Chapter 11: Unexpected Guests
"Yuri, what do you want?"
"Yoroi, is that any way to greet your cousin?"
"Just tell me what you want. You're not exactly my favorite person in the world, remember?"
"Dear cousin, let's put aside our differences and forget about our past problems. I need your help."
"…With what?"
"It's Kabuto."
"I want nothing to do with that bastard!"
"Now, now Yoroi, let's calm down. You know how I feel about Kabuto."
"That's one of the many reasons why I don't like you."
"Yoroi, please. Just let me tell you what I need help with. You remember Mitsuki, correct?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You remember what she did and how she betrayed Lord Orochimaru, correct?"
"Yes, Yuri, yes!"
"I want you to kill her and her child."
"What?"
"I want you to kill them both so Kabuto can forget about them. Kabuto will suffer greatly if you do this. I know how you like to watch him suffer. With Mitsuki out of the way, Kabuto will be mine. Besides, Lord Orochimaru wants her dead as well. Just think of this as earning brownie points from the big boss."
"…Alright, I'll do it…But wait, why do you want me to kill her child?"
"Isn't it obvious? That brat is Kabuto's daughter."
X-X-X-X
Mitsuki stared off into space with a frightened look on her face. …Ka…Kabuto… A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Mommy?" Kabuki came into the kitchen.
"Wh-What?" She blinked and rubbed the tear away. "What is it honey?" She rinsed the last dish, then dried her hands on her apron.
"Daddy's coming home today, so we should leave now to meet him!" Kabuki said. Fenrir walked up behind her and barked.
"Oh, that's right. Alright, we can go now." She slipped on her shoes and walked out with her daughter and Fenrir.
"I wonder if daddy had time to think about us when he was away on his mission with Naruto and Sakura and Sasuke."
"I'm sure he did!" Mitsuki said happily. …Something feels so…unsettling. I don't know what it is but…maybe it had something to do with those memories of…him…Fenrir licked her hand. "Oh? What is it Fenrir?"
Kabuki looked at her wolf. "Mommy…is something wrong?"
"Hmm? Why do you ask?"
"…Fenrir says that you're worried about something."
"Worried?...No, it's nothing!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, everything's fine!" They walked by three men. Hmm? Those guys…Why would they be loitering around in broad daylight? Are they visiting here? Their clothes…
"Oh! When I see Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, I'm gonna get them to play with me! I haven't played with them in a while!"
"Ha ha, Kabuki, ninja aren't supposed to play."
"Well, I want to! Today's my last day as a little academy student!"
"That's right, tomorrow's your graduation exam."
"Yep! Just watch, I'll pass with flying colors!"
"That's my girl!" They both smiled.
"Mommy, how come you didn't want to be a ninja?"
"N-Ninja…Well…I…I don't know…" She looked away. …I hate lying to her but…what can I do?
"I'd be you'd be a great ninja!" She tilted her head to one side. "But…Everyone in my class has a lot of different jutsus than mine…Well, I guess some people can manipulate sound waves and some people can't!"
Mitsuki froze. S…Sound waves…? Something made her hair stand on end. What's this feeling? She looked behind her and saw the same three guys from before. Them again? Are they…Are they following us? "Kabuki, let's walk a little faster…"
"Huh? Okay mommy." They began to pick up the pace. "I'll get to see daddy soon!" Fenrir barked happily.
Mitsuki looked back again. They're starting to walk faster… "Kabuki, come on."
"Why do we have to walk so fast?"
She looked back frantically. They're following us! I have to do something! "…Ka-Kabuki…when I tell you to run, run as fast as you can to the academy, alright?"
"You want me to run? Why? Is something going on?"
"Just do as I say, okay?"
"O…Okay…" She wanted to look back.
"No baby, don't look back!" She took a deep breath. "…Go, run!"
"M-Mommy!"
"RUN!" Kabuki looked around, then ran.
"A little to late, don't you think?" One of the men suddenly appeared at Kabuki's side and grabbed her arm.
"MOMMY?" Fenrir started to bark.
"NO!" Mitsuki charged at the guy, but the other to men grabbed her.
"Whoa, hold it there," they said with a smile.
"Let me go right now!"
"Hino Mitsuki, correct?"
She looked at them sharply. "How…How do you know my name?"
"You used to work for Orochimaru, didn't you? We have orders to find you and your daughter and eliminate you both."
"What? O-Orochimaru!"
"Mommy! What's going on!"
"So this is your daughter huh? She looks just like him…"
"Leave her out of this, she didn't do anything wrong!" Mitsuki screamed. "I don't know who gave you these orders, but Orochimaru wants me!"
"They're orders from one of his close followers, but it's all the same."
"One of his…followers?" Could it be…?
"Time to end this!"
"NO!" She wriggled out of their grasp and grabbed Kabuki. "Kabuki, we have to get to the academy!"
"Mommy, I'm scared!" Fenrir followed close behind.
"Don't worry, I won't let anything bad happen to you!"
"Surprise!" They three men appeared before them again and grabbed Kabuki.
"AHHH!"
"Kabuki!" The two men grabbed Mitsuki again, but this time, they stabbed her with kunai knives. "HAAAA!"
"Leave my mommy alone!" She looked over at Fenrir. "Fenrir, help!"
"Yes master!" He knocked the man down holding Kabuki and viciously began to maul him.
"Go Fenrir!"
"AAAHHH!"
"Damned dog!" One of the men holding Mitsuki ran other to Fenrir and kicked him.
"Fenrir?"
"I'm alright! Go save your mother!"
"Right!"
"Ack…L-Lemme…L-Lemme go…" Mitsuki gasped as the man held her by her neck.
"Mommy!" Kabuki rammed into the man's back and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Run!"
Mitsuki hit the ground and quickly got up. "Kabuki, get out of here!"
"Wh-What?" The man grabbed Kabuki and threw her at the wall. "ACK!"
"Don't you dare touch my daughter!" She kicked the man in the side.
"AARF!" Fenrir bounced back and hit the wall.
"Fenrir! Oh no!" Kabuki began to do hand signs. "Imitation no Jutsu." Fenrir suddenly transformed into a small wolf keychain. "No more fighting." She put him in her back pouch.
"AAHH!" Mitsuki covered her head as the three men beat her.
"Where are you superhuman skills, eh Mitsuki?"
"We were told that you once killed an army by yourself!"
"Is this all you got? You changed once you had a little brat!"
"Ka-Kabuki, run! Don't stay here!" Mitsuki cried.
"M…Mommy…" Kabuki stared in horror as blood trickled down her mother's face. …I…I'm scared…I don't know what to do…
"Kabuki, I said run!"
M…Mommy…People have always told me that I have such great skills…That I would make a wonderful shinobi…But I'm scared…Ninja aren't supposed to get scared…What if…I'm not as good as everyone thinks?
"Hey, that was awesome Kabuki!"
Naruto…
"Wow Kabuki, you're amazing!"
…Sakura…
"Someday, I'll challenge you to a fight, okay?"
Sasuke, even you…
"Ha, Kabuki, you'll become a great ninja…"
D-Daddy…Kakashi…
"Kabuki, what're you still doing here?" Mitsuki yelled.
"M…Mommy, I want to help you!" She threw senbon needles at one man, but he deflected them with his kunai. "What!"
"Little girl, I've had enough of you!" He ran up to her, then backhanded her across the face.
"Kabuki?"
Kabuki tumbled backwards and hit her head on the wall. "M…Mommy…I…love you…" She blacked out.
Quiet buzzing came from the man's transmitter. "Huh? What?" He turned to his men. "New plans guys. We're to bring the little brat with us and forget Mitsuki…for now."
"Right."
"Sure." They picked up Kabuki and disappeared.
"NO! KABUKI!"
