I don't own NARUTO
I do own OC's
"talking"
"thinking"
"demonic talking"
"demonic thinking"
Chapter 10:
Lady Tsunade had called the Chūnin of Team Kurenai into her office. "Did you call for us Lady Tsunade?" Shino asked.
"Yes I have. I have a mission that requires your skills." Tsunade said. "There has been a string of mysterious deaths in a village in the Land of Rivers. I need your team to go there and investigate."
"Investigate deaths? Why send us?" Kiba asked.
"From what I understand there are no witnesses of who could have done this and your three or among the best trackers in the village." Tsunade said.
"Alright then." Kiba said.
"Lady Tsunade, shouldn't you make a team with a medical ninja so to investigate the bodies." Shino said.
"I am sending a medical ninja with you." Tsunade said. Just then there was a knock on the door. "Came in."
In the room walked Tsubasa. "Tsubasa, why are you here?" Kiba asked.
"She is the medical ninja I have chosen for this mission." Tsunade said.
"Yeah but why her I mean she is so weird and then there is her shadow." Kiba said.
"Isn't Kage the same as Akamaru and Shino's insects?" Hinata asked.
"Kage?" Tsubasa and Kiba asked.
"Well I thought it we easier if she had a name." Hinata said.
"Kage, well it is kind of obvious and plan." Tsubasa said. "What do you think?" She looked down at her shadow. "She likes the name."
"As to why her? Both Sakura and Ino are out on missions already and I think it is better if you have someone your own age." Tsunade said.
"Listen, I don't wish to cause trouble so if you don't want me to be on your team then I will stay behind." Tsubasa said.
"It is not like that." Kiba said. "It is just that you and your shadow, I mean Kage have just been reunited not that long ago so I worry if she will leave you and go wild."
"Don't worry about that she will not do that unless I tell her to." Tsubasa said.
"Well okay then." Kiba said.
"Okay, you leave right away." Tsunade said.
"Excuse me but who is squad leader?" Hinata asked.
"Shino will be." Tsunade said.
"As you wish Lady Tsunade." Shino said and then they headed for the Land of Rivers.
They soon arrived at the village and Tsubasa was surprised at what village they were in. "Well let's get going!" Kiba said.
"Wait!" Tsubasa said. "We should be careful."
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
"Don't worry things will be fine." Kiba said as he and Akamaru walked into the village.
"Kiba that idiot." Tsubasa said to herself. "We better hurry after him." With that Tsubasa, Shino, and Hinata hurried to caught up to Kiba.
"I don't get why Tsubasa would say to be careful, if I find the one responsible for this deaths we can take care of them." Kiba said. Just then a little kid bumped into Kiba.
"Sorry mister." The child said. The child had a bandana on that covered the kid's hair but it could be seen that it was black and had green eyes, wearing a raggy tan shirt and black shorts and black sandals.
"No it is okay." Kiba said.
"Well bye." The child said but then the child's arm was grabbed. "Hey what is the big idea?"
"Tsubasa what is the meaning of this?" Kiba asked.
"Kiba I think this is yours." Tsubasa said as she pulled the child's hand to Kiba to show that in it was Kiba's wallet.
"My wallet, you little thief!" Kiba said.
"What is your name?" Hinata asked the child.
"Akira." The kid said.
"Where are your parents?" Hinata asked.
"Dead or Abandoned?" Tsubasa asked.
"Both for all that I care." Akira said.
"Where are you staying?" Tsubasa asked.
"The Fluent Wave." Akira said.
"Okay then. We will take you there." Tsubasa said as she let go of Akira's arm. Akira then ran off.
"Good riddance." Kiba said.
"She is better then I thought." Tsubasa said. "We should go after Akira."
"Why you got my wallet back." Kiba said as he took it back but as he checked it. "That kid took the money already! Where could that kid be?"
"Follow me." Tsubasa said as she lead the way.
Moments later Akira was just outside of a building. "I last them."
"There you are." Kiba said. "Give me my money back."
"You but who did you find me?" Akira asked.
"I lead him here." Tsubasa said as she appeared behind Akira and then took the money and handed it back to Kiba.
"How did you find the kid? Did you mark Akira?" Kiba asked.
"No need to. I know this place well." Tsubasa said.
"Tsutsu, long time no see." Hearing that voice sent a chill up Tsubasa's spin.
"Madam Aimi, how have you been?" Tsubasa said as she turned around to meet eyes with a older lady with a large dress on and a lot of make-up."
"And you Akira! You skipped out on your chores again!" Aimi said.
"Sorry Madam Aimi." Akira said. "I will get right to it."
"Care to explain?" Shino asked.
"Well you see this is the village I was raised in and this is where I lived during that time." Tsubasa said.
"What!" Kiba shouted.
With that they entered into the building. "So care to explain were you have been?" Aimi asked Tsubasa.
"Well you see it is hard to explain but I went away for a while." Tsubasa said.
"Well you are back and that is what is important." Aimi said. "Akira where is the tea for our guests?"
"Coming Madam." Akira said with a tray of tea and placed it on the table. "Your tea."
"Thank you Akira." Hinata said.
With that Akira left. "Why do you got that kid working here? He is just a thief."
"She is just a thief." Shino stated. "Akira is a girl."
"What! Well with those cloths it is hard to tell." Kiba said.
"Don't worry that is a compliment to say she appears like a boy." Tsubasa said.
"Why is that?" Kiba asked.
"Take a sniff." Tsubasa asked.
"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.
"Just do it." Tsubasa said.
"Okay." Kiba then gave the air a sniff. "What is that powerful smell?"
"Perfumes of various types." Tsubasa said. "There are many women living here after all this is a, well let's just call this a supporter of one of the three temptations."
It took Kiba a while to relies what Tsubasa meant. "You mean... and you lived her?"
"Before you get any ideas, Tsutsu's mother was one of my workers, rest her soul." Aimi said. "And Tsutsu merely lived here with her. And after her passing she would came her to work as a collector."
"Collector?" Shino asked.
"I would collect the pay of clients. One way or another." Tsubasa said. "Thank you for the tea Madam Aimi but we should be moving on I did not return here for a visit."
"So you joined a ninja force. What brings you here then?" Aimi asked.
"The string of deaths in this village. We were sent to investigate it." Shino said.
"It is late out there so fell free to say for the night. It is the least I can do for Tsutsu." Aimi said.
"Thank you Madam Aimi." Shino said.
"Okay, sorry I don't know your names." Aimi said.
"I am Shino..." Shino said.
"First names are enough here." Aimi said.
"I am Shino, this is Kiba and Hinata." Shino said. "And the dog outside is Kiba's nin-hound, Akamaru."
"Okay, Shino, Kiba, you can sleep in the back. Tsutsu, your room is still there. Hinata and you can share." Aimi said.
"Thank you for your hospitality." Shino said.
"Come Hinata. I will lead you to my room." Tsubasa said.
"Okay Tsubasa." Hinata said as she was lead to Tsubasa's room.
"Well this is it." Tsubasa said as she showed Hinata her room. The room was a normal size room but what she show all around was surprising.
"Are this all yours?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah." Tsubasa said as Hinata found a closet of male clothing. "In a house of professional women, dressing and acting like a man is the best way to detour advances. Luckily since Tsubasa is a name that both men and women can have it was a simple thing for the girls to refer to me as he instead of she during working hours."
"But what about outside?" Hinata asked.
"I have women clothes too." Tsubasa said as she set up a spare futon. "It is getting late so we better get to sleep. Then we can go and investigate the scene."
"Alright." Hinata said. With that they went to bed.
The next day they left The Fluent Wave and after thanking Madam Aimi for the hospitality they head for their client, the head of the village guard. "So you have arrived." The head guard said.
"Sorry for being late but we bumped into trouble." Shino said.
"It is understood." The head guard said. "I expect you to wish to examine the scene?"
"The scene would be cold by now." Tsubasa said. "I think we need to examine the bodies."
"I will contact the doctor to give you the details of the autopsies." The head guard said.
"I am sure your doctor is skilled but I think I should examine it myself." Tsubasa said. With that she headed for the autopsy room with Hinata and Shino following behind.
They arrived at autopsy and met up with a guard standing in front of the room. "You are the Ninja from the Leaf. Okay as soon as the doctor arrives you can enter." Tsubasa then pushed her way through. "Miss I think you should wait for the village's doctor to give you his preliminary examination of the bodies." The guard said.
"The longer we wait the more bodies will fill this room." Tsubasa said.
"Spoken like I taught to you." Tsubasa turned around to see a older looking man with mid-length aged blue hair in a ponytail and red eyes, wearing a fishnet top and a dark green top with black pants and on his feet black sandals. "It have been awhile Tsutsu."
"Ryo sensei, not in public." Tsubasa said.
"Let's have this conversation inside." Ryo said as he lead them inside. "We will be okay so just be a good guard and stay out here."
"Alright Ryo sensei." The guard said. With that the door was closed behind them.
"So Tsutsu, you disappeared, why?" Ryo asked.
"Someone managed to lure me to a distant place and then altered my memories so to tame me." Tsubasa said.
"I am assuming that you are more then just the village's doctor." Shino said.
"You are right. Before I was a wander who made his living as a ninja but decided to settle down in this village using my skills as a doctor." Ryo said.
"Why here?" Hinata asked.
"Tsubasa here is the main reason. But that is a story for her to tell." Ryo said. "Now I assume you are here to investigate the deaths." Ryo then made his way to his desk and took a radio transmitter and handed it to Tsubasa. "I met your friend, Kiba right, on my way here and provided him a receiver so he can hear my preliminary examination."
"Ready?" Tsubasa spoke into it. "Everything is ready."
"Okay. Now signs of struggle on any of the bodies. Also all persons around the bodies checked out and to our knowledge none of the victims have anything in common aside from now being dead." Ryo said. "The only sign of injury is a small prick but when I examined the bodies there where no trace of poisons of any type."
"Any health issues?" Shino asked.
"Side from one having a nasty cold at the time they were in perfect health." Ryo said.
"Kiba asked if there were any smells that were above normal." Tsubasa relayed.
"No, no odors beyond normal." Ryo said. "I am sorry that I can't be of more help."
Just then there was a knock at the door. "Ryo sensei, sorry but there has been another death." The guard said.
"You heard that Kiba?" Tsubasa asked.
"Yeah Akamaru and I will go ahead and see if we can pick up any scents." Kiba said.
"We better go too." Shino said.
"I don't mind at all." Ryo said and they head to the scene. The scene was in the center of town. "The victim appears to be a young woman in her mid teens." Ryo said as he examined the victim. "Signs of struggle and from the smell she was given something. Why is this girl one of the victims?"
"Ryo sensei, this girl was being assaulted by a man late last night. We got him and he has been in our cells and still are. The girl was taken home and a guard stationed at her door but the guard got called away and when he returned she was gone." The head guard said. "The guard looked for her and found her like this."
"This area." Tsubasa said to herself.
"What about it?" Shino asked.
"It is a hunch but we would need to examine the girl first." Tsubasa said. The female victim was brought to autopsy and Ryo started to the procedure with Tsubasa assisting. Once they removed the victim's clothes Tsubasa noticed something. "Hey Ryo sensei, look at this." Tsubasa then took pair of tweezers and then pulled up a piece of medical tape that was near the breasts.
"Interesting why would there be tape on this victim and not the others?" Ryo asked.
"Hinata do you hear me?" Tsubasa asked through the radio.
"Yeah." Hinata said.
"Okay this is a long shot. The shoes the victim was wearing, get them." Tsubasa said.
Hinata got the shoes. "Okay now what?"
"Look at the soles of both shoes. Does it look like one of the soles are removable?" Tsubasa asked.
"Yeah, the left sole." Hinata said.
"Remove the sole by pulling it back and then lift." Tsubasa said.
"What are you getting at Tsutsu?" Ryo asked.
"It opened, looks like there is money in here." Hinata said.
"All bills right?" Tsubasa said.
"Yeah. How did you know that?" Hinata asked.
"She used the same method as I did when I was young. Dressing as a man to avoid attention from men." Tsubasa said. "This may be one of Madam's collectors."
"So what know?" The head guard asked.
"We have to find who did this. The best way is to patrol the streets." Shino said.
"That won't work. We have tried but none of our guards could make it in time." The head guard said.
"Don't worry we are sensory type ninja so we have a better chance at finding out who is doing this." Kiba said.
"Kiba, Akamaru would stick out too much so it would be best if you and Shino act as our watchers." Tsubasa said.
"Our?" Hinata asked.
"Yep you and I will be patrolling the village." Tsubasa said.
"Too dangerous." Kiba said. "Not only would you risk getting yourselves killed but in this village worse."
"Don't worry about that I have just the thing." Tsubasa said.
Later back at The Fluent Wave Tsubasa was helping Hinata get ready to go on patrol. "Well it has been a while but I hope I can make it work." Tsubasa said as she stepped out of her room dressed in a dark gray top with her breasts bond down underneath, brown pants, and her hair tucked in a brown Gatsby cap. "Come on Hinata, there is nothing to be shy about."
"Are you sure?" Hinata said as she walked out from the room. Hinata was wearing a heavy black jacket over a white shirt with black pants and a pair of boot-like sandals. He hair was tied up and hidden in a black knit cap. "Do you think this plan will work?"
"Ok course. Listen You and I pose as collectors for Madam Aimi, that way we can travel around and not attract too much attention." Tsubasa said.
"I don't know Tsutsu, it took you a while to master the skills to be a collector." Aimi said.
"Don't worry. Hinata just think who a man would walk and talk. As for your voice. If you freak out just be quiet and act as you are a mute." Tsubasa said. "Lucky Hinata is a name that can be a man's or woman's so you will not have trouble thinking one up." Tsubasa then said in a deeper voice. "Well let's go." With that they were off.
They have been walking the streets for a while. "Any thing yet?" Kiba asked on the radio.
"Not yet." Hinata said. "Still no hits of the killer."
"Don't worry. We just need to be patient." Tsubasa said. Just then she show something flying towards someone. Tsubasa looked to see that person hit there neck as something hit it but there was nothing there. "Hinata!" Tsubasa said.
"Right." Hinata then activated her Byakugan. "Kiba, Shino, a suspect his fleeing from the roof tops."
"See him. Where on it." Kiba said as he and Akamaru ran to chase after the suspect.
"What now Tsubasa?" Hinata asked.
"Hold still sir." Tsubasa said as she was handling the man that got hit to the ground.
"Get off me man." The man said.
"I think you were just poisoned." Tsubasa said.
"You are crazy." The man said as he pushed Tsubasa off and then as he was walking away suddenly fell to the ground.
"I tried to tell you." Tsubasa said.
"This is bad. Everyone will think you are the one responsible." Hinata said.
"Relax." Tsubasa then took out a scalpel and a jar and then stuck the spot where the man was hit and then collected the blood. "I thought so."
"You found something?" Hinata asked.
"Maybe but we need to get this to a medical lab fast." Tsubasa said as they head for Ryo's office.
Meanwhile Kiba and Akamaru were chasing the suspect. "You are not getting away." Kiba said. The suspect then turned around and then shot something at Kiba but he managed to block it. "Blood." Kiba said to himself. "This is good. I can track him now." Kiba and Akamaru continued the chase but lost him. "Where is he?" Kiba and Akamaru then returned to met the others.
"Did you loss him?" Shino asked.
"Yeah I did but I think I discovered why no one could find the murder weapon." Kiba said.
"It blood needles." Shino said. "Tsubasa already discovered it."
"It is not just that. There is a hemo-base poison that is fast acting, and dissolves fast." Tsubasa said. "That bastard."
"What is it?" Hinata asked.
"You should tell them Tsubasa." Ryo said.
"Yes Ryo sensei." Tsubasa said. "I guess I should start from the beginning. Back when I was a little kid my mother was killed by a man who wouldn't take no for an answer. One night after my mother saying no he returned with others and they killed her and I saw it happen. I was angry and could not control my self. I killed all of them that night."
"You killed them all but how?" Hinata asked.
"I created Kage to act as my friend back then. She and I are connected so when I got angry she reacted to my wish to kill them." Tsubasa said. "I would have died that day too if not for Ryo sensei. He took me in and thought me medical skills as well as ninja arts."
"That does not explain why you are so angry at the murder?" Shino asked.
"As part of my training, Ryo sensei would take me out of the village and we would take on missions." Tsubasa said. "It was during such a time while we where working on an assassination job that I developed a painless method of killing someone. This man, the way the victims are left are the some as how I would leave them. He is blaming this on me."
"Calm down Tsubasa." Hinata said. "It is not your fault."
"I know. But the thing is this. How did he know how to do it? I am the only one how knows to technique." Tsubasa said.
"Well will find him. If only we didn't loose his scent." Kiba said.
"Scent? How did you get his scent?" Tsubasa asked.
"He used one of those blood needles on me, I stopped it and use the scent to keep track but I last it in the woods." Kiba said.
"How did you stop the blood needle?" Tsubasa asked.
"I use a kunai." Kiba said.
"You still have it?" Tsubasa asked.
"Yeah why?" Kiba said as he handed her the blade.
"The other blood samples were contaminated with the victim's blood but with this I can track him with ease." Tsubasa said as she dropped the kunai into her shadow and Kage then shot out and rushed off. "After her." Tsubasa said as she and Hinata quickly changed as they all followed the trail. They soon found themselves in front of a small house. "He must be here." Tsubasa started towards the house but then something came shooting at her and she jumped back.
"You are quick." Said a voice as a man came into view. He had short dark green hair, dark eyes, wearing a black top and pants and black sandals. In his hands he held a long bamboo pole.
"You!" Tsubasa said. "Haruki, why are you doing this?"
"You know him?" Kiba asked.
"Yes, he was my...dear friend." Tsubasa said with a blush. "Why have you killed all those people?"
"To lure you here." Haruki said as he pointed the pole towards Tsubasa.
"What do you mean?" Tsubasa said.
"You don't think I didn't notice the types of injuries you came back with after your's and Ryo sensei's trips. I know you where a ninja. And I coincided your trips with reported deaths of criminals so I figure it was either you are the doctor. Since he is not here that means it was you." Haruki said.
"Why would you do such a thing, involve innocent people?" Hinata asked.
"Sacrifices for my endgame." Haruki said.
"You game is over Haruki, we will bring you in to justice." Shino said.
"Don't make me laugh." Haruki then swung his Bamboo pole and then struck them back. "While one game is over that just means it is time for the second. There is a reward in the underground for the 'Dark Wing'." Haruki said.
"Haruki, was getting the reward the reason for you getting close to me?" Tsubasa asked.
"At first yes, but I soon developed feelings for you. That is way I am truly sorry." Haruki then throw his pole in the air and then slashed his arms to draw blood. He then caught the pole and then blow into it shooting blood needles. Tsubasa then held her hands out and created a shadow shield.
"It is pointless." Tsubasa said as she charged in to attack.
"I will not let you get close to me." Haruki then stabbed the ground with his pole and then bamboo started to grow wildly.
"A bamboo forest." Tsubasa said as she stopped. Just then a kunai hit her. "What the?"
"The bamboo allows me to attack without you seeing me." Haruki said. More kunai hit Tsubasa.
"Why?" Tsubasa asked. "If you have feelings for me still then why go though it?"
"I have two types of feeling for you. Love and hate." Haruki said.
"Hate, why hate me?" Tsubasa asked.
"You may not remember but you killed my father." Haruki said. "You killed him twelve years ago!" Hearing that caused Tsubasa to flashback to that night. "Just because your improper mother would deny my father's request."
"That man, your father, he was a coward." Tsubasa said.
"Lies. He was no coward!" Haruki said as more kunai flow at Tsubasa.
Just then the bamboo forest was destroyed by a giant shadow fiend. "Only a coward pays others to soften a defenseless woman before killing her himself." Tsubasa shouted.
"What is that?" Haruki said. As he took his pole in hand and stabbed it and then Tsubasa started to cough up blood. "Tsubasa! This thing is connected to you. This is my chance to kill you, if I kill this thing." He then broke the lower half of his pole. "Well Tsubasa, I am sorry but I have to do this." Haruki then sent blood into the pole and was ready to blow but he let a tear fall. Just then Haruki was stopped in his tracks. "What is going on?"
"Shadow Marionette." Tsubasa said. "I control anything in it's grip."
"So what are you going to do?" Haruki asked. "Kill me like you killed my father?"
"I didn't kill him." Tsubasa said.
"What do you mean you didn't kill him? He never returned home that day?" Haruki said. "Then they found his body a week later."
"She is right. She did not kill him. She was about to but I stepped in and stopped her before that could happen." Ryo said as he arrived at the scene.
"But he was dead and there was no wound like all the others killed by her?" Haruki said.
"Haruki, would I lie to you?" Tsubasa said.
"No you wouldn't." Haruki said.
"So what now?" Kiba asked.
"The mission was to investigate the source of the murders. Looks to me like they were caused by a wandering ninja who we could not identify." Shino said.
"Looks that way to me to?" Kiba said.
"Very well then." Tsubasa said as she released the threads.
"I know there is nothing that I can say to make amends for what happened but I will try." Haruki said as he ran off.
"Thank you guys." Tsubasa said as Kage returned to Tsubasa.
"Don't worry about it. Now let's return and say we promise the deaths will stop." Kiba said as they headed back to the village.
On there way back Ryo thought back to that day twelve years ago.
Flashback:
Ryo had just finished coming a young Tsubasa down and went after the man that got away but when he got there he saw that the man was dead and their was a man with long red hair wearing a black robe sitting against a stone. "Did you do this?" Ryo asked. The man just nodded. "Why?"
"Because he is scum that would cheat on his own family when they are still alive and dare face them." The man said. "Now if you don't mind I think I will take a long nap."
"Who are you?" Ryo asked.
"What remained of one who once loved the woman this man killed." With that the man turned black and then as the sun rose his body disappeared.
"This man has a family that would worry about him." Ryo said as he pick up the body. "The least that can be done. He said as he brought the body with him, planning to return it to his family later.
Flashback end:
The next day the Leaf Ninja head back to the Leaf Village. "Are you going to miss this place?" Hinata asked.
"I will miss the people but I hold no feelings for the people here." Tsubasa said.
"Well shall we return to the Leaf?" Shino asked.
"Let's." Tsubasa said as they headed back the Leaf.