DV13: OMG!! LATE LATE LATE LAAAAAAATE!! I AM SO SORRY!!!! *bows continuously*
Kai-Linn: Instead of apologizing, couldn't you just give them the chapter? Seriously, your logic is so weird.
DV13: Shut it, Kai… but you're right. HERE COMES THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!
Kuran no Kiri Chapter 14
Two Birds With One Stone
In small teams but a large collection nonetheless, Konoha and Suna Jônin and ANBU darted through the forest. Leading the group was Kijo, Neji, Kankuro, and Temari. They had heard of where Akatsuki was extracting the Hachibi. They had relayed the message to Suna, and Kazekage Gaara had sent Shinobi to assist Konoha.
"Hey, Kijo…" Kankuro started. "Where did you get this information anyway? It seems a little weird that someone could so easily report Akatsuki's movements."
"We have no clue who the report was from, but a raven had delivered it to Lady Hokage. It gave a detailed report on how to get to the extraction site. And since it's the Hachibi, Akira will be there, which means Orochimaru's men might be there."
"Two birds with one stone?" Temari chuckled.
"I guess that's the best saying." Kijo replied dryly.
Kai-Linn… Akira… I will get back at you for your betrayal… revenge is a bitch… Kijo ground her teeth together and continued into the forest.
Sasuke darted across branches, Kenji to his right, Hikari to his left. They had been going for days like this with little rest, but they never complained. It was all for Akira. They had found a trail of Akatsuki, sent word to Konoha about it, then started toward the location themselves. If possible, they would destroy both of their enemies in one strike.
"Let's review the plan, for the sake of it." Kenji suggested.
"Kokuei has a point, Sasuke-san." Hikari agreed.
Sasuke stopped on a branch, the other two landing on ones in front of him, glancing back. With a sigh, Sasuke looked at them.
"Kenji will prowl around to see if any Akatsuki members are projecting from nearby. If they are, create a fire to signal both us and Konoha. At that time, Hikari will destroy the Akatsuki's area of operation. I'll move in to get Akira, then we'll retreat for a little to regain our strength. Then we end this war. If we don't make it… I'm glad to have you guys as teammates." Sasuke gave a rare smile.
"Heh, you're talking death rambles there, chicken ass. Remember, you still owe me a rematch." Kenji replied with a sarcastic smirk. "But, yeah. It was good to fight by you guys' side."
"Enough of this. You're going to make me cry…" Hikari's voice broke and a lone tear streamed down her cheek. "See?! This talk is bad for our karma…" She grumbled, wiping the tear away.
"Two birds with one stone, Kokuei… Kyuuketsuki… this ends today… Disperse." Sasuke ordered; Kenji and Hikari darted off in separate directions. Sasuke hesitated for a moment and bowed his head. "My family… I will kill him this time…" He hissed under his breath before darting into the trees.
Kai-Linn glanced around the stone room. It had been two days, and the extraction process was almost complete. Every once in awhile, someone would flicker out for a moment, but would return in an instant. But she had remained in the same position for 48 hours and she was hoping it would finish soon. If she left, her Jutsu would be broken and Akira would die.
"It is almost complete." Pein announced and she stifled a sigh of relief.
Five minutes later and the bracelet holding the yellow chakra shattered. And with that… the extraction was complete.
Kai-Linn teetered and fell off the stone finger. Itachi darted forward and caught her. She smiled up at him and he set her on her feet. She walked toward Akira. Both Itachi and Pein watched her, Pein almost glaring. She ignored the eyes watching her and fell to her knees in front of Akira. The blonde was still under the effects of Tsukuyomi but she was going to change that. She hovered her hands above Akira.
"Kai-Linn… what are you doing…?" Pein snarled.
Flinching, Kai-Linn took out the scroll, removed the remaining bracelet and sealed it away once again. She rolled up the scroll and glanced at Akira as she got to her feet. She wanted to heal Akira and get her to safety, but she was in hot water as it was so she remained standing.
"What the hell?!" Mikori cried and she disappeared. She reappeared and was grinding her teeth together. "I've got a huge fire right next to my location and I sense Konoha Shinobi coming my way."
"Damn… I've got the same situation." Deidara snarled.
"What the fuck is going on?!" Hidan roared. "Someone has given away my location as well!"
"Strengthen the barrier." Pein ordered Konan.
"Too late…" A soft bell-like voice said from the shadows. Out stepped Hikari. "Your barrier is pointless against me. It was like walking through the front door to my house." She smirked evilly. "Time to bring this house down…"
With a guttural cry, she spun around and planted her fist into the wall behind her. With a loud and almost sickening crack, the area around them started to shatter. The holograms flickered out. Tobi, Zetsu, Itachi and Hikari darted away. Kai-Linn turned around and darted toward Akira.
"Kai-Linn!!!!" She heard two people cry. One was Itachi… the other…
Rorona.
The woman darted forward toward her and Akira. She planted her hand on the ground and the ground shot up around them in a protective barrier. It became pitch black around them as the muffled sound of falling rock came from outside. But Kai-Linn was too entranced in the silver yellow color of the woman's eyes.
"You okay, sweetie?" She asked very motherly-like.
"Yes… mother…" Kai-Linn whispered.
Rorona's eyes widened for a moment before she smiled. The earthy barrier fell. Kai-Linn stood, smiling up at her mother. Rorona smiled as well, but her eyes narrowed in an instant. She grabbed Kai-Linn and darted away just as Sasuke landed near Akira, arm lit up with Chidori. His eyes bled to Sharingan. Itachi glared at Sasuke, then looked toward Rorona, who was on one knee, Kai-Linn behind her. Part of her leg was bleeding.
"Get away…" Sasuke snarled. Chidori disappeared and he grabbed Akira. He darted back into the trees, Hikari and Kenji following him. "I'm coming back for all of you bastards…" He snarled.
Itachi, Zetsu and Tobi landed near Kai-Linn and Rorona. Deidara, Mikori, Pein, Konan, and Hidan appeared as well. Kai-Linn froze when she realized that Kisame had never gotten out… A lone tear streamed down her face. She wiped it away quickly.
Deidara and Kai-Linn had a sense of déjà vu as they all were surrounded by Konoha Shinobi.
Sasuke landed in a clearing, setting Akira down gently. Hikari and Kenji appeared across from Sasuke looking down at her unmoving form. Hikari touched Akira's forehead. She closed her eyes.
"Her state of mind is a swirling chaos. She's under the effect of your brother's Tsukuyomi." She said, looking up at Sasuke.
Sasuke snarled and touched Akira's shoulder and inserted chakra into her. She moaned for a moment and started to fuss. Sasuke sat her up a little and watched her carefully. Soon, her golden eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him with a smile flickering across her face.
"Sasuke…" She whispered.
Sasuke hugged her tightly, ignoring the looks he got from Kenji and Hikari. He pulled away and looked down at her. She sat up completely and looked around.
"What happened? I remember fighting Kai-Linn… then everything went black…" She whispered. Seeming to concentrate, she closed her eyes and became still. "They've removed the Hachibi!!" She cried.
Kenji started to laugh. All eyes went to him.
"So what? You're a kick-ass Kunoichi with or without the damn thing. Sure it was cool when you had it but still. Frankly, I think you'd be dead if it weren't for that Kai-Linn chick." He smirked.
She stared up at him, then smiled. She got to her feet with Sasuke's help. She dusted herself off. Hikari handed her a slim bundle. Akira unwrapped it to reveal her black katana and white dagger. She unsheathed them and started to go through her moves. The others watched with a smile as she twisted and turned, slashing at invisible enemies. Being sneaky, Sasuke pulled out some kunai and threw them at her. She finished a slash before turning around and deflecting the kunai. She darted forward, knocked Sasuke down and crossed her weapons over his neck. He smirked.
"Still got it." She smiled and got up, sheathing her weapons. She helped him up.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and relayed the plan to her.
"Hey…" Deidara started, back to Kai-Linn's.
"What is it now?" She asked, deflecting a shuriken.
"I think I'm happy that you trained me in close range. These guys aren't giving me a chance to mold my clay birds… GAH!" He jumped away.
Kai-Linn spun around and planted a chakra-laden fist into the Suna ANBU that took Deidara's place. Deidara landed behind her again. She sighed.
"Whatever…" She said, glancing at the group that were about to outnumber them. Tsukigan lit up her eyes and she concentrated. "Katon: Karyu Endan!"
Flames spewed from her mouth and darted toward the enemy. Some were caught by the flames, others had darted away from it. Kai-Linn took out her purple katana. Chakra flashed to her hand and the sword elongated, snaking toward an ANBU. The ANBU dodged it and darted quickly toward her, punching her square in the stomach. She lurched into Deidara's back, sending both of them flying. She sat up and glared at the ANBU.
"I should have known you were here, Lee…" She snarled, getting to her feet.
"Hmph. I have always thought you a great Taijutsu user. I can't wait to test out your abilities." Lee chuckled, darting back toward her. She sheathed her sword and met his fist halfway. The air crackled.
"Konoha Hurricane!" He cried, ducking low.
Kai-Linn jumped over his leg, lashing out her own into his right cheek. He landed a few feet away, a line of blood slipping down his forehead. She bit her lip; she hated fighting old friends…
"….When you become part of Akatsuki, your past disappears…"
Itachi had been right when he said that, but it still didn't erase memories. She didn't mean to, but she still hesitated. Lee noticed this and took the advantage. He stood, unwrapped the bandages a little and ran toward her. He kicked her up into the sky. She stared down at him as he darted up to her.
Before he reached her, something grabbed her by the shoulders.
Kai-Linn looked up at Deidara. He had finally formed a clay bird and that is what had her by the shoulders. Deidara extended a hand and Kai-Linn took it. He pulled her up to the bird's back. He dropped her near the border of the ruins. She watched him fly off toward Lee, throwing a salute over his shoulder, smirking sarcastically. She smiled faintly when she sensed the chakra.
She spun around and face Kijo, who had her puppet, {insert puppet name here}, summoned. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself, hoping to cast the same indifference Itachi always did when confronted by Sasuke.
"Kai-Linn…" Kijo seemed to snarl. Kai-Linn flinched a little at the malice. "I'm going to kill you…."
Kai-Linn's defense dropped at those words and Kijo attacked.