—CHAPTER TWENTY—
Return To The World Of Ninja

"Run! Run! It's coming!"

Tsunade sighed, slamming her hand against the wall next to the cell door and shouting, "Enough!"

The patient inside fell silent, his face tight due to withheld anger, but his dark eyes glowered with said emotion, making the Hokage tilt her head in partial curiosity. The five o'clock shadow around his strong jaw and above his lips darkened his entire persona, accompanied by the menacing shadows the cell created that bathed his hunched form.

He growled, storming up to the door and slamming his fists against it so hard the door shuddered. "It's the end!" he screamed, voice echoing down the narrow hallway. Nurses and doctors tried not to give him the attention, but several couldn't help but look in curiosity. "The end is coming!"

Tsunade groaned in frustration. "Shizune!"

"Yes, Milady!" The black-garbed woman stood unmoving beside the voluptuous blonde, and at the same time tried not to glance in the patient's direction in case he took it as some sort of encouragement to continue screaming his lungs out.

"Add a guard to this patient," she ordered, scowling at the roguish man who was staring intently at her assistant. "And if he disrupts any of the other patients, sedate him. Tell this to the rest of the hospital staff."

"Right away, Milady." Shizune bowed, cast one look at the growling patient, then moved away down the patrolled corridor.

"It's coming," he gurgled, nails screeching over the metal door he was stuck behind. "If you want to live, you need to act now!"

Annoyance flashed in Tsunade's eyes. "Kazuka!"

A nearby nurse shot straight to attention, her round glasses falling from her eyes which she haphazardly pushed back into place. She brushed a stray black bang from her vision and tucked it behind her ear, reaching low to fix the hem of her shirt. "Yes, Lady Hokage?"

The taller, blonde woman stalked towards the nurse, who looked ten times more frazzled by the impending doom look in Tsunde's honey coloured eyes. The mental patient screamed again in the background, insisting that the end was near and that all those who wished to live should run now.

"Tell me everything about that mental patient," Tsunade demanded, brow wrinkled horribly.

Kazuka's eyes darted to her clipboards, and she surfed through the papers until she stopped at one. "His-His name is Yochiro Kai. Uh, he's a—well, was—a recently submitted Konoha ninja. His previous hometown was a village on the outskirts of Fire, and-and he came here two days ago."

Tsunade nodded. "I recognise the papers on the name when I allowed it. But what the heck happened?"

"Uh—um, he w-was on a patrol when his group encountered a hollow. Shinigami we-were a little late, but he came back spewing about—"

"—the end of the world." Tsunade nodded, groaning and massaging her temples. "He's going to distract the other mental patients if he continues. Just keep an eye on him; a close one."

"Of course, Lady Hokage!"

She acknowledged Kazuka with a nod of her head before walking by her for the exit, fists clenched tightly.

"The end is coming!"

She gritted her teeth until they hurt, and when she reached the exit, she slammed the door loudly behind her that it trembled. "They should be here soon," she muttered.

"She is shinigami, not a ninja. Her wish is invalid."

Neji closed his eyes tightly behind his bandages, trying to get rid of that moment from his mind. But it was difficult. He hadn't been in the Hyuuga manor for three years, and he hadn't been allowed on the grounds the last time he returned to Konoha, but, God… it hadn't changed much.

The room he, Hinata and Captain Hitsugaya had been seated in was filled with cleansing incense, and with his sensitive senses, it created an itch in his nose. He also had felt a little hot and sweaty in his shinigami robes, and wasn't sure if it was because the room was hot (Konoha was going through a warm autumn) or because he was nervous – or both.

That smell and atmosphere was something that he wondered would always stay with him, because he had a feeling that…

"Neji! They're coming!" Hinata called, breaking him out of his trance.

He snapped his head up in her direction, sensing both her and Captain Hitsugaya waiting by a denser cluster of trees. The tear was right next to it, invisible to the naked eye until someone was coming through. For him, however, he could feel the rippling of the energy, and could gauge how much longer one would be when coming through.

He dropped his hands from his sleeves and approached the two.

Hinata looked as though she has grown five years older in the past few days. Her long dark hair was curled up into a bun-pony-tail, her fringe framing her slightly more pointed face. Hitsugaya was standing uneasily. Neji had a feeling that what was decided by the Hyuuga Elders was something that he wasn't happy with.

As of yet, no answer was given, but Neji knew what was going to happen anyway.

That thought was lost for the moment, as he could feel the portal beginning to open. A tear broke the still atmosphere, and grew wider to reveal several figures ranging in height. Neji knew who had joined them on their task straight away.

And so the mission began.

Dark. Damp. Dead.

But he was long since used to it.

A sad thought, really, that he could be surrounded by such an empty environment and atmosphere and still be so content – if anything, he was more than. Growing up in Orochimaru's hideout for the last three years had such an effect.

And Sasuke wasn't really fussed.

The training was more than worth it. He felt stronger than he had ever felt before, and it was all because of a single decision; to leave Konoha. He didn't dwell on what the consequences of this action might be, but on the benefits, and they were oh so good.

The young Uchiha slipped a bracer onto his left arm, stretching it out and flexing his fingers as it fit into place. He repeated the same with his right, then tied his katana to his purple, weaved belt.

"You're certainly taking your time this morning," a light voice commented from the shadows, its tone amused.

Sasuke grunted in dismissal of Kabuto standing in the doorway of his room. The scientist chuckled, fixing his glasses that flashed in the dull light from the wall-flames.

"At least your eloquence hasn't changed."

"What do you want?" Sasuke asked gruffly, turning to the silver-haired scientist.

Kabuto crossed his arms and leaned against the frame of the stone archway. "Akatsuki is on the move."

Sasuke's eyes flashed red and Kabuto snickered.

"Yeah, I thought that would attract your attention," he said gleefully. "But that's not the most interesting part – although I'm sure you'd beg to differ. A team of people, similar to the ones scouted patrolling Konoha, is moving swiftly towards the Akatsuki's presumed location of their base."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Lord Orochimaru wants you to investigate them. He doesn't like being in the dark with what Konoha is planning with these people, and why they were almost brought to ruin but weren't – and not by his own hand."

Sasuke's lips thinned. "Why me?"

Kabuto shrugged. "Maybe you'll find something of interest."

"Hn," the Uchiha huffed, shoving passed the silver-head who tutted at his bad manners.

Sasuke didn't care; the only sound he was making was the sound of his shoes on the concrete, crescent-patterned floor as he made for the exit of the long tunnels. He didn't want to do this, and he knew that if he did find any information that his 'teacher' would put off his training for that little bit longer.

This Sasuke wasn't happy about.

"I'll do what Orochimaru wants, but if I find myself wasting my time, he'll have to repay me."

Kabuto chuckled, a snake-like smile worming onto his lips. "Of course."

Running under the soft heat of the sun and trees brought back memories for all of them. The brief sight of Konoha in the distance from where they landed outside its walls had sent spirals of enthusiasm throughout their bodies, and so they were a mite disappointed when they couldn't even enter the village.

Hitsugaya had stressed that they had to leave immediately, and so Sakura, Ino and Tenten found themselves sending forlorn looks back at their old home. Now they were there, it was difficult to stop wondering how much everything had changed in the three years.

Extracting the information out from the two Hyuuga was a little difficult. Neji, though, had willingly revealed that they had added the current Hokage's face to the stone mountain looming over the town, and that the village was back to the way it was.

When the topic of old friends came up, then the two shut up as a clam, making the three females suspicious. Tenten had casually voiced her concern about why the two were returning to Konoha in the first place, spawning a slight flinch from both Hyuuga. Still, they didn't budge, especially after Captain Hitsugaya had turned around and glared at them.

After that, Sakura, Ino and Tenten were in fervent whispers about why he glared at them.

The second hour passed quickly as the large group of shinigami wore on, the shadows of the trees growing thick around them. Sakura partly wondered who was going to escort Ino, Captain Unohana and Kuchiki (who she found out was meant to join them) to Suna, because it had to be someone who knew they layout of the land.

Tension suddenly rose in the group, and Captain Kuchiki broke apart from it, disappearing into the throes of trees around them. Sakura stumbled for a brief second, wondering what the heck was going on, but Hitsugaya didn't say a word. She glanced at Ino beside her, who was frowning as well, completely confused.

"Why did…?" she drew out. Sakura shrugged.

Dammit, Sasuke cursed.

He sped through the trees like lightning, teeth clenched in severe frustration at having been sensed before he had the chance of laying eyes on who was there. He had counted nine people in the group, coated in energy he wasn't exactly familiar with. He had managed to creep up pretty close and stay in speed with them but...

His speed is good, he inwardly complimented, hovering a hand over his katana just in case. His fingers flexed. They all have good senses to feel me coming before I could even see them. And what's more… I recognised a faint chakra signature. Several, in fact.

It seems Sakura hasn't improved over the years, he thought with sick humour. He frowned. But this guy… he's good.

He was. Whoever he was, he was able to keep a constant speed behind Sasuke the longer the Uchiha ran on, and yet he couldn't place the sound of his exact footfalls. That unnerved him.

Then he was gone.

Sasuke faulted.

He pressed himself against the trunk of tree just milliseconds before a blade was swung down where he was once standing. Air brushed his body, along with a spray of tiny splinters as the blade sliced through the branch.

Without skipping a beat, Sasuke kicked at his fast foe, only to find a hand gripping his foot and the blade swinging up from behind. Tsking, the Uchiha withdrew his katana.

Twang!

He faulted at the sudden strength of the attack and almost felt himself lose his balance. His grip on his katana was slightly weak by the rush, and he felt it starting to inch closer to his body.

Growling, Sasuke embedded the tip of his katana into the trunk behind him and used it and the weight of his planted leg to cut through the grip his enemy had on his foot by jumping up.

It worked.

He had let go, and before the Uchiha could fully prepare for a counterattack, his weapon screeched up the length of Sasuke's katana and hooked on the thin handle, catching it, ripping it from his grasp and flinging it away.

Sasuke cursed as he landed back on the trunk, just in time to see his katana go falling to the earth, haphazardly cutting tiny twigs and leaves. He was quickly thinking of a way to get of the situation when the tip of his enemy's blade was suddenly pointed at his chin, a hair away from contact.

He paused, forehead wrinkled into a deep frown as he glared at his opponent and for the first time seeing him. Long black locks spooled about a thick neck, fringe strands partially clipped back from his long, aristocratic face. His onyx eyes sparked familiarity in Sasuke instantly.

"You have a good hold of your katana," the stranger stated.

He looks like he could be an Uchiha, Sasuke thought bitterly.

"Hmph."

The tip of the long katana – Sasuke noticed, and that it was a very finely crafted item, like that from a clan – receded back a little more.

"You must be Sasuke Uchiha," he drawled.

A smirk flickered over his lips. "Am honoured."

His foe's eyes narrowed that little bit more, and he tilted his head inquisitively, inspecting.

"You know my name," Sasuke said. "So what is yours?"

"Byakuya Kuchiki," he answered.

Heh. Even his name sounds sophisticated.

"You must be from a clan."

Kuchiki's face didn't change. "Why were you spying on us?"

Sasuke's eyes dropped briefly to the tip of his katana, then down at his own weapon far below, resting awkwardly on a large root.

"I was passing through."

"Passing through?" he voiced. "Then why the need to hide your chakra?"

"You could have been anyone; an enemy."

Kuchiki's eyes seemed to darken, and Sasuke matched the feeling. Tension was quickly rising, he could feel it, but he wasn't entirely sure from where. It was like an invisible net was pushing down on him, making it feel as though his skin and bones and hair was being pulled to the ground like they were melting.

This was… very different.

"I am no fool, Sasuke Uchiha," he stated. "And neither are the others."

I find that hard to believe, Sasuke protested.

The tip inched closer again, and the Uchiha's eyes watched it closely.

"Yes. Even. Sakura."

An accusing glare fell onto Sasuke's face instantly, and a burst of adrenaline buzzed through his veins.

"I wonder what sort of nerve I touched there," Kuchiki wondered, straying from his previous monotonous voice. "But this isn't about her. You're a wanted criminal, and I have you in my grasp. So give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you?"

The Uchiha smirked wickedly. "You'd have a few angry people on your back, and some of them being from Konoha at that. I don't know who you are or what clan you are from. I don't know what sort of ties you have with Konoha, and frankly, I don't care, either – at least not now – but I know someone there who wouldn't be very happy if I was found dead before he could get his hands on me to do it himself."

"You are referring to Naruto Uzumaki."

"You know him." It wasn't a question.

"How do you know his plans?"

Sasuke snorted, exhaling. "You obviously don't know him personally. The brat follows his promises like it's his lifeline."

"Ahh." Kuchiki stared at him, and Sasuke was wondering whether the man was preparing to smile or not. He didn't need to. He felt chills explode all over his back anyway. "Like the promise to Sakura."

The Uchiha frowned again. "Just how—"

"He'd have to deal. You're a threat to Konoha, and a larger threat than he would be."

"I don't know if that's a compliment or not."

"Neither. An observance. You're an enemy. He's not."

"I wasn't either."

"Driven by different goals."

Sasuke crossed his arms, grinding his teeth together. He half wished Kabuto or Orochimaru would come and get him out of this bind. He felt pathetically weak where he stood. He knew that if he made any sort of gesture to indicate hostility or a chance to escape, his foe wouldn't hesitate to spring forward.

No hand signs; no jutsu. No escape.

"Sakura wouldn't be happy," he eventually said.

"Sakura… is none of your concern."

"You're right. I don't give a damn about her. She was a pain in the ass back then, and I doubt that would have changed that much over three years."

"She's the one I've been sharpening this blade with," he said, twisting his weapon slightly so that the sun glinted off of it.

"And that's meant to impress me."

Kuchiki paused. "You really need to learn how to depict ones strength before withdrawing it… boy," he said sternly, glowering.

"Don't call me that," he growled stoically.

"Then prove to me other—" He cut himself off, and for a moment Sasuke wondered why before he soon found out.

The trees around them shuddered, leaves falling faster and faster. He checked Kuchiki, saw a glare as he stared in one direction; the direction the source of that strength was coming from. And then he heard him whisper to himself, "So that's what they've been creating."

Sasuke profusely wondered what the hell was going on before he recognised the chakra signature that was once again faint, like Sakura's and the others were. The hairs on the back of his neck stood erect as he felt the strength come closer and closer, the ground rumbling like an empty stomach.

No way, he thought fleetingly.

"Sasuke Uchiha!" a voice yelled. "You fucking bastard!"

Kuchiki jumped back and disappeared. The ex-nin felt his presence move back out of range, but Sasuke was curious. He wanted to see this person again; the one coming towards him. He wanted to see how much he'd grown over the three years, because his strength was just hair-raising.

Literally.

He brushed a hand over the back of his neck and flexed his fingers, preparing himself, a smirk on his face as he switched on his Sharingan.

And then Kiba Inuzuka burst from the foliage.

So that's what Head-Captain Yamamoto and Captain Kurotsuchi are up to, Byakuya thought, jumping back again onto the thick branch of a tree before dropping to the ground. His reiatsu is strong. Very strong. It's almost like he's just pure brute strength.

He straightened and sheathed his blade, exhaling smoothly.

But a fool. It would have been best if hadn't intervened. That way, Sasuke Uchiha would no longer be a threat.

He turned around, gathering his bearings quickly, before taking a step towards the assumed direction.

It's been several hours already. No wonder the Fool caught up.

A breeze moved by, and he had barely taken a few steps until he stopped completely, the distant sounds of Kiba attacking Sasuke in the background. He could feel the thumps of trees crashing against the ground, and smell the smoke of what he assumed was Sasuke's fire jutsu. But that wasn't what stopped him.

A soft hiss caught his attention instantly, and he slanted his eyes in that direction, capturing a snake curling down from the branches and bushes of leaves. It hung lower near the ground, elevating its lithe upper body, slitted eyes blinking at him.

This snake made his skin crawl.

"My my," a voice slithered. An echoed chuckle followed. "I had sent my dear Sasuke just for a little I-spy, and now he's fighting a big brute." A sharp inhale. "I swear I know that brown-haired boy from somewhere."

"Show yourself," Byakuya demanded, unmoving.

"Oooh," the voice taunted. It merged into a snicker, then a shrilling laugh. "You are so much like Sasuke it isn't funny."

"Then why are you laughing."

The cackling returned. "Oh my. I was wrong. You have a sense of humour. My dear Sasuke could really take lessons from you. I don't think your previous run-in did any good, did it?"

"Enough," Byakuya stated sternly. "What do you want?"

The snake hissed again, shivering its thin tongue. Byakuya watched it drop heavily to the ground and circle around him, but he did not move.

"I'll be honest with you."

He tried to figure out where the voice was coming from. This opponent was good for a ninja, and judging by the presence of the snake, and the Uchiha, he could guess who he was encountering.

A loud boom shook the ground beneath his feet. Kiba was getting even more violent.

"I didn't know what I wanted, until I took a look at you myself, and I must say… I. Am. Intrigued."

The noble zeroed in on a tree behind him, and he slowly looked over his shoulder to see the snake, its tail quivering, coil up something tall – and it was not a tree. A figure stepped out from the shadows; they chuckled.

Now in light, the snake wrapped around the shoulders of the Snake Sannin Orochimaru, grinning a wicked grin that matched the same one on the man it was resting on. Byakuya saw sinister evil and hate in those yellow eyes leering back at him excitedly, framed by thick, long black hair.

Onyx eyes dropped to the black, shrivelled hands poking out from beneath long, pale yellow sleeves.

"I do not fight against those who have a clear disadvantage," Byakuya stated. His senses pricked. So there's another.

Orochimaru chuckled, licking his lips. He tipped his head to the side, his nose caressing the lower jaw of his yellow bellied snake. It purred.

"What a nice young man," he cooed. "Respecting his elders."

The noble almost scoffed.

"A shame you can't do that same. Call out your lackey," he ordered firmly.

"Hmmm," Orochimaru moaned in amusement, tilting his head slightly. A figure blurred from the trees to the ground, revealing a silver-haired man, and as Byakuya turned his head to see this person, he caught a flicker of pain crossing the Snake Sannin's eyes.

The ground shook.

The silver-head chuckled. "Sounds as though Sasuke and that brute are having a good fight," he said.

"Yes. Yes, he must. A good chance to test his skills," Orochimaru agreed.

"Then why don't you observe their match?" Byakuya asked tensely.

Another flash of pain, covered by a crooked stretch of his grin. "He'll survive. I'm sure of it. I'm much more interested in you."

Silence. Eerie. Hair-raising.

The ground trembled again.

Byakuya rested his hand on the handle of his Zanpaku-to, slowing when Orochimaru snickered.

"Now, now. As you already said, I'm maimed, and I know that your keen eyes can see that I am in pain." His grin faulted. "And I don't want to risk my subordinate Kabuto getting into any more trouble, so I simply want to… ask a few questions."

He was curious of what sort of questions he'd have to ask, and as he was taught, allowed the man to ask. So he nodded, but didn't remove his hand.

"Who were your friends?"

"That is none of your concern."

"Fine… What sort of ties do you have with Konohagakure?"

"Allies."

"So you're my enemy, are you? Hmmm. Tch." Pain crossed his eyes again. "What is your name?"

"Byakuya Kuchiki."

"Kuchiki. Kuchiki," he repeated, trying the name. "Funny. You hold yourself like a noble. You talk like one. You move like one. You certainly think like one. I was certain you're from a clan, but the name rings no bells."

Byakuya didn't answer.

"What are you?" was the next question.

"Human."

"Come now. Be honest."

"Believe what you want. I have no care."

A thin blade suddenly slipped from Kabuto's brace and was enveloped securely by his nimble fingers. "Wrong answer," he stated. He darted it.

Byakuya reflected it with alarming speed and Kabuto hurriedly jumped to the side; it embedded into the trunk behind him, buried deep.

"I believe the questionnaire is now over," he stated, securing his hold on his Zanpaku-to and brandishing it towards the two ninja. He saw sweat crawling over Kabuto's cheek, and several more on Orochimaru's. "Or do you have more to ask?"

He released his spiritual pressure, which hung down hard on the Sound-nin. Fallen leaves shifted uncomfortably, the bushes and trees quaking slightly too.

"What is this?" he heard Orochimaru croak.

Byakuya suddenly stopped, head whipping in the direction that he intended to go in before. He flash-stepped; gone.

"Maybe we should pay Konoha a little visit," Orochimaru said, panting. Beside him, the shakily exhaling silver-haired nodded.

*scratches head* Boy, this wasn't meant to happen. Sasuke wasn't meant to show up until later! But I had SO much trouble writing this, so I cut it off at a certain point and wrote him in, and somehow everything after just flowed out like cream. New ideas spawned, as well. More complications, questions, problems, interests, tensions – drama! XD

And, oh boy, have I noticed a boo-boo. I have been writing Hinata as the same age as the others. Or really, when I write her, I imagine her with the body of a sixteen year old but because she's pure shinigami, would she still grow that fast? Or should I create some sort of whacky reason for why she is like that? Maybe that because she was originally a ninja – different from a normal human being – the remnants of her chakra still allowed her to age normally until it is gone?

I have a time-travel story now posted. It's called Rainy Days. Please read?