It had only been a brief amount of time since Ino had used her Mind Transfer Jutsu on the bee and Shikamaru already could tell that something had gone wrong. Even with the short period of time, she should have been back by now. It was just a simple insect with basic co-ordinates and direction programmed into it, there shouldn't be-
Ino's body jerked upright as she awoke, eyes wide in alarm.
"Ino. Report." Asuma's tone was firm and commanding, with just enough strength in to shake her out of whatever funk had been occupying her. She glanced up at him with fear evident in her face. Asuma immediately flung a kunai at the shadow-possessed bee, slicing it in half. This seemed enough of a shock to get her to speak.
"Sensei... It's much worse than what we thought..." she muttered, eyes going distant and as she trembled on the ground, only to be quickly embraced by her Sensei as she shook her back to an alert phase.
"W-What did you s-see?" Hinata asked curiously, a worried tone in her voice.
Ino flinched, "It's the bees... she's connected to them... all of them. They're feeding her information. Transmitting it across vast distances. Talking to her. There's... there's so m-many... I-I couldn't get out. I... I almost forgot who I am. Just.. lost in a sea of minds..."
Surprisingly, it was Shino who who gave the first response, "That is not possible. Such a link between minds does not exist even for Aburame."
Asuma took hold of the situation before anyone else could freak out.
"Regardless, do you have her location, Ino?"
She nodded, "Yes... they're due North of here. Just over six kilometres away. But, she's... making something. I... don't know what it is, but it reminds me of a summoning Jutsu. It's what's making her... children... collect chakra... She's hungry for it. Needs chakra to power it..."
"'Children'?" Kibra parroted, face scrunched up in confusion, "She's a mother? But she's our age!"
Ino nodded silently, cradling her head in an effort to stop a headache. She winced but managed to speak up, "Her bees... Children born from inside her. And... they know we're coming." at their confused looks she explained, "Beatrice... she detected me. I-I-I, I think she.. learnt things. My memories... She.. cast me out. I wouldn't have been able to escape otherwise. But, with what you just did to her scout, she'll be pissed."
Asuma frowned, "I've heard enough. Kiba, you're the fastest one of us. I want you and Akamaru to take Ino back to Konoha. Explain the situation and have her personally checked out by Hokage-sama."
"N-No... I'll be fine.. just a little surprised, really..." Ino tried to explain, but Asuma was having none of it.
"Absolutely not. I've seen you use the Mind-Transfer Jutsu and it's never affected you in this manner. You're going back to Konoha. No complaints. Kiba?"
With a firm nod, Kiba and Akamaru disappeared with Ino.
"U-uh, Asuma-sensei...?" Hinata muttered, Byakugan eyes blazing white.
"Yes, Hinata? Do you have something to report?"
The Hyuga girl nodded jerkily, "T-The bees, they've c-changed directions. They're all moving t-to the area that Ino-san r-reported."
Asuma nodded, "Onward, then. We must apprehend Beatrice and Tayuya at all costs. If what Ino said is true, Beatrice has stolen not only village secrets, but clan secrets."
The group of Genin and Chunin all gave hesitant glances to one-another before they departed.
Elsewhere, Tayuya had barely caught Beatrice from her position when her doctor had suddenly fallen forward with a look of abject horror on her face. The former Sound Kunoichi had quickly pulled the girl into an embrace and only now was Beatrice beginning to respond, a small weak murmur escaping her lips.
"Beatrice? Can you hear me? What happened?" Tayuya asked worriedly, a concerned expression on her face. Her golden haired doctor was the only person she'd ever truly opened up to before and seeing such a frightened look on Beatrice's face felt wrong.
"One of the Shinobi following us... she's a Yamanaka. She used her Mind-Transfer Jutsu on one of my children... "
Tayuya blinked before her eyes widened in shock, "Wait, you're a mother?!"
Sure, she was worried as all hell about the idea of a Yamanka of all people, considering how crazily overpowered their mental techniques could be, but there were more pressing concerns at the moment and she needed answers.
A golden blush tinged Beatrice's cheeks as she nodded slowly, her head resting on Tayuya's chest.
"M-my bees. I've said before that I'm unique among the Kamizuru, that's one of the reasons. As I stated previously the bees are grown in me. I am, in all forms, their mother." she explained slowly, a tinge of guilt in her voice as her shoulders slumped, "I'm... sorry for not telling you immediately, but I was afaid and I didn't-"
Tayuya cut off her doctor, pulling the blonde's chin upwards so they could stare into eachother's eyes. "I told you before, all I care about is staying with you. So what, you've got crazy bee powers. You're still my doctor and that hasn't changed. Look at me, girl. I'm positively demonic and I couldn't care less."
"Y-You really mean that?" Beatrice ventured, eyes hopeful and pleading.
The former Sound Kunoichi grinned and nodded, "Yup! Now, let's get this summoning ritual and get away from those Konoha jerks. I've had enough craziness for one day, ya'know. All I wanted to do is binge on a fuckload of food and yet here we are in the middle of a forest enacting some crazy reverse-summoning ritual that I've never heard of before!" her reassurances devulged into angry grumbling at the end.
Beatrice giggled at the sight and nodded, slowly stepping up and out of the embrace, her eyes firm and resolute.
"Right. Well, the ritual circle is complete and ready. I just need a vast amount of chakra to carry our journey. I've gotten my bees to drain some chakra and they'll be transporting it here. I'm diverting all of my bees here. We'll need to hold out until the chakra bees have finished."
Asuma, Shikamaru, Shino, Choji and Hinata neared their destination, with the young Hyuga constantly giving them updates on their target's position. Shikamaru was well aware that with a member from each team missing, any combination attacks they'd originally planned to utilise were worthless, especially the fabled Ino-Shika-Cho formation that Team 10 and their predecessors were so well-known for. Even worse, with the potential for their information to be compromised, this mission was shaping up to be one of the most chaotic the Genin and Chunin had been on and there hadn't even been an actual fight yet.
Hinata gestured for the group to halt and they stopped tree-jumping for the moment, the group all landing on a nearby large branch.
"T-Targets are one-hundred meters from us. T-There's over five hundred b-bees there now. O-One hundred are giving chakra to the summoning circle I-Ino-san s-spoke of. T-The others are circling the area."
"What of Beatrice and Tayuya?" Shikamaru questioned.
Hinata grimaced, "T-Tayuya is s-sitting in the centre of the c-circle. B-Beatrice is standing beside her... Uhm... B-Beatrice isn't b-blinking. Or breathing. J-Just standing there."
"Standing inside summoning circle curious. Possibility for summoning large bee of some kind. Why? Has been employed by Kamizuru previously." Shino supplanted, getting slow nods from the group.
"The summoning circle is our initial priority," Asuma commanded, "Whatever she's summoning, it's taking a large amount of chakra to summon. Shikamaru, any ideas?"
The young Nara gave a groan and reluctantly drawled out a plan.
Beatrice flinched suddenly and her posture tightened. Tayuya narrowed her eyes in response.
"They're here, aren't they?"
Her doctor nodded slowly, a frown gracing her beautiful lips. In all honesty, Tayuya could understand just why Beatrice was upset. The girl hadn't been showing it, but the former Sound Kunoichi was sure that her doctor was just as aggravated with the day's events as she was.
"For what it's worth," Beatrice's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, "I am sorry for taking you to Konoha. It was a mistake on my part, but I needed to keep your form stable and Konoha was the only nearby village that would accommodate us on short notice."
"It's fine, Beatrice. I'm just happy that I- GET DOWN!"
Her doctor ducked immediately, just as a trench knife went sailing by her and implanted itself into a nearby tree trunk. Bees angrily buzzed as they swarmed around the area, tightening their defences.
"That's some fine insticts on your lady friend there, Beatrice." a rough voice called out. Tayuya's eyes narrowed as a man in his late twenties walked out, an unlit cigarette roughly dangling in his mouth as he nonchalantly strolled forward. She grimaced. Whilst their opposer looked relaxed, she could see it in his eyes. This man was a seasoned veteran. Not to mention, his face looked vaguely familiar. She may have read about him during her time with Orochimaru perhaps? Whatever it was, she couldn't remember exactly.
"Sarutobi Asuma," Beatrice responded slowly, golden eyes narrowed, "Leader of Team 10, known as the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, in reference to a previous group of Konoha Shinobi who utilised a similar technique." she repeated blankly, getting a narrowed eye stare from Asuma. Whilst Tayuya didn't flinch at the killing intent he let out -Orochimaru had far worse afterall- it did send a tingle of concern down her spine for Beatrice.
"So Ino was right. You did steal information from her memories. You're no better than a thief."
Tayuya blinked, then shrugged. Bee powers are crazy. But she wouldn't have it any other way.
Beatrice shook her head, "I did not learn that information from Yamanaka Ino's mind. I knew this information prior to meeting them." she paused and her head whipped around, just as the swarm of bees managed to catch a rogue kunai aimed at her face. A scream was heard in the distance and Akimichi Choji fell down from the trees, clutching his neck in pain. "Your tactics in battle, however, that I did learn from her."
Tayuya whistled in amusement and idly noticed the runes below her were starting to glow a slight golden hue. She smirked. It wouldn't be long until the circle activated and she'd finally be free with Beatrice.
Asuma glared at the doctor, "You'll pay for that, brat." his hands quickly flashed through a variety of handsigns, "Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique!"
A large stream of high velocity wind containing dust particles exploded from Asuma's mouth in a cone shaped pattern, heading directly for the two girls. Beatrice's bees immediately moved to intercept and the contained chakra was drained from the technique before it could hit, leaving behind a large cloud of dust.
"Something doesn't go your way, so you attempt to kill the target. So remorseless..." Beatrice muttered, with Tayuya noticing the golden-haired doctor's hands clenching in rage as many of the bees buzzed angrily. "You remind me of the Kamizuru."
Asuma raised an eyebrow as he lit a cigarette, "Oh, and why would that be?"
Beatrice's eyes glowed a rich golden hue as her voice gained a slight buzzing undertone, "Fourteen years ago, I was born to the Lieutenant of our leader in the Kamizuru clan. My Kaa-san, named Tormitsu, had mated with a member of a particular clan who had the unique ability to drain natural energy from their surroundings."
Tayuya was well aware that Beatrice needed to stall her opponent, but even as the bees buzzed angrily along with Beatrice's words, Tayuya's eyes were wide in shock. She knew of a clan with such abilities.. Jugo's clan. For Beatrice to be the descendant of them... It was a wonder the girl was even remotely sane.
Beatrice continued, her tone devoid of emotion as she spoke her tale, "Unfortunately, natural energy was never meant to be absorbed in this way by humans. It would mutate their bodies. Send them into bloodthirsty rages." she paused as yellow tears began to rain down her cheeks, but the dull buzzing tone of her voice never faltered, "Naturally... our clan protested against my Kaa-san for laying with one of them. They were too dangerous. The Kamizuru knew from the moment I was born that my body wasn't human. So, lovely kaa-san sought to rectify the problem and tried to bash my little head in with a rock when I was two days old, not a moment of hesitation after she'd returned from the clan meeting..." Beatrice's head finally bobbed down, face hidden by her golden locks.
Tayuya's eyes were wide and her thoughts had stopped. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Judging by the look on Asuma's face, he was just as shocked.
"However..." Beatrice looked up and glared at the Shinobi through her tears, "The bees did not like that! My clan's own summons turned against them! Kaa-san's own bees forcefully summoned themselves to our encampment and stung her to death before she could kill me! They were-"
Beatrice and Tayuya froze.
"Shadow Possession Complete." Shikamaru drawled as he jumped down from the treetops.
"Well done, Shikamaru." Asuma smiled as he relaxed, moving Choji's paralysed body away from the group as Shino and Hinata jumped down from the treetops. Hinata had a worried expression on her face and her eyes were darting around with her Byakugan activated.
"As expected. Anger affects control over bees. Taunting target effective. Bees unable to move without commands if frozen by chakra. Predictable." Shino spoke monotonously, but they could see the triumph in his eyes.
A scream of outrage was heard and the group snapped towards a snarling Tayuya.
"She just told you her own damn life story and this is how you repay her?! Can't you all see what the hell you're all doing to her!" tears were running down the demonic kunoichi's face as she glared hatefully at the group.
However, much to the surprise, it was Beatrice who responded. A soft smile was gracing her lips.
"It is alright, Tayuya."
Tayuya blinked in shock, "What?! No it's not! You can't just let them do this!"
Suddenly, Shikamaru groaned as he collapsed onto one knee, with his two shadow-possessed captives being forced to copy him. The group of Konoha-nin tensed as the previously-frozen bees started to struggle and buzz angrily. Golden rays shone out of the runes underneath Beatrice and Tayuya, bathing the area in a rich yellow hue.
"Your Shadow Possession Jutsu uses high doses of spiritual chakra to bind the spirit of your opponent. This circle that I'm standing on requires a high amount of chakra to be activated, specifically spiritual chakra. Even more-so, each of my children have a particular... appetite for this type of chakra, which also includes most Wind Style Jutsu. When you established a connection to my spirit, you attached to every bee that I control and to this very circle." she glanced over to Tayuya and smiled softly as the possession finally broke away, "As you said before, you told me to never leave you and I intend on keeping my word."
A kunai flew directly at her courtesy of Asuma, but the swarm of bees managed to break free of Shikmaru's Shadow Possession and flick the kunai away. Rather than fanning out into a protective swarm, the bees flew inside the circle.
"Goodbye, Konoha. Your barbaric tactics will be your downfall."
With a vibrant flash of gold, Tayuya and Beatrice disappeared from the Shinobi world.
…
A/N: That complete the Pre-Shippuuden section of this story. I'm debating whether or not to write a sequel to this story that takes place during the Shippuuden era, with Beatrice and Tayuya either acting in antagonistic roles towards Konoha, or having them in entirely different roles for the story.
Thank you all for the reviews and continuing support. This was my first published story and I hope you all enjoyed it. Please let me know what you think. Any suggestions will be appreciated.