I've really gotten in my mind to wanting to foreshadow or hint at things in the future so…meh. OH-and even though I'm starting to explore Naruto's seal and his father I thought I'd go ahead and start dealing with…well you'll see who further on-I want to do that dark fellow a tad more justice than Kishimoto did-and forgive me if it fees too much like Hollow Ichigo or something-it's probably too much on the plate but-well, bon apatite.
AND OMG-I'm so sorry about this being so long again-I make plans and once I start writing with the plans in mind it takes longer than I expected it to…if I need to shorten the chapters back down to my original average, 4,000 or so, then tell me and I'll try.
A GAME OF SHOGI/ TO START A WAR
An awkward silence had fallen over the Akatsuki's hideout for the next few days. Without Suigetsu and Naruto running around together the place became boring. The rest of the Taka became more abnormally silent and tense. Pain more reclusive and Madara more up to his own business in the south wing-no doubt meeting with Kabuto as Karin suspected.
No one hardly talked to each other anymore. It seemed it had been the blond who was always the topic of conversation or the source of all the talking, but now…well silence replaced the usual hum with an eerie quiet-save for when this state was broken by the sounds of Naruto banging things against the metal pipe that held him leashed, or him cussing loudly when he failed at picking at the lock, or simply just stepped on the chain by accident. Even so, that noise faded and stopped altogether by the third day: the day after the meeting held between the Akatsuki and Taka.
It seemed after that meeting things began moving. Alliances began hanging on thin threads and Naruto at the heart of it all felt so lost until the path appeared before him painted in an unforgettable deep crimson.
And Naruto would always look back on those last two days with regret, and ponder what would of happened if he had just…if they had-he thought of seemingly every different scenario possible. Would less people have died if he had just let the Kyuubi take over and fix his mess? Would he still have hurt Her? Would He have still died? Why was it his path affected so many when he didn't want it to?
Under the onslaught of rain he remembered those sharp words: 'How many people will have to die for you before you see the truth?'
How easy it was to cower from it. To avoid it. It was just…he wasn't ready to face it yet.
_-xXx-_
Turn 12: MEETING-Never Tick a Jinchuuriki Off
The field is set
Shogi-ban arrayed
Warriors in place
Soldiers displayed.
_-xXx-_
Karin quickly began pouring the contaminated wine down the sink. It wasn't that the plant itself produced some chemical addiction but rather the temptation and dependence that grew for the seemingly perfect sleep-giver became too great to fight. Too much of anything became unhealthy and Naruto didn't need it.
Once done disposing of the enhanced drink she carefully rolled the sleeping blond from his side to his back on the bed, the chain rattled from movement but she forced herself to not listen to that metallic cry.
"Sasuke-kun, can you please look at this?" She asked as she made the basic seal and pressed her fingers to her lips. Closing her eyes and focusing, she then gently touched his stomach to reveal the seal centered on his navel. "There you are," she whispered. So this was the seal containing the beast inside him.
Sasuke hovered over her, bringing his attention to the seal just as she had requested. She could see his long ebony bangs hanging down at the edge of her vision and could smell that peculiarly good scent he had. Nervously she pushed her glasses up with her forefinger and began: "Remember in the hall when I mentioned the weird chakra I felt-I didn't get to finish what I was saying because of his attack."
"I remember. You said the strange chakra spiked then faded," he replied simply, his voice tempting her to want to drool with its low tone and unperturbed air. It was amazing-just his voice alone was sexy enough to infatuate any girl. (1*) And those looks-well she didn't turn around and look at him because if she did she'd become distracted. And she didn't want that-this was about Naruto right now, not Sasuke.
"Well, that chakra, came from him and," she pointed to Naruto's spiral sun-shaped seal, her finger pale in contrast to his own skin tone, "is still here but even more faint. Meaning…"
"He somehow used it," the leader finished. "Most likely unconsciously." The Uchiha's lips curled as the thought came to him. 'He mustn't have been unaware of this else the idiot would have jabbered on about it to me in an attempt to brag or convince me of his usefulness.'
"That would explain the spike and it's decreased state but…" Karin said, glasses glinting as she thought about the perplexing mystery before them. "Sasuke-kun, that spike lasted only mill-seconds, maybe half of one-not enough time for a normal technique, I mean even with my sensory skills I barely even noticed it. What jutsu is even used so fast? And how was he able to even summon this chakra with his chakra control cut off?"
Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed as he thought about this carefully. So not only did Naruto have this weird chakra inside him but he used it in so short a time…Or had it even been him?
"Karin, do you know what kind of seal that is on him?" he asked gesturing to his ex-teammate's sternum. He didn't know hardly anything about that particular seal other than the fact the Third died placing it on Orochimaru and that it had took the Fourth sacrificing his life to plant it on his newborn child. Just what kind of seal was it that cost so much-why plant it on his son in the first place?
She studied it a bit before answering. "Well, as I'm sure you already know, it's a forbidden one not usually used outside or known by anyone other than those of the Uzumaki bloodline….Wait-that crest that was on the back of his jacket. He's an Uzumaki, right?"
"Yes."
She nodded. "Strange-he doesn't really have any external Uzumaki clan traits other than that face of his-Though it would explain that stamina of his…" The last part she seemed to have said more to herself than him but she shook her head and asked him firmly, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, but when it comes to his appearance he inherited the majority of his traits from his father. Namikaze Minato, the fourth Hokage."
Suddenly Karin busted out laughing. She covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle her loud laughter but it came out anyway. "Oh my gawd, Sasuke-kun don't joke like that-I mean him, the Hokage's boy? HA HA HA HA!" She wiped a tear from her eye from laughing so hard.
Kage were leaders of their respective villages, as high up on society's ladder as you could get-and their children were raised as such. She couldn't look at Naruto without remembering many of the numerous rude things he had done or just the crude jokes he'd tell or what she overheard him and Suigetsu talking about like they were completely alone in a man cave or something. "He's so rude and ignorant-he can't be of Konoha past sovereign-I mean the way he acts it's like he was raised in a barn-sure he's nice and loyal but when he's not he's-" Karin stopped when she noticed Sasuke glaring at her.
Caught in the intensity of those icy eyes she wished she could disappear or shrivel up in a corner and cry. Many and many miles away, if she could see it, Sakura would recognize that very look as the one the Uchiha had given her so long ago when she had bad-mouthed Naruto. Sasuke looked ticked at her, she couldn't figure out why-but this terrible glower lasted only a second and then he regained his composure.
"He was never told he was the Hokage's son and never raised by anyone in particular," he stated, his voice low as he did what he usually NEVER did: talked about Konoha or one of its villager's pasts. Reminiscently so, maybe.
"You're kidding me. No one in his village," she said, careful not to say 'your village' because she knew it would upset him, "even…No one ever even told him or…"
Sasuke nodded his head. "He was always alone from the very beginning…Which is why I need to ask you about his seal-is it possible his father used that seal-of all the seals in the world he could have used-in order to leave something inside him? Something...like his very own chakra? That that chakra could have teleported him then?"
She looked back to the sleeping blond's face which seemed so much more peaceful now he was no longer wedged in worries and stress but instead surrendered under a heavy and calm curtain of sleep which he had needed terribly. She studied the way his fair hair came down nearly to his eyes. His bruised shoulders-down to the seal. A Hokage's son, huh?
She closed her eyes and focused on his chakra. Felt a shudder run through her sensing the Kyuubi growling at her. Her blood running cold at the darkness lurking in the shadows. But relished in that pure light inside him…Digging deeper she could feel that faintest trace of the chakra that was not his own-a gentle but powerful chakra, a strange one, though. Something was…different about it.
"Yes," she said bringing her attention outside. "That seal allowed him to seal some of his chakra inside his boy…but why? And how is it possible he…"
"That's exactly what I want to know."
Karin bowed her head, as she apologized to Sasuke for not knowing anything else and pulled the pathetic excuse for a blanket-a dinky gray fabric stained by numerous splatters of paint- up to the sleeping Jinchuuriki's bare shoulders. And now that she thought about it, she realized this was the first time she'd actually seen him asleep.
"Sasuke," she found herself saying before she could stop herself. "What are we doing here? Can we not simply just take him with us and go after Danzo? Would not that be better for all of us? I mean, he's gonna do something stupid and get killed before they even get to seal that thing inside him and use us to help because they're down on members."
"Karin, we cannot discuss this here." The Uchiha replied, trying to once again dismiss the matter. He kept doing that every time she tried to talk this over with him. But it needed to be properly discussed before it became too late.
"Then where-and when? He's not going to last that long at this rate-and you'll lose your chance at leverage!"
If he cared about anything it was power! And this boy had exactly what Sasuke needed to get back at Konoha!
For the briefest moment his eyes seemed to be panicking, asking her to stop, as he motioned for the door where-her blood ran cold when she noticed-Zetsu was walking along the hallway in earshot of them.
She looked to Sasuke, horror in her eyes as the reality of the situation sunk in-Naruto wasn't the only one being caged. All of Taka was, too. And that meant Sasuke was just as bound-but by words and hidden threats. Madara was the one with more power-the one they needed to worry about. And Zetsu was close to Madara and if word got to that man about this, Karin's growing objecting to this whole operation…She didn't want to think of the consequences. What had she just done?
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
Just when the dark-haired girl was about to activate her bloodline trait she felt her teammate tap his hand on her shoulder. "Na-uh, you can't do that Hinata-we have to keep hiding our chakra, remember?"
The teen bit her lip as her cheeks became pink. "B-b-but I want to see him-to see if he's there and all right!"
Kiba shook his head understandingly. "I'm sorry but you can't-you saw what happened to those three Sand goons. We have to keep hiding or else we lose everything."
She knew he was right but she still found herself protesting out loud. "But how long will it take for the backup to arrive?! We may be too late!"
This time it was Shino who answered her. He approached her from behind and nodded sincerely. "We must wait or we could put his life in even more jeopardy."
She nodded sadly as she watched the wind blow through the trees. So close, she thought, they were so close and still couldn't move. It ached at her. The feeling that this was her fault because she hadn't acted before and now when she could she was being stopped…
Though she felt this, the Hyuuga was also thankful for her teammates who allowed her to come with them on this mission-as the heiress of the Hyuuga clan it had been forbidden that she go. Especially after the villagers-and her father-witnessed Konoha's destruction in a single day. There village had to hang on to what was left like never before…
A scent came to her nostrils that had all of them turning to the incomer at once. It was Anko.
"Anko!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Mitarashi-san!"
Their voices came at the same time-colliding into each other-causing the woman to laugh at their surprise as she stepped from the cluster of trees. "Well, well, so Kabuto's trail leads to here? Hmph."
"Kabuto?! You were tracking Kabuto and it led you here?" Kiba demanded, Akamaru barking in response as if he wanted an answer, too.
"Trying to-yeah. Had to ditch some Roots members though-my teammates are helping with that problem but me aside-Hinata! What the hell you doing here? You're father's having a meltdown! You need to return home!"
Hinata started stuttering and poking her fingers together so Shino stepped in. "This is imperative for her-I'm afraid I couldn't allow her to stay behind-even if she had she still would have escaped."
"Yeah," Kiba piped in. "She's apart of the team and has every right to go through with this mission!"
Hinata's blush deepened as her teammates came to her defense-she had to be stronger…Think about Naruto. What he would do.
"I must save him-I can't keep remaining on the Hyuuga pedestal when he's in danger! No more!"she exclaimed boldly.
Anko sighed and pulled Hinata in closely-close enough Kiba couldn't but help pay attention to her well endowed chest leaning into Hinata's arm. "Listen, sister," she stated with a plain expression on her face as she checked her nails-showing she clearly hated anything that had to do with clan drama-and the Hyuugas were full of it, "As the heiress of the clan you must not put yourself on this Pain guys path to certain death-not until some Hyuuga decides to put their bloodline-stuffed seeds in your…belly and you pop a baby out that has those white eyes, alright? Meaning, you can't die until you carry on your bloodline-got it?"
Hinata's face went deep red and Kiba stifled a laugh from Anko's bluntness. Shino elbowed him.
"But!" she protested again.
"You ain't carried your genes ya ain't going," Anko said, laughing this time, herself. "You're an heiress-girl. Let me take care of this little brat for you, alright? I'll bring him back-me and your team. Okay? You're father is seriously freaking out right now."
"B-b-but!" she stuttered again. "But Naruto-"
"Is the Anbu's responsibility-not yours. Now go home."
Hinata felt herself caught between two paths as she pictured Naruto-his eyes, those unique marks on his face, that smile-his encouraging words-but then she saw her father's stern face. Her younger sister standing above her with a proud look, the elders of the clan-how they sheltered her and tried to keep her away from the boy during their childhood. She could see them all now. She clutched at her jacket, feeling so heavy-like she was going to fall down from the weight-faint, but…
She had to make her choice. The right one. And she did.
But she would always wonder later on, if it had been the right choice…She would never know until it was too late.
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
DAY 1
He felt a damp washcloth being pressed against his forehead as long hair brushed across his face. He could smell strawberry-scented shampoo hovering around those soft strands with a touch of perfume floating in the air.
"Saku..ra..chan?" he asked quietly, still in a sleepy daze. His throat seemed dry-why was it so hot?
"Shhh, you have a fever breaking out," a female's voice whispered softly. He found comfort in those words then grimaced at the thought of what they had said.
A fever? Was that why he felt so terrible?
"That…promise I made…" he whispered weakly, but as he was starting to come to his senses he realized that voice hadn't belonged to Sakura and he wasn't lying in his bed at home. His home had been destroyed and he'd been whisked away to a place he shouldn't have ever been brought to. "Wait…You're not…" He opened his eyes jadedly. "Oh, I'm sorry Karin. I guess I…"
She sighed. "I'm so tired of hearing you apologize. Stop already."
Sasuke had been the first one to leave his room but she hadn't been able to make herself when she started to notice Naruto's sleep turning to toss and turns, most likely from nightmares. Then his forehead started to get hot. So she'd stayed-unwilling to be by herself at all or leave him like that.
"Oh," he murmured distantly as he sat up, holding the moist cloth to his head. "I'm sor-um-wow…can I have some more wine. Please? I'm really thirsty."
"No-we're all out," she answered quickly, hoping he wouldn't press into it more.
"Then something for my head? It's killing me…"
"You're already on medicine right now-you don't need any more, okay?" Just how much medicine exactly, she'd lost count. She had given him pain killers for his encounter with Madara, his head, and then some for his fever-not to mention the stuff Sasuke had given him for sleep. The boy didn't need any more drugs.
He nodded his head. "Okay-and thank you Karin."
Even after the sleep, Karin thought he seemed so tired. Something inside him was just…beat. His voice was abnormally quiet-then again after what had happened earlier between him and Madara she was surprised he was even speaking. Although, seeing him like this she felt something had to be done…so she decided it was time to seriously talk. "Naruto, I need to talk to you about something that concerns me."
He merely nodded as he slipped a somewhat clean shirt on. The thing was, like usual, too big on him but the Akatsuki didn't exactly have a whole closet of clothes for teens and he couldn't put that bloodied shirt back on. She smiled gently at the thought then her expression sobered as she caught sight of a nasty-looking bruise on his side before it was covered by the light fabric of the shirt.
"I want you to stop attacking the Akatsuki members-do everything you can to not cross their paths. Even if it's a little punch-just stop it altogether."
"I can't."
She stared at him in disbelief. "If you make one more mistake they're gonna cage you up so you'll be utterly alone for who knows how long in the darkness. Do you want that? It's not sanitary for one thing nor will it help keep your sanity."
He shook his head. "No," he said. "I don't-and that scares me-it really does. I tried to back off for a bit-it's not like I can escape without chakra anyway-but I can't sit back when those I care about are threatened. I'm not gonna let them hurt 'em. Or you. Next time that bastard sticks his teeth on you; if you won't then I'll be the one to break that mask right off his face and crush that miserable face of his."
"And suffer the consequences," she stated dryly.
"Then I'll suffer. Better me than you or anyone else."
"What's the deal with you, really?" She demanded. "I'm your enemy, aren't I? Why act so chivalrous!?"
He smiled. "Shiva-wha?"
Karin rolled her eyes. "You act like you care about me like I'm some teammate and you're some knight in shining armor defending the poor helpless princess. Let me tell you something, boy. I've don't things for Orochimaru that would make you-"
Naruto interrupted her, exclaiming, "I don't care about what you've done in the past. All I need to know is that you're Sasuke's teammate and you've helped me out here-if it weren't for you I'm sure I'd still be cradling my broken wrist in a piece of fabric and sitting around in the main area flanked by one of the Pains. And when Sasuke decides to dump this place like he did Konoha and take me to Danzo, we'll be teammates, right?"
She found herself surprised by the blond's words. The hope he had in Sasuke-that utter loyalty. And his excitement at the possibility of being part of the team with Sasuke and doing justice for the Uchiha clan-though Naruto and Sasuke's definition of justice and their goals couldn't be more different and reverse from the other.
"And another reason I feel I have to protect you…It's because not only are you my friend's teammate but…" His voice dropped into an ever so soft voice that was close to a sad sigh. "You remind me of her. A lot."
"How so?" Karin asked leaning in. "The girl you said he left in the dust and would me, too?"
Naruto's eyes shifted in front of him so he was staring at the wall rather than facing her. He leaned back and began, "Sakura-chan: she was boisterous and infatuated with him-like you. She was also a medic. She could be nice…but then sometimes she could be very…well violent, like you."
Suddenly Itachi's crow came flying into the room and perched on the blond's shoulder. Naruto began stoking the bird softly, but other than that continued talking and seemingly not responding to its presence further. It seemed to her like Chibi was completely a part of him now, somehow.
It was his only companion here not killing him and he knew it, not to mention it gave him extra sight in battle. It was something he could physically hold on to… Karin watched, her serious expression softening at the sight. She still could not believe Sasuke's brother had not only given the boy the bird but managed to get the thing inside him.
He smiled as he continued to list out the similarities between his old teammate and Sasuke's new. Karin could tell he really earnestly cared about this girl. And she could tell he was talking about a girl he not only cared for deeply but loved-but had long accepted the fact that she would never love him back because she loved Sasuke. How could he accept that? Hang around her day after day knowing she didn't feel the same way-it must have hurt so much. She found herself relating to him, now.
"I've watched her hurt these past few years and I hate it. I've tried everything to fix it. To fix us. But…well I don't want you to go through what she's had to. I swear I hate it-seeing people get hurt. That's why I couldn't stand the fact that Sasuke was gonna let that pumpkin hole use you like that-bite you, I mean. I'm so sorry…." He paused briefly as he moved his finger in front of his shoulder for the bird to grab onto. It did so and he held the creature in his hands. "It's strange…this guy's pretty big but..he's so light."
"That's because bird's bones are made hollow-this allows them to fly."
Naruto began to laugh. "Sakura was a know-it-all, too!"
"Oh shuddup!" Karin screamed as her fist sailed through the air without her really thinking about it-it was really more of a natural reaction of hers. The punch landed strait onto Naruto's cheek. He had made absolutely no attempts to dodge it even though Chibi was right there and no doubt signaled to him where the obvious hit was coming from-he should have dodged or something!
"You were supposed to block that, Naruto!" she wailed, realizing she'd just hurt him-his cheek was really red. "Come on, Swirls."
"My bad…It's just I'm just...really tired."
She nodded understandingly. "Yeah-it's been a sucky day, hasn't it?"
He rubbed his nose, and his eyes seemed distant again. Karin bit her lip.
"Naruto…Sasuke is with us now…Maybe it's time you gave up that promise you made with Sakuya."
"Sakura," he corrected.
"This Sakura, then."-why would she want to acknowledge a tramp's name who had her eyes on Sasuke and held this poor boy bound by an impossible promise-"That promise you made to her, and your feelings for her- they're holding you back." Karin stood up, readying to leave. "It's too big a burden for you to carry-and it's going to suck the life out of you."
He gaped at her in a mix of horror, disbelief, and sadness. He also stood now and grimaced when the chain moved with his foot-the hurt registered all over his face again but he quickly tossed it away like an old wad of paper. "I can't!"
"Sasuke's never going to return to Team 7."
"Don't you think I know that already!? I see you guys, you, and Juugo and that jerk together and it hurts but at the same time you have what me and Sakura don't have-you guys can relate to him in different ways. You were all under Orochimaru's thumb and you all left him and-I KNOW Team 7 is over but I still can't go back on my word to Sakura!"
He argued with passion-there would be no dissuading him. Karin, ignoring his little grammar mistake, could see that right now. But at the very least….As she began to walk out she said over her shoulder, "The sooner you face the truth the sooner you can lighten your load…and Suigetsu was just following orders earlier. Don't be too hard on him for that."
"Yeah, but there's some orders you just don't follow. No matter what."
And with that he was utterly alone once again, save for the dark bird he clung to, and the chains-visible and invisible-around him that wouldn't let go.
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
Papers flew from desks as the blond man ran by as fast as he could. In his haste he nearly stumbled into a younger shinobi.
"Inoichi!" Neji called as the man staggered past him, rudely.
"Can't talk now!" The man called from behind his shoulder. "I JUST GOT THE LOCATION! I have to inform the Hokage right away…"
What else he had called was lost to Neji as Ino's father disappeared in the hallways up ahead. Neji's jaw threatened to drop but he held his strong expression. Hyuuga weren't seen gaping or being taken for surprise.
But he was surprised.
How had such a strong woman who stood so steadfast in her beliefs cracked? No she wouldn't have-there had to be some motive-some plan or card she had up her sleeve.
When he approached the cell she was being held into she didn't even bother acknowledging his presence-just stood with her back to the bars, the shackles around her limbs hanging as limp as her attitude.
"Why reveal the location of the hideout?" He asked, knowing though she acted otherwise she'd still reveal the answer.
"You eyes," was the only thing she said for awhile.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked quietly.
"We once had the same eyes. But that infernal Madara," the way she said his name would have sent a shiver up anyone else's spine, "he's taking control of the organization. I won't let him-if Madara is really an Uchiha that originated from your village then your village must destroy him. And Pain-sama must protect our village."
So that was it. It was to goad Madara or simply get him out of the way.
After that she didn't say anything else.
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
"You could just kill them all," a dark voice whispered in the night. "We both know you want to."
Naruto bolted upright from the bed, panting for breath as sweat trickled down his forehead. He swallowed. This hadn't been his usual nightmare. And it hadn't been the Kyuubi's voice…
Whose voice was that?
He needed a drink. Getting up, his foot caught on the chain, causing him to trip. He stood back up kicking the wall. "DAMMIT!" he screamed, not caring if anyone in the hideout was asleep. Let them hear him!
He made his way to the bathroom and tried for the umpteenth time to get the huge bolt around the sink pipe loose, to get the damned thing off his ankle! He tried at the lock-tried till his fingers bled, and the bandages Karin had placed underneath first, in an attempt to ease probable chafing, came undone completely and his movements started causing the metal to cut into his skin. He tried until he couldn't take it anymore.
He collapsed in a heap, the voice not leaving his mind. Was he going crazy or something? Delirious?
Just what the hell was wrong with him?
The only response he got from the fox upon questioning was a pleased chuckle, and it made Naruto feel extremely uneasy.
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
DAY 2
"So," Kisame said sitting down beside the younger swordsman. "I hear I missed all the fun yesterday."
"Yeah you did," Suigetsu grinned. "Too bad there were only three of them-"
"Oh I wasn't talking about just the intruders," Kisame said smiling back. "I'm talking about that brat."
"Oh," Suigetsu sighed boredly. "Swirls." He didn't know why but the whole situation just had him down in the dumps. The fact word had already reached his older arch-nemesis and sempai didn't help matters either. And it hadn't helped his relationship with Karin or Juugo either. Especially Juugo.
Suigetsu fought the urge to rub his neck just thinking about how in so short a time he lost their relationships…
"Hah! So that's what you're calling him, huh? He's something else, isn't he? It's not every day you run into someone who's come face to face with more than one of the legendary swords and lived to tell the tale."
"Yeah," the white haired Taka member said quietly rubbing his blade. "But you know, he said something about Zabuza yesterday I just can't figure out."
"Ah-perhaps a sempai like me can clear the mystery for you," Kisame chuckled tapping Suigetsu's stolen blade.
"He said Zabuza wouldn't have used the blade the way I was-but the thing is he met Zabuza in the flesh so surely he'd have noticed, you know, Zabuza's was practically a devil's incarnate."
"Ha! Yeah he was!" Kisame laughed. "But he didn't die the same way."
"Huh?"
"He changed that last day. Took Gato down with him and Kakashi, that brat's sensei, carried him to his little tool, some Yuki clan ninja, to spend his last moments beside him."
"Huh? So anti-climatic! He didn't die that way! He was a hardcore badass until the end who nearly took Kakashi out. I remember that's how the story goes."
"That's the ear-tickling version popular with most Mist rogues. The truth is he changed-Naruto had a little heart to heart with him."
"HUH? You're kidding!" Suigetsu exclaimed, caught between utter disbelief and being appalled. "But that would explain why he said what he said…but still…that's hard for me to believe…I can't believe Zabuza went soft in the end. Hey-then where was Sasuke in all this?"
Kisame busted out laughing. "You should ask him."
Suigetsu grimaced. "Why do I get the feeling that's a death wish?" he asked distastefully.
Kisame chuckled, knowing full and well it was. "Anyway, did you see the Pain Naruto destroyed yesterday?"
"No-I was too busy destroying some intruders," Suigetsu boasted. "Let me guess, he just took the eyes out and chocked it to death like usual?"
Kisame grinned. "That and snapped the neck clean through. Then bent all the limbs so far back they snapped and they ain't ever going to be able to go back into place the way he trashed them-not even with Pain's reviving jutsu. And that's just the tip of the ice berg. I saw the hallway and body. You wouldn't' believe it. There was blood and guts everywhere-it was hideous."
Suigetsu face turned very serious. "What? Naruto did this? I get the neck snapping but…"
"Oh something inside him snapped and it wasn't just that Pain's bones," Kisame turned very serious as he eyed Suigetsu. "No matter how innocent a Jinchuuriki can appear they all have monsters inside of them and a darkness that comes with it. I don't' think he did it himself but something inside him did."
Suigetsu's mouth was slightly agape and eyebrows furrowed with a horrified expression. "What are you talking about? This is Naruto, he…he's just a kid from Konoha."
Everyone-especially those of the Mist-knew how soft Konoha was and had memorized the stereotypes and jokes that went with that reputation.
"I know but he houses inside him a monster worse than any demon like Zabuza-and worse. For your own good-don't tick a Jinchuuriki off unless you want your guts on the ceiling."
Naturally after the warning he'd received from Kisame about Naruto snapping to that point, and seeing the bloody scene himself, it had Suigetsu growing wary of him. That is until he saw him later that day. He peeked into the kid's room and was relieved and kind of depressed at the same time to see him in the same position he'd been ever since he'd woken up early that morning: knees pulled in and head buried.
He scoffed, almost disappointedly. Kisame was trying to pull something on him-the kid was as harmless as a well…kid from Konoha.
Much later, he did ask Naruto about the incident between him and Pain. Naruto's answer had been that he only impaled the eyes, like usual, but this time around by first setting off a simple booby-trap to provide a distraction.
"After that I ran for it-I had to get out as fast as possible," he replied. "Though at the time I was furious and really wanted to tear him apart-I mean, I still thought a Konoha team was out there and you were….ya know."
Suigetsu probed him further, not satisfied for by that answer. "But did you attack him further-go crazy on him or something?"
Naruto shook his head; he seemed briefly confused as he tried to recollect all of what had happened a few days ago. "No-that's all I remember-I think I might have briefly black out or something but it was only a second-and why are you staring at me like that?! Come one Shark-teeth. You need to get your head checked or something."
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
Later that day a meeting was called in the meeting room, holding only chairs and a round silver table and it was to be held between all the members of the Akatsuki and the Taka. It, of course, would not include Naruto even though he was much of the topic of discussion. At first Karin was scared out of her mind it would be about what Zetsu might've heard but once the meeting was headway she was reassured he seemingly hadn't.
First the meeting droned on about Pain needing to return to his village to prepare for an attack from Konoha as Konan had informed him of and recover all his human puppets. Then the meeting drifted to Kisame and the search for the Hachibi that was no longer in his village.
"There's an absolute probability the Hachibi is being hidden by another village-what are the relationships between the Cloud and the others?"
"Considering the Raikage's temperament and the Cloud's habit of stealing Kekkei Genkai from other lands-well their relationships aren't at the peak."
"What about the Sand?" Suigetsu piped in.
After he brought up that fact the three intruders he had taken out were from the Sand questions were raised on what the Sand had been doing here and whether they were connected. It seemed doubtful and possible at the same time somehow.
Once they got as far with that topic as they could Madara brought his focus on the Taka and Naruto-causing them all to become uneasy.
"Sasuke," Madara began to ask, "Simply out of curiosity, I must ask-are you really on board all the way with the future death of your old teammate? Can we count you in for your assistance in the ritual when the time comes?"
Sasuke glared. "As long as I get ammunition and the manpower to bring Konoha down-I don't care what happens to the Jinchuuriki. The host means nothing to me now-and should you decide to kill him I only ask that I be the one to cut his head off just as I have cut him off from my life."
Madara didn't seem impressed at his bold words. Neither did Pain, he turned to Madara and spoke to him, but his words were pointed at the Taka like a blunt knife.
"I feel it is important to bring up the fact that the Kyuubi host has made no formal escape attempts ever since the Taka arrived. Not until he believed those of his village were in danger. Therefore it is valid and important that I reconfirm Taka, Sasuke's motives. As we all know, he trained under Orochimaru for years under the pretense of becoming his host but when the time arrived he backslid and killed him. It's highly possible he takes the opportunity again."
Everyone's eyes went to the Taka causing some of them to shift uncomfortably. Sasuke was quick to save their necks by pointing out, "Naruto is still clinging to an impossible fantasy-it is not my doing he does so."
"And as for the matter of Downstairs?" Madara spoke, this time again. "Judging by the noise coming from Deidara's room it is obvious you did not handle him as I commanded you a few days ago. What about that?"
"He was still dealt with."
Madara's eye glinted as his calculating gaze remained on Sasuke who under the icy gaze remained firm, his hands clasped together and mouth drawn in a tight line. "Oh Sasuke, I do believe you are getting soft. On whose authority do you get the right to deem what punishment is proper for the Jinchuuriki and what's not? What premise?-because your choice was certainly not mine. Please do enlighten us. "
Madara didn't give a rat's ass what happened to Naruto-the real point of the question was to question Sasuke's obedience and they all knew it.
The raven's eyes didn't have to scan the room to feel that everyone was fixed on him, waiting for his answer, just waiting to see him mess up somewhere. Karin nodded to him, giving him the go as she, too, was beginning to notice the Akatsuki becoming suspicious of their old friendship coming into play regardless his previous bold words of repudiating Naruto along with Konoha.
"Medical," the young Uchiha said resolutely, with a cold gaze toward Madara.
Karin and Juugo sighed while Suigetsu caught Kisame elbowing Zetsu and whispering, "Hoo-boy. This oughta be good." Suigetsu bit his lip. He hoped Karin and Sasuke knew what the hell they were doing-the medical card was dangerous to pull when it came to people like this. None of these guys were the soft kind to even think or care about the mental or physical state of any prisoner or captive save that they are alive.
Karin, having used to watch over Orochimaru's prisoners, knew the system. Understood social and solitary confinement. That's why she'd personally keep his prisoners grouped together and given them packs of cards. Kept them sane. These people had never really kept prisoners before for so long-let alone such a young one. It was kill or use with these guys.
"Medical? Really, Sasuke? How so?"
"My medic, Karin of the Taka, reports the Jinchuuriki's immunity system as abnormally weak because of the support of the Kyuubi's charka and fast regeneration that previously fought off infection and such since he was a newborn. With the captive's healing suddenly stripped away the host is left with an extremely poor defense. This explains why his wounds had become infected at such a fast rate-laying on the ground so much didn't help matters at all. Accordingly, in the cell downstairs the captive would not have proper access to water to wash these said wounds from infection or to apply proper medication and coverings.
"Then there is inner aliments his immune system is not used to fighting because the Kyuubi's healing powers always did for it for him. This includes fighting off bacteria that cause sickness…Surely, I'm not the only one who has caught the host sniffing or coughing frequently. It is the opinion of Karin and I that all these conditions-the easy infection and accumulating sickness-will continue to gradually worsen without proper care and should he have to spend a long time here without the support of his healing chakra then the result would be fatal and you will lose him."
Sasuke glanced back in forth between Pain and Madara waiting for their response. No one had expected Sasuke to bring up solid evidence like he just had-just spout off mental health crap. With solid fact they couldn't argue or disagree.
Pain sighed. "Unfortunately, you-and you're medic-have brought up a valid point. It will be taken into consideration when we make the verdict as to what to do with him from here."
Sasuke cleared his throat before continuing, making sure all of them were listening.
"The second reason is the host needs supervision. The past forty-eight hours has revealed yet another side to him that is able to come out." Sasuke paused as he, again, looked to both of the leaders. "I believe I am correct in pointing out you both have been exposed to his…darker side. I myself have not seen it but judging from the evidence of the destruction of the Asura path I'd say that dark side of his needs to be watched for and studied how, and why, for future cases when this…anomaly with black eyes appears again."
By now they were absolutely cornered, yet Sasuke continued his list.
"Another factor that needs supervised is his usual Kyuubi-chakra enhanced angered state. Though the host has improved greatly on controlling the beast one accident could have him going all the way considering the amount of stress he's under. I recommend keeping his stress down unless you want to deal with finding a temporary way to seal the Kyuubi.
"And the final reason I did not allow him to be taken Downstairs is because he had already been punished. As Madara mentioned earlier today-for every action there is a proper reaction or punishment. Upon impaling Madara the host received a blow to the head. And for the attack on Pain…well what he had to go through right after should suffice. The interrogation he went through lasted longer than necessary and I'm sure it took much to get him to squeeze a single name out. Thus the ordeal he had to go through counts as his punishment."
Now Madara spoke up. "Again, by what right do you claim his life and what we choose to do with it? Answer the original question."
"As I said first-medical. Taka has a medic which the Akatsuki lacks. So, he will still continue to remain in his room, until stated otherwise by the Akatsuki heads. Therefore, the say over his life and freedom is still yours but I claim the right to override it should my medic, Karin, deem appropriate to do so. At least until the Akatsuki gets a medic of their own to state otherwise."
The air was frigid-perfect to make one last move, a move to direct blame and ease the pressure a little bit off the Taka.
"Now one thing I'd like to know is where he acquired that kunai he used to attack Madara, that ancient relic would not have originated with my team."
Everyone's eyes shifted to Pain and Madara. And Pain's at Madara. The older man sighed, "I'm afraid the fault is mine-apparently there was trash meant to be thrown out long ago that missed my eye."
"So the fault is yours then, now if you don't mind, we're done here."
With that Sasuke promptly stood and turned to leave before Madara or Pain could even say anything but Madara's voice rang out, "We're not done yet. Sit."
Sasuke stopped; his back turned toward the group and debated his next move. Unable to put his comfort above the safety of the members of Taka he sat as commanded, inwardly glowering, while they talked and the decision was made that while Kisame went after the Hachibi, Pain returned to his village, Taka needed to leave for supplies.
Which meant…Naruto would be alone with Madara and Zetsu and the fool was stupidly unpredictable.
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
The Missing Scene (Naruto's Short Resolve-the Backhand and the Pencil)
Leaving the lower levels he was suddenly met with such a vicious backhand to the face that it caused him to tumble to the floor. He groaned, seeing the masked figure lower his hand. "What's it this time, face-asshole?" he yelled getting to his feet.
The Uchiha glared at the boy who was busy rubbing his red cheek. "There are scrolls containing certain information that are now missing from the library."
"So? What's that gots to do with lil' old me? I freaking hate reading-ask your new little dog that. Sasuke will tell ya."
He felt his knees involuntarily buckle as someone kicked his legs from behind.
"Oh come now, fugu," Kisame's voice said from behind him in an amused tone. "Some of those scrolls contained information on Konoha and you're the only one who would have done something about it."
Oh! those scrolls he literally watched go down the bath drain after shredding them…lets' see…The best way to get out of this was to, perhaps, mix the truth with crude lies….
Naruto rested on his knees and palms and smiled as he attempted to get back up. The pumpkin mask was still in front of him with his arms crossed and Kisame's behind him. "Oh-is that what I accidently grabbed? My bad."
"Accidently?"
"See here gents, we're all guys here, and you gots to use paper when you take a dump-I guess that scroll got mixed up with the roll," he laughed. "Oh-I'm so sorry but well-feel free to dig through the toilet sewer or whatever for it cause it's down there-and I think little rats might have torn it to little pieces so if you find it like that it was them and not-"
Before he can finish Kisame yanked him up forcefully to search his pockets. Naruto lazily stuck his tongue at him, giving a mischievous wink, as he cupped the back of his head with his fingers clasped together and waited for Kisame to realize that he wasn't that stupid-stupid enough to pocket the scrolls themselves. At least not in his pockets, that was…
He shouldn't have raised his arms because the next thing he knew Madara, sighing, pulled out a paper that had been tucked in the cast on his broken wrist. That mischievous attitude quickly drained from him having that certain text found so quickly. As the Uchiha eyed the text he hissed, "Where are the others, boy?"
"I already told ya-I took a dump and-"
"Enough of that! I'll cut out that tongue of yours if you don't stop. That information took a long time to collect and you ruined it for nothing-it won't do you any good."
Naruto glowered at the huge man. "So what? It's gone. Suck it up, pup."
Just like Naruto, Kisame was also getting in a foul mood. He gave Naruto a smack as he said to the leader, "Shall I let him spend a night Downstairs for this? Give him a night to reconsider how he spends his free-time here."
Not liking the sound of that Naruto tried to quickly dash off but Kisame's hand grabbed his shirt by the collar. Of course, the boy squirmed but he was only rewarded with another clout to his head that was much lighter than the so-called Madara's backhand had been-it was more like a slap on the wrist.
The Uchiha uncrossed his arm. "Go ahead-let this be a warning, boy. That scroll wasn't as important as the many others in the library, but the fact you decided to not have a little courtesy considering how hospitable we are being towards you earns you some time to reevaluate your position here."
"Hospitable MY ASS!" Naruto yelled at the man. The man's eye grinned and he turned to leave. "Yeah-you run away like the coward you are!"
He felt his arms forcefully wrenched behind him, he groaned and kicked, but it didn't accomplishing anything."Come on, pup," he whined, "You gonna take orders from a guy who can't even show his freaking face?! UG-I just literally freaking got back from there-once is enough!"
His arms were bound behind him so easily it made him wonder how many times Kisame has done this to people.
"Shut up fugu, he's a powerful man, and you should have thought about that before you messed with Akatsuki property."
When they reached the cell Kisame threw him in. His body felt like it had been rammed into a brick wall and Sakura's fist a thousand times from the pain of being thrown on concrete. He heard the door slam close behind him. When the footsteps faded he groaned, "I'm right back in here…And I have to pee. Lovely. See, stupid fox-this is why I don't want to attack Pain or do anything else that gets me back down in this stupid cage…Okay, maybe I do like causing trouble but I hate being in here, ya know."
He began to try to wiggle free from his binds. The only advantage to having a broken wrist was Kisame couldn't tie his wrist together very well so the rope was wrapped around his elbows and torso. Rubbing against the wall he managed to get the damned rope off then relieved himself in the corner. Once done, the fox then spoke: 'Do you not notice the bars above you that lead outside? Break them and run!'
Naruto looked up and considered the plan. 'But I can't reach them-it's too far up and there's no way I can break them. I'll try-but I doubt it'll do good.'
And for the rest of the night he did try. When morning arrived he was let out but so convinced was he that he just needed more time and he would yet be able to figure out a way to climb up that he purposely attacked Pain (with a pencil) so he'd be placed back in the Cell. And he had been thrown back in. He tried again all night before accepting that there was no way he could escape that way.
He concluded that was the last time he was going Downstairs, that he was never going down there again no matter what, or at least he wouldn't get caught so easily-he hated it and it was just a waste of time. But fate would have it he would end up in that crammed space again-but not alone the next-and final-time.
_-xxxxxxxxxxxxx-_
AUTHORS RAMBLE
(ugh work is exhausting!)
If you can't tell already I thought it'd be fun to start playing with the fact there is Dark Naruto-might as well begin to set up the stages to deal with that sucker and I will be sure to not have it end with a hug. And I don't have plans for him to come out in the Akatsuki's Hideout again. As for what he did to Pain, so upset by the possibility of Konoha teammates being outside Dark Naruto didn't hold back and put up quite a show-which Naruto has no memory of whatsoever.
Man it's been so long since I sat down and read a book. Anyway, I just finished reading one for English (with more than one adult pointing out their surprised I'm reading this particular book) and this book, I thought, was really good but I SWEAR it literally has the power to scare certain people away with the very first short paragraph-I kid you not. It almost weirded me out completely but I kept at it and then I was like this is good!-the whole theme and everything and truths in it on society. And this book is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. It's a weird title, I know, but it is good and I recommend reading it. McMurphy is epic. :3 BUT Don't read it if you're under sixteen unless you're mature in nature and don't mind a few breasts and cheeks. Or…hrm…thermometers.
Anyway when I read stuff I feel like it kind of bleeds into my own writing in small degrees. Thus a meeting was held in this Turn and I'm glad I did-there needed to be at least one before the Point of No Return comes very soon.
(1*) the English dub voice of Sebastian from Black Butler is like that too. :3 Just the sound alone is very good. LOL just felt like pointing that out-I'm kinda of geeking out right now because I'm getting ready to go to my very first anime con (in September) and his VA's gonna be there :3 I'll be Hinata in a black x red kimono with Akatsuki clouds (which I'm putting together myself so it'll be good) and either the Mey Rin maid outfit, or Xion from Organization XIII on the side. :3 wooh-hoo! I'm so excited!