Sorry but I've been busy the past week so I haven't had time to update or edit. The story might be delayed even further since I have to catch up on school work, take care of other stuff, and play Rock Band...So expect more delays, but I'm still writing the story, pretty far ahead. It's just that I don't have much time to edit and keep this story straight. Also new manga info has to be reviewed and see if it'll change the story or fits into the story in any way. I like keeping my story as close to the manga/anime as possible.
Chapter 8
Battle Site – Morning
"Anything Kiba?" Naruto asked.
"For the fifteenth time, I'll tell you when we find something!" Kiba snapped.
Akamaru growled his agreement and continued to sniff at the trees. Hinata and Shino stood with Sakura, Sai, and Yamato, waiting for Kiba and Akamaru to finish their preliminary search. Naruto huffed impatiently, walking beside Kiba.
"Shouldn't we stop Naruto? He could mess up any tracks." Sai asked the group.
Sakura snorted. "Short of breaking his legs, we won't be able to stop him. Geez, that idiot."
"I've already looked. Any tracks made would be on the trees. In fact, all tracks have been made on the tree branches." Shino allayed Sai's concern.
"Have you begun following those tracks?" Yamato asked Shino.
Shino nodded. "I already finished."
"Finished?" Sakura asked.
"I believe time is of the essence. I sent my bugs forward and the tracks ended in the middle of the forest almost forty miles from here." Shine clarified, "Before that, they split into multiple sets of tracks; probably Shadow Clones. That's why Kiba is sniffing around. Since the tracks are unreliable, we're forced to use scent."
Yamato nodded. Shino had been elevated as co-commander for this operation; the Hokage's decision was justified. The group waited impatiently as Kiba and Akamaru continued to search for a scent. After half an hour, a messenger bird landed on Yamato's shoulder and he called Kiba and Akamaru back.
To Captain Yamato:
The Kazekage's response has already been received; their fastest bird, nothing less from the Sand. The two were sited in the village a couple years ago but the only reason they recall them is because after they were reported leaving, several ninja and half a dozen civilians went missing as well.
The Sand has set those two as A-Rank criminals but hasn't turned up anything after a thorough investigation back then. They've started looking deeper through their investigation files at our request but I'd like one of us there personally. If you haven't found any leads, make best speed to the Sand. If you have, send this bird back with specifications and continue tracking.
Hokage Tsunade
Yamato sighed and turned to the team.
"We'll be moving out to Sand Village. It seems our two were spotted in the Sand several years ago." He informed them.
Kiba frowned.
"If they were there years ago, any evidence the Sand haven't marked will be long gone."
Yamato nodded.
"Have you had any luck on their scents?"
"No." Kiba shook his head, "Akamaru says the scent split and they all fit into the trails that lead into dead ends. None of them make an original path."
"Then we have no choice but to go to the Sand. Perhaps something there will help us find these two." Shino replied.
"Right then," Yamato pockets the message, "Let's move out."
Eight blurs rustled the leaves as they raced towards Wind Country. All of them wondering if Kakashi was still alive.
Unknown Location – Afternoon
"You need my blood?" Kakashi asked, staring at the syringe in Mokoto's hand.
Mokoto nodded, sitting down next to Kakashi's bed.
"Now are you going to be a good little boy and stay still or are we going to have to hold you down?" Mokoto smiled at his attempt at humor.
Kakashi's glare wiped away Mokoto's smile and replaced it with a frown.
"Okay then. Care to cooperate or do Hitomi and I need to knock you out again? And I don't think you're up for a fight, the check over we did this morning says you won't getting out of bed for at least four days."
Kakashi cursed his own weakness in regret. If he was recovered, he'd have escaped long ago. He nodded reluctantly. Mokoto swabbed alcohol and jabbed the needle into Kakashi's arm, drawing the blood. Finishing, Mokoto placed the syringe in a small ice box, securely held in place by Velcro straps.
"That should be enough for us to run some tests." Mokoto announced, handing the box to Hitomi, "Take it to the lab and tell Ryo to search for the Sharingan gene markers."
Hitomi bowed and swiftly walked out, giving a small smile to Kakashi beforehand. Mokoto sighed and turned back to Kakashi, studying his friend.
"Where were we last night?" He asked.
"You were telling me why you needed blood." Kakashi replied tiredly.
"Right!" Mokoto sat up straight, "So, you know all about bloodlines and stuff. How you need to have the genes of the clan to use the bloodline."
Kakashi shook his head in frustration.
"Just get to the point."
Mokoto frowned but continued anyway.
"Well, as you know, it's all in the DNA of a human. Uchiha DNA is not much different from us non-Uchiha. It's just the specific Sharingan proteins in the DNA that allow an Uchiha to use the Sharingan." Mokoto explained, "What I need your blood for, Uchiha blood, is material that will allow me to identify the specific proteins of the Sharingan and isolate them for the next stage of my mission."
Kakashi stared at his friend in disbelief. "I don't have Uchiha blood, you know that!"
Mokoto nodded his head in agreement. "True, you weren't born of the Uchiha clan but then how could you use your Sharingan?"
Kakashi stayed silent, not responding.
"I read about what happened at the bridge, Kakashi." Mokoto spoke softly, "The place where Obito died. He gave you his Sharingan and Rin was the one who transplanted it right?"
Kakashi continued to stay silent, hanging his head at the memories being brought up.
"But she didn't transplant only the eye did she? How else could you use the Sharingan? She gave you a blood infusion didn't she?" Mokoto whispered, staring at his friend's eye.
Kakashi lashed out only to have Mokoto catch his arm again. Kakashi recoiled, pain shooting in his shoulder. Mokoto shook his head at his friend's action.
"You really don't learn do you?"
"How do you know what Rin did?" Kakashi asked, anger in his voice. He wasn't angry directly at Mokoto but at himself, for that day; the day he failed to protect a friend.
"It's a theory I thought up of when I started this mission." Mokoto replied, shrugging, "It's the only logical expl of when I started this mission." The day he failed to protect a friend.
n." need from thatKakashi, studyanation for how you've been able to continue using the Sharingan. You two also had the same blood type, which explains why your body didn't reject the blood. But how you gained the genes, the Sharingan genes, is something that still eludes me. I'd have to do countless experiments on you to find the logical explanation but I won't."
"Why not? This is all for your mission isn't it? I'm just your prisoner." Kakashi replied spitefully.
Mokoto shook his head at Kakashi's anger.
"It's interesting and could contribute to my second stage but it'll take up more time. And to be honest, I'm running short on time and I can hardly keep you here forever can I?"
Kakashi's mind jumped at Mokoto's words.
"What do you mean running short on time? And what's your second stage?"
"My supply of blood is running short. And I've no doubt caught the attention of more than Konoha, we're allies with more villages these days aren't we?"
"Supply?"
"My work originally used Uchiha Fugaku's blood."
"He gave it to you willingly?" Kakashi asked, bewildered.
"No." Mokoto replied, shaking his head, "I had to send some of my men to secure his blood after the Uchiha Massacre."
"Gravedigger!" Kakashi spat.
Mokoto's face began to show anger.
"I did what I had to for my mission."
Kakashi stayed silent, breathing hard. Finally he looked up at Mokoto again.
"And what's your second stage?"
Mokoto shrugged, quickly forgetting his anger.
"After isolating the proteins of the Sharingan, I use them to make a blood plasma mixed with a chemical that will target the specific proteins in DNA that the Sharingan proteins will replace."
"Wait…replace?" Kakashi's eyes widened in realization, "You mean - !"
Mokoto smiled at Kakashi's revelation.
"It's all been painfully obvious, Kakashi." Mokoto explained, triumphant, "Once the blood fuses, the person will be able to use the Sharingan. My mission, this endeavor, is to make this blood so that all of Konoha will be able to use the Sharingan. With it, we'll be able to defend against any nation and conquer any nation!"
Mokoto stood, carried away by the heat of the moment.
"Konoha will be the strongest of all nations for all time. The Uchiha legacy will live on and it will all be thanks to me."
Kakashi stared at his friend with wide eyes. To him, if all of it were possible, it would only cause more war.
"And thanks to you as well." Mokoto grinned, oblivious to the consequences, "Your blood will make all of this possible."
The only thought that passed through Kakashi's mind at that moment was wondering when his old friend had lost his mind and given in to the darkness.
I considered changing the ending but I guess Mokoto can give into his mad-scientist evil-ness just once...forgive him, please...I know one thing is that this story is moving along slowly, it's gonna be a very long story; like 30 chapters long. My best estimate, although I'd go for 25-35 chapter range to be safe. Anyway, review if you want and can.
