Heyo! I back again with a new chapter, I think this story is going to end with the next chapter...i think...Anyways! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride or Naruto
The team flew through the air in silence, all of them trying to fly back to Konoha as fast as possible. The speed was much faster than the one that they had taken on the way, and they could soon see Konoha's Hokage Mountain on the horizon. Landing in front of the gates from which they left, Kakashi gestured for them to stop.
"Flock. Take Hawk, Tiger, and Fang to the hospital. Run straight down this road, and make a left, run down that and it's on the right. Miss it and Fang will probably die a slow and painful death. Weasel and I will take the report to the Hokage, then meet up with you at the hospital. Wait there, and don't wonder off."
The Flock nodded rapidly, then sped off down the main road, drawing stares from civilians and ninja alike. Kakashi and Itachi jumped to the nearest rooftop and began to make their way to the Hokage tower, using more chakra than was necessary.
Running at high speeds, the Flock was dashing through the street. Iggy crashed through several civilians, but didn't stop to apologize, occupied with keeping Fang from falling off his back. Mutant powers were useful, even if the two ANBU and Fang didn't weigh much.
Arriving at the hospital, the flock burst through the doors, yelling for a doctor. Nurses swarmed over, taking the two kunoichi and putting them in the same room, before glancing at Fang and putting him in the intensive care ward.
Slowly realizing their surroundings, the flock became more nervous. The hospital smells put them on edge, but remembering Kakashi's orders, they tentatively sat in the chairs that lined the hallway. Each one of them was hoping that the rest of the team would be all right and that Kakashi and Itachi would get back soon.
Kakashi and Itachi jumped straight through the Hokage's window, interrupting a Genin team briefing. Upon see two of his best ANBU standing in front of the window with a sense of urgency to them; the Sandime quickly dismissed the jonin and genin team. "Report."
Kakashi bowed slightly. "Our team managed to infiltrate the lair, but we encountered Orochimaru almost immediately. We fought, but Tiger was hit by one of Orochimaru's attacks and was infected with a chakra-eating virus. Hawk also gained a curse seal. I sent the flock ahead to complete the mission. While they were away, Hawk's curse seal started to activate. I think she must have given in to her anger at the flock, which caused the seal to spread across her body. We were able to retrain her until the flock came back, then she tried to kill Fang. She would have killed him if Tiger hadn't caught her in a Kage mane, that gave me enough time to place a chakra restraining seal on her, which made her pass out again. We then left the base, blowing it up. I sent the flock to the hospital with Fang, Tiger, and Hawk."
The Hokage took this all in with a serious face, eye becoming graver by the second. When Kakashi finally ended, there was a small silence. "Dog, I want you to go to the hospital and check up on your teammates. Take the journals for the doctors to analyze. Stay there until further notice. Weasel, stay for a minute."
Kakashi glanced quickly at Itachi, then jumped out of the window and began to make his way over the rooftops. The hospital wasn't that far away from the tower.
The flock looked up when the nurse came out of Max and Akata's room, wiping sweat off her face. Instantly, Gazzy asked, "Are they going to be okay?"
The nurse gave him a weary smile. "Max-san will be fine, but Akata-san might not be. The chakra restraining seal was placed just in time, but Max-san will still need an experienced seal master to permanently seal it away. Akata-san might be able to do it, or at least come up with an array. She won't be able to use chakra without draining herself, and possibly killing herself. We can't figure out a cure for the virus either. She can't use chakra, otherwise she'll be completely drained that will kill her. The Hokage might remove her from the Shinobi roster once she gets out."
Angel stood up suddenly, bowing to the nurse. "I'm really, really sorry about all of this. If Fang and I hadn't kicked Max out of the flock, this might never have happened. If Fang hadn't gone after her, he wouldn't have nearly killed himself-"
Angel was cut off from her apology by the door to the intensive car ward opening, and a medic-nin stepped out, his face grave. When he saw the flock waiting, he headed over. "You are the family of Fang, right?" Nudge nodded, and then asked what was on everyone's minds.
"What happened to him?"
The medic-nin ran a hand through his hair. "Fang didn't make it. The poison that Max-san used is slow moving, but very hard to stop when it gets going. We couldn't get the antidote in time. I'm sorry." He left just as Kakashi hopped through the window. Seeing their grim faces, he asked: "What happened?"
Kakashi took in the news with a grim eye as the flock retold the story, and then turned to the nurse taking care of Max. "Are we allowed to visit yet?"
The nurse considered this. "As long as you don't disturb them too much, and you keep a chakra restraining seal on you."
Kakashi nodded, and slipped into the room, motioning for the flock to follow him.
Akata was awake when Kakashi came in, fiddling with the sheets. Upon seeing Kakashi, she grinned ruefully and gestured to her face. There were bandages wrapped around the edges of her left eye. "I look like you now, Taicho, except that I got off with my eye."
Kakashi moved to ruffle her hair, seeing the hidden anxiety in her eyes and knew that she was worried about Max and the virus that was now eating away at her chakra. "Do you think you can design a seal that will keep the curse seal from activating again?" he asked softly, watching the flock crowd around Max's bed.
Akata nodded slightly. "I can do it, but you're going to have to activate it. I don't have the chakra for it."
"I know."
They both watched the flock interact with Max, knowing that their ANBU team was going to fall apart. Soon.
That's all for now!
