Chapter 21
A pair of eyes, so dark that the pupil was effectively non-existent, remained open and unblinking. Neither wide nor squinting, they contained a look that could only be described as indifferent as they looked out at the world.
Kisame did not delude himself by thinking of the infamous Uchiha Itachi as his friend. The Uchiha was a respected and feared comrade, nothing more, nothing less. He watched his partner standing with his face into the gentle breeze, with concealed thoughts on his calculating mind.
The Uchiha appeared to be staring intently at something in the distance, though what lay in that direction was uncertain. As to whether he was actually looked at something, was highly doubtful.
Kisame found himself following the other man's 'gaze'. "What's the plan? Are we still going after the ANBU brat, considering…..?" The shark-man found himself hesitating.
Itachi didn't even bother to look at his fellow Akatsuki as he answered. "Considering that I am blind?" If he had any emotion as to the loss of his eyesight, he failed to show it. "Our spies from Konohagakure have provided us with some useful information. Naruto has been kidnapped. We will be going after him." The Uchiha fell silent.
Kisame waited a moment, to make sure his partner had finished. "But w-" He was interrupted, apparently not having waited long enough.
The raven-haired S-Class nuke-nin finally turned to face his partner. "After we run a small errand."
Kisame watched his colleague's face carefully, but found no trace of emotion. He knew his partner to some degree, however. "This is going to be bad news for someone."
The grey-haired ninja knelt beside the prone figure, which lay unmoving. It was unlikely the neuro-inhibiting seal would do any damage to the boy's brain, but it was not impossible and he could not afford to damage his master's next body. His hands glowed green as he lifted them to the boy's forehead and began a medical scan. He was looking for neural pathways where the electrical signals were not making it from the axons. In a way the blond was conscious, but all his senses were cut off. It was not unlike a low-level coma. It took a few moments for him manage to focus to the necessary level of detail, but he found what he was looking for. However, where he thought should be inhibited neural pathways, he found electrical impulses travelling unimpeded from axon terminals to dendrite receivers. He began checking a little distance from the first point, in case he was looking at the wrong area. He was beginning to worry, but all thoughts left his mind when he was struck in the chest with brutal and unforgiving force.
The Oto-nin turned when they heard the crack of their leader's ribs. They saw the grey-haired man sailing through the air for a moment, before he smashed into a tree with such force that the large trunk shook. It was clear he would not be getting up for some time, if at all.
Naruto had watched the bespectacled ninja's flight. He had to flip himself up from his position on the ground, since he was still heavily restrained.
The fox-boy had honestly believed what Kabuto said, and allowed put himself in danger by allowing himself to be manacled, because he knew that Anko's life depended on his compliance. He had known how hard it would be for Kabuto to render him unconscious, especially in his transformed state. Not everything about him had been recorded in his medical records, which he assumed the Oto-nin had gotten a copy of. His body was able to metabolise the majority of foreign chemicals, from poisons to sedatives. His altered neural network made him immune to all forms of genjutsu, or the intrusion of chakra into his brain. Still, it had been a gamble. He had gone so far as to fall into a light meditation, which could have given his enemy the chance to kill him. Anko had taught him well. You had to look underneath the underneath, and question everything. Even though you might believe your enemy's words, they were still your enemy for a reason.
Naruto took advantage of the other ninjas' shock and leapt towards the fire, before kicking the burning logs. He scattered them in all directions and the fire went out, plunging the clearing into darkness. The blond's vision became a picture of red glows of varying intensities, a brighter glow surrounding the Oto-nin, and he jumped towards the nearest enemy ninja.
The experienced ninja caught the shift in the air and quickly formed a set of hand seals. "Doton: Doryuheki!" (Earth Release: Earth Style Wall) It was the Jounin's strongest defensive technique, and he was sure even this dangerous enemy would be stopped by a B-Rank Jutsu.
The blond landed just in front of the wall and made a snap decision. Rather than change direction, he pushed off the ground once more, shoulder barging the wall of chakra packed earth. He knew that his chakra was being inhibited somehow by the restraints, and therefore he could not use it well enough to coordinate a pulse, but he managed to reinforce his body.
The Jounin didn't have time to move and jagged chunks of the tightly packed earth exploded towards him. He raised his arms, but that was not enough to save him. A piece of stone pierced his forehead and penetrated his brain.
The rest of Orochimaru's underlings could sense that one of their comrades had met their end, and the darkness became exponentially more oppressive. Each man knew that the enemy had the advantage, and it took all their training to keep from fleeing. The sound of falling rubble and the faint clink of chains was the only sign of the animalistic boy's location. Those who had managed to keep their wits paid close attention.
Naruto ignored the pain of his dislocated shoulder. Because of his dense shoulder muscles, it was pulled back into the joint with an audible pop when he shifted his arm sharply. Before the dust even settled, he jumped straight up. Numerous kunai filled the air where he had been, as sound guided the more skilled of the Oto-nin. He slowly flipped backwards in the air, narrowly avoiding the next barrage. He had to be careful how he moved, since he had to move his feet and hands in their respective pairs. As soon as he landed, he once again pushed off the ground, this time sideways. Kunai again sailed through the air he had just occupied, since the chains he wore somewhat negated his stealth abilities.
Each Oto-nin tried not to panic as they heard a particularly loud clink, which signalled the blond boy had just landed. Some of them spun around in the darkness, though they could not see their hands in front of their faces.
Behind another Oto-nin, the fox-boy wrapped his chain around the man's neck. He snapped it without hesitation and used the body as a shield against the projectiles which quickly followed. He pushed the dead ninja toward another Oto-nin, hard enough to incapacitate him for the foreseeable future.
The Oto-nin had refrained from using ninjutsu up until this point, without something clear to aim at and with the location of their comrades unknown, it would have been foolish. However, one of them succumbed to the tension that had risen greatly at the sound of a comrade's spinal column giving in to an irresistible force.
"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Phoenix Immortal Fire Technique) A barrage of fireballs was launched around the clearing, heading in numerous directions. A large amount of chakra was put into the attack, the majority of that belonging to the caster. The attack lit up the clearing in a brilliant orange glow, but it was so sudden that the eyes of those in the clearing failed to adjust in time and made avoiding the assault nearly impossible.
Naruto landed in a slight crouch, his clothes smoking, but he had reinforced his body with chakra and was already healing the burns he had suffered. The four enemy ninja who had been caught in the Katon were not so lucky. Judging by the sounds of their ragged breathing, they had little time left in this world. The blond paid no heed since, having managed to take the brunt of the attack for the two Konoha ninja. Unfortunately the blond boy slowed down just a little, and the more battle hardened ninja that remained were Jounin for good reason. He was caught by the next barrage of kunai.
Naruto found it surprisingly easy to ignore three sharp objects sticking out from his left shoulder, stomach and right leg. His dense tissue had prevented deep penetration.
The most dangerous result of the attack was that now nostrils were filled with large smoke particles, so that his sense of smell was rendered useless for the time being. He decided enough was enough and dove towards the unconscious form of Anko. He felt a twinge of guilt as he intended to abandon the Uchiha, but guilt he could live with. Anko he could not live without. He was now facing away from the Oto-nin as they all moved about, unsure of themselves, and his ineffective sense of smell further hampered his awareness. He failed to notice two new arrivals.
"Kuchiyose: Dokushikon no Mure!" (Summoning: Swarm of Poison Fangs)
Naruto was already picking up Anko, with difficulty, in his chained arms when he heard the sinister voice. He began to jump when he felt his skin pierced in several places, but they were just the beginning and soon there were dozens of holes in the blond's skin. As venom began to fill the boy's system, he felt like his blood was on fire and he let out a scream of agony as he let Anko fall unceremoniously to the floor. His muscles began to seize, before he began to shake violently. Sweat began to pour from his skin, as if he was subject to an invisible rain storm, even as the snakes vanished in puffs of smoke.
"Kusanagi no Tsurugi: Ku no Tachi!" (Kusanagi Sword: Long Sword of the Heavens)
The shaking boy's pain only increased when a blade pierced the bottom of his neck, severing his spinal column. He would have gone limp, but his tense muscles had not been responding to his brain in the first place. Naruto was not sure how, but he was still aware enough to hear when an unfamiliar voice called out.
"That should suffice Orochimaru-sama. The tranquilisers should prove effective now." A feminine voice could be heard addressing the Snake Sannin.
Naruto didn't feel a syringe needle enter his arm, since his nerves were cut off, however he quickly felt his consciousness fade. His eyes were closed, but he could imagine the figure that lay just before him, the person he had failed. "Anko-chan……" His one consolation was that she had already received the antidote. Finally, his muscles began to relax and he fell to the ground with a thud. This time he was not feigning unconsciousness.
Orochimaru watched as more Oto-nin appeared in the clearing, filling the area with the dim light from their torches. "It seems you were correct Karin, but that does not surprise me." The vague shape of the woman gave a slight bow, her expression unseen. He turned to the remaining Sound ninja, as well as those who had come with him. "Take them. We're heading out."
The Sound Jounin, without comment and ignoring their dead comrades, quickly coordinated themselves.
As the group was about to depart, a pair a malevolent yellow eyes watched one unconscious figure in particular. "A fine vessel indeed kukukuku." Those behind him were glad for that fact, spared as they were the dreadful smile that no doubt adorned their leader's face as the heavens opened and a torrential storm began.
Shizune was not entirely aware of her dreams. She was the kind of person who rarely recalled the contents of her thoughts during the night. Whatever ran through her mind was comforting to her and she slept with a gentle smile on her features. She had been late to sleep, having helped her master with her administrative paperwork. She embraced one of her pillows, though whether for physical or mental comfort was impossible to ascertain.
The Sandaime had sometimes stayed in the Hokage tower, but usually preferred to stay at his family estate. However, there was a three bedroom apartment in the Hokage tower, specifically for the Hokage's personal use. In said apartment Tsunade lived with her apprentice, neither of whom had their own homes before Tsunade took her position.
The raven-haired medic sat bolt upright when there came a loud knocking on her apartment door. She nimbly jumped out of bed, but was not surprised to find her master already at the door. It was not long ago that Tsunade was a heavy sleeper and took some time to wake up, but since she had undergone her unlikely metamorphosis she was awake and alert at a moments notice. Shizune approached the doorway, from behind her master, as the blond woman opened the door. When the gentle kunoichi saw a pink-haired woman, with a face that looked both panicked and haunted, she felt her stomach lurch.
Tsunade did not have to be Hokage to know that something was wrong. "Akiko, what's happened? Did Naruto wake?" She feared Naruto had run into complications, but he'd been stable when she had last check up on him.
Akiko struggled to halt her panting breaths, and as she did she handed the Hokage a crumpled note. "It's Naruto-kun….I don't know what to do." The blond's mother knew that she could not attempt to rescue her son, as much as it pained her. She was not a combat ninja, and she would no doubt put herself in danger in a rescue attempt. Her own safety did not concern her though, it was that she knew that Naruto would sooner die that let her get hurt. She might well end up putting her son in a position where he put himself in more danger than he was currently in, to save her from superior fighters. She also knew that there was limited number of Shinobi at the Hokage's disposal, being as so many were out on missions or injured.
Tsunade read the note in a moment and felt her adrenaline begin to flow freely. Her brain began to analyse the situation, as her heart hammered away. "Shizune, send for Inuzuka Hana. Immediately."
Hana found pieces of burnt wood scattered around the area she had tracked her target to, as well as burnt trees and foliage. Some of the trees had various projectile weapons imbedded into them, and there were traces of blood on those that were lying on the ground. Naruto had not gone down easily, she was sure of that. This information did not come as a surprise, and she knew that Anko's safety had most likely been the deciding factor. Unfortunately, the scent was strong on the bloodied weapons, but the trail ended only a few dozen steps from the clearing. She sent her pack out in different directions, hoping to find some trace of the blond boy's or Anko's passage. "Come on Naruto, this is the one time I want you to have been hurt. Just a little." If he had bled onto the ground, that might give them a clue, at least to the direction in which he and Anko had been taken.
She had not spent as much time with Naruto as she wished, but that didn't mean she did not care for him deeply. Naruto was a mystery, but at the same time very simple. She knew quite a lot about him, thanks to her growing friendship with his female friends. She wanted to find him more than anything and take him home with her, where he belonged. With his family and friends. With her.
(Two Days Later)
Temari was surprised as she entered the Hokage's outer office, to find that the reception was unmanned. Unsure what to make of this turn of events, she continued to where she assumed the larger office was. She knocked on the door.
"Come in." The voice that responded sounded aggravated, but was unmistakably feminine.
Temari braced herself, certain that she would not receive a warm welcome. She pushed open the door and entered the room. Inside, she saw a blond haired woman sitting behind a large desk and another darker haired woman sitting in front of it. Standing to the side was a man she recognised as the Sandaime.
"What is it?" Tsunade did not even look up from her paperwork as she spoke her terse question. She was looking at maps, on which could be seen several drawn spirals denoting search patterns.
Temari gulped, a single Suna-nin in possibly hostile territory. "I was sent by the Suna council to help negotiate a non-aggression treaty, as you yourself suggested Tsunade-sama." She tried to keep her voice as neutral as possible.
Tsunade looked up. "Right, I forgot." She turned to the other female. "Shizune, every Inuzuka or Aburame that returns to the village will be assigned this mission. Is that understood?"
Under different circumstances, Shizune might have argued to use of resources. "Yes Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade watched her assistant leave the room, before she turned to the young Sand kunoichi, but the blond woman seemed at a loss for what to say. The Godaime was obviously troubled.
Temari thought it best to make a positive start to the possible negotiations. "Is there anything Suna can help you with?"
Tsunade looked at the young sandy-haired woman, gauging her sincerity. She seemed to find what she was looking for. "Unfortunately, that is unlikely."
The elderly Sandaime began to move toward the door. "I need to see Akiko, Tsunade. Kakashi is not due home for a few days, and she needs all the support she can get. There is also young Haku to consider."
Tsunade nodded. "Of course, Ojisan. Please tell Akiko that she can come to talk to me anytime."
Temari felt a stir in her memories because of the name. "Akiko…..Hatake Akiko?"
Tsunade's surprised showed. "You know Akiko?"
The old man remembered the girl from the Chuunin exams. "Naruto saved you from Sasuke in the finals."
Temari nodded her head. "I happened to be in the medical bay when he was speaking to his mother." A realisation hit her. "Did something happen to him?" She didn't question her own concern, but her heart skipped a beat.
A look of sadness befell the Godaime. "I see he got to you to. He does that. Naruto was kidnapped, along with two other Shinobi, and we have no idea who is responsible." It was clear that even the admission touched a nerve in the older blond.
The former Hokage saw that there was little for him to do here. "I'll see you later Tsunade. Nice to meet you, Temari was it?" Despite his age, his memory was as good as ever and he remembered the name from the exams.
The Sand kunoichi gave a short bow to the man as he left. In truth, she had almost forgotten the reason that she had come here. "What happened?" She sat down in front of the other woman.
Tsunade saw the concern in the girl's face, showing that the visiting dignitary was genuinely worried. "It was two nights ago….."
In a medium sized room, which did not look particularly menacing, a group of people surrounded a medical table. The room itself was mostly white, with plenty of cupboards and drawers filled with various drugs and equipment, which looked similar to a medical ward.
The table itself was odd, however, being made from a thick sheet of steel. On the slab of metal were semi-circular restraints, surprisingly only made from the same steel. More unusual still, was that the restraints were covered with yell kanji symbols that formed seals. Held by these restraints was the small figure of a young Genin, whose eyelids began to twitch.
Naruto's mind felt sluggish as his eyes slowly opened, revealing a world of blurs. "Wha-" He coughed hard, and the attack seemed to last an age. "Whe- Anko?" He could make our blurry shapes moving. When a voice spoke, it seemed as indistinct as the shapes.
"Karin-sama, he's waking up!" A panicked voice filled his ears and he winced.
"Up the Remifentanil (sedative/anaesthetic) from seven to ten micrograms per minute." Naruto could make out the urgent tone, but not the words.
"Yes, Karin-sama." If the other woman showed any objection to the dosage, ten times the normal maximum, she wisely kept it to herself.
Naruto blinked rapidly, trying to disperse the build up of fluid in his eyes.
The nurse shook her head. "It's not working, it's being metabolised as fast as we can put it in. Can we risk more?"
The redhead thought on the matter for a moment. "Fifteen micrograms per minute….hmm…but he will have to monitored even more closely."
Sakura's knuckles bled, as she refused to stop her assault on the training log. She could feel the splinters in her fingers, making each strike burn, but she wasn't concerned by that. She was angry, scared and there was nothing she could do about it. She was worried about Anko as well as Naruto, genuinely wanting to see them both return home safely.
She had to admit to herself that it was Naruto's absence that really upset her. She had never admitted to anyone how alone she had felt during her years at the academy. She had fallen out with Ino, who had been her one friend at the time, and she had no one. She had put on a brave face, trying to hide her loneliness from her parents, but most of all from herself. Naruto had been the one to save her from that. He had unwittingly nurtured her during their time together. Naruto had never asked anything of her that she could not give, he had never tried to change her, he had never criticised her and he always treated her kindly. Naruto became her best, if only, friend. All the extra tuition that she had given him, though it turned out fruitless, had not been for his benefit as much as her own. The two had spent time together, as she tried to 'help' her cousin. She now knew that is must have been a waste of his time, but he had never turned her offer down. Perhaps he had known that she needed his friendly presence. Sakura knew that Naruto had his own friends, but he had always made her feel special and always wanted. It was not long into their friendship that he had taken to collecting her from her house. It may not have seemed a lot to some people, but it helped her feel better about herself. Her cousin thought she was worth the time it took for him to come and escort her to school. Even now, she realised that she had always felt secure around her blond cousin. She could be herself with Naruto, more so than even her parents. She felt like part of her had been taken with Naruto, the part that made her feel happy. She'd never had a reason to think so deeply about her relationship with Naruto, until he was gone.
She let out her frustration in the only way she could think of. There was no sign of Naruto, her hopes crushed. It was hard not to be selfish with her feelings. She knew that she was not the only one to miss the Hatake boy, but it was hard not to think about how much she missed him.
She was glad that her mother was staying with her aunt at the moment, at the very least until Kakashi returned. Someone was there to comfort the stricken woman. "Dammit Naruto, why did you have to leave us? Why did you have to leave me?"
(Three days later)
Kisame had not asked in regards to their destination, up until this point, but he realised now where they were going. "Itachi, do you really think that you are in a condition to visit that place?"
Itachi did not nod, turn, or even shift in response to the other's words. "No one in Konoha knows why Naruto was kidnapped. We will use this to our advantage."
Kisame knew that his companion was no fool, but he still wanted to understand. "How?"
"Love is a weakness…. to be bent to our will." Itachi's demeanour seemed to become even more apathetic.
Kisame understood what his partner was saying, and he grinned. The plan was devious, just how he liked them.
Ino sat in a pool of hot water, steam rising from the calm surface. She didn't feel relaxed however, not by a long way.
Ino's mother didn't blame her daughter for bring so tense, and she herself was worried about one particular fox-boy, but she was worried about her daughter. "Ino, please try and at least relax your muscles. If you don't, you'll only hinder your training."
Ino nodded absently. She was lost without Naruto. Hinata was her good friend, and she could share anything with the girl. Anko was an amazing sensei, always pushing her to better herself and not letting her undervalue herself. Kurenai was an understanding and kind sensei, who always had time for her students. Sakura was a more girly friend, who she could have silly but fun talks with, but with whom she could also share her feelings. Even Tenten, Hana and Haku were becoming closer friends with her. But Naruto…..Naruto was her rock, her lifeline. When things went wrong, it was Naruto she would immediately turn to. It was comforting to know that no matter how bad things got, or who was against her, Naruto would stand beside her against the world. She could depend on him, as much as she could depend on the sun rising the next morning. She felt vulnerable without his presence. Naruto would simply do anything for her, she knew that, and for any of his close friends and family. Ino slumped back into the water, so that it was nearly up to her mouth. "Naruto's the best friend and team mate someone could ask for. Anko's been a wonderful sensei."
Ino's mother lay back along side her daughter. "They'll be pleased to hear that when they return."
Ino only hoped that her mother was correct. She tried to force herself to relax, so that she could train harder later.
(Eight Days Later)
The blond Jinchuuriki was still unconscious, and it was unlikely that he would wake up anytime soon. Even so, he had a guard twenty-four hours a day. They were taking no chances with the boy.
The night-guard was currently on duty, watching the blond boy as he lay unmoving on the steel table. The most noticeable thing about her was the heavy scarring over the left half her face, which continued beneath her clothing and down the length of her body. Her left eye was a milky white, signifying its lack of function.
Tayuya wished the blond boy was awake, so she could repay him for what he had done to her. She had barely escaped from the rooftop with her life, only finishing the signs for a Shunshin as the flames hit her. As punishment for her failure, she had been left with the scars on her body, a lifelong reminder of the consequences of disappointing her master. She knew she was lucky to be alive though, as most would have been left behind in Konoha to die. The Sound Five had become the Sound Four, which had finally become the Sound One. At first, she had not known how to take being given her current mission. Orochimaru knew that the boy had been the one to injure her, yet he had still put her on guard duty. She did not know if it was further punishment or a reward for surviving when the other three of her teammates had died. On the one hand she was angered by the mere sight of the blond, but at the same time it was good to see him suffer. No doubt they would not be gentle with him, even though he remained unconscious. "You fucking deserve everything you get….bastard."
The voice, which muttered to him, from the dark places in his mind, would not let him sleep. Something was infuriating the thing inside him and it was urging him to kill. Strangely, the need to kill wasn't as general or mindless as it usually was.
Juugo could feel a presence, a new arrival that was not like the rest of the inhabitants. He had not felt power like this since Kimimaro, and it was beyond even that. He knew that he was not gong to be able to rest for some time, which would make keeping his sanity ever harder than usual.
One pearl-eyed girl sat next to an older woman, whose eyes could not have been more different in their hue.
Kurenai wanted to break the silence between them, as they sat in the Jounin's small home, to somehow offer comfort.
The silence remained unbroken.
Hinata knew that she had other people she could call friend, but it did not seem to help. Ino and Kurenai were as responsible for her increase in confidence and skill, yet somehow she felt that Naruto was the centre of it. Because of what he had confessed to them on the way to the way, she had been drawn closer to Naruto, Kurenai and Ino. She had a little family all to herself, outside of the Hyuuga clan, but it did not seem complete without him. There was so much about Naruto that made him a special, and irreplaceable, friend. She knew that Naruto would take a kunai to the gut if it meant that it would make one of his 'family' happier somehow, even if he had no healing ability. That was the difference between Naruto and so many people she had met. Others made grand statements about friendship, sacrifice and doing what was right, but Naruto did not have to say anything. Naruto's actions spoke for him. She missed Anko as well, by no small amount. Anko had boosted her confidence and given her a killer instinct that no one else had been able. Anko's greatest strength was that she could be cruel to be kind. Only she had been able to transform Hinata, Ino and Naruto himself.
Kurenai missed Anko and Naruto, both. Anko had become her closest friend over the months and Naruto was like no one else she had never met. Naruto was the hero that most women dreamed of, even battle hardened kunoichi. There was something about him that put her at ease, and at the same time made her feel energised. Naruto had inspired her to better herself, but was never condescending or patronising. Anko was like a completely different person to her now, now that she had let down her defences a little. Anko was the close friend that Kurenai had never realised that she had longed for. How could she offer comfort when she felt so lost herself? Naruto was the heart of their team and, though he they all had their own friendships, it was he that connected them.
Karin's room was bland and small, with only enough space for one bed and a few items. There was only one item in the room which would be considered personal, a picture on the wall. The picture was of a sleeping figure, a peaceful look on their face. A solitary tear escaped her left eye, to run down the side of her face, but she made no attempt to wipe it away. She didn't even look round as she picked up a small saucer, not dissimilar from one which would be used to hold sake, and she moved it to her lips. The liquid left a warm sensation down her throat as she continued to stare at the picture, until her facial muscles began to relax and her eyes began to close. She fell back onto her bed, to lie their peacefully until morning, in a dreamless sleep.
Shizune stood looking out of the window, for some reason unwilling to sit down. She wished that the weather reflected her mood, but the evening sun shone brightly over the bustling village. She thought it was not right that everything should appear so normal, when she felt like her legs had been taken out from under her. She didn't really care the paperwork was building up as she stared out the window. She would be unable to sleep tonight, she knew, so it would give her something to do until morning came. The mild-mannered kunoichi watched children running in the street, without a care in the world. She wished no harm on them, but she wondered why some had it so easy, when someone who deserved happiness was denied it. The sadness reminded her of the time she had lost her uncle, a good man taken so young. She could never get used to it, the unfairness of it all, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Because of her previous lifestyle, Shizune did not have many friends. She and the Hokage were close, but part of that was duty to each other. She had colleagues, peers and acquaintances, but only one person had become her friend merely because he wanted to be. How could she not miss him?
Akiko wondered if the message referred to the reason for what had happened to her son, but it did not ring quite true. It was a risk she would have to take.
Under the faint starlight, she headed down a cobbled road, heading straight for the two guards that stood at the village exit. She pulled her coat a little tighter as she approached the two Chuunin.
The medic's blood seemed to run hot and cold at the same time, even as she put on a friendly smile. She handed her identification to the nearest guard.
The guard responded automatically, though the woman seemed unlikely to be up to anything. "Reason for departure?"
Akiko took her proffered documents back. "I am out to harvest the perfume of the Matthiola Incana, which only blooms at night, for medicinal purposes."
One of the guards surprised the medic. "Ah Evening Stock, eh? Noxious things; I didn't know it had medicinal properties as well, but then that's why you're the medic and I'm standing around here all night." He gave a friendly chuckle. "Just be careful Hatake-san."
Akiko managed another smile. "Thank you for your concern, but hopefully I will be done in a few hours."
The medic headed out of the gates, making sure to keep her pace unhurried and even. She continued along the outer wall, heading east, for about five minutes. She headed north for about ten minutes, walking along a small path and into a stretch of trees. Every step she took made her muscles feel increasingly knotted. She could only hope that each of the near-painful steps brought her closer to her son. She didn't even feel any sign of anyone nearby when two people appeared in front of her.
"Itachi." Akiko had not seen the Uchiha for years, since he had left ANBU so dramatically. Even when he had been there, he rarely needed any medical treatment. She was too busy fearing for her child's safety to be angry.
Itachi made no acknowledgement of his name. "If you want your son returned, you will aid us."
Akiko felt hope flicker within her. "You will let him go?"
Itachi gave no outward sign as to whether or not he was telling the truth. "All we want is the fox. After we remove the nine-tails, your son will be returned to you."
Akiko thought about these words carefully. She knew that the band of S-Class nuke-nin wanted the biju, after that her son would be theoretically useless to them. It did not seem that far stretched that the Akatsuki would release her son, if she did whatever is was they requested. She could not imagine what it is they wanted from her though. "What do you want?"
Itachi gave the first impression he had for some time, the slightest of smirks. "Heal my eyes. If you try anything, Kisame here will kill you and your son executed."
Akiko's head fell. There was no choice to make. "I'll do it." She took a deep breath as her hands behind to glow blue. The pink-haired woman approached the nuke-nin, who made no move. She began to examine the man's dead-looking eyes. "Your retinas are heavily scarred. The scar tissue will need to be removed before I can properly heal them."
Three hours later Akiko let the green fade from her hands, and she moved back from the nuke-nin. The Uchiha had stayed almost impossible still for the entire operation, though that was no doubt thanks to her ability to create a localised anaesthetic effect. She felt like a traitor for what she had done, having healed one of the most dangerous nuke-nin alive. She looked up with moist eyes, her hands clasped together. "Please…..my son."
Before she knew what was happening, Kisame ran forward to his partner and both Akatsuki vanished in a puff of smoke. Realising she had been tricked, the pink-haired medic fell to her knees, her tears falling to the ground. She felt like a kunai had been lodged into her chest, so fierce was her pain and disappointment.
(Fifteen Days Later)
Karin was annoyed at Kabuto and even Orochimaru. Kabuto was in a coma, having received brain damage from her subject's attack. Because the creepy medic was incapacitated, she had been moved to the Northern Base to take on the role of project supervisor. She supposed it was her own fault as well. Kabuto and herself did not like each other one bit, but each was forced to respect the other's abilities. Kabuto was the better medic and surgeon, but she was the better scientist. She knew more about neurology than the grey-haired man. She had received a copy of the medical report that had been stolen from Konoha. Karin had realised that the Hatake boy's neurological changes in his altered state had more implications than would at first appear. She had read between the lines of the report and deduced that the boy would be immune to genjutsu and that most drugs would be useless if not administered in massive quantities. She had immediately contacted her master and had been ordered to travel with him, while she thought of a solution. The red-haired scientist had devised a method by which they could subdue the boy without excessive experimentation, at least until they had the time. An extremely potent poison would force his bloodline to break it down, as his body prioritised it above breaking down a mere sedative. The severing of the spinal column had been to make things safer, but they had known the subject could heel such an injury. When it had turned out that Kabuto had received brain damage, which could not be healed with Jutsu, she had been the logical alternative. The worst part was one of the people who had been assigned as one of the guards, but then she was not surprised by her master's lack of consideration. The best she had been able to do was put her on the nightshift, then at least they did not meet each other. As far as she knew the night-guard did not even know that she was in charge.
The young woman gave a mental sigh, far too controlled to show it. "Get the surgeon. It is time to make the necessary alterations to his adrenal gland." Karin turned to another subordinate. "How is he responding to the Somatotropin?" (A growth hormone)
The assistant looked down at some notes. "No sign of acromegaly, pituitary gigantism or any other side effects. His bloodlimit is allowing his body to keep up."
Karin looked as neutral as usual. "In that case, decrease the chakra absorption rate of the restraints by twenty percent and increase levels of Somatotropin by two-hundred percent. Keep monitoring for any adverse effects in the bones and nerve tissue." The young woman looked down at the blond boy, her face devoid of emotion. If she felt anything for what she was doing to the boy, she did not show it.
Haku and Akiko were keeping each other company, though they sat in melancholy silence. If Akiko had been unsure of how Haku had felt before, she was certain now.
The pink-haired medic was looking down at the scroll in front of her, but the scroll might as well have been invisible for all she could focus on it. She felt better when she kept busy at the hospital, when she had less time to think about her missing son. She understood why her husband spent so much time away from her, though part of her resented it. Kakashi had spent a day soothing her and comforting her, even as he himself was torn up inside. After the first day, he had left to train, having decided he needed to be stronger for his son. It had been hard enough for the Godaime to stop most of Naruto's friends searching for him, but she had several Inuzuka and Aburame searching, and Kakashi had set his summon animals to join the search. Naruto could be in any direction from Konoha, so it was best for his potential rescuers to stay in the centre of the outward-stretching search spiral pattern. Her turmoil had only been made worse by the cruel trick played on her by Itachi and his comrade.
Haku had to force herself to eat, and that was only because she had to train with the others. She would make sure that she was strong enough to get Naruto back, no matter what, even if it cost her life. The raven-haired girl once again regretted not telling Naruto how she felt about him. Naruto had allowed her to feel things she had never thought she would, and not just the feelings she had for him. Since she had met Naruto, she had felt happiness, contentment, amusement and even love. Without him, everything seemed to be drab and meaningless. She could cope, if she knew that he would return, if she had that to look forward to. If Naruto was gone, she was not certain that she would be able to carry on.
Kakashi saw the surprise on Jiraiya's face. "So do you think it can be done?"
The Sannin held his chin in his hand. "Hmm. In theory it is fairly simple, and I know a seal which could theoretically do such a job, but it is not designed for internal use. I'd need your Hyuuga friend to help monitor the internal flow of chakra."
Kakashi looked pleased. "I'll contact her right away."
Jiraiya gave Kakashi a thoughtful look. "I always wondered why you never asked before."
Kakashi looked into the distance. "Out of respect. It is not something to be taken lightly, or used casually."
Jiraiya followed his student's student's gaze. "And now it is?"
Kakashi shook his head. "No, but I think I'm going to need every advantage I can get, if I am to be of any use to my son."
Jiraiya nodded approval. "From what little I know of him, he would have approved."
Kakashi smiled wistfully under his mask. "I think so too."
Ayame could not find as much satisfaction in her job as she used to, more specifically as much as she did before Naruto had gone. No one appreciated her and her father's noodles as much as the blond boy. Even though her father and herself did not make a lot of money, it was having happy and appreciative customers that made the place worth running. True, she would not have known any different if she had never met Naruto, but she had. Naruto always had a kind word to say to her. Naruto always took an interest in her day, even though her life could not compare to a Shinobi's for excitement. She had begun to realise that Naruto's visits had become the highlight of her day. Even her father had commented that she smiled most when the fox-boy came into the stand. On the days where her feet ached, when she had been forced to deal with difficult customers, when she had been hit on by perverts, when she had managed to burn herself on the stove, when she had managed to spill food down herself, or when she had managed to break a stack of bowls as she washed up; Naruto made it all worth while. Naruto would sooth her aches, would not stand for people being disrespectful, would defend her honour against perverts, heal any of her injuries, would make light of her messy clothing, and help clean up any broken crockery. Now he was gone, she could appreciate him so much more. If he came back, she would make sure he had free ramen for life, even if it came out of her salary. Anything just to have him here again.
Anko floated in the cold fluid, unseeing, unhearing and unfeeling. She had a mask over her mouth, giving her a minute amount of oxygen. Her biological functions were slowed down so much that she would not need any nutrients for months. She was effectively in suspended animation. If she was dreaming, there was no sign.
The purpled-haired kunoichi's former master watched her floating form, noticing that her unclothed body was well trained, and grinned to no one in particular. He had visited the base three times since his intended next vessel had arrived, checking personally that all was going well. The Sannin looked at an identical tank next to the one in front of which he stood, but in this one floated a young Genin. "Soon Sasuke, those eyes will be mine." He turned back to Anko. "I will enjoy watching your face as the one you hold dearest takes your life." He turned began to walk away, satisfied that everything was on course.
(Four Days Later)
Kisame picked up the small scroll that had come from the ground. There was only one person that he knew who delivered information in such a manner. "A message from Zetsu, Itachi." He was not surprised when the other man failed to respond. The other man's manner had not changed in the slightest since he had gotten his eyesight back. It was almost as if Itachi didn't care
Itachi saw his partner grin, emphasising his shark-like features, and it didn't take him much effort to work out why. "He has located Naruto's whereabouts." It was not a question.
Kisame wasn't even surprised at his partner's acute observation. "Now that's interesting. The brat is located within one of our old comrade's bases."
Itachi stood up from her seated position. "We will retrieve him. Orochimaru is up to something."
Kisame laughed. "That creepy bastard, isn't he always?"
Tenten just stared at the target in front of her, her eyes trying to understand what she saw. Embedded in the target was a single kunai, but that in itself was not unusual. What was unusual, was that the kunai was an inch from the centre. It had been years since the weapons mistress had missed a target, injuries aside. She could not work out what had happened, and she tried another projectile weapon. She was stunned that the second went even further off target. She shook her head, trying to dispel whatever it was that was affecting her. The last few weeks she had just not felt like herself and there was only one thing she could connect it too. A certain missing blond. Perhaps it was because she was living with the boy's parents, who were sullen and unsmiling without him. Perhaps it was because she had figured out how Haku felt for their male housemate, it having become obvious to her after conversations about him. She felt bad for the girl who had become her closest friend. Perhaps she was just worried about the people she lived with, as well as the missing boy himself. Perhaps…. it was something else entirely.
Hana fell into her bed, exhausted to the point that her vision was swimming. She had not slept for four days, having been searching for her friend. She only intended to get four hours sleep and she would be off again. When the door to her room opened, she could not be bothered to look around or even speak.
"You are going to have to rest for a while, daughter." The Inuzuka clan head looked down worriedly at her daughter.
Hana shook her head. "I can keep going, I just need a few hours."
Tsume gave her daughter a stern look. "Maybe you can, but your pack cannot. To take them out as soon as you plan, that would be cruel."
Hana frowned, realising that her mother had a point. "You're right. The animals need a couple of days rest." Her mother looked satisfied, having expected her daughter to put up more of a fight. "I'll go out on my own."
Tsume sighed. "Who is this boy, that he means so much to you Hana?"
Hana had promised her male friend that she would not reveal his abilities to anyone, but he had already done that during the Chuunin finals. She believed the promise was no longer legitimate. The young Inuzuka clan heir sat up, facing her mother. "You know I requested a Loyalty Tooth, which I told you was for the person who saved the surgery and who wanted to remain anonymous?"
Tsume's eyes widened. "That was Naruto?"
Hana nodded warily. "Not only did I feel that our clan owed Naruto recognition for his actions, but I genuinely believe he will an important ally to the Inuzuka. Not only that, but he's a genuinely good pe-" She stopped speaking when she noticed her mothers toothy grin. "Kaasan?"
The Inuzuka clan head stood up. "We need to see Tsunade-sama right away."
Tsunade had never wanted to be drunk more than she did right now, but she was denied that small comfort. After all he had done for her, all she could do was worry and wait for one of her trackers to report any sign of Naruto. She did not know who had her friend, but she would not forgive them. Neither would she forgive Uchiha Itachi for what he had done to Akiko. The pink-haired woman had sobbingly confessed what she had done, but Tsunade had been unable to blame her. It was more than unfortunate that she had helped such a dangerous man regain his strength, but there had been little alternative. Tsunade had told the woman not to share what had happened to anyone but Kakashi and eventually Naruto, there was no need for Akiko to get in trouble. She would have done the same. She was not sure what she would not do to see Naruto again.
Karin watched the chakra drill work on the blond, and she judged that they were ready for the next step. She turned to one of her assistants, who was awaiting instruction. "Bring the chakra storage seal, bone marrow tissue and the adenovirus (used in gene therapy)."
The assistant gave a small, nervous bow before leaving quickly, already knowing exactly where he was going.
Karin turned her attention back to the operating medic. "Is his bloodlimit resisting?"
The medic shook their slightly. "With the chakra restraints set to nine-nine percent drain, the boy's not healing at all."
Karin looked down at the boy's numerous open wounds. "We'll need to move as fast as we can."
Tsunade stared at the Inuzuka clan head, doubt on her features. "How…how can you find them?"
Tsume pulled a small scroll from a recess in her jacket. "My daughter informed me that Naruto was the one she gave a Loyalty Tooth to." She noticed that the Hokage did not seem surprised, only revealing a fond smile. Tsume was a competent clan head, and she decided she needed to speak to this Naruto personally. The boy obviously had the favour of the Hokage and his skills were apparently nothing to sneeze at. She wondered, judging by her daughter's friendship, whether there was a possibility of marrying him into the clan. It was just an automatic thought, as she continued to think what was best for her clan. She kept her silence on this matter. "What most people do not know is that these teeth are not just for display. In case of conflict, within the clan, the village or during war time, the clan created special seals to allow us to know the location of our stauncher allies. Each tooth has a hidden set of tracking seals upon it."
Tsunade wasted no time. "How soon can you find him?" She leant forward, so that she was sitting on the edge of her seat.
Tsume was again surprised by the Hokage's obvious attachment to the missing boy. "I have one of our elders working on the specialised Jutsu. We don't just get a direction and distance, but can pinpoint them. The technique is done twice, at opposing ends of our compound, to allow a more accurate triangulation. I would estimate in another half-hour we will know where Naruto and Anko are."
The Hokage stood up, seeming to vibrate with energy, and turned to her assistant. "Contact Kakashi and Yamato. Tell them we will be heading out as soon as we have Naruto and Anko's location."
Tsume's eyes showed her surprise. "We, Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade nodded. "Yes. I am leaving Ojisan and Jiraiya to hold the fort. I am taking a three person team to retrieve them."
Tsume frowned. "But the council, t-"
Tsunade scowled at the clan head, baring her equally large canines, and the woman shivered. "I do not need the council's approval, Tsume-san. This is private matter."
The Inuzuka bowed her head slightly, unusually submissive. "Very well Hokage-sama, I will contact you as soon as we have the tooth's location."
Tsunade's expression softened. "Thank you, Tsume."
The dog-woman gave a grin. "Don't worry about it. That Naruto, he seems to have a whole lot of seriously dangerous kunoichi taking an interest in his well being." She barked laughter. "Lucky dog." The Inuzuka turned around and waved casually behind her, before exiting the office.
Shizune turned to the Hokage. "You know some of his friends are really not going to like your decision Tsunade-sama."
The blond Hokage grimaced. "I know, and I for one don't look forward to that encounter."
Tayuya entered the laboratory at the usual time, but was surprised to find a group of nurses still in attendance. There was usually only one nurse, who waited to be relieved by the temperamental redhead. Tayuya looked at what they were doing. Each nurse had a cloth, and they were washing a large quantity of blood off the blond boy. Where they cleared it away, there were numerous lines across his skin, and they seemed to be all over his body. She had no fear of blood, but there was enough to make her feel uneasy. She had to wonder how the boy could still be alive.
Ten minutes later the group had finished, leaving the blond boy slightly damp. She moved a little closer to the boy, wondering at the criss-cross of lines. When she got closers she saw that the lines were in fact cuts, which where quickly thinning, and they disappeared even as she watched. She looked into the boy's face, seeing that it was more angular than it had been when he first arrived. There had been an odd change a few days ago and the boy had been more muscular and his hair had become a mess. She was not aware of the other changes, but she could bet there was. She still hated the boy, but it had lessened slightly over time. It was harder to be angry at someone who could not respond to her aggression. It was hard to hate someone in such a pitiable position.
Two doctors stood either side of an operating table, on which lay a raven-haired boy. An intravenous drip of a clear liquid flowed into one the young Uchiha's veins, keeping him unconscious.
Both medics' hands glowed green, a pair above each eye. The delicacy of the operation was high, to the point where beads of sweat ran down both doctors' cheeks.
The doctor on the left sighed, trying to relieve some of his mental tension. "Why are we doing this, replacing his eyes?"
The second doctor remained more professional. "He'll be used for breeding, most likely, and they'll want to keep him in good health."
The first doctor sighed again. "It's good to be kept in the loop." His sarcasm was wasted on the other man. "Suit yourself." He decided a change of subject was on order. "Were you on that last op, involving the b-?"
The second doctor shuddered a little. "Yes. I never want to do anything like that again. I don't even wish to talk about it." Considering the doctor had worked for Orochimaru for several years, it said a lot that the operation had given him some sleepless nights.
The first doctor gave up. "Fine." He concentrated on the eye he was working on, which was probably best. If he messed up he knew he was a dead man.
Jiraiya was the one to read the map, since he had the best knowledge of the geography of the surrounding areas. The Toad Sannin was finding, on one of his personal maps, the coordinates that the Inuzuka clan head had given him. At the moment it was just himself, Tsunade and his sensei, standing in the Hokage's office. "Oh shit."
Of all the Toad Hermit's bad habits, Sarutobi knew that swearing was generally not one of them. It was a bad sign. "What is it Jiraiya?"
The white-haired hermit looked up, before he pointed to a specific point on the map. "Well, we know who has them. That's one of Orochimaru's bases. It's the smallest, but is by far the most secure and even I have been unable to get close to it."
Tsunade grimaced. "That'll make it difficult."
The former Hokage coughed. "There are those that would volunteer for such a mission."
Tsunade did not look impressed. "I think three of us stand a better chance of infiltration."
The Toad Sannin began to fold the map away, knowing better than to argue. She did have a point.
The scowling redhead had nothing better to do, so she examined the subject to see if there were any more noticeable changes. She was disappointed that there was no scarring on the boy, but she had already figured out he had a special healing ability. She could not really see anything different so she took a step back, and a document caught her eyes. One of the doctors had left something behind, and she looked around before picking it up. She flipped it open, expecting to find a lot of medical nonsense therein. She did in fact find a whole lot of indecipherable nonsense, but she understood the very basics of what she was reading. The flute-playing woman looked up from the document, her gaze settling on the figure. "Fucking hell." She shook her head. Even she found it hard to stomach, what was in store for the boy.
Temari had remained in Konoha because the negotiations were taking longer than they should have. The Hokage's mind was not focused on the matter. The Suna kunoichi had spent time wandering about, when she was not training, and she had heard interesting things about the missing boy. The more she heard about Naruto, the more that she was surprised by him. Naruto had power that rivalled most Jounin, yet he did not seem to have used that fact for his own gains. In the evenings, which she spent alone, with nowhere to go and nowhere to be, she found her thoughts moving back to the blond boy. When she had left her village, she had already seen how much Gaara was changed from his ordeal with the blond Genin. There was no doubt in her mind, that her brother admired the Hatake boy. Someone who inspired her brother like that, she could not help but want to know him better. She wanted to know what made someone like that tick. How could someone be like this boy? He was like no one else she had ever known. Something about him drew her attention, even when he was nowhere around. She was determined to stay until Naruto returned. She told herself it was because of the debt her brother owed him, and perhaps it was. Then again, perhaps it was not.
Tsunade could not hide her shock as she stared at the man before her, as she stood outside the northern gate of Konoha.
Said man wore a simple white sleeveless vest, a pair of moderately baggy back combat trousers. Across his chest was the white strap for a sword sheath, from which the handle of a weapon could be seen leaning at such an angel to show that the weapon was worn diagonally. The man's protective headband was worn on the man's bicep, leaving his normally vertical hair falling more freely. More shocking was that neither man's eyes were covered, revealing two charcoal black eyes, and even more shocking still was the man's face was completely uncovered. Many women would have agreed that the man was rather striking. "Tsunade-sama."
Yamato, who had known Kakashi for years, looked surprised. "Your mask?"
Tsunade's gaze was transfixed on the eye the sat within a scarred socket. "Your eye?"
The helmeted shinobi's gaze shifted slightly. "That sword, wasn't it cut in half by an Iwa-nin?"
The Hatake man's face remained serious, even as he unsheathed a small curved blade. As he moved it through the air, it left a short white trail behind it. "I decided it was time to grow up and act more like a father. Jiraiya and Kuri helped create a seal which suppresses chakra to my eye unless I force it through. My father's sword was cut in half, years ago, because I was not yet ready for it. Shiroi Kiba (White Fang)has been re-forged, so that I can wield it to protect those I treasure. I have been found worthy. As for my mask…..I'm tired of hiding behind it. I am ready to find my son." The copycat ninja looked formidable in his determination.
The group's expressions became serious as they turned to face their destination, and they began to move out. Before they had taken more than a few steps, however, they heard running footsteps. Turning the group watched as a group kunoichi headed towards the group, who quickly caught up.
Tsunade cursed to herself. "Shizune, Sakura, Haku, Hinata, Hana, Ino, Tenten, Temari, I thought I made myself clear on this matter."
Tayuya had nothing to fill in her time, unless you count staring at an unconscious person. Knowing that they would be undisturbed for another four hours, the redhead pulled out her only treasured possession. Almost no one knew that Tayuya's flute had been a weapon second, and an instrument first. The young woman was effectively alone in the world, with no one from which to seek comfort. She had found that comfort in her music, allowing her to escape the often times overbearing loneliness. The melody that issued forth was a melancholy tune, displaying a myriad of emotions never shown on the musician's usually fierce countenance.
The redhead had her eyes closed as she played, lost in the music as she was. It didn't feel like she was playing it, her fingers moving seamlessly over the instrument. When the music finally died down, she opened her eyes and took a deep breath. A twinkle of light caught her eye, but she had not seen where it had come from. When it twinkled again, her gaze was pulled to the unconscious figure in the room. She moved closed closer, for the moment forgetting her usual anger. She could see it now, the cause of the refraction of the light. A solitary tear sat half-way down the left cheek of the blond boy, sitting above one of his whisker marks. Her hand moved before she knew what she was doing, and she wiped the tear away. Her hand froze an inch from the boy's face, until she continued retracting it in a hurry. She stared at her hand, as if it had betrayed her, but she knew that she was being foolish. She looked up again at the face and saw something that she did not expect to see. The corners of the boy's mouth had turned up ever so slightly at the contact. Had she been any further away, she might not have noticed at all. She was worried by this development and she raised her hand once again, hesitating a moment. Committing herself to action, she gently touched the boy's chest. There was no reaction from the boy, not even a twitch. She was relieved, but at the same time she was a little disappointed. Could it be, that she wanted him awake so she could torment him? With a start she realised that she was still touching the boy's chest, and she leapt back as if she had been scolded. She stood, now a little distance from the blond, and wondered if she had made a mistake with her music. She was always more emotional, perhaps foolish, after playing. Not playing as she did in battle, when her instrument became a weapon, but played as it had been made to. Her fingers were still felt slightly warm, and now she thought on it, she realised she had felt warmer around the boy. She did not know much about medicine, but she had read some of the notes that had been left behind on occasion, having had nothing better to do with her time. The boy's metabolism was slowly increasing over time, and it increased further in the attempt to counter-act all the drugs that were being put into his system. The boy looked different these days, though he was still recognisable, and she was finding it harder and harder to connect this person with the boy who had scarred her so.
The Sound One turned her back on the blond and narrowed her eyes as a memory surfaced from the hidden depths of her mind. She stood shaking for a few moments, wrapping her arms around herself, before she slowly began to head back to the furthest corner of the room.
(Two Days Later)
Naruto felt tired, really tired. He felt so tired that he wished he wasn't waking up. His brain felt sluggish as it began to process more and more complex thoughts. As time went on, his thoughts seemed to become clearer and he felt less tired. It was with a blinding flash of recall that his eyes flashed open. "Anko-chan!" The sound of his own voice felt strange to him. His throat was parched, but he was not entirely sure that was the entire reason. "Kabuto-san." He glared with unbidden hatred at the bespectacled ninja. He was surprised how clear his sight was, considering he had just woken up. The fox-boy realised that he was in his combat state, and he felt different somehow, but it was hard to tell. He began to stretch out his chakra sense, but it was not easy. Eventually he found what he was sensing for, but something was not right. "What did you do to Anko-chan?" The seal on her chest relied on her chakra, but it did not take very much. For it to be signalling to him as weakly as it was, Anko must have been almost completely drained of chakra. Naruto began to struggle, but found his chakra wouldn't mould properly and his restraints had no give "If you've hurt her, I swear I'll s-" His threat was interrupted.
Kabuto seemed unaffected by the boy's words. "She's on her way here."
Naruto didn't like the tone in the Sannin's assistant's voice, but he had little recourse except to obey. So focused was he on the grey-haired young man, that he failed to notice anyone else in the room, until a movement caught his eye. "You."
Tayuya had shifted warily, having been asleep when had been summoned, but she did not look the boy in the eye. "Who the fuck else would I be?"
In the back of Naruto's mind, he was wondering how the girl was alive.
Kabuto gave a dramatic sigh. "Such language Tayuya. With your face marred like that, you can't rely on your looks anymore. You can no longer afford to be so vulgar."
Tayuya winced at the remark and glared at the other, but remained silence.
Naruto turned when the door opened, and he watched as several medics came into the room. Amidst the group was a medical bed, on which a prone figure could be seen. Various sounds and scents met the blond's senses. He could smell blood, burned flesh and hear wet ragged breathing. Naruto's insides turned to ice, even as his blood boiled. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Anyone who looked at the bedridden woman would have seen the numerous cuts, bruise and burns on the woman's flesh. Any medic would have been able to see that she had been poisoned. Worst of all, she was still conscious.
The blond boy began to struggle mightily, and the yellow seal on the restraints began to glow brightly, to the point that it was painful to look at them. The sound of creaking metal could be heard. However, the restraints held, the boy's own chakra strengthening the materials. He surprised the group as tears began to fall from his eyes. "Whatever you want, I'll do it. Just help her….please."
Kabuto just chuckled. "Before I comment on that, I'll explain her condition. Anko has third-degree burns over half her body, several deep lacerations, numerous large blood-clots, broken bones, damaged nerves. She had been poisoned with slow acting, but very painful toxin. She is as good as dead, so the only way you can help her is by…. ending her suffering." The evil med-nin pushed his glasses up, higher onto his face.
Naruto felt his stomach drop, and he felt like his soul was being torn from his body. "W-what?"
Kabuto held up a piece of thread to the blond boy. "That equipment is keeping her alive and conscious, and will continue to do so for perhaps another two hours. Two excruciating hours. This chakra laced thread is tied to a knot on one of Anko's major arteries. Pull it with your teeth and the knot will undo, releasing a blood-clot into her heart. She'll be dead within thirty seconds."
The blond boy felt a pain in his chest, which had no base in any medical condition. "Why? Why would you do this?"
Kabuto paid no heed to the boy's desperation. "I suppose you haven't been conscious long enough to figure it out. You've been subject to a several specialised transplants and gene therapy."
Naruto finally understood what had been done to him. "Sharingan….." He was felt no temptation to activated the bloodlimit. "…Mangekyou." Naruto's breathing became laboured, as he struggled to accept what was happening. "No….I refuse!" He struggled once more, to the point where his wrists began to bleed as his flesh was torn.
Kabuto just smirked. "Watch her closely Naruto, and let's see how long your resolve lasts." The oto-nin fell silent and the only sound in the room was the injured woman's struggling breaths.
Juugo held his head in his hands, as if trying to physically restrain himself. This was not so far from the truth. A short time ago he had felt the presence, which had been plaguing him, become stronger than ever. It was impossible to ignore anymore. "Kill it. Kill it. Kill it." He stopped hold his head when he heard a door bolt to his prison move. In stepped a non-descript lab assistant, with an unfriendly looking syringe. Juugo knew what had been done using his blood samples, that others had been given a burden comparable to his own. There was a reason he was still in here though, a reason why they still needed him. There was something about him they had not yet been able to reproduce. "Hello….."
Kabuto could see the desperation in the blond's new charcoal black eyes, mixed with an intimidating hatred. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the boy cracked and did the kindest thing.
Unseen in the background, the red-haired girl was shaking. Her eyes were moist and round as she stared toward the floor, but her eyes were focused into the distance. She felt as if she was dislocated from her body.
Furasshubakku no Jutsu (Flashback Technique)
The cave was dark, damp and there was a harsh chill in the air. Normally such a cave would be far from sought after, but at the moment it was the occupants' best friend.
The tallest figure had shoulder length red hair, tied into a pony tail. He wore a light grey half-length robe, along with black loose-fitting trousers.
The man knelt down inside the small cave that was shielding them from their enemies' eyes, at least for now. He looked into the dark red eyes of his seven-year-old stepdaughter. In that little blue dress, she looked so much her mother, who they had lost not so long ago. "You're going to have to take your sister and run."
The elder sister looked up at her stepfather with wide, moist eyes. "But-"
"No buts. They don't know what you and your sister look like, and if you escape you should be both be safe. My own life is already forfeit, but it is not too late for you."
The girl who stood next to her older sister, face buried into her sister's side, looked up at her father. "Tousan!"
The dark-haired father knew it would not be long until he was found, and he turned to the eldest of the two girls. "I have always thought of you as my own daughter." He saw that the usually placid girl was struggling not to cry, fighting it for her half-sister's sake. He gently moved his five-year-old daughter away from her sister. She looked less like her mother in the light green dress, but she had her mother's temperament. "Hey, it's ok." He held her to him and put his hand behind her head, which he put against his shoulder. "Your sister is going to look after you now. Just know that your mother and I will always love you. Both of you."
The little girl pushed herself away from her father. "Tousan, please let us stay, we'll be good I promise."
The girls' father felt his heart want to break. "None of this is your fault, nor your sister's. You two are going to have to rely on each other now. Be a good girl for your sister."
The elder sister's face paled. "Tousan, they are near."
The saddened man stood. "You have to go now."
"Tous-" The younger girl's face showed distress.
"Take her." The girls' father knew he had to be firm as he faced his stepdaughter.
The older sister looked at her younger sibling, knowing that if they did not leave they were all doomed. She picked up her sister, before she turned and ran. She didn't look back, even as her sister began to scream.
"TOUSAN! TOUSAN! NEECHAN, LET ME GO! TOUSAN!" The distraught girl banged her little clenched fists against her sisters back, but the grip on her body only tightened.
As the two figures fled, they felt their father flare his Chakra, meaning the enemy would know exactly where he was. He had drawn any attention away from the fleeing girls, but he ensured his doom.
Furasshubakku Kai
The young woman was brought back for her memories when alarms sounded, blaring loudly throughout the complex.
Kabuto silently cursed at the timing of the alarm, but he knew that there must be a serious problem. They did not have drills in this complex. Without saying a word, the grey-haired ninja tied the chakra imbued thread to the purple-haired woman's bed. He looked uncertain once again, before he turned to the other medics. "Keep her alive." He then turned to the red-head. He had ordered the woman here in case he ran into difficulties, and now he realised it was a good thing he did. "Stay here and stay alert. If anything happens to the boy, or the woman, Orochimaru will have your head."
Tayuya wasn't even angry at the words. "Sure."
Three figures jumped through the trees, two of which wore Konoha forehead protectors. The pace they had set was impressive, their feet only touching the large stones for a fraction of a moment.
Tsunade raised her arm, causing the two Konoha-nin behind her to halt as they looked upon the rocky terrain. "Do you hear that?" She saw by their expressions that she was the only one. "Alarms."
Yamato leaned against an outcrop, his expression neutral. "The question is, will this help us or hinder us?"
Kakashi was itching to move. "There is one way to find out."
Tsunade didn't respond, her agreement implicit, instead launching herself from one large rock to another. Soon Naruto…soon.
Two black and red capes fluttered in the wind caused by their own passage. They travelled in silence, neither hostile or comfortable, but neutral.
Itachi shifted his head slightly as they moved through the tree-tops, which were thinning out, but to his partner it was the equivalent of sudden body jerk. "We are not the only ones to have tracked down the nine-tails."
Kisame grimaced at those words. He knew that whoever was in the other group, they would not be someone to take lightly. Normally that would not have bothered him, but he was always uneasy without his Samehade. He looked over at his fellow Akatsuki. If the smaller nuke-nin felt any unease, he did not show it. Oddly, this was no comfort to him.
Naruto turned from looking at Anko, to looking at the young woman. He was certain that the woman would not help him, having been almost fatally injured by him. He wracked his brain trying to think of a way to escape. Maybe he could break the bones in his hand and slide it out, but the restraints were so tight. He opened his eyes when he heard what sounded like bodies hitting the floor and several footsteps approaching him rapidly. The red-haired woman's hands were wrestling with the restraints, and behind her were the medics who had been in the room. "What are you doing?"
Tayuya didn't even look up at the boy's face. "What does it fucking look like I'm doing?" She didn't seem to be having any luck. "I still hate you, and when I get the chance I'm going to beat the living shit out of you. I have my reasons is all."
"W-" Naruto's question was never formed.
Tayuya grunted at her lack of success. "Any ideas?"
The imprisoned boy put aside his questions, knowing he had to help Anko. He examined the restraints, trying to work out the meaning of all the seals thereon. He could already guess some of the function from his previous attempt at freeing himself. He followed the trail of the chakra cables, which ran from the restraints to the floor beside him. It made more sense now. "Cut those cables."
Tayuya had already committed herself to helping the boy and the woman escape, and bent down as she took a kunai from her pouch. Her hand reached out.
Naruto's senses were sharper than the girl's and he saw the danger first. "WATCH OUT!"