Day 8
Recovery and Discovery
--
Tsunade rested her forehead on her fists, hunched over her desk. One month until the end of her tenure and it just kept getting worse and worse. The Daimyo was a patient and understanding man, who had taken his brief stint as a hostage in good nature. The councils, however, of both Konoha and Fire, were not so kind. She had spent a great deal of the day before fending off accusations of lax security.
Her will to continue until the end of the month was wavering. She had five competent shinobi who could handle this situation, between them they could handle anything. Unfortunately she couldn't choose all five. If there was only a candidate with Naruto's enthusiasm, Sakura's responsibility, Shikamaru's intelligence, Hinata's caution and Neji's authority. Then she could retire without any worries. As it was, none of them could take on the Hokage office in mid-crisis.
Tsunade had to admit that it was half curiosity that was keeping her on. The events of recent weeks were becoming more convoluted despite their continuing investigations, and a clear resolution seemed to get further and further out of reach. The link between the Uchiha clan and the attacks on Wind was too interesting to ignore, and more importantly she wanted to know how Okama Seiya even knew about the Fire Seal scrolls. The only people who knew about them were the respective Kages.
The Nara scroll was missing, the distraction of kidnapping the Daimyo had worked perfectly for them, and Tsunade was both impressed and a little nervous about an opponent who could maintain an independent shadow clone so effectively. She had deflected Hinata's sixty four strikes, protected almost all of her chakra circulatory system, and had done it without harming her human shield and with half her chakra on the other side of the village.
On Temari's advice Kakashi hadn't been at the Daimyo's arrival. He was still under suspicion, and it grated on her that there was good reason for it. The copy-nin was the one who investigated traitors. He was one of the few people in Konoha who she considered completely above suspicion, and the loss of that integrity made her administration feel unstable and introspective. Moreover, her instrumental part in the investigation made her feel as if she was dancing to Suna's tune. Tsunade was not someone who took orders well.
"Hokage-sama." The door opened, a masked face peering in. She beckoned Kakashi in, a sour taste in her mouth.
"Kakashi," she nodded to him.
"You asked to see me?" He was calm, giving away nothing. She hadn't expected nything else, but if he was hiding something she couldn't tell. After twenty-five years of faithful service, even if he was to betray the village it would be a difficult decision at least, she couldn't accept that he would do it in a calm and logical manner.
"There has been more news from Suna," she said evenly, reading the script that Suna had set for her. "The scroll that was stolen yesterday, its twin in Suna also had an attempt made on it."
If he knew anything about the scrolls he would know that there were more than two, and if he wasn't aware that the attempt had been unsuccessful he may have shown surprise. It was a stupid trap, and she would have been ashamed for him to fall for it.
Without flinching Kakashi smiled. "Since this is part of the investigation on me, do you have any questions for me regarding the incident?"
Tsunade smiled at him, glad that he hadn't disappointed her. "Since we're laying all our cards on the table, let me ask you this directly, Kakashi. Are you in any way involved with Okama Seiya or the theft of either sealing scroll?"
He looked her in the eye and smiled. "No, Hokage-sama."
"Then I have no further questions." She folded her hands, looking up at her most trusted jounin with affection. "You know that Konoha is in a delicate situation at the moment, which wasn't improved by the Daimyo being taken hostage. We now know how dangerous Okama Seiya is, I'm sure you're aware of our next step."
"ANBU have been informed of her change in status?" he asked, his one visible eyebrow raising.
"The official briefing went out this morning. Orders are now to engage on sight, her criminal status has been upgraded to hostile." She nodded, handing him a copy of the briefing. He looked it over, unphased by the document. Her Bingo Book entry had also been updated, and the reward for her capture raised. Soon they'd have bounty hunters on their side.
"You're offering a reward for the capture of her collaborators," he noted. "Has Temari-san confirmed the presence of co-conspirators?"
Tsunade's eyebrows raised at his choice of words. Conspiracy implied a large number of aggressors, it was an interesting assumption based on the situation. "No. However, due to classified intelligence we are certain that she has accomplices. It's a better use of resources to let bounty hunters discover their identities."
It wasn't really intelligence, but the ritual that involved the scrolls was impossible to perform alone. The idea that she was collecting the scrolls for a third party had crossed her mind, but even if there were no defectors from Konoha or Kiri, the ritual's requirement of a priest of Fire was what chilled her to the bone. "You're dismissed."
The contemplation of the idea turned her stomach. No one kidnapped a Daimyo if they were uncertain of their success. In the numbers of missing-nin were plenty of genjutsu and ninjutsu masters, so it wasn't impossible for the initial part of the ritual to be completed by the lone Suna defector without further losses from their ranks, but the priest needed for the task had to be someone currently in the service of the Fire Daimyo.
That was a betrayal that most shinobi couldn't imagine. That was corruption at the heart of their country and their faith.
Footsteps sounded behind her, but she didn't look up. Temari stood behind her, waiting patiently to be briefed. The taste of bile tainted her lips, this whole situation was sickening. If there was no progress soon, she was throwing the Suna-nin out of the village and to hell with the consequences. She'd deal with the missing objects herself.
"He knew I was there," Temari stated plainly, leaning against the desk.
"Of course he did!" Tsuande snapped, surprising herself with her own short temper. "This was pointless. Kakashi-san is trained to resist all forms of interrogation, he wasn't going to fall for a cheap trick."
"If you'd prefer that I skip directly to a more invasive investigation, I'd be pleased to do so." The note of challenge in the younger woman's voice made Tsunade glare. This idiot girl had no respect and no sense. If she had either she would have realised that the investigation of Kakashi was entirely on Konoha's grace. It was only Gaara's longtime support of their sister nation that allowed them to move so freely, and a smart shinobi wouldn't abuse it.
Then again, she wasn't the only kunoichi abusing their position. "What progress have you made on your other mission?"
Temari smirked, twirling a shougi piece between her fingers. "Sakura's progress with wind element has taken great strides thanks to Naruto's tutelage."
"What is your assessment?" Tsunde asked with a smile. Maybe there was hope for the girl yet.
Temari scoffed. "You could have the entire village in on this mission and still have no success. You don't need me, you need a miracle."
"You're underestimating her." The Hokage's good humour had returned with the reminder that she still had power over Temari. As grating as Suna's shinobi could be, they rarely intended disrespect, they were just obnoxious. "She's smarter than you think."
"Intelligence had nothing to do with it." Temari folded her arms, walking over to the window. "If it did, Shikamaru would be the one helping you."
At that the Godaime smiled broadly, stifling a chuckle. "I heard about his little challenge for you."
"I shouldn't have told Kankurou," she cursed. The blonde nin's discomfort was obvious. "Seiya-san's going to come out of hiding just to find out who won."
"I think it's good," Tsunade said, eliciting a surprised look from Temari. She shrugged her shoulders delicately. "He hasn't put his mind to anything since Megume-chan died. It's healthy for him to move on, and I see that you're not offended by the idea."
The younger kunoichi pulled her mask down over her face, but not before the Hokage caught a perfectly uncomfortable look. She knew that it was slightly juvenile, but there was nothing funnier than asking a Suna shinobi about their love life. No one would mock Shikamaru for his hesitance to engage in another romantic affair, but Temari was fair game. Also, the village needed a pleasant rumour going around for once, it distracted from the more dire whispers.
"I must speak with Hinata-chan. Excuse me, Hokage-sama." Temari bowed, waiting for the return gesture before vanishing.
--
Shikamaru stared into empty space. The empty space where his sealing scroll had been. He sat on the steps of his clan hall basement, smothered in shadows and smoke. He didn't know how long he had been there, just sitting, staring, as if wishing would make it rematerialise. Ino sat to one side, Chouji to the other. No one spoke. Their sensei's killer was unsealed. He had already, checked, the screaming could still be heard. Hidan was still alive, still trapped, if he had the ability to release his hold on life, he hadn't used it.
The unsettling reality had settled on all of them. Hidan was still alive. In the heat of the moment burying the problem for all eternity had seemed both wise and fitting. In the cold light of day it was nauseating and impractical. The three shinobi were listless, unsure of the way forward. With the sudden jolt of reality Asuma's death felt unavenged. Hidan hadn't gotten off lightly, or at all, but it wouldn't be finished until they could never think about him again.
"What now?" Ino asked, her voice hushed.
"Mmm," Chouji grunted. He had no food in his hands for the first time in years.
Shikamaru didn't move, eyes still fixed straight ahead. He treasured his friends, but knew that they would never be the ones to come up with a new plan.
What would you have done, woman?
Dissected his brain until I found what made him tick.
"Immortality is impossible," he murmured. "Hidan was too dangerous to dissect when he was teamed up with Zabuza, but now even if he found a way to recompromise his body, the mental trauma of being trapped for so long..."
Shikamaru stopped, not wanting to go through any details. They didn't need to hear them anyway, they'd follow his suggestions without question. Hidan was out of action. Maybe he wouldn't always be without their intervention, but they at least had a window. He would be mentally debilitated from ten years of dismembered solitude, and without Zabuza's sewing technique and no immediate allies to figure anything else out for him, they had a window of opportunity.
Ino gazed at him curiously. "What are you suggesting?"
Shikamaru steeled himself. Temari had casually flicked it out there, the idea of cutting him to pieces. She probably would have done it with her bare hands right there given half a chance. The image of her hands tearing through soft membranes made his stomach turn. Easy for her to come up with the idea, but he didn't have the kind of intestinal fortitude that her village was known for.
"Dissect his brain," he muttered. "Find out what makes him tick."
The dust and dampness of the basement further muted the silence that followed. None of them were prone to queasiness, but the idea of digging up the still-living head of a madman to tear apart was enough to make even the strongest stomach turn. They sat in silence, contemplating the ramifications. Ino looked green in the low light, she began rocking slightly, as if she was trying to keep from throwing up. The sour look on Chouji's face wasn't much better.
"I..." Ino paused, closing her eyes and swallowing hard. "I'm not high enough clearance to do the dissection. Sakura or Tsunade-shishou would have to."
Shikamaru gave a dry chuckle. The only thing more nerve wracking then digging up Hidan would be to ask Tsunade for a favour at a time like this. "Hokage-sama isn't in the mood, and Sakura's busy with Naruto."
Ino shook her head with a narrowing of her eyes. "Then it will wait, I'm not doing this, Shikamaru. We've broken too many rules already, this needs to be left to the Hokage."
He scowled, looking to Chouji for a deciding vote, but his large friend was carefully examining the floor. It was true that the autopsy of an Akatsuki should be done by someone with the correct clearance, but the laws were now old, years out of date, and he was anxious to get the procedure over with.
"Ino," he said, a not of exasperation in his voice, "there's no point in waiting. We don't need the information anymore, the autopsy is only to kill him."
"Then you do it," she hissed, visibly upset with the idea.
Shikamaru groaned, wondering if he really should see if Temari wanted to take him apart. He shuddered at the thought, but she would have relished it. No, he wouldn't be asking her for any favours, either. If Ino wasn't willing to help then he'd have to call on Sakura.
"Okay," he said with a shake of his head. "I'll talk to Sakura tomorrow."
