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I only own my Original Characters, plot work, relationships and events that are not already canon.
Thank you.
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二
two
the race
The sky sobbed above them, relentless tears that mirrored her own turbulent emotions. The usual comfort she found in the storm, was hidden away. Anger and fear had taken its place.
They raced against the weather. They raced against time. They raced against the odds placed against them.
"She's missing, Akiko. We haven't heard anything from her in the past two weeks," The Fourth Raikage addressed her stoically. "This is the last message we received from her." His large hand offered the scroll. Her fingers had barely wrapped around the object before she disappeared from her father's eyes like a flash of lightning.
Mud sloshed against her exposed leg as she landed on the wet earth in a crouch. Her team landing next to her, breathless. They had been sprinting without breaks for two days and two nights. From the corner of her golden gaze, she could tell exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on the freshly promoted jounin. But there were no complaints from any of the shinobi. Even if they were all soaked by the rain, hair damp and clothes sticking to their skin uncomfortably; they knew time could not be wasted.
The sky ahead of them was clear, shined upon by the warm sun. Leaves of the tall trees swayed with the smooth gusts of wind. Behind them the roar of the brewing storm could be heard.
They had beaten the race against the weather.
"Akiko-sensei." At the mention of her name, she turned her head to face the stares of her three students. Or rather ex-students. She still had to get use to them being all grown up.
"Hm?" She hummed in acknowledgment.
"We have just passed the border of the Land of Fire," Kurai informed them all. "This is the last location Yugito-san mentioned in her letter. Where are we going from here?"
At the mention of Yugito's name, Akiko felt sick. Her stomach churned painfully.
The scroll she had tucked safely away by her chest, near her heart, scorched her skin. As if to remind her it was there. After receiving the letter from her father, she barely skimmed through the contents, yet at the mention of being in the Land of Fire she had immediately set off. Although she intended to take this rescue mission on by herself, her old team had cornered her at Kumo's gates.
"Sensei?" Hiroi called, pulling Akiko out of her thoughts.
Shaking her head, the furrow between her brows deepened. "Yayoi. Do you sense anything?"
The kunoichi in question, already had half her arm buried in the earth. The blank look in her gaze gave away nothing, and even though she was blind, she could sense everything.
"Yes. There are twenty platoons, each with four Leaf shinobi, spread out across the land. Nineteen of the platoons are unmoving, but…" Yayoi spoke in her usual gruff tone. Digging her hand deeper, she froze as she found what she was looking for. "…North-East, around fifteen kilometres away. One of the platoons is engaged in a fight but…"
"But what, Yayoi?" Kurai pushed.
"The two they are fighting; their chakra is lethal. The Leaf will certainly lose if intervention doesn't occur soon."
Hiroi frowned. "This must be who Yugito-san was following…"
Rising to her full height, Akiko clenched her fists. Determination coursed through her blood faster than before. "Let's go!"
He felt nothing.
The severe burns that spread across half of his olive skin, self-inflicted to an extent, meant nothing to him as he stared at his opponent. The immortal, painted black with white skeletal markings, flashed his crazed purple eyes and his psychotic grin twisted sinisterly. He didn't have any time to think or react at his opponent's next move.
He knew their bodies were somehow linked. That whatever harm was inflicted his opponent, would happen to him too. The burns and his bleeding knee spoke enough. He could only watch with wide eyes as the retractable spear in Akatsuki's grasp made its way towards his own heart.
"Now you die!" Was his excited yell.
"I don't think so!" The response hadn't been from his own mouth.
Time moved slowly before his brown eyes. He felt as though he couldn't breathe, the tightening of his throat. He didn't even have time to question his own life experiences. This was the feeling of fear. The spear was going to reach its mark. Just when the tip seemed to have touched his chest, his opponent froze against his will.
His body shook in disbelief, wide eyed, as his opponent struggled against the shadows binding around his body. Realisation flew through his mind. The spear didn't reach its mark.
'Shikamaru bought me some time,' he thought to himself. His student had saved his life. He couldn't waste this opportunity, no matter how much stronger his opponent was. Losing was not an option. He had to take his chance. And to start, he was going to figure out how to undo this cursed technique.
Suddenly, he could feel something again.
The leaves bristled angrily as she flew past them. Pushing her foot off a thick branch, her shoeprint was singed in the wood. Time was still their enemy.
Because Yayoi's sensory abilities were unrivalled and never wrong, Akiko knew without a doubt, she and her team were going to come face to face with a two-man team of Akatsuki. Yugito had even mentioned it in her letter. The thought of the organisation made up of missing-nin, painted a sneer on the kunoichi's face. It would be the three, young shinobi's first time encountering Akatsuki, but it wouldn't be Akiko's. She had taken S-Rank missions on information gathering on the organisation, starting back from when she was around fifteen – the group was barely an issue back then. And on more than one occasion had she ever engaged in battle with Akatsuki.
She knew it would be them.
They had tested her ability, and she had threatened their lives with her own. She survived against them, and that said enough. They knew of her now. And they seemed to have made a move against her.
Whispers had reached her ears on Akatsuki's movements, although their motive wasn't clear, their actions certainly spoke volumes to Akiko. A brief letter she'd received from a certain white-haired, perverted shinobi regarding the extraction of One-Tail, and the death and revival of its jinchūriki, had raised enough warning bells in her.
The protection of Kumogakure's Two-Tails jinchūriki, was one of Akiko's self-proclaimed responsibilities. One she had followed since her Academy days. Nii Yugito was the best friend of Akiko, a sister, and she'd be damned if she let Akatsuki get their hands on her. But she had been away on a mission for the past two months, gathering more information. She hadn't been there when Yugito ran off on her own mission. No one knew it would involve Akatsuki, the ones Akiko had specifically told Yugito to avoid.
But Yugito was her own person, and there was only so much control Akiko could try to possess over her. It had been mutual, over time, their protectiveness of each other. But it was derived from the sisterly-bond they formed.
Reality and logic slapped Akiko in the face. And she forced herself to accept whatever was coming up like the kunoichi she was raised to be.
Pushing off another branch, the chakra emitting from her feet had sliced straight through. The wooden log fell unceremoniously to the ground.
"Listen to me," She started, when all four were flying through the forest mid-air. "The enemy we are approaching is Akatsuki." Akiko halted from saying anything else, waiting for the others to absorb the information. Silence surrounded them as they all thought over what they knew of Akatsuki. Kurai was the first to break.
"What?" She whispered in disbelief. "Akiko-sensei, how can you be so sure?"
"Do not question what Akiko-sensei says, Kurai!" Hiroi hissed harshly at his teammate. From what he knew of Akatsuki, they were heading towards a slaughter. Rarely ever had he heard of someone surviving a battle against the organisation, except for a select handful.
Kurai scowled. "I'm not questioning what she is saying! I'm making sure it really is Akatsuki!" Hiroi opened his mouth to retort back, but Akiko cut him off.
"Enough!" Her voice held authority, and the two shrunk slightly under her tone. The only one who hadn't reacted to the news was Yayoi, whose blank gaze gave nothing away. "There is no doubt within me that this is Akatsuki."
"But…" Kurai began to start again.
Akiko reached into the pocket near her heart, wrapping her fingers around the scroll and pulling it out. She threw it in the direction of Hiroi, who caught it easily and sent a questioning glance at their sensei. With a nod of approval, he unravelled the scrolls and began reading it aloud.
Letting out an audible huff, she blew away the strands of blond hair that fell in her dark eyes. Hidden in a chilled cave, with a fire pit providing an orange hue to the darkness, Yugito sat with a blank scroll and a brush.
She'd tucked herself away in the cave for the past five days. This had followed a week of her trailing the two Akatsuki she had found during her latest mission. It was just her luck. After seeing them, she began planning. Taking up the inconspicuous cave and setting traps to her advantage.
She knew of Akatsuki's movement against the people who shared the same fate as her; jinchūriki. Only a fool would give up the opportunity to take down Akatsuki at any given chance.
Yugito felt the two-tailed Matatabi shift around irritably. "Yugito, do you not think Akiko-sama will react badly once she finds out what you plan to do?"
Yugito chuckled softly at Matatabi. "Don't worry, Matatabi-sama. I'm sure Akiko will understand, she's my sister after all." Although she had no feeling of guilt or regret for what she was about to do, there was a small voice of doubt as to how Akiko would react to the news. She just hoped everything would turn out fine.
Picking up the brush, she dipped it in ink before pushing it against the scroll.
Raikage-sama,
The mission was a success, and was completed without interference.
However, during my time in the Land of Fire, I have encountered two members of Akatsuki. One with distinctive purple eyes and the other with green irides and red sclerae. I believe them to be the duo Akiko has encountered previously.
I have taken it upon my own will to defeat them at once, this opportunity cannot be passed upon. I request you place your faith in me that I will not fail this mission, and trust that I will return successfully.
Please do not worry or send reinforcements, especially in the form of Akiko.
Nii Yugito.
Signing off the letter, she bound the scroll with string and moved to the cave opening. Hailing the messenger bird, she tied the scroll around its leg and sent it straight to the Raikage's office. Watching the bird fly off, she returned to the belly of the cave.
"This is it, Matatabi-sama," Yugito spoke softly to the tailed beast. Nearing the fire, she put out the flames with a swipe of her hand. They became engulfed in darkness.
"Let's do this!"
Akiko listened as Hiroi finished reading off the last of the scroll. Wordlessly, he handed the scroll back to his sensei, who tucked it safely back near her heart.
"Do you all understand now?" Akiko asked the young shinobi. They continued to stare at her, their movements through the forest more swift and precise, as they all thought about the jinchūriki's sacrifice. "Do you understand what Yugito's letter implies?"
"Yugito-san…" Hiroi muttered under his breath.
Kurai finished his sentence. "…She sacrificed herself against Akatsuki? Even if they were hunting her…"
"Hm," Akiko confirmed. "If it meant being able to spare the lives of others, especially of other jinchūriki, she would do it within a heartbeat. And she did."
The weight of Akiko's words settled on her old students heavily. Years of her teachings about the importance of each life, how actions will always have consequences and it was up to them as individuals to decipher these things themselves, drifted into their consciousness. The reality of the situation seemed to hit them harder. But Akiko knew that Yugito didn't see the same consequences she did.
"We have to find her." The order had surprisingly come from the silent Yayoi. "She did what she did for the sake of others. Now we must do the same for her, Akiko-sensei. We are close to the battle, what will we do once we reach them?"
Kurai and Hiroi stared at their teammate in disbelief. But mutual determination settled within the three. Akiko watched her students with an unreadable expression, but with a warm heart to match. Shaking her head, she addressed the three.
"The Akatsuki we are approaching, I have met once before. They are technically immortal, one has the ability to link your mortality with his own body by consuming your blood. The other possesses five hearts."
"What?!" Kurai exclaims.
"Impossible…" Yayoi mutters to herself.
"My mission will be to incapacitate the Akatsuki, and if possible exterminate them. I am not sure of what to expect, but listen for my orders." The team had spent years with each other, training and completing missions. "Hiroi and Kurai, your mission will be to ensure the safety of the Leaf shinobi. Do whatever it may take. Yayoi, you will remain as my back up. Under no circumstance are any of you to attempt to take the enemy down on your own, only work together, do you understand?"
"Yes, sensei!" The three replied without hesitation.
Akiko nodded her head appreciatively. "It's been a while since I've been on a mission with you three," She adds, with a small smile. "No matter the situation, it's nice seeing you all again."
They made their way through the forest in tense silence. The wind remained calm, although Akiko knew if she looked back she would be able to see the storm clouds steadily approaching. If she hadn't been on high alert of her surroundings, she would've missed the slight shift of Yayoi's expression.
"What's wrong, Yayoi?"
The young jounin could barely ignore the extreme chakra forces around them. "Akiko-sensei, they are straight ahead!"
After learning Akatsuki were close by, they pushed themselves faster. The sound of hissing echoed from the speed they passed by leaves and trees. Following the slight lead of Yayoi, they descended to the ground and began sprinting. Suddenly Akiko could sense the overwhelming and familiar chakra herself.
Stopping behind the cover of thick foliage, Akiko held her arm out for her team to halt their movements. Reaching her hand out, she pushed away the leaves blocking her view and her eyes eagerly took in the scene before her.
She barely had the chance to take in the gaping hole in the known bounty station, rubble littering the ground, as her focus instantly shifted to the six figures in front of the building. Furthest from her position, she identified Kakuzu, the monster with five hearts. In his death grip was two, struggling Leaf shinobi. A few metres away, was practically a kid with dark hair, most likely a bit younger than her students, lying on the ground helplessly. His face was stricken with anticipated grief as he watched the scene in front of them unfold.
Closest to Akiko's golden vision was the psychotic Akatsuki, Hidan, and at his mercy was a familiar looking shinobi with defeat painted across his features. She stared at the shinobi on his knees. Her attention was drawn to the blood-soaked sash wrapped around his waist, with the kanji for 'Fire' sewed in the centre. Her eyes widened in realisation.
"Asuma…?" She whispered to herself. She could barely recognise the shinobi who held great military prowess. Her students turned to her in question, but quickly diverted their gaze as a crazed voice spoke out.
"I'll finally be able to feel the pain," Hidan's sinister voice spoke with a grin. What appeared to be a baton tapped the palm of his hand mockingly. He extended his arm at once, the baton revealing itself to be a retractable spear. "The pain that comes with killing you!"
The boy behind Hidan began to crawl. Akiko knew he would be too slow, he wouldn't be able to do anything.
Akiko watched the Akatsuki raise his hand that held the spear above his head. His purple gaze gleaming deviously. She watched in slow motion as his arm dropped and aimed directly for the centre of his chest.
"No!" The pained scream came from the dark-haired boy.
Akiko felt the familiar sensation of lightning chakra wrapping around her body tightly, the tips of her long hair curling slightly as she intensified the electrified chakra. Pushing off from her covered position, she moved with speed that could not be traced by the naked eye. She appeared to teleport at the speed of one-fifteenth of a second.
She landed before the purple-eyed Akatsuki like a flash of golden lightning, her hands wrapping around the spear just as the tip was about to break skin. Thunder broke out in the clear sky. The tanned flesh of her skin was glowing under the yellow chakra emitting from her, the gold-plated cuffs on her wrist glittered under the sun. Long hair moved with her chakra like it had a mind of its own. Her movements gave no time for a reaction from onlookers. They had barely registered the blond kunoichi who seemingly materialised from nothing.
Akiko narrowed her eyes, swirls of molten gold in its depth, glaring at the shock painted on the Akatsuki's face. Her painted lips shifted to a dangerous smirk.
She had won the race against time, and she was going to punish those who had tested her.
'Yugito.' She thought silently to herself. 'I understand.'