A day had passed and yet Hanabi did not wake up yet. Hanzo is currently the one assigned to guard her while Shizuka had her turn to rest after taking care of the sick scarlet ninja.

Hanzo stares at Hanabi's sleeping face and wondered what could she possibly be seeing in her dream for she looks so peaceful.

Just then, Hanabi flinched when her nightmare starts to haunt her once more. This time, not only her father came crawling dead to her. She saw her mother, covered in blood, she saw her grandfather and cousin and the villagers. She saw them crawl out from their graves and came walking towards her asking her to save them from pain. She wanted to move but her feet are rooted on the ground. She wanted to scream but her voice wouldn't come out. She felt their hands on her, digging their nails on her bare skin begging to be saved.

Hanzo noticed the weird behaviour of the sick ninja. Unmoving, unnatural sweating, and abnormal breathing.

"Hanabi!" Hanzo woke her up from her sleep.

Hanabi opens her eyes but she can no longer see anything. She is blind once again and it made her situation even worse. She held Hanzo's warm hands and tightly hold on. Her sobs once again took over her.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me for being weak."

She tried to calm her nerves but she couldn't do so. Her fears start to devour her especially that all she could see is nothing but the darkness. She starts to feel numb and cold, her breathes became short as if she is being suffocated. She tried to move her fingers and toenails to stop her panic attack but it was too late. She no longer has the ability to control her body. Her skin and lips grew pale like that of a dead person.

Despite the fact that she has her eyes wide open, she could not see a single ray of light, instead, she could see the darkness taking form. It was like it is becoming huge in size and is coming right at her.

Hanzo wrapped his hand around hers to keep her hands warm. Hanabi wanted to scream for help for the darkness is coming to devour her but she could not find her voice. The akuma ninja decided to retrieve the black power he has set on her, giving Hanabi back her eyesight. Just then, the scarlet ninja, slowly, started to calm down as she finally could see.

"Rhino head," she mumbled as she dropped weak, having Hanzo catch her before she could fall on the floor.

"Are you feeling a bit okay now?" the akuma ninja asked while Hanabi is leaning down on his shoulder. He felt her nod in response.

"What happened?" Shizuka asks who just finished washing up after her sleep.

"She had a panic attack," Hanzo replied as she laid her back down on the bed.

"Panic attack?" Shizuka questioned. "What is that?"

"It's when your own fears come to haunt you," Hanzo simply replied. "Anyway, it's your turn to guard her."

After an hour, Shizuka went to check on Hanzo. He was in a deep sleep so she took this chance to wake Hanabi.

"Shizuka, what is it?" the scarlet ninja asks in a weak manner.

"Can you stand?" the assassin asks back. "We have to hurry."

Hanabi got the grasp of what Shizuka is saying so she stood with her help and they both made their way out of the rent house. Shizuka led the way to the back of the house where two horses are waiting.

"I cannot afford a carriage so please bear with the horse," Shizuka informed her companion as she helps her get on.

"This is good enough," Hanabi replied.
The two made their way to the Shadow sect village which would take two days of travel.

"Shizuka, why are you doing this?" Hanabi asks.

"For forgiveness," she replied. "My father did rebel against our own clan and yet I chose to believe his lies. Hanabi, we have to get back to the Shadow sect village. It is the best place to ask for help."

"But they'll just force marriage on me, Shizuka," Hanabi retorted. "I already have the blessing of Amaterasu and I have already killed the Kiras so why should we go back there? Maybe we could handle Hanzo together."

"Yes, you did receive those power from Amaterasu but as of the moment, no matter how many we are, no matter how we outnumber Hanzo, we cannot defeat him. He has Hanekage with him and not to mention that Izanami is on his side, we have no chance to win against him. We cannot win in a battle against him but we could suppress his power," Shizuka explained. "That is the only way we can have a slight chance of winning."

Hanabi knew it as well so she stood quiet and decided to follow through with Shizuka's plan. But the scarlet ninja could sense Shizuka's hesitance about her own plan.

"Shizuka, why does it seem like you are hesitant?" she finally asks. The assassin whipped her horse so it could ran faster, Hanabi did the same to be on the same pace as her. The scarlet ninja saw her companion's tears being blown away by the strong wind.

"Because it truly pains me to betray the man I love," she whimpered.

Hanabi felt sorry for her but at the back of her mind, she felt somewhat jealous for a reason she does not know.

"So she likes rhino head," she thought to herself. Hanabi shook her head to focus on their way rather than has her mind thinking of something else.

On the second day of their travel, Hanabi felt something dark and for sure, it is not something good. She stood on her feet and shook Shizuka awake.

"What is it, Hanabull?" Shizuka complained half-asleep. Hanabi narrowed her eyes on her and wanted to slap her but this is no time to joke around.

"We've got to hurry. I could sense something dark and we have to be in the Shadow sect village as soon as possible. Rhino head must have known of our escape, if he rushes after us, we're doomed," Hanabi explained.

Shizuka gulped in fear so she immediately stood and they are once again back on their track. At full speed, they managed to reach the village by dawn.

Hanabi hurriedly got off her horse and ordered Shizuka to head to the main house of the chief and tell him of the situation. She went to Kagura's house and barged in her room.

"Kagura, wake up! Wake up!" she shook her until the Soryu Maiden opens her eyes. Upon seeing Hanabi, she immediately awoke and fixed her hair.

"Hanabi, what the hell are you waking me up for so early in the morning?" she ranted.

"We really need your help right now, Kagura," Hanabi replied. "Get up, get up!"

Kagura obliged for she sensed the rush and worry on Hanabi's voice and knowing her, she is not the type of woman who would do a prank like this. The moment she finished preparing, Hanabi immediately grabbed her hand and rushes out of the house. Their next stop is Hayabusa's place.

Hanabi, being herself, kicked the door open and rushed to Hayabusa's room. She yanked the blanket off of him and yet again, his six pack abs greeted her.

"This ain't the time to ogle on those delicious square mochis," Hanabi mumbled to herself and shook Hayabusa like crazy until he woke up.

"I wonder if Hanzo also have those same square mochis," Hanabi thought but she shook her head to think straight for it ain't the time to think such thoughts.

"What the hell are you here for?!" Hayabusa grunted.

Hanabi grabbed the assassin's gears and threw it right in front of him.

"Hurry and change before rhino head comes. We've got a plan to weaken him so hurry up," Hanabi replied fast as she pushes him inside the bathroom.

"Rhino head? Who is that?" Hayabusa asked as he stands up lazily.

"Hanabi, can you explain what is going on?" Kagura asks.

"I shall do that if we are gathered up. For now, you have to prepare for you have the biggest task," Hanabi replied.
Hayabusa finished so they all ran to the chief's house where Shizuka and Chief Haruno with his troops are waiting for them.

"We've got to relocate," Hanabi remarked. "The village has no chance of surviving if we fight Hanzo here."

Doing Hanabi's suggestion, all of them marched outside the village. Hanabi felt the stronger force of darkness coming towards them.

"All of us shall distract Hanzo. Shizuka and I shall charge towards him when he comes up. Hayabusa, use your Quad Shadow in order to trap him even for a short moment. Kagura, you must keep your eyes on him and if he tries to summon a black smoke, that is the perfect time you attack with your Seimei Umbrella. Use your demons to trap Hanekage first before he transforms into a dragon. As much as possible, Hanekage must be stopped before he turns into his original form," Hanabi ordered.

They all nodded in response and they all witnessed the sky turned dark. Everyone is on their fighting stance, waiting for Hanzo's appearance.

Hanabi tightens her grip on her kunais as she felt the presence of her nemesis.

"What a crowd," Hanzo chuckled as a bloody aura surrounds him.

AN:
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