Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto
Chapter 9: A Brother's Quarrel & Infiltration
"You will die to today Itachi." Sasuke was pouring chakra into his kantana. His sharingan swirling dangerously.
"You believe after one year of running to that snake, you are stronger than me?" asked Itachi, his own sharingan changing to Mangenkyo. Tsunami just watched, this is one fight she wouldn't get involved in. Sasuke angered by Itachi's words charged forward, rasing his kantana to strike Itachi's head. But using Mangenkyo Sharingan Itachi easily predicted the movement and dodged. Pulling out his kunai, he retaliated hitting Sasuke in the arm. Sasuke only grimaced at the pain he now felt. Sasuke sheathed his kantana and made the correct hand signals and yelled out, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" A powerful ball of fire blew towards Itachi, who only smirked at the pathetic attack. His hand signals were hard to see without sharingan but Tsunami knew what he was doing. "Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!" his own flames shot towards the weak fireball jutsu and easily enough overpowered it. Well it was weak to Itachi. Sasuke knew he was in trouble as the flames flew towards him, barely able to dodge, Itachi took full advantage. With blinding speed he landed a kick straight into Sasuke's gut, causing him to gasp for air. One more attack knocked Sasuke completely unconscious.
"Are you done fighting? We need to get back to the base." Tsunami was bored because she already knew who would win this round. Itachi simply stared down at his motionless younger brother. So Sasuke you are still not strong enough to defeat me. Foolish little brother, for now I will spare you. The idea came to him suddenly. His little brother may prove to have a use after all. "Tsunami we shall take Sasuke with us. Keep him sedated until we arrive at the base."
"Sure, alright." Slightly confused as to why they were taking Sasuke along for the ride, Tsunami didn't ask though. If Itachi wanted her to know something, he would just tell her. The kunoichi flicked the syringe containing the clear liquid. She knew there was always a reason as to why she carried a sedative on hand. Her medical skills sure did come in handy in situations like this. Bending down she moved the younger Uchiha's shirt down to reveal his neck, briefly glancing at the curse mark made by Orochimaru and injecting the sedative into his neck. "This will keep him knocked out til we get to the base. Then he's going to need another dose. And by the way since this your idea, your going to carry him back."
For whatever reason Itachi didn't argue as they made their way to the current base. Perhaps he felt Tsunami wouldn't be able to handle the extra weight. I mean she does only weigh 100 lbs.
The two members had been told to relocate to the newest base in Snow Country. Even though Tsunami had brought along some extra clothes, she was still freezing. Itachi could hear her teeth chattering. But he wouldn't stop now to build her a fire, they were to close to the base. This one was a lot nicer than the last one. The innkeeper has always helped the Akatsuki before and to prevent any nosy people from coming around, the sign said no vacancy. Stepping in from the cold, Tsunami went to the nearest fire place. Tobi stared at her curiously. "Tobi's better now. Are you alright?" he asked. Turning around to face him she answered honestly. "I'm fine, just cold is all."
"Tobi's glad to hear that." Tobi smiled underneath his mask, he was always glad the one person he considered his sister was safe and sound back at the base.
"Tsunami." Itachi entered the room with the unconscious Sasuke on his back. Dropping him onto the couch, Tsunami knew what he wanted her to do. She got the sedative out and drew up another dose, once again injecting the younger Uchiha.
"I will be speaking to Leader." Itachi exited the room.
"Why's he here?" asked Kismae, holding a bottle of sake.
"Itachi brought him for whatever reason." still cold Tsunami returned to sit beside the fire.
"This will warm you up in no time!" Kisame joined his blue eyed friend by the fire and handed her the bottle.
"Thanks but I can't go overboard ok? Leader might need to talk to me." taking a swig of the sake, she wiped off her chin as some escaped her lips.
"What's the matter have a hole in your chin?" Kisame smirked as she hit his arm hard. "Ow, I think that might actually bruise." he feigned an expression of hurt.
"Shut up." Tsunami was getting annoyed but she always loved this kind of banter. It could make the time in between missions more interesting.
"Tsunami, Pein wishes to speak to you." Konan stood in the doorway waiting for Tsunami to walk past her. As Tsunami passed her, she gave that blue haired woman a look that clearly said go to hell.
Entering the room, Itachi stood next to the window. While Leader sat behind a desk only looking up when Tsunami entered the room. "I have a special infiltration mission for you. Itachi's little brother shall play an important role for this one to succeed." His eyes contained a malevolent gleam. Tsunami could just imagine all the gears in his head moving as he formulated this new plan. Leader continued explaining, "But you shall play the biggest role of all."
"I shall do whatever you ask of me."she responded. Causing Leader to grin maliciously. Sending shivers traveling down her spine uncontrollably.
"You shall take Sasuke back to Kohonagakure. Telling the fools there that we betrayed you. That we just handed you over to Orochimaru in exchange for a forbidden scroll. You were housed in the same cell as the boy. Kabuto underestimated you, allowing you to escape after a week's worth of torture. Pitying the Uchiha boy you took him with you. Having no where else to turn to you will beg the fifth Hokage to help you get revenge. That you have valuable information your willing to give in exchange for their aid. Just give enough information that they will believe you." Leader stood up and walked around the desk and bent down to where Tsunami was sitting.
Looking into her eyes he whispered, "We will have to make the torture real."
Tsunami turned wide eyed, thoughts returning to time in her life when she was seven and pain was an every day occurrence.
They certainly made the torture real. Tsunami grimaced due to the pain. Leader had Hidan and Kakuzu beat her. So one creepy bastard and one greedy jack ass made sure they did their job well. So the kunoichi was dropped of in Sound, along with Sasuke. Not before Itachi altered the boy's memories however. Using Mangekyo Sharingan Itachi made Sasuke believe that Tsunami was housed in the same cell he was, that they received the same torture and only by teaming up we're they able to escape. Sighing heavily, trying to support Sasuke's weight while she was low on chakra. Cursing mentally, she would kill Hidan and Kakuzu, to hell with the rule that says your not allowed to kill other members. Tsunami wouldn't care about the consequences as long as those two died by her hands. Not to mention now she was questioning her own loyalty to the Akatsuki.
Mentally taking note of all her injuries was one way to pass the time as she trudged onward to the Village Hidden by the Leaves. Let's see I have three broken ribs, possibly more. A broken wrist, two gashes that finally stopped bleeding on my right leg. Numerous cuts on my face and arms. Whip lashings on my back. An ankle that could be sprained. What else?
"Wish you would wake up so you could carry your own weight." she hissed at the unconscious Uchiha. Struggling more and more to maintain her balance, Tsunami finally decided she need to rest just for a few minutes. Really how much more traveling could she do in this condition? But the kunoichi didn't have a choice, this is what Leader ordered and this is what she would do despite her treacherous thoughts. Looking around trying to get her bearings, Tsunami couldn't believe her luck. She was sitting on the edge of the Village Hidden by the Leaves. Sighing in relief, she rested her head against the rough bark on the tree. ANBU would be patrolling this area and would find her and Sasuke easily enough. Tsunami succumbed to sleep, unaware she was being watched.
Kakashi couldn't believe his eyes. His was returning from a mission and who did he spot sleeping next to a tree and with an unconscious Sasuke beside her. From the looks of it she had been to hell and back. Cautiously he approached the sleeping woman. Taking in her slow labored breathing. Looked like Sasuke had it easy, his breathing was relatively normal. Moving to Sasuke's side he checked his pulse, a very strong rhythmic pulsing could be felt at the vein in his neck. Summoning Pakkun and giving strict orders to inform the Hokage about the situation as well as requesting back up, after all he didn't want to have to carry them both by himself. He simply waited.
Sasuke began to stir, moaning as if he simply had a major hangover. Opening his eyes, he quickly realized he wasn't in Sound. His false memories took over and he remembered Tsunami, glancing to his left there she was beaten but alive. Had she kept her word and not left him behind in Orochimaru's dungeon? It certainly looked that away. Then Sasuke felt Kakashi's presence and looked in his direction. Kakashi looked back at his former student and surprisingly gave one of his usual carefree greetings. "Yo."
"Where am I?" demanded the raven haired boy.
"The outskirts of the Leaf Village. Want to tell me what happened?" Kakashi was pointing towards Tsunami, who was still asleep.
"She helped me escape from Orochimaru." Sasuke didn't have enough chakra to run, so he made up his mind he would except whatever fate the Hokage gave him. Being to tired to care.
"Why?" Kakashi could feel Shizune's chakra as well as Genma's and just great Jiraiya's approaching.
"I don't know, ask her." Sasuke felt the chakra as well.
Shizune, Genma and Jiraiya stopped in front of Kakashi. "Who needs medical attention?"
Kakashi pointed to Tsunami. "Alright let me assess her injuries." Shizune walked towards the sleeping woman, who suddenly woke up. Blue eyes staring at all the different people around her.
"Calm down. I'm here to heal you." Shizune tried reassure Tsunami.
Tsunami tried to get up, but fell over groaning in pain. Cursing under her breath and finally speaking to the shinobi around her she said. "I don't need...your help." It hurt to breath, dang broken ribs sure could be a hindrance.
"You might want to reconsider that." Jiraiya spoke up.
"What ever." griping her ribs and slowly getting back into a sitting position, Tsunami waited for Shizune to work her magic. Shizune first used chakra to explore and find the injuries, then she would heal them the best she could till they could get Tsunami to the hospital.
"You have five broken ribs, a broken wrist and ankle. Numerous cuts and gashes on your face, legs, arms and back. Bruising is everywhere. Also you seem to have slight hemorrhaging in your spleen." Shizune then started to use her green medical chakra to relieve the pain. Tsunami had made a face of disgust at the list of injuries. So I missed a few things, could've happened to anyone. "Alright we need to get these two to the hospital now!" Shizune ordered Genma to carry Sasuke. Jiraiya had tried to volunteer to help Tsunami but Kakashi to quickly intervened. "I will carry her."
"Just don't lose her like last time." Genma smirked. As he helped Sasuke to his feet. Kakashi tried to be gentle but with Tusnami's injuries, no matter how he carried her, she would be in pain. She winced and muttered something about killing some greedy jack ass before passing out.
Getting to the hospital would be easy but the questions these two missing nin would have to answer was going to be a completely different story.