Along Came a Spider
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(7/18/2018 Load date)
Disclaimer:
I do not own the anime or manga Naruto. This is a Fanfiction based upon my own imagined storyline being superimposed and imagined over the baseline characters of the Naruto Manga/Anime which belongs to Kishimoto-san. There is no gain financial or otherwise from this story, and I write to fuel only my own creativity.
The superimposed story , upon Naruto Characters, however is created by me. Please do not reproduce it nor post it elsewhere in any form.
Reviewers:
Note- I have dropped a line responding to all the great reviewers from chapter 1 below the story line today. Thank you all for leaving me a review. They do inspire me to write more- especially if they are more than just a word, or an update request. Thank you.
Last Time:
As he descended the stairs with a lazy prowl, the butler announced- "Itachi Uchiha!"
OOOO
Chapter Two: What Lies Underneath
Stunned glacial blue eyes took in the exquisitely handsome young man who descended the curving marble steps above the ballroom floor, exuding the aura of a king among peasants. His descending footfalls held a silence and grace that few could emulate. An underlying magnetism drew one's eye and held it. He was a beautiful man, though there was nothing effeminate in his form, behavior, nor gait. Izumi watched in admiring stunned disbelief, as the Uchiha Scion swiftly dealt with the toadying masses that fawned over him with their simpering welcomes, as he proceeded to make a progressive beeline towards the host of tonight's extravagant gathering- and the girl in whose honor it was held.
Ino.
This was not a coincidence, Izumi realized with a start; for this was not a man who was found at debutante balls willingly.
The significance of his presence tonight slowly filtered through her mind, and she began to process why he was here, and the subsequent possible outcomes and inherent repercussions; causing her normally soft limpid gaze to blaze with toxic jealousy. As she continued to witness the well orchestrated scene that had begun to unfold before her, Izumi found that her baseline flawless social poise had uncharacteristically fallen apart. Her well known iron clad self control was momentarily demolished, as her whole body shook and quivered in bitter anger & realization: Her brother's ambition knew no bounds.
So atypically lost in the moment was she, that Izumi never realized that she was being carefully observed.
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From the far side, his attention was riveted upon Izumi, despite his nonchalant air.
Carefully he observed her unusual agitation, as the Huyuga Matriarch's face shone with emotions she rarely allowed to see the light of day.
How very amusing.
He was a man who could slink in shadows, until he chose to show himself- a knack he often used to catch the unguarded unawares.
Dressed in all black, his slouch hid his significant height and muted his otherwise overpowering presence. Misleadingly drowsy, droopy dark eyes momentarily shed their mask of boredom, glittering with delight. He watched with rabid glee, as the esteemed Izumi Yamanaka- Huyuga's eternal armor of pleasant, faultlessly polite, and blandly perfect social manners fell to the wayside, in that unguarded moment of surprised realization. The mask that never budged had come off tonight, to reflect what actually lay below her normal façade. Her normally beautiful smiling face, had unconsciously twisted, reflecting the relentless churning emotions that were currently eating at her heart.
He was well aware of why….
Ahh- this was not a moment to waste….
He carefully straightened out from his characteristic slouch, as his usual air of boredom gave way to purpose. Snatching a flute of champagne from a passing server, he began to wend his way towards Izumi.
It appeared tonight would not be a dead bore after all. He allowed his lips to lift into a sharp smirk, as he silently held up his glass in a silent unacknowledged toast of gratitude to Itachi's back, before continuing towards the woman who would be on the receiving end of his acid tongue and razor mind tonight.
Around him, other attendees (of prominent Konoha families and visiting socialites) were also recovering from the shock of Inochi's unprecedented move to capture Ino the most eligible of husbands. However, none would feel the sting of his words as much as Izumi, the former Yamanaka heiress and current Hyuga Matriarch would.
It was a well hidden fact, that Izumi and Ino Yamanaka despised one another.
He smirked in pride that he himself was one of the more intimately aware members of their society. The false projections would never mislead his instinctual ability to find the truth that lay underneath it all.
The potential fallout of piercing through Izumi's armor at this moment (as her weaknesses were nearly non-existant) was extremely high. The fallout, if he successfully shattered Izumi's security over this, could be fatal.
This was a golden opportunity; one he would not lose out on. After all, it had been uncharacteristically dull of late. Tonight had finally broken the monotony of everything.
His lips curved up in a jagged smile; a smile that sent those who saw it, running away from his path. He forced himself to meander towards her, approaching from the side, so that he would not set off any warning bells prior to reaching her, while being simultaneously allowed full view of her uncensored reaction as he wend his way towards her. Forcing himself to dampen his excitement, he leisurely strolled up behind the Hyuga Matriarch, effectively catching her unaware, just as he planned. His eyes creased with misleading glee.
His anticipation for her reaction was soooo delightfully amusing.
As he slowly stalked towards her back, he allowed himself (in a rare moment) to reflect, that what he planned to do was unkind, and sure to stir up the pot.
It could lead to casualties…..
Ah well….
He mentally shrugged; easily putting his conscience away. He was well aware that would not deter him in seeking his entertainment with her tonight.
As a man, (whose skill at observation and analysis allowed him to realize what lay underneath the proper façade of his society), he found great amusement in smashing the comfort zone of those who hid themselves in the shadows of propriety, to ensure that no one could hide their true intentions from him.
The pleasure of watching his words draw blood, followed by the predictable outcomes of reactive fear and actions taken in self preservation was what he enjoyed most. It was that, which gave him his feared reputation.
It was why he was so despised and yet appeased and pandered to by Kohona's elite society.
If Kohona named its Corinthian ring leader, it would have been him, Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi was the man who led the wealthy popular socialite elite of Kohona by setting and upholding the soft standards of the elite- the things that money could not buy. His opinion and favor could elevate you to social success, while by the same turn, his disfavor would eliminate you from its esteemed ranks. Money alone was not enough to truly belong amongst their ranks, and the man who held the whips at the gates of entrance was he. Without his stamp of approval, you could not belong- and his judgment would lead the other sheep of their society to follow. It was a role he had cultivated with great care after his prodigal younger self had turned around the his own family fortunes and reputation; to become the merciless ring leader of the upper crust's cultured stylish, wealthy elite .
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Izumi stood observing her neice, Ino- blushed like a peach, while exuding an air of artificial innocence, while Inochi introduced the tall lean handsome Uchiha heir.
It was apparent by Inochi's ability to ensure Itachi Uchiha had shown up tonight, and by this current obvious introduction, where the goals of this entire night's extravaganza lay.
In the past, like many other nations, Kohona had had a past tradition of arranged marriages. However, in their elite social circles, that had fallen out of vogue, and most families allowed their children to find their own partners with the hopes of love and happiness for their child.
The Uchiha Clan however, were an exception. The current Uchiha elder had spent over 6 decades using marriage as an instrument of financial and political advancement. While some of it worked with both parties meeting and falling in love, it was always brought about by careful introductions. After all, marriages helped widen the web of connections for the Uchiha in ways mergers and acquisitions would not.
While it was years too early, Inochi was angling to play off this fact it seemed, to pave the road for Ino. Therefore, tonight's orchestrated event could not be taken lightly; After all, most parents did not have the drive her brother did- nor the ambition her niece displayed.
Izumi felt frustration build like a tidal wave within her. She had an unfortunate past history with Itachi Uchiha. It was a night in which she had seduced an 18 year old young man in an act of spite and revenge against his mother, Mikoto Uchiha, who had taken something precious from her. It had been a mistake on Izumi's part. The repercussions of her past with Itachi, along with her ongoing silent attempts to oust her niece from the circle of power within the Yamanaka clan were sure to ensure that Izumi herself would take a tumble socially and politically if things played out as her brother hoped. That was not withstanding the impact it had for her husband's family on a separate level.
Izumi began to feel lightheaded. All she could hear was her heart pounding in her ears, like a racing drum. She consciously became aware that counter measures needed to be taken, and ideas filled her mind in rapid succession, as she searched desperately for a way to counteract this power play, which Inochi, her brother had initiated.
Izumi's frown deepened, as she watched Ino's feigning of quiet sweetness, and virginal innocence- seemingly oblivious to the significance of her introduction to her elite handsome guest.
For anyone watching, who didn't know better, they would wrongly assume that Ino was a fragile ,tender beauty of culture and breeding, who was perfect in nearly every way. Unless they had been on the receiving end (of Ino's true persona), they would never think to assume that the fairy- like blond, whose sultry beauty drew every eye tonight, with her polite manners (which seemed nothing but pleasing),was a poisoness vicious snake. One who was waiting coiled and tight to attack anything and anyone who was in the way of her ascent to the top.
Even Ino's own brother had not been spared- though Deidara was a fool, whose affection blinded him towards realizing the real reason he had been banished years ago. It was ironic in a man so otherwise intelligent- though unsurprising as most men were fools when it came to a beautiful woman, even if it was their own sister.
Inochi adored his daughter and her ambition- as vicious as it was. Her brother was obviously aware of his daughter's attempts to overthrow Deidara's ability to lead Yamanaka Corp, as the eldest and as the male heir. Ino had done so, at a ridiculously tender age- where one would doubt if she had even realized the import of her cunning tattling and bewildered shedding of light upon her teenage brother's sins.
Apparently realizing belatedly, that he had fallen for her attempt to discredit her brother to gain control of Yamanaka Corp, Inochi had obviously decided not to waste her ambition. Izumi wondered how he had deduced that his daughter would be well suited to lead the nest of vipers that consisted of the Uchiha clan. Mikoto Uchiha's reign until her death 4 years ago was a prime example of how wretchedly capable a Uchiha martiarch could be. Her equally wretched niece would feel right at home, and fit in quite well, she supposed.
However, Itachi was a man forged in the shadows of Mikoto Uchiha's sins- and if there ever was a man who would recognize Ino's particular brand of vicious beauty – it would be him. Izumi was intimately aware of the Uchiha heir's intelligence first hand, and found herself hopeful that this would be the case. Would Ino be able to fool him? Would he fall for her pretty pretty face and sweet sweet words?
Izumi (by siding unequivocally with Deidara) had made an enemy of Ino, during the years of Deidara's banishment.
She had stood against Ino's grasping- and had been instrumental in holding back her father and Inochi's initial reaction to change the inheritance by replacing Diedera permanently at the time. This had been the reason it had been so simple to fix the issue years later, when her nephew's brilliance had worked in his favor, to return to the fold again. Since Ino had been groomed, but not allowed to inherit legally Yamanaka Corp as her right, it had not been difficult to allow Diedera back in. Her niece had never forgotten this.
Compounding Izumi's issues was her own unfortunate past intimate history, with the handsome male her brother was angling to catch for Ino. Given these issues, and Ino's tendency to skillfully annihilate those in her way (whether in the way of men or wealth), Izumi was currently finding herself in an unexpected moment of toxically filled self preservative concern and bitter jealous loathing for what she was observing. It was unacceptable for Itachi Uchiha to possibly become Ino's future spouse. Izumi would have to find a way to divert this outcome immediately.
So immersed in her private moment of hell was she, that she had failed to notice the man who had emerged from the shadows, with the silence of a cat stalking its prey. He sidled up behind and beside her, quietly observing the scene she had been reacting to.
Leaning in towards her left ear conspiratorily, he whispered "Tut,Tut - Izumi- chan. One might get the impression you are not happy for Ino Chan…Hm?"
He was most satisfied with how her entire body stiffened in shock and belated realization of what she might have shown in her unguarded moment.
With dread, Izumi belatedly realized that someone was standing right beside her. Eyes jerked to her left, taking in with a sinking heart, the individual's careless slouch and gravity defying silver hair. His handsome face confirmed whom she was going to have to deal with tonight. Apparently, she had been observed by, and had the misfortune of being caught unaware by the rapier sharp mind of Kakashi Hatake.
Nonchalantly, with a false sense of careless detachment surrounding him, he continued with an unaffected air of disinterest, "You should be careful how you watch them."
Bending down while leaning in towards her further, as if stating a great secret, he conspiratorially whispered, "One would assume you are not happy to see your niece possibly land the most eligible of bachelors?"
Despite his verbalized external tones of concern, there was a jarring amusement that shimmered in the undertones of his voice. He had not met her eyes, as he leaned back, carelessly propping his shoulder against the pillar she had been standing beside, returning his posture to its trademark slouch, while he observed Itachi taking Ino onto the dance floor. His amusement had banked, as he continued to observe how well the couple fit together in graceful movement.
Izumi turned , tearing her eyes off the same scene, and noted that Hatake-san's eye lids had drooped half mast, in apparent sleepy disinterest. Despite his feigned disinterest, Izumi knew nothing would get past Hatake Kakashi's well honed instincts and observations. His handsome face was a mask of jaded boredom, however there was a cruel glee that underlay his concerned advising as his eyes slid to the side, observing her.
Hurriedly, Izumi schooled her face back into one of blank politeness, belying the rapid racing of her heart at being caught out by the likes of him. She emulated his feigned polite disinterest, hoping he would lose interest and move away soon. Perhaps Hatake san was in a forgiving mood ?
Kakashi silently observed her before straightening out a bit to face her.
Izumi realized that Kakashi's dark gaze had sharpened upon her, and she rapidly surveyed the surroundings, noting that the Subaku Matriarch, Chiyo had been close enough to have perked her ears, while watching them carefully. Thankfully Chiyo had not moved towards them. Izumi cursed the old woman's awareness, while fighting down her inner panic.
Hopefully she could play this off. Perhaps he had not seen much, and was fishing for information- as he was want to do.
Turning more to face him fully, Izumi smiled sweetly at him, hoping her beauty would dull his rapier sharp tendencies (as unlikely as it was).
She sweetly noted, "Good Evening Kakashi Kun. Of course not! You are surely teasing?" Shrugging she continued," I will always be happy for the success of the Yamanaka clan."
"Ah- would you now?" he sardonically drawled, carefully observing her- then purposely looking towards where Itachi danced with Ino. "Itachi-kun is a most observant man." Kakashi looked back at her mockingly-" You need not worry that he is unaware of your concerns…."
He observed her carefully, "though I suppose your life will be hell if they marry and she ever finds out about your own little rendezvous, hmm?"
His careless eyes languidly observed her, dissecting her open as he watched the full thrust of his knowledge hit her.
Izumi had turned as white as a sheet.
Smirking, Kakashi pushed away from the pillar, "Be careful , – we wouldn't want that to get out now, hm?" He then pushed past her quickly moving on, now that the damage was done.
….Afterall, he wouldn't wish to be the one who had to catch her, when she fainted- as it seemed she was going to do.
OOOO
Danzo Shimura was a man who had made an unknown fortune with his private warfare enablement firms, that supplied well trained military might and manpower for hire to its highest bidders among multiple nations. Hiashi Hyuga ran the vast Hyuga banking enterprise, and had been interested in the investment options of such an enterprise. He had been in deep discussions with Danzo, when Itachi Uchiha had arrived. With the appearance of the Uchiha Scion, of course, their conversation had turned towards the reasons regarding his sudden appearance tonight, and its implications in their narrow world of business and wealth. Inochi was showing his hand, and early indeed. Ino was just turning 17 while the Uchiha Heir was only 24.
However, Hiashi had been caught off guard when a commotion across the ways caught his attention. It appeared his iron willed wife, who was the queen of social propriety, had fainted. It was unbelievable that anything tonight or ever, could have moved Izumi to lose consciousness. His wife was as stoic as they came, even when faced with the greatest loss or shock.
Swiftly, he pardoned himself from the circle of men whom had joined him and Danzo tonight, and rushed to Izumi's side. It appeared they would have to leave early tonight.
As he neared Izumi, he noted the Yamanaka staff were being directed by Madame Chiyo Subaku , who was most well versed medically and felt himself relax a tad. Chiyo would have known if more emergent attention was required for his wife. However, despite feeling relieved, he wondered just what had caused this tonight, and could only hope it was mere dehydration and fatigue- as unlikely as that would be.
A frown marred his face. He would have to ensure what was going on between the Yamanaka and the Uchiha. It would not do to allow them to cut out the Hyuga through marital bonds. However, in this case, it would be extremely bad taste to consider offering Hinata up in lieu- but he would have to think on it. However, he was well aware that his wife would never allow it. Izumi would never allow her child to marry Mikoto Uchiha's spawn, and Hiashi was well aware that he was to blame.
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It was past midnight by the time Itachi was able to extricate himself , after having delivered sufficient attention and time to his hosts (and their guests), for it to not have been considered rude.
With a simple tap onto his smart phone, Kisame had been notified to meet him at the entrance- via the specific app developed intentionally for that purpose by the Uchiha.
By the time he stepped out of the massive double doors of the mansion into the biting cold of the night, Kisame was already parked at the curb-front, car warmed, door open and waiting.
Itachi, swiftly descended the stairs, with a smooth rapidity that somehow failed to appear rushed. Kisame watched, never failing to be amazed by the speed yet elegance of his employer's movements. He fought to hide the smirk of amusement that wanted to make its way onto his face, as he realized that Itachi's swiftness was not only due to the cold, but more likely to leave behind the odious society toads who had followed him outside in an attempt to continue their pandering and requests.
Seated comfortably, as the car began to move, Itachi stared out into the darkened night , contemplating the outcomes of tonight's party and its public introduction of him at Ino Yamanaka's coming out birthday ball.
XXX
Kisame turned the car smoothly around another bend of the Yamanaka drive, as he drove back down and out towards the main gates, so they could merge onto the main road. Having been with Itachi since boyhood, he could tell that now was not the time to ask what was on Itachi's mind. However, Kisame had picked up quite a bit of info while he had sat chatting amongst the other private chauffeurs tonight. He could only imagine where Itachi stood, on being brought in to display as a potential mate.
The Yamanaka had miscalculated, Kisami mused. Inochi Yamanaka would have been better off initiating a private meeting between his daughter and Itachi, than to force it in such a public setting. However, Kisame could derive that the man wanted to ensure he had staked a claim publically. It was likely why Inochi had moved Itachi to come to such a public venue to meet first, where the Yamanaka heiress would be set to dazzle in both her beauty and in her wealth and connection. First impressions being important and all that….
It was also ideal, as Itachi would be forced to concede to this public meeting as well as to further meet ups with the Yamanaka Heiress, as the Uchiha needed their partnership.
Kisame grinned a feral smile to himself; Even the Uchiha elders struggled to control Itachi.
Itachi was intensely private. He was one of the few Uchiha who despised the social games the elite played and often intentionally refused to make life easy for those who tried to corner him into getting something done.
You could tame many creatures- but never a shark, Kisami mused humerously. While you could put it in a tank, and hold it, you could never domesticate it. Unlike a Dolphin or even an Orka, a shark would never allow you to think to train it further. It would never submit to performing little acts. It would have its own mind and goals, and would still bite you the moment it was able to. Itachi had been raised by people who constantly tried to push him into doing the actions others wished for, by trying to cage his independent streak and enforce his choices by moving him with familial ties or public positioning. It had never worked.
Inochi, it seemed would have to discover this the hard way.
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To my Reviewers- Thank You!
Nicholasha- Thank you for the corrections. I did edit the names as soon as I saw your review. Thank you. And yes, it is apparently ballooning into a multi layered cake- One that I hope I can finish and simultaneously keep fluffy... wish me luck. Thank you so much for your review.
Itachan- Hn. How perceptive... Thank you for the review.
Caipher- Hope my spacing is a bit better this chapter? Thank you for the feed back- and for taking the time to review!
Esther HimeChan- Yes Ino is a strong character here. Itachi and Sakura will meet- but give me a bit of time to build up the story. It is not only fluff (though that will definitely be there). Thank you for taking time to review!
ShelllyC- Thank you for taking time to drop a review- They make my day.
Guest, mbravesgirl7, and Desiree- Thank you for all dropping a review. I appreciate it.
