan wanted to tell me something important"
"Don't sweat it" I replied brushing it off
We walked though the limestone paved seaside marketplace. The streets were decorated with shops, veneers and stands; fishermen (and women) going around trading their catches with the locals and drifters alike.
"See the fisher men take their catches and sells them in and around the village. Some even go out to export the goods" Cas explained
Merchants selling jewelry and other goods made out of various mineral mined from the local area, like the pearls they collect from the captured clams and oysters.
"Jewels, sea glass and various other mineral mined from the inactive volcano or fished from the bay." Neko explained "My favourite is always the sea glass, it's a rarity worth the find."
A few restaurants, I could smell the delicious aroma from here.
"Mmmm, so many smells. we gotta try it out or I swear I'm gonna die" I exclaimed, mouthwatering and eagerer to sink my taste buds on the delicacies. 'I hope they are as good as they smell!'
They went to a nearby sushi place. Neko ordered a plate of takoyaki, Casey deiced on tamagoyaki, and Irene deiced to try what this place is known for, sushi.
'A few king crab rolls, a few California rolls, but a favorite of mine was their volcano roll. Besides the mist village, they have some of the freshest seafood around.' the redhead thought "This is delicious"
"I prefer the takoyaki-" the the male twin grinned "You should try some red."
Cassandra hit him upside down, "don't talk with your mouth full" she reprimanded
"Sorry" he sorrowfully groaned, then without shame proceeded to stuff his face with more takoyaki balls. Cassandra let out a small sigh/groan irksomely.
"So, you've been here before." I said, changing the subject.
"A few times" Neko replied
"but we stopped going a few years back, when-" her expression downcast and turns a bit gloomy.
"When your mother died, huh?" She nodded. There was an air of slight silence and awkwardness "Sorry I-"
"No, don't be" Casy cut me off with a slightly strained grin "its fine"
"Hey, Cas, how about-" Neko gave his sister a look that she seemed to catch on to, letting out an inaudible gasp and curt nod as if the two were having a mental conversation.
"Yeah, I get you brother." she exclaimed as she turned her gaze to me "How do you feel exploring a seashore cave?"
"Sounds interesting." I simply reply.
Shortly after they went to the shoreline and entered a small cave entrance at the edge of it. The trio walked a bit deep with the pitch black and dimly lit cave.
I'd be lying if I said it wasn't beautiful, It had a small cove deep within the cavern, the afternoon sun shined through an opening, it also had a crystal blue lake in the center and lied a small gazebo. The natural chakra I sense is astonishing. In my opinion it would be a good place to partake in senjutsu or harness the natural chakra around you. But the practice is also highly risky as well…or so I heard.
"Beautiful, right" Casey commented, breaking me from my train of thoughts.
"Most definitely" I nod as I took a glance around once more taking every last detail "The chakra is strong here, I can feel it."
"I never thought about that but yeah."
"See a few years back we initially found this place and I asked oba-san about it -even tho I didn't hear the end of it from mom and Cas that day- " he eyes a glaring Casey beside him "-they said it's where a shrine lies. One that belongs to us."
"interesting" the redhead mused
"Yeah, our clan my be small but it's one of the oldest, not as old as the Senju or Uchiha but still" he trailed off a bit "…and this is where they built a small shrine when they started to settle down."
"Though this maritime village didn't exist at the time. It was just barely a settlement then." Casey adds
"Mmm, Interesting" I hummed musingly
"This was worth coming out here for. Am I right or am I right" Neko exclaimed in a cocky tone, an equally smug ass grin to match.
"Idiot, baka" Casey deadpanned
"Why thank you dear sister" the boy gave a mocking bow
"It wasn't a complement"
"I know"
just shake my head at the sibling antics, clearing my throat and getting the two's attention "so-" I tilted my head to the side"-any more trivia about this place" I Inquisitively say.
"I don't believe so. Or at least I know of." Cas hummed
"Hey guys, look!" Neko called out
We both trotted over to him and followed his gaze. "Looks like it goes deeper" Casandra mused "so what, you wanna explore it" he shakes his head 'yes' and had an expression tht said something along the lines of 'uh-duh. Yes.'
"Maybe another time baby bro-"
"What, I'm older"
"-Mikasa-bachan would want to talk with Nya here. I'm pretty sure she knows something that none of us are aware of. Plus it'll be dark soon." Cas informs
"Ok, but can we at least cheek out the shrine?" he gestures with his thumb.
"I suppose" she mummers
Inside the small shrine had a couple small hearths near the back, the walls lined with milk white marble.
"Wow, magnificent"
"Yeah"
"One of the most beautiful temples I've seen"
The three took in the beauty of the stunning cavern temple.
"Hey Cas, look" Nico said grabbing a supposedly random scroll
"Nico!" Casey hissed "Put that back"
"But Cas, it could contain secrets on the clan, even we don't know" the male twin whined.
"So" she crossed her arms with a stern expression "Its not our problem"
"Aneki, have you ever wanted to know more, which Kaa-chan didn't tell us beforehand."
"I suppose" she mused
He grinned, clutching the scroll in his hand, stating "well looks like we have some light reading to do tonight."
Cassandra let out an exasperated sigh "you're gonna get us in trouble" she muttered, shaking her head tiredly.
"That's great, here" he shoves the scroll in her hand .
"Wait! Where are you going?!" she asked, confused.
"Exploring" he hummed back as he raced out
It took a couple seconds before realizing what he meant and started to chase after him "Hey, wait up! What did I say! When I get my hands on you I will…" she shouted, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"…Hey guy, don't leave me!" I exclaimed, chasing after the two.
A small stream flowing through the tunnel, in the direction of where she came from.
Soon she can to a spit in the tunnel, the steam continued through the right path.
I placed my hand the two split path ways and using my sensory abilities, concentrated my chakra down each of them; trying to locate both of my impulsive teammates.
Firstly, I went down the left tunnel that lead to a cave full of stalactites hanging from the celling.
"He must of went down the other one." I heard her voice bounce back from within the cave. It seethed with frustration and irritability. "When I get my hands on him he's so in big trouble. I'll turn him into a human pretzel if I have to. Oba-san is totally gonna kills us-" she let out an exasperated scream "-and I'm supposed to be the responsible one!" letting out another frustrated and echoing cry, concluding her existential monologue.
"Casey!" I called out
"Ooh. Uh sorry for running off like that" she muttered sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.
"it's fine" I replied
"C'mon, let's find Nico. Who knows what lerks in this cave" I pointed out
"Yeah," she nodded curtly "-and when we find him I'll make sure he doesn't do some other dumb thing." she declares
"Easy there" I chuckled "We don't want to give your aunt a heart attack if he comes back with a black eye and some bruises here and there."
"Don't worry she's seen worse" Cassandra joked
We walked back to the fork and went through the right tunnel this time. We heard an echoing wail and started to race down the tunnel.
The two girls arrived only to see a lanky man *cough* Orochimaru *cough* towering over a frighten Nico "Guys, I think this trip took a turn for the worse" he says a bit shaky, the two girls could hear the fear in his tone.
Orochimaru gave an evil grin, his eyes filled with hunger and a strange and twisted delight, licking his lips "Lookss like the whole gang isss here, how touching." he hissed like the snake he was, taunting.
"What are you doing here Orochimaru? Aren't you suppose to be in your slimy cave doing who knows what?!" Casey antagonized
"I really think now's not the time to get on anyone's bad side" I chastised through my gritted teeth, clenching weapons at the ready.
"Oh, look at the enthussiasm, girl" he feigned Intrigue "If you wish you can always join me. I'm always looking forward to new…volunteers " he says with those hungry eyes looking as if they bore themselves deep within Casey's soul. She bit back a retort, I'm not sure if it was out of fear or being a bit overly cautious, but it was clear from her inaudible gag that she was greatly disgusted -Wouldn't anyone in his presence.
"No in your messed up dreams" she sneered back "What Have you done to him you snake." Casey exclaimed harshly, venom seeping in her tone
"And why a lovely specimen his is, very well behaved and obedient he was." He said with one of those uncomfortable and mildly sick grins.
"Get your brother to safety leave him to me. I can stall-"
"-while you have all the fun, no why! We're in this together." she had a cocky grin plastered on her face.
"Have it your way then," I sighed defeated "but if I die I'm going to come back and haunt you." I jokingly threat "Now let's go save your brother and send this varmint home!"
"Right" she nodded and we then got in a ready position, getting out a few knives, infusing some chakra into them and charged. Throwing them, Orochimaru swiftly dodged her blades landed behind him as he slithered closer.
"Lighting style!"
"Water style!"
"lighting ball jutsu!"
"Ice Darts Jutsu!"
We said at the same time as a flurry lighting balls and water shots came flying at high speeds. Electrified steam formed and when the dust cleared he was no longer here to be seen. We heard a hissing, then we felt a shake from underneath us and Neko bursted out and decked Orochimaru giving some space from us and him.
"Thanks you jerk" Casey grinned.
What was a bit weird was that?
"Can't leave you two beautiful women hanging, now can I?" He smirked back
"Shut up." She pushes him away "Have Nya make sure your alright."
"Wait why me?!"
"Because our medical nin is down and I have a score to settle with a certain someone for messing with us" she mutters "I'm done standing by, no one messes with my brother except for me. Come at me you snake! I dare you." She declares, venom seeping from her words as she let out a small growl.
"Be careful what you wish for young Tsuigami" he replied with a devilish grin; And not that handsome devilish grin but in a more of a wicked and sadistic way.
The next second knives and other pointy objects were flying our way.
Neko shot a cocky grin to Cassandra "Don't underestimate my little sister"
"We're the s -Eh, never mind. Let's just do this." Casey shakes her head disapprovingly with a small eye roll.
"EARTH STYLE MUD WALL!" They both said at the same time, forming a giant wall of sediments formed, blocking the flurry of attacks as they fell to our feet.
The wall retracted and then immediately I mixed some water and lighting techniques attempting to paralyze and him. Orochimaru swiftly dodged my attack exploding behind him. 'tsk, curses' But then a sly smirk crept upon my face with a single thought as I glanced up and saw a coupe figures hiding elsewhere in the cave; I gave a small nod signaling that I've caught on to what there getting at. What he didn't see was that the siblings fired a twin lighting ball attack creating a small electrified dust cloud as the attacks collided with each other.
"Clever. I might have underestimate your potential" Orochimaru grunted through the pain he was currently feeling. Though -hate to admit it- I'd doubt it would faze him that much. "Hahaha you might have beat me thisssss time but I get what I want in the end." And like the snake he was he slithered back into the shadows deeper into the cave.
"Nico are you all right? What did he do to you?" the female twin exclaimed racing to her brother's side
Neko waved his sister away, "I'm fine sis; And I'm not sure he just caught me off guard, that's all." He assured, or at best brushes off
"Are you sure?" Cas raised a skeptical brow
"Yea, you guys haven't come when you did then I'd probably be his next guinea pig for some diabolical plan of his. Aneki he's after something, I just don't know what." he said, waving his hands exaggerating his point.
"He's always after something" scoffs Cassandra "C'mon, its getting late lets get out of here, and get you fixed up." she softly said, helping him back to his feet. The two got a head start back and I trotted behind them take in one last glance and saw a suspicious looking syringe with mysterious orange droplets sitting in the needle, gingerly picking it up, then take one last glance before following out of the cave.