8. Oh no

Note: I will mention ways of torture and nasty discriptions of mutilation at the end of this chapter, you have been warned


(Konoha)

"No news yet?"

"No, Raikage-dono" Tsunade was tired of his constant "are we there yet" styled questions

"They haven't been gone that long; they should have made contact with the Kyubi by now"

"Contact isn't good enough" Gazing at her Kumo-counterpart Tsunade saw that he too was now standing and had begun to pace around like a trapped animal in a cage. He was anxious, worried and angry at the whole situation. And an angry leader, not to say two of them, was a very lethal combination. Especially at the moment; now where several troublemakers was wandering the streets of the village ruins.

Tsunade had already received reports that both Kiri and Iwa had their share of them. Choku Wani had apparently beaten up an ANBU Squad in the quarter housing the wounded and the Tsuchikage Keikoku Koutetsu had reportedly demolished a partly still-standing-building because it was in her way to get snacks.

Not to mention some of their guest had taken less destructive liberties like Temari, whom had kicked out Shikamaru of the hospital, given him a crotch and ordered him to begin walking. Poor kid, he had only worn a pair of boxers and a t-shirt when Temari had burst into the room unannounced and dragged him out of his sickbed, constantly muttering: "Wimpy as always"

"Stop complaining" and, undeniably the most ingenious of all, "use your shadow on yourself and walk".

As fun as it must have been to see, it still added up as trouble brewing in the pot, ready to be served right before her, in liquid form and the only eating utensils Tsunade had at her disposition was a pair of chopsticks.

Yet in the broth that was being made, there were still chunks of compressed problems that could be taken up with the wooden sticks. Like what they were going to do when they had a hold on it and had brought Naruto back into the driver's seat? What were they going to do then?


It was breaking through

Oshi was screaming in disbelief, he sounded like a little girl when his voice reached the higher notes, before cracking like a pretzel.

Stunned he, alongside the rest of the trap team, watched as the diamond broke apart and revealed the Kyubi on the other side, it was evident that it was releasing a massive amount of chakra, enough to shatter the wall that had protected them until now.

As the last of the shards fell to the ground, the Kyubi smiled, it was so close to winning. Or not.

It saw to its everlasting horror, whom was on the otherside of the wall. Yamato, the ninja who could suppress its chakra and thereby its influence. It seemed he had gotten the same idea.

As he reached out his hand he begun to suppress the Kyubi's energies. The Kyubi retaliated by moving backwards, right into the charging soundnin.

Showing its way through them, it screamed in panic.

"kill him, kill him, kill the konohan with the head piece"

"what's the fuzzy faggot thing now speaking about!"

Grabbing hold of Tayuya as she finished the sentence, the Kyubi starred into her shocked face with a look in its eye like a frenzied dog

"Kill him… Or die yourself"

Looking back into the Kyubi's snarling face, Tayuya could seem hints of fear and panic, things that shouldn't have a place there.

"What are you waiting for kill, Kill, KILL!"

The rest of the soundnin had stood still as the Kyubi had screamed threateningly at Tayuya, now they moved on, all wondering why the mysterious Chuukan was behaving like this.

Not to mention…. Its appearance, it looked drained somehow, and it wasn't just the amount of chakra it had used.

Looking to the one they had been ordered to kill, some of them begun to understand that Yamato was to blame for its panic. But how


Looking on in amazement as the Kyubi had weakened before his eyes, Kabuto turned to flee, he would have no involvement in this anymore.

Unfortunately he was stopped. The Kyubi had reched him in an astonishing speed, grabbing onto his arm and pulling his face close to its own.

"Now there is no need to run when victory is so close at hand"

"Its no use, we're wasting our time and energy here, we should…."

"Use Orochimaru, free him!" the Kyubi's finishing its sentence was the last thing Kabuto had needed. They were being watched for the love of god, by friend and foe alike,

Or, mostly just foes

Looking back at them Kimimaro had heard what it had said, every last word of it

he didn't seem pleased.

As the rest of the crowd noticed his shift in attention, they slowly turned to see what had drawn it. likewise the fighting ceased.

"What did you say? Use Orochimaru-sama, free Orochimaru-sama!"

Kimimaro starred intently at the two "commanders" of the revived oto-nin, silently and indiscreetly demanding an answer to his repetition of what they had just said.

Looking back at him, the Kyubi and Kabuto seemed unsure of what to reply, standing in anticipation of what he would do. The situation was almost too easy to read, Kimimaro had overheard something he shouldn't have, and now, and now that was threatening to destroy some carefully laid out plan. Currently both Kabuto and the Kyubi was probably trying to figure out what was salvageable of the situation and turn it into something fruitful.

"What does that mean" Kimimaro's loud scream commanded an answer and fast,

the two culprits had to answer now

"Orochimaru has been captured by the enemy!"

"Orochimaru-sama lies sick in one of the hideouts!"

Unfortunately, neither was capable of tuning in on the other's mindset.

"What?"

"What the bloody hell are you two bitches blabbering about"

"Who's telling the truth?"

"Why are both of them lying to us?"

"Where is Orochimaru-sama?"

The bombardment of angry questions from the Oto-nin was near deafening, during which, the track team had slowly edged themselves backwards and spread out to the sides in the commotion. It was vital to secure tactical positions and be ready for anything, for the situation was starting to boil.

After a full five minutes of panicky questioning Kimimaro finally ended it, he simply raised his arm brandishing his sword and commanded it so.

"Something is wrong here, what is it you are keeping from us?"

As he awaited an answer he was surprised to find that it did not come from either of the two whom had greeted them after they had been revived, but from one of their own.

"The Chuukan is not one of Orochimaru's experiments"

Turning Kimimaro saw whom had spoken, Dosu Kinuta, a low ranking shinobi of less than respectable repute. In short he was a nobody, a little expendable chess piece, at least, that was what Orochimaru had called him and used him as. Kimimaro had never himself met him or talked with him, but his slouching manner and his recent actions spoke of him being a weasel.

Turning, he could see the Chuukan and Kabuto, glaring worryingly at him and glaring daggers at Dosu.

"How do you know that Kinuta?"

"I heard the Chuukan saying something to Kabuto, something about him having fought Orochimaru, Orochimaru being murdered and Kabuto being able to talk to him. And then the Chuukan saying something about him being more powerful than any of us"

"All lies (except for the last one), don't listen to that worm Kimimaro, he is clearly just trying to cause a fuzz for nothing"

Looking back at the Kyubi, Kimimaro wondered aloud

"Prove it"

"If all that was true, then why have he waited until now to tell? That speaks of conspiracy, of treachery"

"You've got a point there" Kimimaro's tone had taken on an icy depth as he turned back to Dosu who was visibly shaking at the development.

"W-we didn't have the Intel we have now…. F-for instance, the Chuukan clearly said "use" and "free" Orochimaru, you heard it yourself, and sorry for pointing this out, but the Chuukan doesn't look like the usual of Orochimaru's experiments, does he? Besides I'm not the one trying to deny anything" as Dosu finished he pointed towards the Chuukan whom itself was starting to show signs of nervousness

"And furthermore, the enemy is going for the Chuukan more than any of us, that's their goal, not Kabuto as would be logical, he is or was Orochimaru's little pet monkey after all"

Sound logic and high level of alertness, Dosu's specialties. Used to perfection Kimimaro noted as he once again turned to the Chuukan and Kabuto, all the time weighing what he had just been told. Something wasn't right. Why hadn't the Chuukan participated in the conflict, why had Kabuto not removed his hood and his mast fully and why was the enemy calling the Chuukan "Kyubi", sure he bore a superficial likeness to it but it couldn't be?

Orochimaru had himself told him he had met its host, its Jinchuriki in the forest of death during the chunin exam. Besides he was far too small to be it. The enemy had to be wrong on that one. But that was unimportant, what had happened to Orochimaru was all that mattered to Kimimaro.

The two culprits in question seemed to getting increasingly worried; only furthering their suspicious aura.

"Kabuto-san, what exactly have happened to Orochimaru'sama?" cringing as Kabuto heard his name mentioned, he had answered it if Yamato hadn't beaten him to it.

"Sasuke killed him"

Turning yet again Kimimaro started to feel dizzy from all the angles he apparently had to attend to. Knowing the truth about Orochimaru's fate would have taken a huge tool upon a normal man's neck, luckily Kimimaro didn't have ordinary bones, and thank god for that.

and yet the discomfort was like droplets of water in a vast sea compared to what he had been told, disbelief collouring his face the same pale white as his bonesword.

"What?, Sasuke Uchiha..... killed..... Orochimaru-sama? but he..... h-how?"

"Why dont you ask Kabuto? he ate him" following Yamato's pointing finger Kimimaro's head began to floodover. Orochimaru was dead, killed by one of his own and Kabuto supposedly ate him right after, the world was beginning to take on a red tint, perhaps he had finnally found out why the Kaguya clan was so maddeningly fierce and battle crazed.

watching Kabuto, Kimimaro noted his movement; he had been afraid, but seemed to relax now, he had come up with something.

"Kimimaro-kun, everybody" gesturing to all the sound ninja present "I didn't eat Orochimaru-sama, I integrated his body into my own in order to....."

"You.... you think that is better??? this a blasphemy, this is madness"

"This is science"

pausing Kabuto removed his hood and mask, revealing the partly mutated face beneath, Orochimaru's eye was still dominating the left side of his face, though now the scalyskin had spread up to cover his left ear and part of his hair was turning gradually black.

"Don't you see? I'm just continuing Orochimaru-sama's dream"

"you aren't continuing anything, you are violating Orochimaru-sama's legacy, his dream, memory..."

looking back at the trap team, Kimimaro seemed angrier than ever since this revelation of Orochimaru's whereabouts.

"You...... if the Chuukan is all you want then by all means take it. You, Kabuto, shall pay for this sacrilege"

starring aghast at him the Kyubi oppened its snarling mouth to respond

"I gave you life boy, I gave you the world to stomp on and this is how you repay me"

"you gave me a chance to avenge Orochimaru-sama, you violated his memory the second you said to use him. you just be happy that I don't kill you myself"

"this is not what it was supposed to be like when I revived you" the Kyubi's voice gave hints of great disappointment and even greater anger and yet greater still..... despair.

"And how was it supposed to be like? Us scraping like sheep with you as the shepperd? No, that is Orochimaru-sama's job you are trying to take over and you can't fill his sandals, so forget it and leave immediatly"

"And you are all this ungrateful?"

fuming as it saw the oto-nin nod in unison the Kyubi.... ran, ran like it was actually afraid of something, like it had something to fear. it soon dissapeared from sight.

"Well, aren't you going after him?" the trap team didn't need a repetition from their former opponent.

They set out.


A failure. After the battle with the souund-nin they had lost track of the Kyubi. It had gotten away again. the only thing Kakashi was sure of was that it had gone further out towards the coast, going slightly south as it neared the sea. He didn't know if it had a plan, but he was going to find out. but currently the only thing they could do was patch up and return to Konoha.

turning his head, Kakashi looked over at Neji as Ureshii unsealed his life, as he put it.

gurgling up blood as he awoke, Neji starting asking questions

"Did you get it? what did you do? how? where is Naruto" and so forth, nothing surprising really. He was slightly panicking from the stress of being partially dead. Though Rin had assured that he was going to be fine, just a little stiff for a few weeks. But completely incapable of performing his duties in all that time, docter's perscriptions and he was in no position to argue. Neji had tried to contradict what he was told but as he tried to walk he found himself flat on his stomach getting a nosebleed from hitting a tree trunk.

Fortunatly it hadn't been a complete failure. during the two hours that had passed since they had left the revived Oto-nin and given up on finding the Kyubi, they had actually gotten something for their trouble.

a prisoner

Tsume Inuzuka caught him as he was stumbling through the forrest with no thought for stealth, letting his fear control his feet.

Dosu Kinuta problably hadn't planned to stumble upon them and thus getting into the hands of Konoha, but he had tryid to bargain as he was getting tied to a tree and disarmed: information on the Kyubi and of Otogakure.

not the worst bargain Kakashi could imagine. Dosu would live and all he had to do was to squeal.

Easiest thing in the world when Ibiki Morino had talked with him for a few minutes.

and thus it was back to Konoha.

Before they left Kakashi had taken the time to talk with each member of the team. To gather information about their opponents should they meet them again and in one case: when they met it again was vital to their chances for success.


She first understood they were back when she saw her cousin being rolled into her room on a sick bed similar to her own. she had worried about him then, only for it to turn into worry about Naruto as she heard how it had gone in the first round of the chase.

Not to think of the trap team, they were shaken wounded and wary. it hadn't been an easy hunt, especially when the prey is not to be killed but suppressed. and when the thing that was supressed was the Kyubi she shouldn't be surprised to hear about of their condition, or she should, none had been killed after all.

so far......

that was the thought Hinata had before she was asked if anything had transpired while the trap team had been away, then she was the one to tell stories, mostly about what she had ear from others and seen for herself ofcourse.

she left out the part about her, Kurenai and Anko's talk about men, another man wasn't exactly meant to hear that sort of things, it was too embarasing and his male ego might get wounded by being let in on "girltalk" as if he was some confidante or a girl himself. He would feel poised to prove the opposite and Hinata would be forced to witness him do it. Not a good combination.


"I'm sorry honoured kages, he just doesn't respond to my interrogation"

three out of four Kage was present as Ibiki Morino gave them a lay down of his interogation of the prisoner. in all they were 7 int the room.

from Konoha: the Hokage, Kakashi and Ibiki himself

From Suna: the Kazekage and his brother Kankurou

From Kumo: the Raikage

From Kiri: none (the Mizukage was currently talking to Choku Wani about his behaviour involving yet more ANBU)

and from Iwa: Oshi Fushizen (sent to report to the Tsuchikage because she was napping at the moment)

"He doesn't respond?" grapping Ibiki by the collar the Raikage lifted him up in the air, rending him shocked as he glared into the Kage's wrath filled eyes.

"and just why is that oh great interrogator? I was told you were the best this village had to offer in that field or have I been mistaking what I've been told?" the Raikage was glaring at Tsunade now his voice laced with venomous sarcasm.

Not surprising, Tsunade thought: he had been stressing all the time the trap team had been out. but still.....

"put him down Raikage-dono, I'm sure Ibiki will explain further once you put him down"

fortunately the Raikage seemed to relax as he put the slightly shaken ANBU member down on the ground again

"erhm well.....as Í said he doesn't respond to my interrogation, he seems to have gone through something more horrible"

"and just what is that?"

"Come on Kakashi, you saw him, all those bandages aren't there because of a fashion sense"

"Any ideas of how to make him talk with out having to pay him in cash or amnesty?" Tsunade was getting about as angry and stressed as her Kumo-counrterpart, they couldnn't afford to pay the Sound-nin anything and appear weak in the face of the other villages, especially not now.

raising his hand att the enquire Oshi spoke out

"How about the good old Rock Questioning?" his head was bent but his teeth was visibly shining white as he smiled from ear to ear. The Rock questioning was an old and well used way of interrogation from Iwagakure, one simply smashed the hands, feet, arms and legs with big boulders until one got the answers sought.

pausing Tsunade looked at Ibiki and saw him nod, it migth work, even though Tsunade disliked torture in general it had its uses, especially at a time like this. they needed those answers and fast.

nodding her consent Ibiki turned to bring in the prisoner. dragging the unconsious prisoner, Dosu Kinuta, into the room with a black sack over his head to put him in a state of unease (should he awake that is), Ibiki placed him on a chair, tied him and removed the sack.

(easily frigthened people should not read the following Italic lines (I mean it!)

It wasn't a pretty sight that met Tsunade's eyes. The young mans face had been mutilated in a gruesome fashion. Several parts of his normally obscured face (either by bandage of by headband) looked more like worn leather. His right eye had the colour of an egg on a frying pan, rigth before it coagulated. Reason why she could see it: he didn't have any eye lids.

His lower face was in no better shape, a large scar ran from the left edge of his mouth, expanding it all over the cheek in that direction, it had been sealed shut by several suture running the lenght of it, Tsunade counted 13 of the black thick strings.

The right side of his face wasn't anybetter, his cheek had beensunk in, allowing the teeth to be visible when they rubbed against the sides of his mouth.

behind her Tsunade could hear Kankurou gag and cough to keep the contents of his stomach down, the rest in the audience didn't seem to appreciate the sight either.

"Ibiki, cover his head"

doing as he was told, Ibiki covered the still unconsious prisoners head in a string of bandages he had in his belt

"I hope you understand, why we didn't have much luck with standard questioning"

(end of the horror, Don't worry I won't go so much into detail later on at least not with scars and the like)

"okay Ibiki, wake him up, Oshi, you make ready"

"I don't need to take orders from a Hokage" none-the-less Oshi moved into position as Ibiki spalshed water into Dosu's face, waking him abrubtly

causing him to look around him in bewilderment, first noticing Oshi's face as he stuck it up uncomfortly close to his own causing him to cringe as the surprice hit him.

"Good, you up, now we need some answers and you got those, we ask you answer, you don't I have fun with you, K?"

ignoring Oshi's words Dosu scanned the room, not really showing any signs of worry, that is until he saw who else was in the room: Gaara, the one who killed him.

screaming he took more cooperative approach to his situation

"NOOOOOOO! Please don't kill me, I'll cooperate, I'll tell you everything, I-I'll shine your sandals, polish your gourd, do a funny dance, stray rose petals on your path, got a pet? I'll walk it, pet it, feed it for you, I'll.......(many, many, many tasks)

looking at his little brother then at the screamin prisoner, Kankuro couldn't help but wonder aloud:

"Hey Gaara, lil'bro, what did you do to that guy?"

"It was fullmoon"

"oh, ohhhhh? Well, good you did, he seems to wanna talk now"

And talk he did, for a full hour he wouldn't hold his mouth shut for more moments than it took him to gaze over at Gaara, justto check if he had done as he should.

most of the information was conserning Otogakure and in particular the state of the leadership.

Kimimaro had apparently given Kabuto a single year to expel Orochimaru's holy remains from himself as he went to mourn his masters passing, unfortunately things hadn't turned out that way as Sakon's head had exploded as he scratched his neck(kankuro had snickered at this, saiyng: worked like a charm).

Kabuto had been blamed by Kimimaro to be behind this, killing Sakon just to get experimental components and in the commotion Dosu had mannaged to slip away, neither side really fanciyng him so he pretty much had to. He was rather sure Kimimaro had split off from the rest and gone his separete ways, to kill Sasuke and to make Kabuto comply with his demands.

But he soon began to talk about the Kyubi or the Chuukan as he knew it as.

He even sung it's little song (the parts he could remember), disturbing the audience with the Kyubi's butal sense of humour.

"That's it! It all ads up, I know where it's going next" Kakashi's out burst came rather abrubtly and completely out of the blue, leaving most people in the room stunned for a moment

"Kakashi... wha....?"

"I'll explain everything when the trap team is gathered Hokage-sama, I'll just need a large space and a track team sent to a specific location right away, time is of the essence, just trust me on this one"

turning he hurried out the door with the Hokage in tow, Tsunade had no intention of missing out on what was going on.

And more importantly where the Kyubi were headed.


there you go, chapter 8.

Now first of all, the part of of the chapter involving the torture and mutilation is meant to show my dislike for that and for the great and lasting damages it can do to the victims, psychological or psycical as says above, I edited it alot believe me, it were Way worse in the beginning.

Second of all: Finally done with the big batle scene,

as for next chapter

a quote

(thinking)

("she's.... kinda pretty")

and yet another:

"Saw it, I taped it"

and one more:

"Chakra....is...... life?"

read and please review

next chapter will be up as soon as possible