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Rated T, for intense situation.
-ii-
From the Hokage's office Sarutobi looked out through the rain splattered window across his village, a smile playing on his lips. The buildings outside where washed in blues and shadows, ghosts in the storm. He fingered the traditional Kage hat in one hand and tugged at his goatee with the other. His robes were wrinkled from the day's use. The white of his hair and clothes stood in contrast to the night, and Sarutobi, for a moment, imagined himself like a beacon to the streets below. His pipe lay abandoned on the desk behind him.
It had been nine years since his successor died. Nine years that - compared to the Kyuubi attack - had few regrets to fill them.
"The village thrives, Minato," he mumbled.
'It would have been easier than this job,' he thought wryly - sacrificing himself, that is.
Tonight's downpour had ended the festival prematurely. 'Probably for the better,' Sarutobi decided with a stroke of his goatee. Flashy displays of fire manipulation, excess alcohol... the party element seemed too soon. Maybe he was being biased, it had been ten years.
A swift knock sounded.
"Enter," Sarutobi said, turning from the window.
A Hyuuga chuunin stepped in, tense and soaking wet. His eyes swept the room in a flash and then he bowed, saying, "Sir, an urgent message from Hyuuga Hiashi-sama." Sarutobi nodded for the man to continue; it wasn't often the council members bothered him on this day. "There has been an attempt on Uzumaki Naruto's life."
The air around Sarutobi hardened. "Continue," he ordered.
"The attack was no fatal. However, his vocal cords seemed to have lost function and his eyes have been gouged out. ...there was a lot of blood."
Sarutobi tightened his fists. His aged knuckles popped. "Where is Naruto now?"
"Hiashi-sama is taking him to training area 68," the chuunin said with a note of confusion; the Hokage felt no need to enlighten him.
"Good. Naruto has no friends in the hospital," he thought aloud. He pushed the longing for Tsunade's return from his mind. "What kind of attack?"
The messenger hesitated. "A kunai was used, I think. That is all I could identify."
It could be Konoha shinobi, as sickening as the thought was, but enemy nin were also a serious possibility. Still, the weapon proved nothing. It could just have easily been a civilian. "Why are you unsure?"
"A stampede could have been more accurate. Much of the... boy's... skin had sealed, but my Dojutsu showed cuts beneath the surface. I've never seen cuts like that to compare, but they seemed more like kunai injuries than anything."
The skin was already healed, that was expected, but what the messenger had said could easily be twisted into something frightening civilians. More than anything, the fact that Naruto was still alive indicated the attack was civilian, or purely hate motivated. He didn't need stories spreading to make people fear the boy more. "You are not allowed to describe tonight's events to anyone but myself and the clan head. The order goes for any other witnesses." The thought of being so extreme wearied him, but Sarutobi needed this man to take it seriously. "This also carries the death penalties."
The Hyuuga maintained excellent composure, bowing with a neutral face.
"Where was the attack?" Sarutobi prompted.
"District Eight. He was found just south of the markets."
Sarutobi didn't spot any message in the attack occurring there; it was merely a pseudo-slum near where Naruto lived. Dig deep enough and one can put anything together, but people making messages want them to be loud and clear, lest their work go to waste. More evidence against it being a political strike. Circumstantial, but still, he could use it to eliminate suspects. Sarutobi mused through his list.
He finally asked, "How long since the attack?"
"I could not tell you from the way his injuries heal."
Sarutobi nodded. "Be ready for your clan leader's orders, treat this as an emergency situation for the Hyuuga. I'm beginning a sweep of the area. I will discuss the matter with him once Konoha Police and my agents are coordinated."
"Yes sir." The Hyuuga bowed and ran out of the office and down the corridor.
The Hokage swept from his office to the secretary's desk. In the half-light spilling from his office he leaned over the desk its front he retrieved a headset. It activated with a fuz, red lights blinking to life. He cleared his throat and began, "ANBU and Konoha Police be warned, there has been an assassination attempt, time of attack unknown. Districts 7 and 5, join those in District 8. Sleeper units activate and strengthen the outer interception patrols."
The radio crackled back at him and a deep voice said, "D-7 patrol, orders confirmed."
A rare female voice followed, "D-5 confirms as well, converging."
"This is a state 4-c emergency, state 4-c-e."
-ii-
Itachi listened to the orders fuzzing through his ANBU radio.
'Two teams converging on my position? A 4c emergency'
The three tomoe of his Sharingan spun lazily in the downpour.
'Interesting,' he thought. The spin accelerated.
-ii-
"This is Patrol Command, awaiting orders Hokage-sama," a young and uneasy voice said in his headset.
'Rookies must be out tonight,' thought the portion of Sarutobi's mind not planning or raging.
"I need a private link," he said. He caught the sound of papers shuffling. 'An instruction manual?'
"It's just us talking now," the young voice replied a moment later.
"I need secure connection 4."
"Um, one moment..."
Sarutobi suppressed the impulse to rush into the night while he waited.
"Sir, the receiver of the call is not listed for that line," the controller said.
"It's not supposed to be," he replied - a touch too fiercely, he decided.
"Hai!" the controller shouted back. "Encrypting now, sir!"
The Hokage flexed his jaw to release tension.
"Connection established, I can no longer hear, sir."
"Hokage-sama," the contact said.
"Tenzo, it's not like Uchiha Itachi to fail his post; he was patrolling District 8. We may have a very poorly timed 'Uchiha incident'."
"I... see." A brief silence passed before Tenzo continued, "I thought he, of all people, was normalized."
"Appearances may have misled."
"Understood," Tenzo ground out. "I'm on my way." The click of the line disconnect followed.
It took the Hokage a little fiddling with the headset to reset the privacy filter. He returned it to his head and prompted, "Controller?"
"Hai!"
"Contact Houraisan Saesha, ask her to accept visitors at training area 68. Tell her I will be meeting her there shortly."
"Yes sir."
"Tell her 'no delays'."
"Yes sir."
"And do it respectfully. For your own sake."
"Yes sir," the answer came a little frail.
The Hokage removed his mic, secured his hat, and abandoned his office for the rain drenched night.
-ii-
Tenzo performed the hand seals for his visual melding jutsu. It was one of the few jutsu subtle enough with its chakra to avoid being a beacon to a Sharingan. In truth, it did little to hide him from an intent observer, but he would take every advantage.
He began moving from alley to dark alley. The thought of fighting a destabilized Uchiha - despite how many times he'd done it before - still sent his heart racing. Itachi was a particularly dangerous ninja, even at fourteen, and few had ever fought against his uncorrupted Sharingan.
The idea of a 'pure Sharingan' was oxymoronic. All Sharingan were corrupt or corrupting. The only thing that made Itachi's Sharingan different was the fact it was more dangerous, capable of taking more innocent lives than the Faded Sharingan the rest of his clan were stricken with. Tenzo had heard many stories of the clan threatening coup, claiming the Hokage had caused their dojutsu's weakening. He'd even heard some Uchiha talk about the time before the Fading, like it was their glory days. Like the Fading had stolen something good from them.
Streets passed by as he considered various scenarios and contingencies. The slum nature of District 8 played to his advantage, as well as the rain. It would keep people away, safe.
Several minutes later reach an intersection near the target, scanning each road in turn. He climb up an overfull dumpster and onto the roof instead of jumping - less chance of his chakra being detected. At the far edge of the building he took a breath, readied himself, and then scanned the intersection below.
His target, identified by the stylized markings of his animal mask, stood completely motionless in black ANBU robes. His head faced away; he probably hadn't noticed Tenzo yet.
He slid back and held in a curse. 'Completely still' could be a bad sign, maybe Itachi had destabilized. But his inspection didn't reveal any further warning signs. He couldn't be sure until the Uchiha was exposed to some stimuli. Tenzo let a breath slip from his lips.
Rain water began pooling unnaturally in front of Tenzo. It rose and took the form of the Hokage. Tenzo indicated the Uchiha's direction with a tip of his head. The Hokage nodded and placed his lips by Tenzo's ear.
"I'm meeting him now."
"He appears to be unstable," Tenzo breathed back.
"It's good to be on your guard, but don't cloud your mind with the past."
The words stung - if they had come from anyone else Tenzo would have ignored them, but this was The Professor. He pinched his eyes shut and nodded, and then looked to the image of his Hokage. The water clone gave a firm nod back that said 'get back to action', then the clone melted back into its element. Tenzo readied himself. A moment later the Hokage's voice echoed up through the rain.
"Report," the Hokage ordered. Now was the moment of truth.
"Teams D-7 and D-5 have not arrived yet. I have seen no one in the area, but I have remained stationary," the Uchiha said, voice muffled by his mask.
"Why have you done this?" the Hokage asked.
"I assume you want to check my mental state." It was not a question.
"Where is your partner?"
"ANBU allowed him the day off, feeling confidence in the peace of the night and my sanity," Itachi said.
They were wrong on at least one account, Tenzo thought, his heart rate climbing.
"This is an issue," Sarutobi said the key phrase.
Tenzo sped through nine hand seals and peeked around the corner to mark the target's location, then pulled back and activated the jutsu. Chakra flowed from him as Mokuton forced seedlings to shoot up around Itachi's feet. In an instant they wrapped their way up his legs into a full body bind. The limbs thickened. Tenzo re-suppressed his chakra and peeked into the intersection to check his work. It earned a small smile.
The Hokage approached the Itachi with a hand glowing green.
-ii-
Hiashi flew through the forest, Konoha far behind. Trails of rain fell through the shrouded canopy, washing blood further into his clothes every time he splashed through them. He blew out a soaked lock of hair from his mouth and blinked moisture from his eyes as he targeted the next limb.
He burst from the forest's edge into a clearing, an open field filled with tall grasses that whipped in the wind. Then he waited. Then shivered and held the boy closer to keep him warm, eyes scanning the night. He could go no further, not until allowed.
After a few minutes she appeared in the distance. Her diminutive form only came up to Hiashi's shoulders. Rain washed from her wide hat as she nodded to him. "Little Hiashi," her young voice greeted as she approached. A flinch slipped through his control.
"Saesha-sama, this boy is near death," he said.
"So I've heard," she said and her tongue tried to get some bad taste out of her mouth. "Saru had me informed. What's his name?"
Hiashi paused. He knew too little of how the woman's mind worked to predict or guide her reactions. He had few options anyway.
"Naruto."
She tipped her head to one side, causing rain to pour down the corresponding shoulder. A breath later she said, "Come," and returned the way she had arrived with Hiashi quick on her steps.
Soon three squat buildings arranged in a triangle came into a view. Saesha rushed through the door of the house, decorated in warm colors and light stained wood floors. They rushed between two smoking incense stands into an unlit living room. Saesha opened a trap door in the center where stairs led into blackness. She lifted her arm up, causing the baggy sleeve to fall away from her hand. The her hand bathed itself in fire chakra, an improvised torch, and they and descended. Hiashi would have preferred his Byakugan's sight to the wavering and insubstantial light she provided, but would not activate his dojutsu without permission, despite Uzumaki's body blocking each step from view.
It was the first time since he was a child that he had descend stairs blindly. He did so with aplomb.
The bottom of the stairs connected to a bare hallway. The light soon revealed a door marked 'Waiting' which Saesha held open for Hiashi. They headed through the furnishings straight toward a second door marked "Operation". Saesha placed her fire covered hand to an opening in the wall and then pumped her fire chakra in. It raced through the vein-like tubes tracing the walls and ceiling in spiraling designs. She continued until the light was at a medical level, revealing floors marked in several large and exotic fuuinjutsu matrices.
Saesha pointed to the center of one such elegant seal and ordered, "There."
Hiashi complied.
"Leave now," she said without looking at him. He headed for the door, but paused and glanced over his shoulder. He should be allowed to inspect, he decided as he watched her fly through seals. Saesha slammed her palms into activation points lighting the fuuinjutsu in a wash of green. Hiashi took one step out of the door, but held it open. She sent him a glare and he finnaly let the door close.
His brow creased slightly. He closed the lids on his pale violet eyes. Many things needed considering. Who would be attacking the demon boy? What did it mean for the future? A Junchuuriki was critical to Konoha's future, and possibly the Hyuuga, Hiashi decided. If he survived.
-ii-
Despite the sudden resurgence of a dead bloodline, and being completely bound by it, Itachi remained calm. Before the Hokage removed his ANBU mask Itachi released his Sharingan. The world faded to dreary smudges that normal vision offered on such a night. The Hokage placed a softly glowing palm on his revealed forehead.
When the warmth left he asked, "Does that satisfy you, Hokage-sama?"
The leader of Konoha nodded and said, "Wait until the D-7 and D-5 teams arrive, then join me at the center of training ground 68."
"Yes sir," was Itachi's soft response. "May I reactivate my Sharingan?"
With the question Itachi felt a subtle spike of chakra, the same one he felt as he was bound. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You may," the Hokage allowed.
Itachi spun his dojutsu to life, allowing him once again to enjoy the night. He briefly studied the Hokage's parting back, then replaced his mask. He gave the streets a discreet visual sweep. Nothing was revealed; his eyes narrowed further. With a deep breath Itachi crossed his arms beneath his robe and tipped his head forward to better shed the rain, and waited.
The water clone melted back into the downpour, orders delivered to Tenzo: 'observe Itachi until the other squads arrive'.
Several minutes into the wait a dark figured appeared far down a nearby alley, swatting at the rain. He stumbled and dropped to his knees. He lifted himself shakily and as he neared; Tenzo made out a kunai in his clenched fist. Tenzo tensed, his breath held and reflexes coiled.
Itachi, however, remained unmoving. The man closed the distance between him and the Uchiha until they were in the same alley.
"Don't come closer," Itachi ordered before his his robes flicked; a tagged kunai planted itself between the two men. Tenzo averted his eyes. The tag ignited in a great white burst. The familiar report of a flash-bang rung his ears.
His hands shot through the binding wood jutsu as stars faded from his vision. He held back the final seal as his vision finally cleared, checking the situation. The stumbler lay mid-seizure in the mud. Then the man stilled. Tenzo turned his focus to Itachi.
Itachi did not make a further move. Nor did Tenzo. He simply turned his head to look back the direction it had faced previously. Tenzo could not check the body, see if the man was dead; even the life of a civilian was not worth his discovery. Another died thanks to the Uchiha. Tenzo grit his teeth.
-ii-
Heart: 'Strong.'
Liver: 'No major toxic spills.'
Lungs: 'Blood clots, mild signs of burning, no punctures: Functional.'
Houraisan Saesha's hand, covered in chakra from her diagnostic jutsu, moved to the boy's head.
Frontal Cortex: 'No concussion, mild swelling, no immediate danger.'
Abdomen: 'Extensive burning and inflammation, irregular sub-dermal serration and muscle tears. ...odd.'
Internal jugular, anterior jugular, and carotid artery: 'Undamaged.'
The surrounding muscle tissue: 'Extensive burning, scattered sub-dermal serrations, severe inflammation.'
Eyes:...
Saesha ran the diagnostic over the region. Switched jutsu. Attempted direct chakra system stimulus. "Hell," she hissed.
-ii-
Hiashi carried Uzumaki from the operating room. He was careful to set the boy's head on a pillow as he placed him on the resting room's bed. Saesha came in behind him and covered Naruto's bandaged form with a light medical blanket.
For Hiashi, Naruto was a key to a political blockade. Since the Hyuuga's rise to the uncontested greatest clan in Konoha many of the minor clans had banded together with the sole discernible purpose of stalling every political move Hiashi made. Positions had been barred to Hyuuga who had overwhelming qualifications, genin team assignment recommendations had been doggedly opposed, and even minor adjustments in defensive shinobi deployment patterns had hit the political wall. It was senseless paranoia, and it was effective. Naruto could provide the key. Even if the minor clans refused to see, with the Hokage's support behind him Hiashi could pass many critical political agendas that benefit both the Hyuuga and Konoha as a whole. But, while Hiashi's mind was figuring out how to play the situation to his greatest advantage, another question was disruptively pushing its way through his thoughts.
He averted his eyes from the boy and asked, "Will he see or speak?"
"He will speak-roughly, for a few days, but back to normal by week's end," Saesha said.
Hiashi turned his gaze to her youngish face, prompting her to finish answering the question.
"Little Hiashi-"
Hiashi's jaw tightened.
"-would you check something for me? Activate your eyes and look at the chakra vessels in the boy's eyes."
Hiashi formed the hand seals deliberately slow, but thought better part way through and finished at normal speed. The world deepened, his eyes touching every part of the surroundings... the home was truly unique. Hiashi focused his mind away from the many fuuinjutsu and luminescent pathways tracing through the structure and on to the demon vessel's anatomy.
"The chakra pathways in his eyes are dark." Hiashi's tone hardened, "There's nothing flowing through them."
"I... thought so," Saesha said in a low tone. "Release your eyes please."
He complied. For Hiashi this was a very, impacting, development. A blind Jinchuuriki. That would change some of the future plans the Hyuuga clan had compiled.
"I will wait to give the Hokage the full report," Saesha said, indicating with her hand for him to leave. "I won't explain it twice; you may listen in."
Hiashi pulled the door shut behind him, a scowl pulling at his face. He moved to the chair he had occupied during Uzumaki's treatment but remained standing. Though the eye-gore hadn't turned his stomach in a visceral reaction when he found the boy, he still found something unsettling him on a deeper level. The memory of his long deceased wife, something he rarely heard from these days, asked, What if it had been our daughters?
Hiashi pushed such thoughts away. They weren't what he should be thinking about. But he found he couldn't banish all of the dark mood that had come over him.
–
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: It's been a while, baby!