TangentOne: What am I supposed to say?

TangentTwo: *Looks up from game* What do you mean?

TangentOne: Another chapter has come out, and we've got a lot more in reserve, and to be absolutely honest with you, I've got no idea what I should say about this one.

TangentTwo: Like I always say, intimidation is the best tactic. *Sparkle eyed stare*

TangentOne: Alright?

TangentTwo: Go on, you know you want to.

TangentOne: *Stares blankly at screen* Read the story, children.

TangentTwo: Weak as fuck, no wonder the Almighty Tangent sent me to deal with you. *Shakes head solemnly*


The brothers changed, at least on the outside. Kojiro wore his cloak, but his face was older, more rough and masculine. Their blades stored away in a scroll at the bottom of the cart his brother was pulling along. Kiyoshi disguised with more streamlined features, yet ones that would still complement his position as the cart puller.

Konoha was still a day travel, but the brothers were taking no risks. They were disguised as traveling merchants, bringing Shinobi weapons from Kumo. Yugito was delighted to give them the paperwork, after being informed of the plan. She then thanks the Sage for getting rid of the Kawaguchi brothers.

"Will you fucking switch with me? I've been pulling this hunk of shit since Kumo!" Kiyoshi shouts at his brother, sat atop the cart.

"No, I'm the master, and you're the servant. That's our disguise, and if a patrol comes out here, they'd wonder why the poor looking one is drawing the cart." Kojiro replies tactfully.

"We're dressed the fucking same! Stop being a lazy shit and pull the fucking cart! Or do I have to slaughter a village to change your mind?" Kiyoshi bellows, dropping the cart.

"Shut up and draw the cart. I'm meditating to master my Devoted Heaven." Kojiro replies stiffly, eyes closed.

"Meditate at the inn, you slimy prick. If my arms go dead when we reach Konoha, and you get into a fight, don't expect my fucking help." Kiyoshi affirms.

"I won't need you anyway; the only threats are the Hokage and Kakashi," Kojiro says.

"You know what? Fuck it; I'm leaving you here." Kiyoshi states, beginning to walk towards Konoha.

"If you leave the cart I'm not giving you the money for the whore you've been needing!" Kojiro calls after him.

"So what? You ever heard of surprise sex?" Kiyoshi returns with a hint of sarcasm.

"Not while were disguised you imbecile! Keep it together in there." Kojiro replies shaking his head.

"Pull the cart and I will." Kiyoshi turns, revealing a sadistic grin.

"Oh for fuck's sake. You're switching back when Konoha comes into view; I need to be riding when the guards see us for my plan to work." Kojiro acquiesces and drops down to draw the cart.

"Was that so hard brother?" Kiyoshi taunts, jumping onto the cart seat and laying down.

"Fucking pansy," Kojiro mutters, picking up the handles and pushing forward.

"Yet, I won, so shut it and pull the fucking cart." Kiyoshi orders, still smirking.

Kojiro grunts as the cart give a slow start and wish immediately to be meditating again.


Konoha's walls were the first sign to appear, other than the forest they had entered yesterday. Kojiro drops the handles of the cart and looks expectantly at his sleeping brother.

"Wake the fuck up!" Kojiro orders, standing a few feet away to ensure safety.

"Do you mind? I had a dream about… someone!" Kiyoshi barks, getting off of the cart.

"She'll fuck whoever she wants, and as far as I've seen, you're not on the list." Kojiro returns filing onto the cart.

"Fucking harsh, remind me to make sure you never get laid," Kiyoshi remarks.

"You'd want a virgin for a brother permanently?" Kojiro asks, settling onto the seat of the cart.

"If you keep annoying me then I think I'd cope." Kiyoshi implies.

Kiyoshi pushes the cart the rest of the way, taking near an hour to reach something in plain sight. The first time, both brothers appreciate the patience in civilians. Kiyoshi stops the cart as a man with spiky hair and a bandage across his nose wearing standard Konoha shinobi gear, holds a hand up and walks towards them.

"What are you carrying?" He asks, looking directly at Kojiro.

"Kumo shinobi weapons, we figured they'd fetch a high price here. Even if just bought as souvenirs." Kojiro explains, lifting the tarp off the top of the cart.

Every style of weapon was rolled in a sheet and tied together, the handles of each piece sticking out to identify them. As there were a lot of rolls, they were stacked like a pyramid yet still identifiable through eyesight. The guard looks through the stacks for anything in between and, finding nothing, waves them forward.

Kiyoshi gives an inward sigh as he pulls up next to the guard desk with the cart. Kojiro hops down from the seat once there and waits patiently as the guard takes and checks their paperwork. Finding nothing awry, he hands the paperwork back stamped.

"Have a great time here in Konoha; you need any directions for anything?" The guard asks politely.

"Yes, the nearest hotel. The servant and I are tired from the journey." Kojiro answers, much to Kiyoshi's chagrin.

"Go down this main street, third right from here takes you to an offshoot of hotels for visitors. Anything else?" He answers.

"No, thank you, we'll be on our way," Kojiro replies, hopping back on the cart.

Kiyoshi draws the cart following the directions, and once there, drops the handles in front of the first hotel he saw. Kojiro chuckles, earning him a glare, but the tall man said nothing. He knew the stakes of this visit. He'd let Kojiro know his dissatisfaction once they were in private.

Kojiro swiftly checks them into the hotel and allows one of the hotel's employee's to park the cart in a more suitable spot. Though not before he had Kiyoshi grab their storage scrolls with their weapons. Once they were in their room, Kojiro promptly passed out, leaving his brother to wallow in his grief for being the servant.


Kojiro awakes from a nightmare he hasn't had in a long time. His body drenched in cold sweat and Kiyoshi snoring on the other bed in the room. He shivers before standing and grabbing clean clothes and a shower. Once done he leaves the bathroom in a solemn mood to find his brother awake and looking at the sweat-drenched bedsheets.

"Piss yourself again? For the love of the Sage, you need to learn to stop that." Kiyoshi jokes

"I had a dream about our father," Kojiro replies, ignoring the joke.

Kiyoshi says nothing, merely spitting on the floor from the very mention of his father. Kojiro follows suit and spits as well. He walks to their storage scrolls and grabs two tanto's with a quick pop. He throws one to Kiyoshi and hides the one he kept up his sleeve.

"I don't feel safe without some form of a blade," Kojiro says, draping his cloak from the hanger.

"Lucky for you, you can hide yours," Kiyoshi replies picking up the seal for Kubikiribōchō and placing it into his pouch. "Can't hurt to keep the seal closed. Keep the shitty tanto." He follows up throwing the tanto back to his brother.

"Fair enough. Let's go find us a seal master." Kojiro places the tanto back in its seal and keeps it on his person.

They leave once Kiyoshi dons his cloak and journey through the Hidden Leaf Village. Interestingly enough, a lot of other villages shinobi seemed to be present, along with genin from those very same communities. Kojiro immediately put the timeline in his head, Konoha has its Chunin exams around this time every year.

"Looks like you chose the right place to look. We have an abundance of people to ask." Kojiro comments to his brother as they walk down the main street.

"Am I ever wrong..? Wait don't answer that!" Kiyoshi remarks, before changing his mind.

"Good save." Kojiro returns.

"Fuck off. Anyway, you're right. There are a lot of options, the only problem is, how many would even know fūinjutsu?" Kiyoshi points out.

"Yeah, I'm not too sure. Among the fact that the shinobi would have to specialize in locking seals. I doubt they put a second rate seal on that vault." Kojiro answers slightly dejected.

"Well it is Suna, so they could of." Kiyoshi jokes.

Kojiro laughs and watches a few genin walk by with Suna headbands. One had red hair and the Kanji for 'love' on his head. The trio turns to look at the brothers with scornful eyes. The redhead steps forward, glaring intensely at Kiyoshi.

"What did you say about Suna?" He asks a grating sound could be heard in the massive gourd on his back.

The genin couldn't have been older than thirteen, and his short stature compared to the two brothers was palpable. However, he showed no fear and very little restraint on his emotions.

"I said Suna hires second rate idiots, what of it?" Kiyoshi asks, reining in his want to release his killing intent.

"Gaara-" a purple painted face genin starts.

"Kiyoshi-" Kojiro begins to warn.

Gaara didn't respond, sand bulleted out from his gourd and rushed towards Kiyoshi. Right before it hit the unflinching shinobi, a silver-haired man leaps in front of the sand. Surprisingly, it stopped. The silver-haired shinobi watched as the sand retreated slowly and the teal eyed genin scowled.

"Gaara, you know better than that. Go back to your rooms until the exams start." Kakashi orders nonchalantly.

The genin walks off, and the brothers give a sweatdrop. They had just seen Kakashi just two months ago; they would still be fresh in his mind. They were wearing disguises, but they both knew he wouldn't be fooled for long. Kakashi turned to the two shinobi, and sniffed quickly, rubbing his nose.

"You two here to watch the exams?" Kakashi asks politely.

"No, we're stopping through to sell some Kumo shinobi weapons, figured they'd fetch a high price here," Kojiro responds, trying to alter his accent a little.

"Hmm, well watch out for the genin. The children may be young, but they can kill a civilian real quick, though I'm sure you two will be fine." Kakashi says with an eye crinkle.

Kojiro stomach drops, Kakashi figured it out immediately.

"Thank you; we'll watch out," Kojiro replies quickly, trying to avoid the conversation.

Kakashi nods and body flickers away, leaving the brothers alone. Kojiro sighs as a weight lifts off his shoulders and his muscles relax. Kiyoshi looks exceptionally apathetic about the whole situation and waits for his brother to get his footing back before striking up a conversation.

"Fucking hate using a disguise, can't just gut the fucks who annoy me." Kiyoshi moans.

"You can't do that anymore, period. We're not in the bloody mist anymore." Kojiro remarks, starting to walk away.

"I'll do as I fucking, please. Anyway, it's best we hurry up and find a fucking seal master, those Suna brats got on my nerves. Would love to gut them." Kiyoshi moves the conversation on falling in step next to his brother.

"I agree with finding the seal master, killing the Suna genin? Not so much." Kojiro says absentmindedly looking for the nearest bar.

"It's not like they matter, they're just kids, may as well kill them young. Saves doing it later." Kiyoshi banters.

Kojiro stops to look at his brother seriously.

"You didn't notice the tailed beast chakra lurking in him?" Kojiro asks.

"I did, all the more reason to let me fucking gut him!" Kiyoshi voices, trying not to shout.

"Shush, we're on a crowded street. Regardless, he'll be useful later. When we were in the Mizukage's office, I took the liberty to grab some files." Kojiro explains in a hushed whisper.

"This is why you're a slimy fuck, what files?" Kiyoshi says giddily.

"Thanks, slimy is my middle name. They were labeled 'Akatsuki' when I read them I found out where Juzo went. They're looking for the jinchuuriki for an unknown reason, and I have a feeling they'll be essential to keep alive for now." Kojiro recalls.

"They can't be gathering the jinchuuriki for a good fucking reason, more so it gives me a personal stake in it," Kiyoshi affirms seriously.

"A personal stake? If we just avoid it entirely, I'm sure we won't be too affected. We're missing-nin, we have no stake in it personally." Kojiro replies.

"Hell Incarnate..." Kiyoshi starts.

"What about it?" Kojiro asks, cutting him off.

"It gives off the same chakra and aura of a jinchuuriki, more so makes me a fucking target." Kiyoshi finishes.

"It does..? Oh shit, it does," Kojiro answers, dumbfounded. "Devoted Heaven doesn't do that. What does it seem like to you?"

"Sage Mode." Kiyoshi answers.

"Hmm." Kojiro begins to think.

Kojiro inwardly sighs, with their chakra feeling like those specific chakra patterns, it makes things much more complicated. He doubts that the Akatsuki will immediately go after his brother, but it's still a cause for concern. Generally speaking, a jinchuuriki is a village heavy hitter, their last resort. Or first, in Kumo's case.

"What the fuck are you thinking?" Kiyoshi wonders.

"Honestly, I wanted to avoid it. If Jūzō were in the group, they'd have to be similar to him at the very least. He didn't respect weaklings. While I do think we're strong, I doubt we could handle all of them. However many there are…" Kojiro thinks aloud.

Luckily the villagers seemed deaf as the days chatter down the street covered most of their conversation. Those who could hear doubtfully could recall it later, as they were all civilian.

"I'd love to fight them if they are as strong as Jūzō, but I'd don't appreciate the slightest chance of being targeted for something I don't even fucking have." Kiyoshi reasons.

"That's fair; I'd love to fight the Akatsuki too, don't get me wrong. Though, I don't want them going after you either, especially if they come in force," Kojiro agrees, spotting a bar down an alleyway. "There's the first bar. Let's go."

The brothers veer off the main street, making sure no one was listening. However, once they entered the alleyway they instantly felt watchful eyes from rooftops. Someone is tailing them, probably ANBU. Kakashi had made his report, it seems. They tactfully ignore the presence, civilians wouldn't notice the tag-along.

They entered the bar and took a look around, finding nothing but a few drunks, they sat at the bar. The bartender eyed them skeptically before walking over.

"What'll ya have?" He asks in a rough voice, mismatched from his twirled mustache.

"A heavy drink, been a long fucking day." Kiyoshi orders.

"The very same, on the rocks." Kojiro mirrors.

The bartender grunts, pulling out two shot glasses from below their vision and grabs a bottle of whiskey off the rack behind him. He sets the bottle on the counter none too gently and stares at the two newcomers.

"What brings you two to Konoha?" He asks, bringing out a rag and wiping down the bar.

Kiyoshi unscrews the top of the whiskey and pours doubles for him and his brother before setting it back down. Kiyoshi takes a swig before Kojiro answers.

"A little of this, a little of that," Kojiro replies, shooting down his glass.

"Not murder… but give it time." Kiyoshi pipes up, knowing the ANBU tailing them would hear it.

The bartender gives a hearty chuckle; civilians wouldn't get very far in Konoha with murder. His chuckling ceases as he sees the determined glint in the just slightly shorter one's eye. Kiyoshi pours himself another drink and swishes it down.

"Either way we're looking for someone. Not that you'd know who, or where, but maybe you can give us a hint." Kojiro comments, letting his brother pour him another double.

"For the right price…" The bartender winks.

This time it was Kojiro's turn for a hearty chuckle. He knew full well there was no way Kiyoshi was giving him the money, and he had just paid for all the Kumo weapons brought down.

"My partner here is the one carrying the money, and maybe we'll pay, maybe not." Kojiro twirls a palm facetiously.

"Oh? And what reason do I have to answer?" He says, picking up a glass and drying it out from the sink.

Kojiro unleashes his killing intent, directing it at the bartender. The ANBU tailing them moved closer but did not act, still entirely out of view. The killing intent was remarkably subdued, just enough to make a civilian piss himself, as the bartender did.

"My fucking mood." Kojiro answers pissed off for their situation, and the daunting task lies ahead.

"You should probably answer him, if not I may have to join in." Kiyoshi mentions, downing another double.

The bartender nodded quickly, setting down the glass and sitting on a stool behind the bar. He moved closer to listen to the question so he wouldn't miss a word. Kojiro had let off most of the intent but left just enough to make him feel anxious.

"Good, that's more like it," Kojiro says, flipping over his shot glass. "Where's the library the shinobi use? We're looking for some helping hands."

"Uh," the bartender starts apprehensively.

"Answer him; I'm losing my patience," Kiyoshi states, his eyes flaring red then back to black.

The bartender gulped, and his right hand started twitching. The ANBU drew a little closer, noting the chakra spike from the supposed civilian whom they knew to be The Stalkers of the Bloody Mist.

"Okay, okay! If you get caught, just don't tell them it was me. It's three blocks to the east of the academy; the students go there after they get out of school." He stumbles out.

"Good choice, thank you for the information," Kojiro says nonchalantly, concealing his killing intent.

Kiyoshi notices that his brother is finished gathering the intel. He decides to lean over the bar, grab a few more bottles of whiskey, before standing and leaving, followed closely by his brother.

"These are mine," Kiyoshi states, waving the whiskey at the bartender.

Kojiro gives a slight chuckle at the tired man's sigh. None of the drunks cared about the exchange, they've seen it all before, and they knew the right people would handle it. At least they would if they were sober.

Once in the alleyway, the two brothers smile at each other with a malicious grin, which had been fun. The ANBU tailing them eased off, they were under orders to observe for now, and if the brothers did anything too harsh, they'd then do what they were trained to. Kojiro and Kiyoshi walk off, looking for a map of the village. There would be a few littered around, for the guest shinobi and spectators would need them. They were close, Kojiro could feel it.