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Sasuke's POV (Northern Mountains of Irminsul - Terra)
Sasuke felt his left eye twitch in annoyance as Muri silently chuckled. 'Rib Sucker and Spleen Feaster… these truly are beasts.' Sasuke thought disappointedly. "That is only as expected. Begin leading us through your home."
"First, I must ask if you are looking for something particular." Rib Sucker spoke with wisdom his name would not suggest he was capable of. "It may save us time or smooth matters over."
Sasuke smirked, happy to clash their mind with something with intelligence. "We are here due to a rumor, I'm sure many of you know. As you can both see and doubtless have heard, humans have been summoned into Irminsul. We have followed to find them and find out who has done such."
Rib Sucker nodded his head slowly. "I could promise you with ease that the only humans we have run into have been yourself. I assume our hunting party attempted to consume you and failed. I recognize that a human-like yourself looks down on such, but it is merely how we live."
Sasuke's Sharingan did allow him to read body language, but reading animals versus persons was night and day. "I would check anyway. You may be as honest as you say, but I cannot take this risk."
Rib Sucker sighed at such. "I was hoping to avoid such; within our home are our possessions and young; if you were to venture inside, even with the blessing of Spleen Feaster, there is a decent chance my Kin will attack. They do not have the same wisdom as I do." The weasel explained.
Sasuke barely reacted. "I will check, and I expect your compliance. Make no mistake; I do not need it. Force my hand, and all parties involved will perish—survival of the fittest, as it were."
Rib Sucker eyed the Uchiha down before eyeing his leader. "The choice is yours, Spleen Feaster. Should you order it, we shall kill these two regardless of price; that includes your life. Or shall we cooperate?"
"THIS DAMN HUMAN! COOPERATE! I SHALL NOT DIE!" Spleen Feaster roared with angry indignance.
Rib Sucker nodded and gestured with his head for their group to follow. Sasuke and Muri did so at a distance; though Sasuke summoned a Shadow Clone to watch their back. Certain if the weasels saw the chance they'd go for the kill. Slowly, the small group was allowed through the massive crowd of guards. Traversing their home with a tense promise of violence.
Sasuke drew close to Muri and whispered to the large-form raccoon. "Can we take them at their word?" He asked Muri silently.
"Within reason," Muri whispered back. "Most clans wouldn't risk their leader. However, his warning was no joke. Many of the Irminsul inhabitants are more primal than I and others. Especially these savages. So there is a chance they forgo common sense and kill us fully."
"As opposed to partially killing us?" Sasuke asked with a raised brow. A small amount of a smile showing on his face.
"How are you possibly relaxed?!" Muri whispered harshly. "Do you enjoy the threat of death or the spectacle of violence?!"
"No, neither," Sasuke answered with ease. "It's only that I have spent years preparing myself to do what's necessary for my ambition. Regardless of odds or likelihood, I continue to move forward. For it is as simple as simply doing what I must." He continued. "That is what it means to be a man with ambition. One that refuses to give up on their dreams, even if they must crush someone else's…"
The two went silent as they explored the cave system, both recognizing that focus may very well spare their lives here. Behind them trailed about a dozen weasels, who seemed calm now but pointedly kept close. In front of them, they saw several small holes being used by various weasels. It was clear they were utterly surrounded.
"Those tunnels lead to our individual bedding areas," Spleen Feaster explained bitterly. "They have too few passengers for you humans to fit. Even if your friends were brought there, I assure you, you would not want to see it."
"Indeed." Rib Sucker chimed in. "Though, as I stated, we have seen no humans other than yourself. If we did we'd be preparing meals and not sending out hunting parties."
"No food storage or prisons?" Sasuke asked bluntly.
"No need!" Spleen Feaster answered arrogantly. "We hunt for all our food. Besides foolish human, do you not know meat spoils, I wonder if your's ever will have the chance too…" He finished in what seemed to be what he thought was a subtle threat.
"Perhaps so," Sasuke replied calmly. "We'll see…"
The group continued in silence as they traversed the cave system. The tunnels were bare except for the floors, covered in an odd furs that were cut roughly, as if they were ripped off their owners instead of flayed. Seemingly being mere skins poorly sewn together. There were also several human effigies on occasion. Only bones by now, but had certainly once been macabre displays of rare catches. And Sasuke couldn't help but notice the number of Weasels slowly increased as they traveled. Making the idea of a peaceful, noncommittal retreat after this unlikely as hell.
The crowd in front and behind them seemed to grow as Sasuke dutifully checked each corridor. Even ordered weasels to clear out the ones he and Muri couldn't access. The Uchiha were not blind to the growing tension of their innumerable enemies before them.
It seemed that as their numbers increased, so did their agitation. For they writhed and sounded with fury as time progressed. Slowly, they drew closer and bolder, Spleen Eater encouraging them all the while. Muri seemed incredibly panicked, seemingly realizing how unlikely their chances of escape would be.
Sasuke, however, did not mind; he had known even with a hostage, these foul creatures' patience would not hold. It would've been foolish to come this deep without a backup plan. Besides, it was becoming clear Rib Sucker had been honest with his declaration of their innocence. But before he could do so…
"Rib Sucker, was it?" Sasuke asked patiently.
"Yes, filthy human." Rib Sucker replied.
"It's become clear you do not hold my allies. However, I must ask if you could point me to the nearest clan. I intend to return your leader and investigate them." Sasuke explained.
"Fortunately you have seen reason. The closest clan to us would be our rivals, the Moon Crescent Bear Clan. They are shockingly close to us, merely southward a hundred or so meters, they've been steadily drawing closer as our war intensifies. We'd be happy to escort you once you've freed Spleen Feaster. Hopefully, you are as much a menace to them as you were to us." Rib Sucker offered.
The Uchiha made a mental note of such before Sasuke stopped walking, everyone inside the cave system stopping as well. "That sounds kind, Muri, the weasel, if you will." Muri handed him over as Sasuke eyed the weasels gleefully, forming a large group as they stared hungrily at the two of them. Seemingly more excited for their living shield to be gone. "Though it seems you plan to devour us regardless."
"It's a shame you didn't believe me." Rib Sucker said sadly suddenly. "Could've lived longer. We of the Snow Weasel Clan often switch leadership; while a tragedy to lose our leader, the weasels will settle if it is to enjoy the exotic treat of human flesh."
"A trap, then," Sasuke answered. As Muri panicked, Sasuke merely prepared his countermeasure.
"RIP THEM APART!" Spleen Feaster gleefully shouted.
"GO!"
Sasuke merely sighed as he placed a hand on Muri. Still holding onto Spleen Feaster, who was raving for their death madly all the while. "Shame I had intended to keep my word. Though it seems your own was not to be trusted. No matter, a Uchiha always has a backup plan. Hopefully, the bears have what I'm looking for, have more sense than yourselves, and enjoy your leader as a welcome gift. Goodbye." As Sasuke finished, the group leaped through the air. So numerous and massive the falling cloud of death there would be no defending or dodging.
However, it mattered little once Sasuke and the group burst into smoke. Leaving behind nothing but a pile of confused weasels.
Rib Sucker could merely gawk as he realized the group had lost their meal and their leader. They would be angry and in need of a scapegoat. Perhaps a certain elder who had led them down this path…
He trembled as the confusion of the pile and other hungry weasels gave way to anger… their hungry and angry eyes locked onto the elder weasel. He began to mutter a defense, it was a doomed effort, and it soon gave way to screams. As the Snow Weasels started their promised meal, though their course had changed wildly…