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Part 2 - "Harmony"
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Each of them struck a note in their psychotic symphony of discord, enemy ninjas falling one by one at their hands. Neither faltered out of tune, not striking that sharp or flat in the sickeningly melodic crunch of bone under blade. Even as they finished the last ninja off, they both frowned with disgust at how easy this mission was. Though they had taken as much time as they felt like to prolong the fun, it was still too easy to test them. Next time better be more interesting! An instrument is meant to be played to the full capacity of the owner, and without constant practice, the skills faded.
They weren't about to kill all those ninjas without consequence, however. The leader of this band had been hiding in the mist, watching as the two Akatsuki wiped out his entire force of ninjas. At first he had been completely shocked at how easily they did this, but then he had spotted Kisame and his dreaded Samehada. He was one of the last of the seven great shinobi swordsmen of the mist. Even so, to take care of this so easily... his partner would have to be just as talented. And from the looks of things, the two worked in perfect balance, countering when one faltered, guarding a blind spot, or blocking a blow. It was a tense tempo they worked, so casually practiced and even.
Itachi tensed, and Kisame felt this as their backs pressed together stiffly. Though Kisame couldn't see the stranger, Itachi's Sharingan was reliable, and he trusted the younger man to be his sight in the thickening mists. Itachi twisted to fend off a blow aimed at Kisame's front, and finally the stranger stared up at them, more so at Kisame. Had he first glanced at Itachi, he would have been caught in an illusion, but even though that didn't happen, Kisame was quick to act now that the mist nin had shown himself. The great sword Samehada wreaked havoc on the man's kunai, shredding it to a dull edge as Itachi tried to regain eye contact.
Finally, Itachi's eyes contacted the other's, confusing him while Kisame finished the man off. A routine assassination, and rather boring, Itachi thought to himself. The mists curled around the prone forms on the ground, shrouding them in anonymity, cooling the skin of the Akatsuki as they stood waiting, making sure that was the last fight. Only the trees dared to make a sound as the wind shot up from the ocean. Nothing. Finally they relaxed, moving away enough to search the bodies, making sure they were dead. The only movement after that were the two men in black cloaks, the red clouds fluttering in the gust.
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They had not been able to find a hotel for the night, since even without their cloaks, anyone in the country of mist would have instantly recognized Kisame. Fortunately, being from this country, he had found a hot spring hidden in the marshes. The steam from the spring lingered low with the mist still swirling in from the chill ocean, drenching the vegetation in an opaque shroud. Itachi scouted the immediate area while Kisame helped himself to the spring. Being so attuned to the water was both a strength and a weakness, since he could fight better in it and always had a craving for it. He always felt so relaxed here in his home country, even though he was an exile. After all, he didn't exactly leave willingly, but forced into this wandering life after that terrible failure. The occasional visits that brought him here had to suffice. He missed this, missed the ocean, missed his fellow swordsmen. Heck, he even missed his old friends. But then again, he reminded himself, he had made new friends.
Itachi returned from scouting the area, signalling that all was clear. Kisame nodded and turned aside for a moment in a shallow area, allowing some time for Itachi to join him. For a while, neither said a word, having a silent conversation, wondering about why this mission had been so incredibly easy. Why did Leader set them up with something that even an idiot like Tobi could have handled in minutes? Could there have been some ulterior motive to his orders? What could it be? The mist increased in volume, obscuring all but the shining moon overhead, cloaking the spring in a glowing white shade.
Kisame stared up at the filtered light and frowned. "Leader-sama better come up with something more interesting for us to do tomorrow. This was so disappointing."
Itachi nodded lightly, sharing the sentiment. "Don't worry. There will be plenty more with the wars increasing. We just need to be patient."
He scowled out at the horizon. Kisame was a very patient person when he needed to be, but he also hated to be left out of a good fight. "I still can't help but wonder if we got them all. Something about that fight seemed too simple, like it was just a test for something else we were supposed to do. I wonder if the real enemy is watching us even now, waiting for us to have a weak moment."
Itachi studied the older man from the corner of his eye and nodded again. "I wouldn't rule that out, that would be foolish. But we can't do much until they show themselves. Let's wait it out and see, but keep one eye open just in case."
"We should take shifts tonight."
Itachi said nothing, but Kisame knew he agreed to this, and he stayed there in the water while Itachi left to sleep. Kisame always took first watch. For some reason, he preferred staying up late, whereas Itachi was an early riser. He soon followed Itachi, dressing and grabbing Samehada with an iron grip, still sensing there would be trouble tonight. His instincts were often right, and both of them relied on this when Itachi's Sharingan sight couldn't spot anything. He perched protectively on a rock ner Itachi, keenly surveying the land beyond the mist, his own eyes quite suited to the environment. His death grip on Samehada never loosened, and his tense posture never faltered. Itachi wasn't at all disturbed by his partner's menacing appearance, but rather comforted by the fact that he could sleep soundly with Kisame so alert. The older man always seemed so invigorated just being back in his home country, where he knew what to expect, where he could be what he was born to be. He relaxed, knowing Kisame would guard him til the end, and when his own shift came, he would do the same. Their trust, simple and yet complex, was what made them successful.
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Itachi was awakened by Kisame gripping his shoulder lightly. No shaking, no rough grasp, just a simple touch and he was awake. By that touch, Itachi could tell that he was being discreet, trying to wake him without moving much. Knowing this, Itachi cracked his eyes slightly, stealthily trying to see what had disturbed Kisame. No, he didn't see anything, but he felt it, he felt it in the back of his head, where his instinct kicked in. The Sharingan couldn't even spot what the disturbance was, but he knew it was there. Kisame knew too, even this late at night. Kisame rose in an unthreatening pose, glancing around harmlessly. Itachi pretended to be waking of his own accord and paused next to the older man to glance out as well. Something wasn't right.
Suddenly, kunai with exploding tags shot from all corners of the forest, surrounding them with a seemingly impassible barrier. Kisame was faster, fortunately, having expected this attack all along, and he hoisted a still-drowsy Itachi away from the spring. The tags exploded in unison just a fraction of a second later, blowing away chunks of rock and moss, scattering a spray of hot spring water into a mushroom cloud towering high into the sky. Kisame was pelted mercilessly with flying debris, but he managed to protect Itachi from the brunt of the attack, taking it all himself. He could handle it, after all. His bulky frame and immense chakra were both a good defense as well as offense. The spring fell away as he took them further into the bamboo forest, hiding both of them in the mists of a bog. Itachi stepped away, finally fully awake, preparing any weapons he had.
A storm of shuriken flew from the air, clouding the sky like a sickly gray ash cloud before penetrating the mists. Itachi drew a kunai, deflecting each menacing metal shard as it flew by, Kisame using Samehada to block any more coming from behind. They had a well established hierarchy. Kisame blocked the large waves of weapons and Itachi deflected the small but swift waves. Itachi used the Sharingan to calculate the angle of the shuriken, and Kisame watched Itachi's back while the young man darted out to silence one of the assaulters. Four down, only two left, from the looks of things. Itachi's Sharingan locked on to each, and he nodded to Kisame, then to where one was hidden. At once, the two dashed forth into the bamboo, silencing the last of the attackers. It wasn't over. These weren't the same people that threw the explosive tags. There were more.
Correction, only one more. The lone ninja left stood staring out at them, her mist headband glinting in the moonlight, showing the slashed symbol upon it. Another missing nin, just like both of them. Whether the woman wanted to start her own organization or whether she was just a simple rogue like the rest, it didn't matter. She attacked them, and they would retaliate. Only the judge of death would rule who had the right to remain in this fight. Kisame slumped almost imperceptibly, but Itachi could see it even from the corner of his eye. The older man had taken the brunt of the explosion, after all, and was probably wounded or worse. Itachi might have to take her on alone. She poised to attack, her long brown hair flipping behind her, her cold green eyes twisted with rage. Itachi stared back impassively even as she charged forward bearing so much hatred. Cling to the hatred you hold so dear, he remembered. If you don't have enough, then your life will end here.
A storm of crows fluttered into the sky as her kunai pierced what would have been his chest. In a flash, he was before her, his red Sharingan staring into those scared eyes, no longer holding hate but fear. He detested fear. It sickened him beyond reason. Every time he witnessed that glance, that sheer terror, it reminded him of how each clan member he slaughtered looked at him those many years ago. They were foul creatures who didn't know their place in this world, unworthy and unfit to live in their false roles. She was just like the rest of them. Scared, uncertain, taking things for granted, never knowing or caring about where she stood. Crows fluttered through her vision, making her dizzy, disorienting her as Itachi ended her miserable life. Finally, a suitable mission. Something fulfilling, and at last complete. Not exciting, but... suitable.
Itachi stepped quietly up to Kisame, approaching with caution. Although he knew the older man wouldn't hurt him, he still didn't want to make him think that he felt sorry for him. He just leaned over to where Kisame crouched on the ground, looking at him vacantly. "Kisame... I'll take the watch now."
Kisame nodded once, understanding completely, not complaining. His watch would have lasted another hour, but he was injured. And truthfully, he was glad that Itachi cared enough to do this small thing for him. The young man always seemed so distant and apathetic, though Kisame wouldn't complain. They had an unspoken bond of always giving in small, appreciated amounts, never too much or too little. It was a long, drawn out process, resulting in a bond that in the past Kisame would have called a brotherhood. But he chuckled to himself, knowing what Itachi thought of his real brother, grateful that Itachi did NOT see him that way!
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Next time - Although the end is in sight, Kisame can't help but wonder where this mission is really going. Will they even make it back to the hideout tomorrow with all these attacks? Find out next time, and please R&R!