8
Snatch.
"She won't talk to anyone in her family or Kakashi." Shizune said as she reported Tinane's condition to the Hokage. Tsunade could only nod.
"I was afraid that it would come to this. How is she otherwise?"
"Fine, the overload and resulting seizure thankfully did no damage. She can go home if she wants. The fact is she doesn't want to go."
Tsunade sat thinking for a while as she gazed out of the window. Nodding again she seemed to decide on something.
"That Snow country mission…"
Shizune was puzzled by the Hokage's comment.
"What mission?"
"The one I am making up now." Shizune raised an eyebrow.
"We will send, Guy…"
"He is already out on mission," corrected her aide helpfully.
"Hmmm… Then Genma. They seemed to still be getting along, right?"
"He did visit her today, one of the few she has allowed." Shizune nodded, starting to get the drift of the Hokage's thoughts.
"We will need them to check out some rumors of…" She dropped off thinking of a suitable red herring.
"Black market drugs," Shizune filled in helpfully. Tsunade snapped her fingers in agreement.
"Wonderful, Shizune. With her out of the village, it should give everyone involved a break and some room to breathe." Tsunade seemed very happy with the idea.
"Is that wise to let her leave the village, though?"
"Probably not, but it still needs to be done. That young woman is right. She is a jonin of the Leaf. So, let's put her to work as one."
"Even if it is a bogus mission?"
"Even if." The Hokage began to write up the mission specs on a scroll.
"Where did you send her?" Kakashi demanded when he arrived to the Hokage's office several days later.
"Away, Hatake. Everyone needs some time apart right now. She and Genma should be able to handle just about anything. I gave him strict orders to take it easy and to just act as couple while seeing if any rumors of black market dealings are true."
"Where?" Kakashi said through clenched teeth. His pack had lost her scent after the second day and he really disliked the fact that Shiranui was paired with Nane.
"Classified, Brat. Now, go home and take it easy. Start a hobby. They will be gone for at least a month."
"What if Orochimaru tries for her again?"
"Only Shizune and I know where they are going." Tsunade took a deep breath and looked at the masked man, softening her voice. "Trust them, Kakashi. They are good, capable Nin. Now. Go. Home."
Kakashi left the offices with every intention of going home, but found he was heading to the Yuu compound.
He rang the bells and an abnormally quiet Tasuke answered.
"Hi, Kashi-sama. You wanna see grandpa?" The child looked like he wanted to cry. Kakashi scooped him up as he came into the compound.
"Yes, I would, Tasuke. Show me the way."
The entire household was quiet like the boy in his arms. The energy that was usually barely contained had been greatly diminished. They had lost one of their own and the entire group felt that loss greatly. He would hate to see them after the death of anyone. This family had relied on each member, that the loss of one was as traumatic as loosing a limb.
Tasuke directed him, not to the offices, but to the main family room. That too was empty, save for the large man in the back. Hiro sat alone in the shadows, a bottle of sake sat next to him.
"Tasuke, go and fetch another cup for Kakashi." Slurred Hiro as Kakashi set Tasuke to his feet.
Kakashi held up his hand.
"That is ok, Tasuke, I'm fine."
"Go find your mum, 'suke. Kakashi-sama and I have to talk."
The little one quietly left the room, closing the screen behind him. Kakashi sat down with his back against a wall. Hiro sat against the other, the sake in the corner between them.
"I don't know where they went, Hiro. Tsunade won't tell me."
Hiro laughed bitterly.
"She won't tell us either. So, here I sit. Hime is in her work room. Hasn't come out since the fight. Nane refused to let even her in to the hospital when she woke up. I heard she wouldn't see you either."
Kakashi nodded silently.
"I think she is a little mad at all of us." Kakashi's finger found a minute flaw in the tatami mat that he sat on. Absently, he picked at the flaw with a finger nail.
"A mighty understatement, Hatake. I don't think I have ever seen her that angry in her life. She was always such an easy going child. Never had trouble with her like we did with her brothers, tantrums and all. Then things changed when her chakra became an issue. She still remained bright and capable, but after HE got done with her, she started having severe anxiety attacks and self esteem problems. That is why we blocked her. She was afraid all of the time. It overshadowed who she was and broke hearts of all who knew her." Seeing the family reaction, Kakashi could understand why they did what they did.
Hiro tipped back the bottle and found it empty. He frowned and put the bottle down and continued, "I was only trying to protect her, like a father should, and I failed. If I knew what he was in the beginning…"
"He can't last forever." Kakashi looked at the big man intently.
"But he is trying to, and with her abilities, Nane could help him achieve it."
Nane was deliriously happy. She and Genma had been sent to Snow to investigate black market drug traders. So far, the rumors had actually taken them up to her old home.
They stayed in a small inn posing as a newlywed couple. It was easy to act that part with Genma. He was comfortable, like her brothers, and she told him so. She had gotten to know him over the last two weeks. The man's eyes wandered over every female and she knew he wanted to follow them. She also knew his reputation of being a player. Being a good friend was enough for her, and it probably would be for him too once he got over trying to get into her pants.
The Senbon user had tried to make things more intimate, but Nane stopped him.
"Genma, you are a great guy, and I am sorry, but I am not interested in you." Hopefully, he would take her words to heart this time.
Genma frowned and kicked at the snow as they walked hand in hand to the market place. Obviously, he was not use to a female that was immune to his charm.
"It's Hatake, right?" Nane was sure she could hear the pout in his voice. Kakashi, Nane sighed, much of her rage had disappeared, but her anger still simmered. Forgiveness was not high on her list of to do's at the moment.
"Forget it, Genma. Right now, that is all a non-issue. Let's just enjoy the time up here and get our job done."
"How can you enjoy all of this cold?" He said as his arm indicated the snow with an all encompassing gesture, "I'm freezing my nads off!"
Nane laughed at the thin blooded southerner's comment. Stooping down, she picked up a handful of snow and started forming a snow ball.
"Nane, don't you dare." Genma warned as he backed away from the snowball wielding ninja.
"Afraid of a little frozen water, Genma?" Nane taunted as she circled him. Merriment twinkled in her blue-green eyes.
"You throw that, doll face; I will dump your butt in the river."
"Promises, promises," and on the last she threw the snowball with ninja accuracy. Genma tried to dodge it, but only served to catch it down the back of his collar.
"Shit, you are dead, Yuu!" He hollered as he tore off after her. Nane squealed and ran as fast as she could without chakra towards the village. It wouldn't do to blow their cover with the use of chakra.
Kabuto Yakushi stepped from behind a tree. He had been watching the two Leaf ninja for several days after learning from his network that they were investigating something for the Hokage. Orochimaru would finally have his working jutsu by the end of the week. Smiling, he started walking in the opposite direction of the town. Just beyond the outskirts, a structure existed that would fit their purposes perfectly. It even held a symmetry that his lord would find, enjoyable. Now, Kabuto only had to get all of the players in one spot.
Captured in Snow.
"Are you certain that the informant said the drug labs were out here?" Genma asked as he and Nane hiked out of town. She nodded as they trod through the knee deep snow. Nane looked to the sky with a practiced eye. It was looking like more snow would fall before nightfall. At least they had brought camping gear with them.
"Yeah, she said that there is an old hospital building that hasn't been used in over ten years. Some sort of accident blew part of it up." She tried to remember what hospital it was, but couldn't. Whenever she hit the memory blocks, Nane grew a little angrier. The emotion gave her the physical energy to plow ahead over the deep snow. Genma followed behind muttering heated remarks about the cold and snow.
They rounded an outcropping of rock and got their first good look at the deserted hospital.
"Gods," whispered Genma as he looked at the damage. There was defiantly weathering and age damage, but there was no mistaking the original, fatal blow to the structure.
"I wonder what did that." He said as he scratched the back of his head.
"I did." Nane almost had a whimpering sound to her voice. Genma looked over at her in surprise and found her on her knees in the snow. Her face was frozen in horror as she looked at the building and remembered.
"What?"
"I did that, Genma."
"An amazing display, as I remember." Another voice said. Both ninja turned to see Orochimaru and Kabuto standing behind them in the snow, close enough to touch.
"Sonofabitch!" Cursed Genma as Kabuto attacked him, forcing him to leap away from Nane who still remained frozen on her knees, caught in memory. She shivered at the sight of the Sannin behind her. His eyes had not changed from her nightmares and held her fast as any basilisk.
Orochimaru held a crystal in his hand that glowed. With a twist of chakra it glowed more brightly and Nane suddenly relived all of the memories that had been locked away. Sucking in a breath, Nane threw her head back and screamed.
Genma couldn't spare any extra thoughts for Nane. Kabuto kept him too busy. The ex-leaf medic nin had turned his hand into a chakra blade. He pressed an attack that had Genma retreating even further from Nane. Then he felt the presence of others. Suddenly, there were more dark ninja than he could handle. Overwhelmed, Genma fought until he couldn't.
"Well that was far simpler than I would have thought. Don't you think, Sasuke?"
The Uchiha stepped from behind the outcropping. He walked up to where Nane lay.
"Hn, she doesn't look like much."
"Oh, but she is truly one of a kind." Orochimaru had squatted by Nane and captured a lock of red hair in his fingers, feeling its texture.
"She won't help you willingly," observed Sasuke with an odd detachment in his voice.
"Do they ever? I have, however, ways of enticing cooperation, right, Sasuke? Bring her won't you?"
"Hn." Grunted Sasuke as he gathered up the woman and placed her over his shoulder. Silently he, with his burden, followed his master to the derelict hospital.
Nane looked over to where Genma barely held on to consciousness chained upright to the wall. The siphon bands kept him from using chakra and the shackles kept him from anything else. He had been beaten severely. She was sure she saw bone poking out from the torn pant leg at his thigh, and a few fingers appeared to be bent at the wrong angles. Blood oozed from a long gash in his forehead and dripped off of his chin. The somewhat standing position had to hurt like hell with his leg injury.
Orochimaru's people were, by far, kinder to her. She had only been slapped around a little once she woke to find siphon bands around her neck and wrists. Nane had to smile at that. Underestimation was a wonderful thing. The snake man's thugs would not be around for awhile. Hopefully time enough for her to accomplish what she needed to. Taking a deep breath she started to meditate. If there was anything Orochimaru had taught her when she was small, it was to meditate, the slimy bastard. Nane just needed to keep her anger and rage high to amp up her own production of chakra. At first the siphon did its job and the level dropped off. Nane kept at it. She knew her body would soon gauge the siphon and over come it. Normally, that process could take several days. The trick now, was in forcing the process to accelerate. That was something she had never attempted before. So far, her goal had always been to get rid of the excess. Not call it too herself. Soon, she felt the siphon begin to struggle. It was working. Nane felt herself smile for the first time in days.
Genma opened his eyes and saw Nane with her eyes closed apparently meditating. It was difficult to tell how long he was unconscious; the room in which they were kept had no windows. It reminded him of the operating rooms back in Konoha.
"What are you doing?" His voice was thick with pain. His jaw hurt just from the attempt at talking.
Nane opened her eyes and looked at him. Genma jerked his head back in surprise at seeing the emerald glow that erupted from those orbs. She winked at the handsome nin.
"Trying to get us out of this mess. Close your eyes." He did as she bid. In the next moment he felt the build up of electrical current and actually heard the bird like effect of Chidori. When it was released, he felt the shock wave. Tentatively, he opened his eyes. Nane was standing up, rubbing her wrists, restraints gone.
"How, did you do that?" He had absolutely no access to his chakra due to the siphons. Nane had double the amount on her and she just produced a jutsu.
She smiled and put a finger along the side of her nose.
"I remembered when Orichimaru left this hospital. He thought his siphons had worked to cure me. He never came back or checked my progress with them. He never knew that the siphons only complicated things. So when we left, Dad took all of the records and erased memories, including mine. That is until Orochimaru's little flunkies pulled the gen jutsu blocks. Also, reading the unedited reports that Kakashi had helped too. "She sounded a little sad at the last. Genma gave a little chuckle.
"He is an ass-hole, you know that?" Nane nodded her head, knowing that Genma referred to Kakashi.
"Not to me he isn't. I am sorry, Genma, logically, I know he was bound by the Hokage and my parents, and I thought I could stay mad at him, but I can't. " She said as she made short work of his shackles. They fell to the floor with a clatter. Genma sank slowly to the floor with her help, being careful of his injuries. Nane examined him carefully.
"This will hurt a lot I am afraid."
"Just get it over with, doll face." Nane nodded and quickly pulled each broken finger back into alignment. The bones gave sickening crunches when manipulated. Genma's only sign of discomfort was a slight grimace and a grunt. She then turned her attentions to his thigh. Charging her arms with chakra she jerked and pulled the leg by the knee. The bone went back into place and with a little swirl of chakra threads she started the process of healing the bone. She could only accelerate the process so much. It would still be days until he could walk on it without the danger of rebreaking it.
Nane had so much chakra, even with the double siphons, that at no time did her eyes even fade. Genma put a hand on her cheek. She looked up at him. He knew that she was in pain. Her attempts at burning some of the chakra by healing had failed. When the multiple siphon bands failed…
"How is your head?"
"I will survive." She lied in a whispered. Though, she could feel the siphons failing more with every passing moment. Her head was already hurting badly. When the siphons stopped, Nane was sure that she would die. It would be like a damn breaking. Anything in its way would be destroyed.
"That is good, because I need you and that wonderful power." Orochimaru's slithery voice echoed into the room. Nane shuddered at the voice from her nightmares. Orochimaru and Kabuto entered the cell. "We can't have you slipping into a chakra induced coma just yet."
Nane was forced to sit before Orochimaru as he worked on his jutsu. She could see the problems in the patterns right away, and like the medics of Konoha, there would be no way to explain or show how this would never work like he wanted it to. Yes, she could force it to work, but she would kill herself and take them all down first. Orochimaru had to know that.
Uchiha entered the room. Up until now, he had been absent for many of the events surrounding his own fate. Not once did he directly harm anyone. He was just a somewhat silent witness. Nane's eyes met his and an idea came to her. Who better to exact her revenge, but the self acclaimed Avenger himself?
She smiled almost evilly. Orochimaru looked at her, and then matched her smile.
"You can see the problems, can you not, young one?" Nane nodded in agreement still looking at Sasuke. In a corner Genma thrashed at his new restraints.
"Nane, don't do what he wants." She heard a smack as Kabuto crossed the room and hit Genma across the jaw stunning the injured nin into silence.
"What if I threaten his life?" Orochimaru asked the woman before him. Nane glanced in Genma's direction to see Kabuto holding a kunai to the senbon sucking nin's throat. A small trail of blood was already making its way down Genma's neck. Nane kept her emotions in check. She didn't love Genma as she did Kakashi, but she did care for the man. Never would she want anyone to die unnecessarily.
The snake Sannin continued. "Too easy? I do know one way that you will definitely help me." With a nod from his master Sasuke grabbed her wrists and ripped away the siphon bands. Nane had not even noticed the Uchiha behind her until he had gripped her wrists. She had no time to even struggle as the first wave hit.
Nane sucked in a shocked breath and screamed as chakra flooded her mind and body. Her eyes burned, and she could feel everything, see everything. Then she heard Orochimaru's voice.
"Fix my problem, child. Use your ability and reduce your pain." The opening was upon her. Orichimaru's reign of terror was now on a count down of his own design. Rising to her knees, Nane reached for the jutsu in the man's hands. Pain forgotten, she molded it to her will. She felt like a goddess.
Orochimaru watched her work with a bit of worship on his face.
Genma watched in awe as well. How could one person contain and use that much power? Logically, he knew, no one could. He then saw blood begin to ooze dark red from her nose. Genma now understood how fine a line she tread every day.
Nane finished the work with ridiculous ease. If the snake Sannin continued down this route, her manipulations would make it possible for Sasuke to reverse the jutsu and assume his own control. Orochimaru's personality would not transfer stably ever again, and never would he be able to eradicate the host personality.
It was a simple change and done quickly. Nane bound of the edges so that Orochimaru could not see or alter it, even if he worked on it for a thousand years. He would see what he wanted to see. What she wanted him to see.
Nane felt a warm dribble down her neck. Bleeding from the ears was something that she knew well. It was never a good sign. Her body would not be able to tolerate much more.
Then she saw them sparkling faintly all around her, the threads of bonds and connections. Nane had instinctually knew that they existed, it was how she was able to move without bumping into people, but never had she seen them. What she saw were tiny multicolored filament threads that projected out from each person in the room. From every person really, for she saw fainter filaments that belonged to other people, but for those present the threads were bright. The multi-colored things went through everything. Each thread lead to another person, ignoring physics and solid objects, binding people to each other on a level that few understood.
Nane looked at each person in the room. Orochimaru had surprisingly few. He had many that appeared to be severed, cut and left to hang. Kabuto mirrored his master. Genma seemed to have as many as she did. One thread even lead to her.
Sasuke interested her greatly. His connections were as many as Genma or herself, and none were cut like Orochimaru. Despite his denial, that young man still had many strong connections to Konoha. He would return in his own time.
She missed her family and Konoha terribly and Kakashi most of all. She loved him no matter how she tried to convince herself otherwise. Gathering up all of her own threads in her hands, Nane gave a great tug on the ties to those that she cared for. Her family would know her call and where to go. Hopefully, so would Kakashi. All Genma and she had to do was stay alive until then.
All she could do was ride the chakra into darkness. Collapsing to the floor, Nane knew nothing else.
