Kakuzu's Treasure
Chapter 14: Different Perspectives
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Perspectives: Itachi, Sasori, Deidara, Konan, and Kakuzu
Itachi's Perspective
A meeting was called tonight. Everything was calm at the moment. There was nothing to speak of in my opinion.
"Isn't it past your bedtime?" asked Kisame.
I wanted to sleep or at least try to do the normal human function. The later I fell asleep the higher the chance of nightmares. As I walked toward Pain's office I caught Snow happily playing checkers with Tobi. She seemed so happy and carefree at the moment. How I envy her ability to be like that. When I entered the office Deidara and Konan were already there. Kakuzu was the last to enter.
"I've called this meeting to discuss Snow's test", said Leader.
I sighed. None of us want to speak of this. The girl hasn't done anything to prove unworthy of our trust. She's a kind, innocent girl. Unlike most, she doesn't judge a person's past. By all reason, she should be scared of us but she isn't. She isn't blind to the danger. Snow holds a reasonable fear of Hidan and Orochimaru. She possesses a warmth that makes us all enjoy her presence. Most of us wouldn't admit it. I remembered the first time she showed kindness to me.
Itachi's Flashback
I returned from a mission. I overused my Sharingan and it was taking effect. My head ached and mission blurred. I will regain more vision in time. The quiet of my room was of great peace to me. I rested my head on the pillows. My eyes closed but sleep didn't come even though my body so craved it. There was a quiet knock on the door. Who could be? The others keep there distance from me while I'm in this state. I forced myself to my feet. Snow stood in the doorway. She carried a tray with a kettle of tea and a plate of cookies. I looked to either side of the hall but she was alone.
"Why are you here, Snow?" I asked.
Kakuzu must be out. He'd never approve of her doing this. He's proven to be very protective of his 'investment'.
"You're unwell. I thought this was the least I could do. May I come in?" she asked.
I nodded and stepped aside, allowing her inside. She placed the tray on my desk. My legs weakened. Snow rushed to catch me. She placed my arm around her shoulder.
"I'm fine", I said.
"You don't have to pretend with me. I won't judge", said Snow.
I allowed myself to leaned into her. She walked me over to the bed. Snow pulled the blankets over me. Then fluffed my pillows. I tensed when her gentle hand touched my forehead.
"Easy, I won't harm you", said Snow.
She brought the tray to the bed.
"Sugar?" she asked.
"Two spoonfuls", I said.
"Honey?"
"Yes", I said.
She handed me the warm mug. It smelled wonderful. I took a sip of my tea. It was perfectly flavored.
"Cookie?" she offered.
I took one from the plate. It was a red bean paste cookie.
"Did you make these?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Kisame told they were your favorite", said Snow.
"Who taught you to bake?" I asked.
"One of the many things I picked up", said Snow.
Her body langue changed. I approached a subject that was linked to some sort of discomfort from her past.
"These are very good", I said as I took another.
Snow smiled. She always wants to please people. It smelled good.
"You don't have to do this", I said.
"What?" she asked.
"Care for me. You are free to do what you wish", I said.
"I like caring for my friends. Is that wrong?" she asked.
Snow was honestly asking.
"No", I said.
"May I ask what happened?" she said.
"I overused my eyes", I said.
Snow went to the bathroom and returned with a wet cloth.
"Lean back", said Snow.
I did as told.
"Close your eyes", she said.
I stared at her.
"You can trust me", said Snow.
I closed my eyes. I nodded. She placed a warm wet cloth over eyes. It smelled of rose water. A scent I was familiar to me. Uchihas for generations to relax the muscles around the eyes. I heard her take a seat on the floor near my bed.
"How do you know the medical properties of rose water?" I asked.
She bit her lip.
"I've spent a great deal of time caring for my own injuries so I learned from experience. Master also had an extensive library", said Snow.
A few moments passed and she removed the cloth from my eyes.
"Keep them closed", said Snow.
She wrapped bandages around my eyes. Snow took a seat next to me. She rested my head on her lap. I haven't felt this kind of comfort sometimes. Snow sang and ran her fingers gently through my hair. The tune she sang reminded me of the lullaby my mother used to sing Sasuke when he was a baby. It felt, so safe being comforted by Snow I felt my eyes closing and I drifted into a deep sleep. Her voice was so sweet and peaceful as she sang the lyrics:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
My eyes closed.
I returned to reality. A girl such as her will never turn against us.
"What does this test require of her?" I asked.
"You, Deidara, and Sasori will be disguised as enemy ninjas and attack Kakuzu and Konan while they're with Snow. In battle, Kakuzu and Konan will die. If Snow leaves with you and the others she is disloyal", said Leader.
That will traumatize her, but there's nothing I can do.
"And what if she fails?" I asked.
"I will be forced to kill her", said Leader.
There's another way that doesn't require the death of such innocence.
"You will probably enjoy getting rid of her", said Deidara.
"I have no wish to kill the girl. She's innocent and suffered a fate unbefitting of any human. Death might be one of the most humane fates for her", said Leader.
"I find that drastic. I could wipe her of her memory give her good past and place her in another village far away from here", I said.
"I agree", said Kakuzu.
"Who will we be disguised as?" asked Deidara.
"Itachi you'll be disguised as Kakashi, Deidara you'll go as Kurenai, and Sasori you'll go as Might Guy", said Leader.
"When are we going to test her?" asked Konan.
"Tomorrow", said Leader.
In the morning we took our positions in the forest. Being disguised as Kakashi allows me to use my Sharingan, but I doubt I will need to. We followed Konan, Kakuzu, and Snow as the walked through the woods for a while we made our appearance. Snow looked confused at our appearance. Sasori made our introduction and then attacked Kakuzu.
Snow was terrified. I forced myself to pay attention to the task at hand I can't worry about her. I went underground as I prepared to attack Konan. I jumped out of the ground barely missing Konan. She fell. When this is over she'll be upset. Snow froze with fear. I joined the others in battle. It didn't take long for it to end. We all wanted this to be over as quickly as possible.
"NO!" screamed Snow.
She ran to Kakuzu. Snow kissed. There was such deep love in the simple act. Her heart will always belong to him. Hopefully, he doesn't waste such a rare blessing. Glittering tears fell from her eyes. She leaned closer and whispered something to him. I read her her lips. She'd whispered please come back to me.
Sasori asked Snow, "Miss, did they kidnap you? We can take you back home".
"You just killed the people who made me feel at home", whispered Snow.
She didn't respond. I can't imagine the strain she's under. I have to tempt her to betray us. Let her forgive me for this.
I said, "There are great bounties on their heads. Dead or alive you'd be set for life if you turned them in".
"What's wrong miss? Don't you want the money", asked Deidara?
"I don't care about money. You took away my family", said Snow.
The only emotions captured in her eyes were rage and hatred. It was an unnatural sight. She quickly disposed of Deidara and Sasori. Chakra surged from Snow in amounts I could only compare to Kisame. Unlike him, she has no control. This is dangerous not only for us but her as well. I charged at her and managed to dodge the diamond blades that launched from the earth. Her power was so great that it changed the surrounding environment. I stood in a forest of diamond blades. There were no imperfections in the diamond's surface. I found her leaning against one of them. Her breathing was heavy. She'd exhausted her chakra, but she still posed a risk.
I threw three kunai at her. The first went into her knee, the second one went between her ribs and the last one dug into her upper thigh. That should be enough to impair her motion. I slowly approached her. I pulled down my mask revealing my Sharingan. I never thought I'd use it against her. When I looked into her eyes nothing happened. Her irises were diamond. They were reflecting my ability. That means her kekkie genkia is of equal age to the Sharingan.
Once properly trained she be a real threat. My thought broke when Snow tackled me. She was on to of me with a kunai to my neck. Snow had pulled the one from her side. Blood dripped from its blade onto my face. I grabbed her wrists and pushed against her. Why is she fighting like this?
"Why don't you give up?" I asked her.
"You stole the person I cared most about", Snow said.
She was on the verge of crying. The poor girl thought we'd taken the one most dear to her.
"You tried to get me to betray the ones I care about, but you failed. I'd never betray them", Snow said.
She said what we needed to hear. Now I need to fend her off until Kakuzu came. He yanked Snow off of me. Pure relief swept over her expression when she saw him.
"Itachi, get up", said Kakuzu.
I got to my feet.
Sasori's Perspective
Out of all the people I had to be disguised as it has to be Might Guy. He is a loud irritating Leaf shinobi. We are complete opposites in fighting styles I think Leader just did it to get a laugh. Taijutsu isn't my strong point. The idea of getting my ass kicked by Kakuzu in taijutsu isn't thrilling. I was relieved this was just a test.
I wanted the girl to stay. She's unlike anyone I've ever met. Most would fear yet she doesn't. All she wants to do is help us. Snow is even friendly to me and she loves watching me work on my puppets. Every time Kakuzu was out on missions she would watch me work on my puppets, I didn't mind her being there. I remembered the first time I had to watch her for Kakuzu the second week she lived here.
Sasori's Flashback
I owed Kakuzu a favor, which was watching his little investment. He was assigned a mission in the Land of Wind. At most he'd be gone for a few days. How much of a hassle can she possibly be? She took a seat on my bed. I broke free of Hiruko. The girl stared at me in pure wonder.
"Don't say a word of my true appearance. Or I'll tell Kakuzu you were trouble. Understand?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Good", I said.
She sat quietly at the end of my bed, while on worked on Hiruko. As time passed she wandered closer. She stepped back when she noticed me gazing at her. Such a timid creature she wouldn't last long without her protector.
I pulled out a stool and said, "You may watch".
"Really?" asked Snow.
"Come here before I change my mind", I said.
Snow quickly darted from her spot on my bed to the stool I pulled out for her. She watched me work with interest. Snow sat quietly for hours. Then I noticed she was toying with something.
"What are you toying with?" I asked.
Had she taken something from the table without me noticing?
"Nothing", she said.
"Show me", I said.
She handed me a diamond needle. It was surprisingly light in my hand.
"You made this?" I asked.
She nodded. I tried to break it, but it didn't even bend. With needles like these, I won't have to waste hours sharpening and replacing metal ones.
"Can you make me more of these?" I asked.
"Yes", she said.
She smiled brightly seeming happy to be of some help. I handed her jar.
"Fill this", I said.
She took the jar. We both busied ourselves with work.
"Done", she said proudly.
She handed me the jar with a shaky hand. Before I could take it she dropped it to the floor, sending glass and diamond needles to the floor. She has no mastery of her chakra so she must have overdone it without realizing it.
"Don't apologize clean it up", I said.
"I can't", she said.
"And why not?" I asked.
"It's not that I don't want to it's just-
She stared at the glass and needle covered ground. Her feet were bare. She has no control over her abilities. I easily lifted her from the chair.
"Careful you might step on one", said Snow.
Why does she worry about me? I set her down.
"Why do you care?" I asked.
"You're my friend", said Snow.
"Friend?" I asked.
She nodded.
"They won't hurt me", I said.
She wasn't convinced.
"Look", I said.
I took one of the needles and jabbed it into my thumb. She took my hand tenderly in hers, searching for injury. The last person to do this for me was my grandmother.
"No blood", she said.
"No pain", I said.
"How?" asked Snow.
"I'm a puppet", I said.
"How?" she asked.
"Telling you would take some of the fun out of it", I said.
"So you're like Hidan", said Snow.
"In a way", I said
She smiled.
"This doesn't disturb you", I said.
"Nope", said Snow.
"Why?" I asked.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't know", she said as she started cleaning.
It didn't take long for her to finish. She placed them on my table.
"Do want me to leave you to your work?" asked Snow.
"You may stay", I said.
She smiled and took a seat.
"Can I help?" asked Snow.
I handed her brown bottle of poison.
"What is it?" asked Snow as she turned the bottle in her hands.
"A poison of my of creation. I want you to dip each of the needles into the bottle. Are you capable of the task", I said.
She nodded and got to work. It grew late. I allowed her to do small jobs that were normally a nuisance to me. It made the work go faster. When I looked at her again, she was asleep. I carried her to my bed and pulled the blankets over her. This was the first time the piece of furniture had been of any use. Why did I move her? Why did I care enough to do so? Maybe she could a friend a useful one at that.
My memory came to an end. I don't want to do this. There's little choice. The girl's confusion was obvious.
I heard her ask, "who are they?" to Kakuzu and Konan.
I answered, "we are Leaf shinobi filled with the POWER OF YOUTH!"
I struck the Might Guy pose I feel ridiculous. Deidara was barely containing his laughter. The idiot will blow our cover! He'll never allow me to forget this. Snow looked at me as if I was the strangest thing in the world and I couldn't blame her.
Itachi said, "we are here to capture these two criminals".
I attacked. She breaking.
"NO!" she screamed.
She ran to him. The pain of her loss overtook her expression.
I saw her tenderly kiss Kakuzu on the lips. Snow was crying I saw her whispering something, but I couldn't tell what.
I asked her, "miss did they kidnap you? We can take you back to your home". She didn't respond.
"You just killed the people who made me feel at home", said Snow.
Itachi said, "there are great bounties on their heads. Dead or alive you'd be set for life if you turned them in".
"Miss what's wrong? Don't you want the money", asked Deidara
"I don't care about money. You took my family", said Snow.
She snapped! Chakra exploded from her it lacked control. I backed away but wasn't quick enough. A diamond blade slashed through my gut. My part in this is done. Snow's attention left me. I pried myself off the blade, repairing this form will be bothersome. I took the sparkling surroundings. This is amazing. A few minutes later the grand forest gem sunk into the earth as if it never existed.
Deidara's Perspective
The meeting came to an end. I have to prepare. Why did I have to go as Kurenai? There's no point in least I didn't get Might Guy. From my perch I watched them. My gaze locked on Snow. Her face was a light with a smile. Snow's exterior beauty matches her gorgeous personality.
We made our appearance. That perfect smile dropped from her lips. My focus faded from her when Sasori struck that ridiculous pose. I bit back my laugh. I will never let him forget this. I hated watching the pained expressions contort her beauty. One by one she took us out. A clay clone took my place in her attack.
A forest of diamond blades erupt from the earth and then only a few minutes later it returned to the earth. Itachi slowly rose from the ground. What happened in there? Did Snow actually manage to injure, Itachi. I smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" asked Itachi.
"Nothing", I said.
Konan glared at Itachi. As much as I would enjoy watching attack him, there are important things I must attend to, Snow. I carefully approached Kakuzu. He held Snow tightly to his chest. She was barely conscious. Her injuries didn't impair her smile.
What had he done to gain her affection? What's his appeal to her? I don't understand. He's a cold greedy bastard. There's nothing more to him than that. I'll earn her and show her the mistake she made in choosing him. Kakuzu sped off in the direction of the base with Snow in his arms. I followed after him. He came to a sudden stop. Kakuzu looked over his shoulder, aiming a poisonous glare in my direction.
"Why are you following me, Deidara?" he asked.
"I wanted to see if Snow was okay", I said.
"It's obvious she isn't okay!" yelled Kakuzu.
Snow stirred in his arms her midnight blue eyes slowly open.
"Kakuzu", she murmured.
She struggled in his hold as tried to get into a more comfortable position.
"Blood", she whimpered.
Snow raised her hand. It was covered with a thick layer of blood. Kakuzu lay her on the ground and ripped off her shirt, revealing a deep laceration on her side.
A thread left his wrist, sewing shut the wound.
"Take off your cloak", he ordered.
I did as told. I shredded it into bandages. He quickly wrapped her chest. Even with his sutures in blood spilled through, soaking through the bandages. He took her in his arms again.
"You aren't completely useless after all", said Kakuzu.
He took his leave.
Kakuzu's Perspective
The meeting was over and I saw Snow talking to Tobi. Tobi got out of his seat next Snow when he saw me approaching the table.
I asked, "Snow, would like to go outside with me and Konan?"
Snow said, "sure".
She didn't hide her excitement. This was the first opportunity she'd been given to leave the base. I smirked when I caught the flicker of jealousy in her gaze. She doesn't want another woman to join us. We'll have private time together another time. Snow enjoyed the simplicity of being outside.
She stayed near me as we walked. Itachi, Sasori, and Deidara made their appearance. She has no understanding of what's going on. As I pushed her away from Sasori's attack I caught a glimpse of her fearful gaze.
Sasori's lack of experience in taijutsu made it hard for me to make the battle look realistic. Luckily Snow's attention was focused on Konan's battle and she didn't see how pathetic the battle between Sasori and I was. Since the battle with Konan was finished all of Snow's attention was now on the battle between the others and I. She was in a haze of confusion. Not knowing how to react she closed her eyes.
"NO!"
She cradled me in her arms. Her tears fell on my face. She gently kissed me.
She whispered, "please come back to me".
I wanted to put an end to her fear. I didn't pay attention to the conversation. The only thing I could was the sound of Snow's racing heart. A massive amount burst from her. The ground beneath me tremored.
"Shit!" I yelled as tried to sit up.
What had I hit my head against? A protective diamond barrier had formed around me. I broke it. I have to find Snow. I navigated my way through the forest and found Snow. She sat on Itachi's chest pushing a kunai toward his neck. How had she gotten advantage over him?Itachi grabbed Snow's wrists and began to overpower her.
Itachi asked, "Why don't you just give up?"
Snow said, "You took away the person I cared most about".
Cared most about? She's referring to me.
Did she really care that much about me?
Snow spoke again, "you tried to get me to betray the ones I care about, but you failed. I would never betray them".
Snow said the words we needed to hear now I just needed to pry her off Itachi.
"Snow stop!" I yelled.
"Stop playing tricks on me!" yelled Snow when she heard my voice.
I approached, but Snow must not have heard me. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her off of Itachi. I finally managed to pry her off of Itachi.
Snow yelled, "let go of me!"
I held her tightly against my chest. I turned her, so she was facing me. Pure disbelief swept through her expression. Her strength went out, leaning her full weight on me. Snow seemed completely unaware of her injuries. The wound to her side worried me. Itachi may have struck a vital.
"Kakuzu, how are you here?" asked Snow.
"I'll explain later, Snow", I said as I pulled her closer to me.
Snow started crying, but this time her tears were tiny balls of gold.
"I've never seen you cry gold before", I said as I gently wiped away her tears.
"I guess I cry gold when I'm happy", said Snow as she nuzzled her face into my chest.
"And why are you, so happy?" I asked.
"You're alive", said Snow.
Why does she care, so much about me? I could tell she was getting tired.
I heard her weakly whisper, "I'm tired, Kakuzu".
"It's all right you can sleep I'll carry you back to the hideout", I said to Snow as she fell asleep.
As Snow's eyes closed the forest of diamond blades returned to the earth. I noticed Itachi lying on the ground.
"Itachi, you can get up now she's asleep", I said.
Itachi was himself again.
"That was too close for comfort", said Itachi as he slowly got up.
"You can say that again. I barely had time to make a clay clone", said Deidara.
"She is impressive", said Sasori.
"I told you she would pass Kakuzu", bragged Konan.
Konan noticed Itachi and yelled, "You bastard, you could have actually killed me with that attack!"
"I had to make it look real Konan and it wasn't that strong of an attack", Itachi said coldly.
I headed to the hideout, so I could heal Snow's wounds. Her injuries could have been so much worse. Deidara followed behind me. I stopped.
"Why are you following me, Deidara?" I asked.
"I just wanted to see if she was okay", said Deidara.
He is an idiot if he can't tell Snow isn't okay.
"It's obvious that she isn't okay!" I yelled.
Snow stirred.
"Kakuzu", she whispered.
She raised her hand. It was soaked in blood.
"Blood", she whimpered.
Shit, Itachi hit a vital! I lay her on the ground. I ripped off her shirt, revealing the wound.