Notes: I've decided not to totally write off the manga as a lost cause. There are some recent developments that can actually work for this story (after taking some artistic license, of course). So I take back only one thing I said earlier: Konan does exist, but at the moment, there are still only ten active members of Akatsuki, with Hatsumi being the only female (recall that Kurenai doesn't count).
The Nature of Love
A Naruto Fanfic by
Nate Grey (XMAN0123-at-aol-dot-com)
Chapter 25: The Imprisoned Princess
Sakura was more than a little nervous. Because Ino was... not well, Yamanaka Inoichi was depending on Sakura more than ever to help out, both with Ino and the flower shop. Normally, Sakura had no problem with this: she liked working with flowers, and rarely were people upset to get them.
But this latest delivery was a big deal. The Sandaime Hokage himself had stopped by the shop and placed an order. Apparently, Princess Ruki had wanted to keep her presence in Konoha very low profile, so she had refused any offer to meet with him and checked into a hotel under a different name. Still, it would be the height of rudeness if he didn't attempt to welcome the Fire Lord's niece somehow, so the Hokage had asked for the flowers to be delivered anonymously.
Already, Sakura had been worried about behaving properly in front of a noble. Much as she loved Kiba, sometimes she displayed some of his less flattering traits without really thinking about it, such as shouting or beating people into submission (okay, she'd done that even BEFORE Kiba, but it happened more frequently now).
Security at the hotel only made Sakura even more nervous. She'd had to show her identification three times just to find out what floor the princess was staying on, and the bouquet was checked a grand total of five times before Sakura got it up to the room. Maybe the general public didn't know Princess Ruki was around, but every guard for miles around sure seemed to.
By the time Sakura knocked on the princess's door, she was sorely tempted to just shove the flowers at whoever answered and go home. But the thought of what that might mean for relations between the Hokage and the Fire Lord stopped her. She already stood out enough just for having pink hair; she didn't also want to be known as the girl that had caused Konoha to lose all of its funding.
At last, the door opened, and Sakura got her first look at Princess Ruki. Sakura had never seen an authentic princess (and didn't realize that she still hadn't), but she was impressed. Princess Ruki was quite striking, with her long, blue hair, and her bright green eyes. It hardly even seemed to matter that she was just wearing a tight red top and matching shorts, because she looked stunning, anyway. Sakura thought nothing of it; from all indications, Ruki didn't exactly enjoy all the attention she got as a princess, so it made sense that she wouldn't go around dressed as one if she didn't absolutely have to.
Wanting to get this over with quickly, Sakura plastered her "work smile" across her face and gave the princess her standard honored guest delivery greeting.
This was met with mixed results.
At first, Ruki seemed shocked, almost horrified to see her, probably fearing that some crazy fan had tracked her down. But as Sakura spoke, she noticed that the princess looked relieved, and then delighted.
"Please, come in," the princess said with a smile that seemed unnaturally wide.
Sakura followed Ruki into the suite, and the very first thing she noticed was Ruki's very large bodyguard staring at her with undisguised suspicion and hostility. Of course, he probably wouldn't be a very effective bodyguard if he wasn't at least a little mean and scary, but Sakura purposely stayed close to the princess, just in case.
"You can just set them down on the table, dear," Ruki said, indicating a coffee table near the couch.
Sakura did as she was told and turned to leave, but the princess touched her shoulder.
"Wait, I haven't tipped you yet."
"Oh, it's really not necessary," Sakura said at once. "You don't have to-"
"You're not going to refuse a princess, are you, Sakura?"
This should not have surprised Sakura. Her work apron clearly had her name printed on the front for easy identification. But there was something in the princess's tone that was all too familiar. Yet the only sign Sakura gave of recognition was a slow blink, because something told her that was even more important than what she'd just realized.
"No, of course not," she replied, waiting patiently as the princess took out far too much money and pressed it into Sakura's hand.
"That's for being such a sweetie," Ruki said, winking and pinching Sakura's cheek.
Sakura forced a smile and thanked the princess, wincing and rubbing her cheek as she walked out of the suite. It was only when the door closed behind her that Sakura recalled that pinching had always been Kurenai's preferred pain-centered way of bringing her out of genjutsu (there much more painful ways, and Kurenai kept her nails sharp as a reminder of this, and that she was being quite merciful by comparison).
Sakura's mind raced as she walked down the hall and stepped into the elevator. She reached into her pocket and fingered the money there, frowning as she came across something that clearly wasn't money. Her hand pulled out a single piece of hard candy. Even through the white wrapper, Sakura instantly recognized it. It was a somewhat morbid treat popularized by the Uchiha, made to resemble a Sharingan eye. It was a curious blend of sweet and sour that Sakura had never cared for (nor had anyone else she'd asked), yet she and nearly everyone in the village had bought them in large quantities, just because the Uchiha had made them. Now, though, Kurenai was the only person Sakura knew of that still had any saved up, and she had confessed to only using the horrid taste to keep herself awake during long missions.
It was a safe bet, then, that Princess Ruki had not managed to buy the candy during her visit, because there were no stores that sold it anymore.
By the time she reached the lobby, Sakura had popped the candy into her mouth. She hadn't suddenly developed a taste for it, though. No, Sakura needed the terrible flavor just then, in order to confirm that she was not having a nightmare. Unfortunately, the candy on her tongue confirmed what Sakura had begun to fear on the way down: that her beautiful, wise, and kind sensei had been captured, and that Sakura had to figure out how to rescue her.
However, Sakura was so busy looking underneath the underneath that she completely missed what was on top: mainly, that Kurenai had not only used the candy to confirm her own identity, but that of one of her kidnappers.
Konoha - Uchiha Compound - June
Despite the scowl on her face, Hanabi was actually very happy at the moment.
Still, it was a bit annoying that none of her hits so far had had any impact on her opponent. She might as well have been playing a spirited game of pattycake with him... and from the grin on his face, maybe she was.
"C'mon, don't give up so soon, Hanabi-chan!" Naruto said loudly, giving her an encouraging smile. "You might actually hurt me this time!"
Growling under her breath, Hanabi came at him again, lashing out with her usual precision and speed. But once again, Naruto simply pushed back her fingers with the palms of his hands, that same idiotic grin never leaving his face. In this manner, they danced across the grass, Hanabi never coming any closer to actually hitting him, and Naruto graciously not embarrassing her any further by just holding her back with one hand and stifling a yawn with the other while she swung away fruitlessly. He might as well have, though, because by the time Hanabi stopped, her face was flushed from both effort and embarrassment.
It wasn't exactly a fair sparring match, of course. Naruto was an actual ninja, while Hanabi, thanks to the usual Hyuuga politics, would enter Konoha's Ninja Academy a year late, breeze through the advanced class, and more than likely graduate in a single year, if that long. It wasn't as though there was anything taught in the Academy that Hanabi hadn't already learned from her clan tutors, but people (and more importantly, the Council of Elders) muttered when you skipped the standard shinobi education entirely. At the very least, Hanabi was required to pretend she was learning something from the Academy.
Beyond that, she could tell that Naruto was also using Kyuubi's chakra, first to reopen the chakra channels she'd managed to close, and later to block the effects entirely. Hanabi didn't even need her eyes to confirm this. It was the only real explanation, and Naruto's hands did seem especially warm when she touched them.
"This is pointless," she said at last, plopping down on the grass and turning away from him in frustration.
"It isn't," Naruto insisted, sitting down beside her and draping an arm around her slumped shoulders. "I'm learning how to block Gentle Fist, and you're learning... um... that I'm better than you!"
Hanabi shot him a dirty look, even though she knew he was just teasing.
Naruto grinned and patted her head fondly. "It's important to fight people stronger than you. It's a good way to improve and learn your own faults. At least, that's what Yugito says."
Blinking a few times, Hanabi stared at him curiously. "I thought you said you didn't want to train against her?"
"Well, I didn't," Naruto replied, scratching his head, "but I got tired of her knocking me on my butt when I said no, and Kyojuu kept laughing at me, so..."
"Did you win?" Hanabi asked.
"It's not about win-"
"So no, then."
Naruto glared at her. "We don't fight to win. We fight until she stops to make a point. When I am winning, though, she doesn't stop as much."
Hanabi paused to consider what he had told her, and what he hadn't. From all indications, Yugito and Kyojuu sparred all the time, and it had taken both Naruto and Gaara some time to get used to training with them. Gaara wasn't used to fighting someone just as or more powerful then him, and Naruto didn't want to hurt Yugito or someone that reminded him so much of Kiba. But they'd clearly gotten over it, because the entire group would vanish for hours at a time, only to return covered in dirt or with their clothes ripped and smoking (this didn't apply to Gaara, but he would actually be sweating heavily, which was new for him).
When they weren't training, Naruto was, amazingly enough, usually with Gaara. More than once, Hanabi heard them exchanging stories about their pasts. Gaara didn't even seem to mind when Naruto touched him without thinking, unless they were fighting at the moment. Naruto had clearly taken the whole "brother" idea fairly seriously, and for whatever reason, Gaara hadn't bothered to correct him. It was odd but good to see them together, and Hanabi hoped that their new bond was a sign that she was doing the right thing. Gaara did not make friends easily, and the fact that he accepted Naruto so quickly had erased much of the tension between Gaara's squad and his siblings (although Sasuke and Naruto still clashed every day, if only with words).
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something," Naruto said suddenly.
Hanabi glanced at him curiously. "What?"
"What are you hiding under here?" he asked, poking at her headband. "I know you're not a kunoichi yet, but you always have it on. So either you're in denial, which you're too smart for, or you've got something you don't want people to see under there."
With almost anyone else, Hanabi would've at least hesitated, and at the most outright refused to say a word. Why, then, her hands were already lifting up her headband before she realized it, even she couldn't say for certain. There had only ever been two people she had that much trust in: Hinata and Gaara, and neither of them had seen her seal yet. But she had never felt threatened by Naruto, despite knowing how powerful he most likely was.
Naruto didn't say anything as he stared at the black, star-shaped seal on her forehead. It was very small, just barely bigger than her thumb, but it had taken hours to apply in her mirror. As simple as it looked, the seal's application was actually something no one below jounin should have ever attempted, and without her mother's careful guidance, Hanabi most likely would've accidentally destroyed her own mind in the process.
"What does it do?" he asked after several moments.
"It makes my life easier." She paused and frowned. "The same as Gaara's newer one... and the opposite of yours, I guess."
Naruto grinned. "Uh, actually, I think everybody's a lot better off without Kyuubi and Shukaku running loose, Hanabi-chan."
"But are you?"
He shrugged. "It hasn't ALL been bad. When the fox isn't complaining or cursing or insulting me, he's actually a great teacher. Well, great in that he knows stuff nobody else does, not so great in that he usually laughs if I don't get a jutsu perfect on the first try..."
"What does he think of me?" Hanabi asked.
There was a long pause. "Hanabi-chan, Kyuubi rarely has an opinion on anything that isn't a threat. And if he does, it's usually nothing I'd share with anyone, especially not someone your age."
Hanabi rolled her eyes. "I'd be more worried if he did like me, Naru nii-chan."
"Oh." Naruto blinked. "In that case, he thinks you smell like want."
She stared at him expectantly.
"You want something, you go and get it," Naruto clarified. "Also... um, he thinks you want Gaara."
Hanabi blinked. "Why does he think that?" she asked in a completely calm tone.
Naruto frowned. "Hey, wait! You DO want him?"
"I never said that."
"You didn't deny it!"
"I don't see how it's any of your business," Hanabi replied. "They're my feelings."
"But, Hanabi-chan, do you know what you're getting into? He might never-"
"I'm aware," Hanabi interrupted firmly.
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "I just don't want you to get hurt. I mean, you know he and Ayame are kinda... well..."
"My Byakugan may not work normally, but I am not blind."
"So then why are you-"
"Naru nii-chan," Hanabi said quietly. "Please. I don't want to talk about this. With you, or anyone else. It's my business and no one else's."
There was an awkward silence for several moments, until Naruto coughed loudly.
"I could, um, talk to him for you. If you want."
Hanabi eyed him doubtfully. "And what would you say, exactly?"
Naruto hesitated. "The, er... paleness of your skin really... brings out your eyes?"
"Remind me never to let you help me," Hanabi sighed, shaking her head.
"Hey, it's not my fault! Gaara's the one that wouldn't pick up on things like that! I mean, anyone can see you're cute, but it would never occur to Gaara to DO anything about that, so I just thought we could at least get him thinking about it!"
"Thinking about what?" Gaara asked as he suddenly appeared behind them.
"GAARA!" Naruto shouted in shock as he jumped to his feet. "How long have you been there?!"
"Not long," Gaara responded, glancing at each of them before settling his attention on Naruto. "Temari has returned from her shopping trip. She wants you to try on something she bought for you. She has also threatened to 'brain you with her fan if you don't get your narrow little-'"
"I think I get the message," Naruto laughed weakly. "I'll just leave you two to, uh... TALK." He nodded and gave Hanabi an exaggerated wink, which she pointedly ignored.
"There's something wrong with him," Gaara decided after Naruto had run off. "Beyond the usual, I mean."
"He means well." Hanabi glanced up at Gaara, noticing he was staring off into the distance. "How much did you hear?"
"Only what I repeated," Gaara answered. "I wasn't actually focused on your conversation. There was something else on my mind."
"Oh? What?"
"Death."
Hanabi blinked several times. "What about it?"
"What would happen, when I died." Gaara closed his eyes. "Is that something people normally think about?"
"Sometimes," Hanabi admitted. "But you're not going to die, Gaara. Why even bother thinking about it?"
"You sound sure of that."
"I AM sure," she insisted. "You aren't going to die."
There was a strange expression on Gaara's face as he looked down at her. "And if I chose to? Tomorrow? Or even today?"
"Why would you?" Hanabi whispered, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.
"Death can be useful," Gaara stated, "if it occurs at a proper time and place."
"What do you mean?"
He shook his head slowly. "You are not the person I should be discussing this with. I suppose I am just too comfortable speaking with you, Hanabi."
"That's not such a bad thing, is it?" she asked, leaning against his leg slightly.
Gaara made no attempt to move away from her. "No. No, it is not."
Konoha - The Hatake's Apartment - June
Many women had passed through the hands of Hatake Kakashi over the years. Most of them had been at least remotely near his age. All of them had been after only one thing, which he had been more than happy to give. So, currently, he was a bit out of his depth.
"I have to be honest, little lady. I've never really done this before. Well, not with someone so very young. I'll do my best to be gentle, but, well, sometimes a man forgets himself in a moment of passion, and-"
"WOULD YOU STOP MAKING THIS SOUND LIKE A TRASHY ROMANCE NOVEL?!" Ino shouted, throwing a book at his head.
Kakashi moved his head slightly to left, letting the book sail harmlessly past him. "I could've sworn your father brought you here to work on genjutsu, not projectile weapons."
"I know why I'm here! Do YOU?!" she demanded angrily.
"Um, right. Let's get started. Hit me with your best shot." With that, Kakashi plopped down on the couch.
Ino was just about to start when she noticed he was taking out a small, orange book. "What are you doing?"
"Don't mind me," Kakashi said, burying his nose in the book with a slight giggle.
Ino recognized the book only because she'd caught her father reading it years ago. He had promptly given her "The Talk," at the end of which he sent them both to their rooms to recover. On some level, Ino never really had, because the thought of her father even thinking about sex, even though it had led to her birth, still made her feel weird. But even he had tried to hide the book from her after that. For Kakashi to be so bold as to read it in front of her... that called for a special kind of punishment.
Smirking, Ino's hands quickly flew through what had become familiar seals over the past month. "Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique)!"
As far as genjutsu went, it was fairly simple in execution, although the more experience one had in it, the more powerful it became. All the technique really did was exploit some fear that the target had, whether the caster was familiar with it or not. It was a very versatile jutsu, and in many cases, the only genjutsu that some ninja ever bothered to learn. After all, everyone feared something.
However, Ino did not take into account that her father had brought her to Kakashi because he was far more skilled at genjutsu than her. Nor did she stop to consider that the reason Kakashi seemed so unconcerned with her attack was that he could repel it effortlessly. But Ino's greatest oversight, which she could not really be blamed for, was that she knew next to nothing about the Sharingan, and was not even aware that Kakashi possessed it.
Kakashi could have easily just broken the genjutsu before it even took effect, and all without even looking up from his book. But he was curious as to why Inoichi had called in this favor, and what Ino might truly be afraid of. So he casually lifted his headband with one finger, revealing his single Sharingan, and stared straight at Ino.
Ino's body stiffened as the room was suddenly plunged into darkness. She could sense what had happened, knew it was possible, and did her best to prepare herself for what was soon to come. She could try to escape, but more than likely the only way she'd get out was when Kakashi allowed her to.
Her heart began to pound as she sensed movement all around her. Ino reached for a kunai, ready to defend herself from the men that still haunted her occasionally. So she was greatly shocked when it was not them, but Sakura who stepped out of the darkness.
"Ino, hi! Look, I know we were supposed to hang out today, but something came up. My team has a mission, and we'll be gone for a while. You know how it goes... at least, you used to. Um, anyway, I promise we'll do something when I get back, okay?"
"Don't bother, Sakura-chan," Kiba snorted as he appeared beside her. "I know she's your friend, but you don't have to explain yourself to a civilian. It's a bad habit to get into, anyway. She doesn't have the right clearance anymore, remember?"
Ino frowned. "But... I'm not a civilian! I'm a kunoichi! Why would you say that?"
"Maybe you were once, but that was then," Kiba replied, sounding the tiniest bit sympathetic. "You retired early, remember? You never really recovered from... y'know. Lots of people can't."
"You know it's not personal, Ino," Sakura said softly. "But your father asked us to give you some space, so you wouldn't have to see too much of that lifestyle."
Ino glared at them. "You mean a ninja lifestyle. But it's MY lifestyle, too! I'm still-"
"Told you, you gave that up a long time ago," Kiba interrupted. "You can't go back, Ino. Just leave it to us and move on. That's all you can do, really."
"No... NO!" Ino shouted, clamping her hands over her ears. "You're wrong! You're all wrong! I can still fight! I'm not going to quit being a kunoichi! I CAN STILL FIGHT!!!"
"I never said you couldn't," Kakashi replied calmly.
Ino slowly opened her eyes. The darkness and the visions of her friends were gone. There was only Kakashi and his couch. He was staring at her strangely, his one exposed eye not blinking at all.
"I don't doubt that you lack the will to fight," he continued. "But I wonder what your motivation is. Honestly, you surprise me. I expected you to imagine your attackers. But it seems that your most pressing fear, for the moment, is having to stop being a kunoichi. I wonder if you can tell me why, Ino. And keep in mind, your answer will determine what my final decision is. Your father has basically asked me to determine whether you are fit to compete in the chuunin exams. I can tell already that you can fight, in fact, perhaps you do that too well, from what I've heard. But I need to know if your mind is in the right place. So tell me why this is so important to you."
"It's... my life," Ino whispered. "I know I got hurt, that I was in harm's way, because I'm a kunoichi. But... being a kunoichi has brought me more good things than bad. It gave me friends, helped me get closer to my father, and it makes me feel strong. If I had just been a normal girl, and I had been... attacked, I'd be in much worse shape. At least my training protected my mind somewhat. But if I lose this... if I have to give it up... I'm nothing. I don't exist unless I'm a kunoichi. And if I quit... it means that they've beaten me, that I let those bastards ruin my life, and I won't let that happen!"
"Why did you see Shikamaru as a threat?" Kakashi asked quietly.
Lowering her head, Ino stared at the floor. "I guess... it was the shadow. Or maybe feeling helpless. I know he had no way of knowing, since I never talk about it with him, but... it was an accident. It wasn't just a random thing, or even premeditated. I just... reacted. I didn't WANT to hurt him, I just-"
"Needed to defend yourself," Kakashi finished. "I'm hoping this won't be a recurring problem. Obviously, your teammates wouldn't be attacking you during the exams. But you still have to train, and if this does happen again, it could mean-"
"I know," Ino sighed. "If it... happens again, I won't argue. I'll just... back off, and maybe train by myself, or-"
"If this happens again," Kakashi interrupted, "I'll have no choice but to recommend that you have your head examined."
Ino froze. "What does THAT mean?!"
"Maybe I phrased it a bit crudely," Kakashi sighed. "It's really not much different from what they do with patients admitted to the hospital. But instead of using chakra to scan your body for injuries, they'd have someone peer into your mind, see if they could spot any problems. Not to worry, we have people who specialize in that sort of thing, and your father knows almost all of them personally. He'll be able to select someone that can treat you gently. I know for certain there's a member of the Hyuuga Branch House that usually deals with any children we come across on the battlefield."
"Do you... think I'm crazy?" Ino asked quietly.
"No, Ino. I think you've been hurt, and you instinctively lash out when you feel threatened. That's not so different from most shinobi, to tell you the truth. It's saved my life a couple of times, in fact. But the problem is you're not always being threatened, and if you can't tell the difference between Shikamaru and an enemy, we can't just have you on active duty like nothing's wrong. But I don't want to see you give up, either. So assuming you don't run into any problems, I'm going to suggest that you be allowed to participate in the chuunin exams. But that's assuming that either your teammates agree, or that another team has an open slot. Have you talked to them since the accident?"
Ino shook her head. "No. I couldn't face them."
"Then maybe it's time you did."
Not many people realized it, but Temari actually had three professions, all of which she took very seriously. She was the eldest child of the Yondaime Kazekage (a job she would've liked very much to have gotten paid for, especially for pain and suffering), a wind mistress and Sand kunoichi in good standing, and perhaps most importantly to her, Naruto's big sister. The last was less a job and more a sworn duty, but because it was one of the few things Temari actually enjoyed doing, she was especially serious about it.
From the start, she had been suspicious of this Yugito person. Maybe it was simple jealousy because of Naruto's fascination with Yugito, or because Hanabi, who had seemed to know everything about Konoha, knew nothing about Yugito. And when GAARA, of all people, had said that Yugito was someone he trusted, it only made Temari want to know more.
Naruto, for some reason, resented any implication that Yugito was not exactly what she said she was. They'd actually had several small fights about it already, the last of which had escalated to the point where Temari whacked Naruto with her fan, and he, for the first time either of them had ever been able to recall, had struck her in anger, without Kyuubi being involved. It was just a glancing blow on the arm, one she could've easily avoided, but she'd just been so surprised. So had Naruto, because he'd immediately apologized, despite not having even broken the skin. Temari had forgiven him and promised that she was fine, but it had left things awkward and tense between them ever since.
It wasn't even that Temari felt like Yugito was a bad person, exactly. It was just that she could sense Yugito was not being truthful about something that related to Naruto, most likely being his long-lost sister. Temari had asked Naruto several times to have Kyuubi compare the scents of their blood. Each time, Naruto had refused, so either he'd done it already and didn't want to share the findings, or he just didn't want to know the truth. Either way, Temari understood his reluctance. If there was one thing that Naruto would hate to lose, it was family, and he clearly didn't want to lose a sister just after finding her. It was, in fact, entirely possible that he already knew Yugito was not what she claimed to be, and simply hadn't admitted it to himself.
But Temari was not so easily satisfied. She spent a great deal of time following Yugito around, asking her questions, and even following her in secret. Yugito did not seem the least bit bothered by this, and even made a point of inviting Temari along when she was going somewhere.
Yugito's supposed origin story was this: shortly after her birth, her father had left her in the care of the Raikage, who had immediately sealed the Nibi no Nekomata inside of her. Whether he had done this with or without her father's consent was unclear. At any rate, she'd lost track of her parents after that, but assumed they'd come to Konoha, where Naruto had been born. Temari found it highly unlikely that any two people would just go around popping out babies to have demons sealed in them, but Yugito's response had been both revealing and worrying.
"I take it there aren't many powerful bloodlines in Suna, then. Temari-san, do you have any idea how much a good, strong bloodline is worth? Look at the way people around here treat Sasuke. There are Kages that would pay any price to have that type of power for their villages. Not just anyone can survive having a greater demon sealed in them, you know."
Sadly, it did make sense to Temari. Gaara had practically lost his mind as a result of his sealing, and he had inherited no bloodline that she knew of. But even if he'd had one, it was unlikely to have helped him. There was only so much an unborn child could survive, after all. But the idea that Yugito's parents might have sold her to the Raikage was just a bit unsettling, as was the implication that they might have done the same with Naruto. It only made Temari more determined to find out the truth, no matter what.
Tsunade had many fond memories of her old sensei. The moment she'd turned sixteen, he'd bought her her very first drink. At the time, they'd been on a mission far from home, and Jiraiya had very nearly gotten himself killed, again. Much as she yelled at him, Tsunade cared deeply for both of her teammates, and her sensei had known that. So to ease her mind, and celebrate her birthday, he'd introduced her to sake.
Years later, he had been the main one to comfort her when she'd foolishly chosen Orochimaru to be the love of her life, and made the even greater mistake of telling him so. What had always surprised her most was that Orochimaru had merely smiled, taken her hand in oddly affectionate manner (he had never enjoyed being touched), and said, "You have no idea how happy that makes me, Tsunade-hime."
A week after that, Tsunade had walked away with a broken heart, and what she still considered a very much stolen first time. It wasn't that Orochimaru had been forceful, or even twisted about it. It was that he had been strangely caring and passionate during the moment, but afterwards, he had lost all interest in Tsunade, and made no attempt to conceal that fact. Ironically, though Jiraiya had always been the first to say that Orochimaru was no good for her, she had immediately gone to his house, dragged him out into the street, and beaten him to a bloody pulp. And for the first and only time, Jiraiya had made no attempt to escape, because he could see the pain and rage in her eyes, and knew what must have happened. Afterwards, she had dragged him to the hospital for healing, and Jiraiya had given her a firm hug, telling her everything would be fine, even though it never was again.
Their teamwork had ended at that point, but each came across a newfound motivation, one that would propel them into being three of Konoha's greatest ninja. No one knew exactly what drove Orochimaru. Perhaps he was just happy that he alone could boast he had taken Tsunade's virginity, but as far as she knew, he'd never told anyone. Tsunade had promised herself that she'd become strong enough so that no man would ever take advantage of her again. Jiraiya had sworn never to sit by while someone he cared for chose the wrong path, though no one was sure whether this referred to Orochimaru, Tsunade, or both.
Tsunade hadn't fully appreciated it at the time, but even as Hokage, her sensei had gone out of his way to support her endeavors. Many times he was guilty of playing favorites, but no one dared to call him on it, simply because to go against the Sannin was to go against Konoha. Still, Tsunade often butted heads with the old man, either because he favored Orochimaru above his other students, or because he had again failed to persuade the council into ensuring that every team had a qualified medic-nin. Their arguments were nearly as legendary as they were, and often Jiraiya had to pull her away with an offer of a drink on him.
But the longer her sensei remained Hokage, the more he began to make decisions "for the good of the village." It was not that these weren't good decisions, it was just that Tsunade believed he never would've made them, had he still been the same man that had trained her. And even though he still made time to talk with her about old times, Tsunade had convinced herself the man she thought of as her sensei had faded to nothingness, in order to make way for the Sandaime Hokage, a well-meaning but imposing stranger. She would never admit it, but that was one of several reasons that had convinced her to leave the village.
For as much as Konoha gave to its inhabitants, it also stole from them, and the things it took were almost always impossible to get back.
Konoha - Aburame Compound - June
Shino had never exactly said that his teammates weren't welcome in his home. At the same time, he had never given any sort of implication that they were, either. Thankfully, Sakura had gotten the hint (and later told Kiba), so Shino never had to say anything.
On the other hand, they'd still needed to know where he lived, in case of emergencies, so he'd reluctantly told them, trusting that Sakura would keep Kiba from just coming over whenever he felt like it.
Naturally, when Shino looked up from bug collecting in his backyard to see Sakura, Kiba, and Akamaru running towards him, he correctly assumed that something was very wrong.
Sakura had quickly told him of the mess their sensei was in, while Kiba just sort of stood there growling. Akamaru appeared to be the calmest, as he just sat at Sakura's feet, calm but alert.
"So what do you think we should do, Shino-kun?" Sakura asked after she was done explaining things. "How do we save Kurenai-sensei?" That she would ask his opinion was not really surprising; while both were recognized as being very intelligent, Shino had a better head for strategy, while Sakura was more book smart (assuming said books were not on bugs and wildlife, in which case the advantage went back to Shino).
"We," Shino said firmly, "will not do anything at the moment, Sakura. You have provided far fewer details than you normally would have, which leads me to believe that they were not readily available."
Sakura blushed slightly at the indirect compliment. There was a time when Shino would've just assumed that she'd overlooked something. Now, though, he had confidence in her powers of analysis, and did not second-guess her observations without excellent reason.
"For example, to your knowledge, only one man is holding our sensei hostage. But there could easily be several or many more, and we don't even know the abilities of the one. Kurenai-sensei is a jounin, and no one less than a jounin could capture her. Yet this person could easily be above that level. If we tried to handle this ourselves, we would most likely be killed, or worse, Kurenai-sensei could be killed. This matter is beyond our abilities. We must inform someone that is far more skilled than ourselves."
"Who?" Kiba demanded. "ANBU? The Hokage?"
"No," Shino answered. "ANBU would have to report back to the Hokage, and he might be forced to declare Kurenai-sensei a missing-nin, given the unclear circumstances. This must be handled quietly, by people whose top priority is rescuing her."
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Asuma and Kakashi!"
"Don't forget his nutbag wife Anko," Kiba added.
"Gaara might be willing to help," Shino pointed out.
Sakura and Kiba both stared at him blankly.
Shino sighed. "Kakashi and Anko are his adoptive parents. He will most likely care about anyone they care about, or at least be willing to aid them."
Sakura and Kiba traded uneasy looks, but neither was willing to speak a word against Gaara anymore. Despite all the rumors, no one could deny that Gaara and his squad got results. Sasuke and Hinata were easily stronger than any of the rookie genin that had graduated with them, and if Ino was to be believed, Gaara might even be stronger than Asuma.
"Well, if we do involve him, you're gonna be the one that tells him," Kiba said at last.
"Should we really keep depending on him?" Sakura asked quietly. "He can't fight all of our battles for us."
"True," Shino agreed, "but once again, this is not a situation where we would be successful. A single mistake could cost Kurenai-sensei her life. We must step aside and leave her rescue to more experienced shinobi. Our strengths lie more in the realm of stealth and detection, so delivering this information to the right people is all we can do."
Konoha - Nara Nature Preserve - June
One of Ino's earliest memories was feeding the deer that the Nara Clan kept on their land. She had done so nearly every weekend for six or seven years, until she found out that some people delighted in eating the poor creatures (thankfully, the Akimichi were not among them... well, not frequently). After that, she'd never been able to enjoy it quite the same, and her father had stopped taking her... to see the deer, that is.
However, Ino was encouraged to spend time with the Nara themselves, especially Shikaku, Shikamaru's father. He had been a constant figure in Ino's childhood, as she was often left with him when her own father was away on a mission. Shikaku was a horrible babysitter: he'd let Ino do whatever she wanted, and was an instant hit with her because of it. At the same time, he was an excellent guardian: he killed anyone who tried to put their hands on Inoichi's little girl, as Ino and an unfortunate Rock-nin had learned firsthand. Shikaku had strangled the would-be kidnapper right in front of her, and his face had not changed at all from the slightly bored expression he usually wore. If it had, Ino might have been afraid. Instead, she felt completely safe, and from then on took great delight in holding onto Shikaku's long fingers whenever they went out.
That had all been years ago, though. The most contact Ino had had with Shikaku before the Land of Waves mission was when he came into the flower shop. Even then, they'd only exchanged a few pleasantries, and he would pat her head in a way that she found more annoying than affectionate before wandering off. Had Ino given this more thought, she would've realized that he never bought anything, only ever came in during her shifts, and sometimes sent Shikamaru to shadow her instead.
Now, though, Shikaku and several other men in her life were giving her plenty of space. Ino appreciated it, but she could not imagine him being a threat to her: she knew him too well, and even considered him extended family. Perhaps the only reason she hadn't visited him recently was because of her attacking Shikamaru, but she could not imagine him holding a grudge, either.
Ino found Shikaku in the usual place: sitting on a large rock in the middle of the preserve, watching over the deer. It was easy to see where Shikamaru got his laziness from: Shikaku didn't seem to have a care in the world, and to anyone who didn't know him, he would've looked half-asleep. But Ino knew the moment his eyes slowly opened and slid in her direction that he had sensed her coming long before.
"Hey, Ino-chan," he said casually, giving her a lazy wave. "Haven't seen you around in a while."
"Sorry, Shika-oji," she apologized, giving him a quick hug. "I've had a lot on my mind lately. Um, is Shikamaru around?"
Shikaku nodded. "Yeah, I sent him on his rounds. He should be back soon."
Ino bit her lip nervously. "Do you... think he'd talk to me for a few minutes? Or is he still upset?"
"Damn right I'm still upset," Shikamaru muttered as he suddenly appeared behind her. "You didn't even bother to come see me while I was hurt. Even I'm not that lazy."
Ino turned around, her response dying in her throat. Shikamaru wasn't wearing a shirt, and most of his chest and arms were covered in bandages. They weren't bloody, but that hardly made a difference to Ino. Her eyes teared up as she quickly looked at the ground.
Shikamaru sighed loudly. "So why'd you finally come to see me, Ino?"
She took a deep breath. "I... I wanted to apologize for what I did, and ask for your forgiveness. I know I don't deserve it, but-"
"Yeah, okay," Shikamaru interrupted, looking very much bored. "So are we still gonna do the chuunin exams or what?"
Ino's head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. "What?! But... just like that?! WHY?!"
"Why not?" he countered. "We're still teammates."
She frowned. "Aren't you afraid of me now?"
Shikamaru snorted. "Ino, I've been afraid of you since you first screeched at me when we were kids, and I've put up with it for this long. If I was gonna run from you, I would've done it a long time ago."
"But... Shikamaru..." she whispered, shaking her head slowly.
His eyes narrowed. "Look, it's not like you have a lot of choices here, Ino. You NEED to be in the chuunin exams, and Chouji and I are the only ones who would put up with you. So quit making excuses and say yes already. We're already behind on our training, plus Chouji's been so worried that he's overeating, so we have to get him back down to his fighting weight. And you know that's a three-man effort."
It was strange to hear Shikamaru being so forceful, but it was also just the push that Ino needed in that moment. Smiling, she slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him gently. "Thank you, Shika," she whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, whatever," he grunted, quickly pulling away and grabbing her hand. "Come on, maybe we can catch Chouji before he hits his fourth 'all-you-can-eat' restaurant of the day. You teammates are so troublesome..."
Konoha - Market District - June
As Haku followed Hinata around the village, occasionally picking up items for that night's dinner, he found himself having a small, personal crisis.
He was a boy. A boy that could (and had) easily passed for a girl. Certainly this was very useful at times, but Haku wanted there to be SOME point where he was recognized as a boy.
This had already caused a bit of confusion in the Uchiha household. Nearly everyone except his teammates had said "Haku-kun" and "Haku-chan" almost interchangeably, and then immediately apologized, uncertain of which he preferred. Even the overly polite Hinata had fallen into the habit of saying "Haku-chan," and he just never felt the need to correct her. With her, at least, he could imagine that she was just quite fond of him, which seemed true enough.
In the end, Haku could not really say which he preferred. Yugito calling him "Haku-kun," and Hinata calling him "Haku-chan" both seemed right in their own way. Each held a certain warmth and familiarity, and each made Haku feel as if he had a purpose in life.
His thoughts were interrupted as Yorishiro suddenly landed on his shoulder and licked his cheek. Smiling, he rubbed the little dog's head and glanced over at Hinata, who was double-checking her shopping list.
"I think we have everything on my list, Haku-chan," she said after a moment, looking up and flashing him a bright smile. "Is there anything in particular you like to eat? I have some money left over."
Haku shook his head and smiled slightly. "I have learned not to be picky over food, Hinata-san. I've missed too many meals in my lifetime to ever refuse any."
"Oh, come on! There must be something you really enjoy!"
"Ice cream," he said after a few seconds.
Hinata pouted. "You're just saying that because everyone likes ice cream, aren't you?"
"Yes," Haku admitted. "But I don't hate it. I have met few who do."
"Sasuke does," Hinata sighed. "He hates anything he can taste sugar in. But I'll let you in on a little secret. He can't taste it if you just sprinkle it in."
Haku smirked. "You sneak sugar into his food?"
"Just a little," she replied with a grin.
"Why?"
"Honestly, I have no idea," Hinata answered. "Maybe to remind myself that he doesn't always know what's best for him. It just seems like something I need to do, as his wife. He wouldn't get any sugar otherwise, and that just doesn't seem right to me."
"I had no idea you were so sneaky, Hinata-san. I can only hope that is something you picked up from him, and not the other way around."
Hinata just smiled, choosing not to answer him. This turned out to be a very good thing, because if she had answered, Haku might not have seen what he did in that instant.
Further down the street, a very large person in a red, hooded cloak stepped out of an alley and began moving away from them. Haku could say exactly why, but something about this person disturbed him. This feeling was only confirmed when Yorishiro stiffened and began to growl loudly. Haku could in no way communicate with the dog, but he was certain that she was reacting to the very same sight.
"Hinata-san... could you please look at the person in the red cloak who is rapidly moving away from us? They just passed the vegetable cart."
Not unlike Sasuke, Hinata only had to blink to activate her doujutsu. Haku was uncertain if this had always been the case, or if she had progressed to this point through constant training. But he knew that both Hinata and her younger sister seemed to be exceptionally gifted where their sight was concerned (although he had yet to see Hanabi activate her Byakugan, even in battle).
Though it appeared that she was still looking at Haku, Hinata quickly located the person in question, her eyes narrowing slightly as they pierced through the cloak to find what lay underneath.
There was complete silence for several moments, and Haku started to grow anxious as the person moved further and further away.
Finally, Hinata blinked, her eyes returning to normal. "Haku-chan," she said quietly, "we need to get home right now."
"What did you see?" Haku asked.
"That person... is not normal," she answered. "He was not human... not entirely, or not anymore. It was difficult to say, exactly. Even suppressed as it is, his chakra was immensely powerful. I'm sure Yorishiro sensed it, too."
"Could he be one of the people Yugito is so concerned about?"
Hinata frowned. "It's likely. We won't know for sure until we talk to her. And if he is one of them, there's at least one other we need to be looking for."
Rain Country - Hidden Rain Village - June
To the uninformed observer, Konan could be easily be mistaken merely as a very popular citizen of the Hidden Rain Village. She delivered thousands of origami animals to the children's hospital no less than four times a week, and her signature blue cranes could be found in every patient's room. Every Monday night, she could be found drinking (only enough to be polite), with some of the most powerful shinobi that the village had ever produced, in a local bar. On the street, children flocked around her, in the hopes that she would grace them with a small smile, or perhaps bless an exceptionally lucky child with a rare red crane, which she never produced more than once a year.
She had earned more titles than some people had square meals in a year. Yet each one was both well-deserved and treasured, because sometimes they were all people could give her in return.
"Queen of Pein" had always been her personal favorite, because it had stayed with her the longest. It was also one of the most fitting titles she had amassed. Because for all intents and purposes, Konan was the sole leader of the Hidden Rain Village.
The shinobi she met with were either receiving and carrying out her orders, or reporting back to her. They quickly and ruthlessly silenced any opposition, and were well-compensated: their pay was generous, and they kept their lives. It was, in fact, the only thing that Konan ever had to pay for since she had come into power. She dined for free everywhere, and no one would dare to charge her for anything else.
All of this was made possible through Pein, who had been spending more and more time outside of the village, gathering any literature he could dig up on the greater demons. Konan understood it was necessary for his plans, even accepted that it would keep him away for months, possibly years at a time. And if she had been his wife, it would've bothered her more than it did.
But she was not his wife. She was his lover, confidant, partner, and mother of his child, but not his wife. That was one role that Konan had refused to fill, and that Pein had never asked her to. Marriage meant public announcements and enemies finding out who was precious to you. As far as anyone beyond them knew, Konan had met a man in her travels, given birth, and sent the child off to live with her father. Certainly, the child had left the village with a man that no one would've recognized as Pein, but that was the intention all along.
Though it was a union first formed in childhood, fueled by passion, and tempered in true love, Konan was not always content with it. She missed her child, her lover, and her freedom. It had been years since she'd last left the village, and it was starting to get to her. The world seemed smaller already, and the time between Pein's astral calls passed far too slowly.
It was on one of these particularly slow days when Konan felt the familiar tingle in her spine of someone contacting her through astral projection. Naturally, she assumed it was Zetsu with instructions from Pein. Usually, though, Pein delivered his messages himself, and Zetsu just came in person, as he enjoyed the moisture in the air.
However, it was neither of them. Konan frowned slightly as Tobi's peculiar spiral mask appeared before her.
"Hello, Konan-sama," he greeted. "How are you?"
"Tobi, you know you aren't supposed to contact me for Akatsuki business," she scolded lightly. "If you have something to report, you call Zetsu. Remember?"
"I remember," he assured her. "It's just... I haven't heard your voice in a while, and-"
"This is the first time we've ever spoken, as I recall," she interrupted. "What do you really want?"
There was a long pause before Tobi spoke again. "I haven't heard your voice in a while," he repeated softly.
Sighing, Konan shook her head. "You should get back to your mission, Tobi." She hesitated before adding, "You really are a good boy, you know." She got the distinct impression that Tobi smiled before he vanished from view.
Several minutes passed before Konan realized she'd forgotten what she was planning to do next. Shaking her head in frustration, she allowed her eyes to drift down to her right hand, where she noted that the skin was slightly darker around the base of the middle finger. Part of her missed the familiar weight of her ring, but it had been necessary to give it up, at least for the time being. Thinking of its current location only made her feel a sharp pang of regret.
"Damn you, Tobi," she whispered, shutting her eyes tightly. "Why did you have to figure out the truth?"
Konoha - Dancing Leaf Hotel - June
"You know, it's funny," Kakashi murmured, leaning against the wall of slowly rising elevator. "I thought I was done getting intel from genin a long time ago."
Anko scowled and punched his arm. "Hey, Kurenai's in trouble, and we wouldn't even know that much if it weren't for the pink-haired brat. Now is not the time to be picky about the source."
"Besides," Asuma was quick to add, "if I had to be informed by genin, I'm glad it was Sakura and Shino. They were far more detailed than anyone else their age would be, even if we are still walking into the unknown."
"We know they've got her, and that's all we need," Anko insisted.
Kakashi nodded lazily. "I almost hope we get killed. We're all going to take major heat if this goes bad."
The others agreed by their silence. They had informed no one of their plan, certainly not the Hokage. Of course, Asuma was still pissed that the Sandaime had been purposely vague regarding Kurenai's current mission, one that had apparently landed her in real danger. Even when Sakura had come to him, they'd had to consider that Kurenai might be acting as a double agent to get information. But Sakura had pointed out that if Kurenai hadn't wanted help, she would've made no attempt to identify herself to her student.
Still, this was the worst possible time for a fight to break out in the village. With so many important guests around, and so many of them already under suspicion, things were likely to explode in a hurry. But this was the best way to handle it: any longer, and Asuma might've tried this alone, any sooner and they wouldn't have been able to plan as much as they had thus far. Whatever trouble they caused for themselves would be worth it, if they got Kurenai back safely. At the very least, they were looking at fines and temporary removal from duty, possibly even imprisonment. They were fairly sure that it wouldn't be too harsh, considering they were aiding a fellow Leaf-nin. But that all depended on Kurenai still being considered a Leaf-nin at this point.
The elevator slowed to a stop two floors from the top of the hotel, at which point Asuma, Kakashi, and Anko stepped off and headed for the stairs. Kakashi had wanted to save as much energy as possible, and worried that taking the stairs all the way up would use up needed strength. Asuma had refused to take the elevator all the way up, concerned that they could walk (or drop) straight into a trap. Anko had proposed the compromise of doing both, which had satisfied the men.
Asuma led the way because, sadly enough, even as the Hokage's son and a former Guard Ninja of Fire, in Konoha he was probably the least recognizable of the three. Kakashi followed at a distance, his arms tense as his sides. Anko recognized the posture, and knew before the day was done, somebody was getting a Chidori or worse. She brought up the rear because in terms of stealth, she was probably the best of the three. Kakashi was no slouch, either, but Anko didn't consider having your arm glow and screech like a bunch of birds "stealth."
When they reached the top floor, Asuma approached the Fire Lord's Suite alone. Kakashi and Anko waited at the end of the hall, ready to charge in at the first sign of trouble. Both were starting to wish that they'd brought at least one other person along.
Taking a deep breath, Asuma knocked on the door. "I have an urgent message from the Sandaime Hokage, Ruki-hime. It concerns your safety."
The door opened far too fast, and Asuma stared into the eyes of a man he instantly didn't like. This feeling only grew stronger when the man's tanned skinned suddenly lightened to blue, and his wicked smile grew much wider, displaying some very sharp teeth.
"So you're here for our princess? It's too bad, since you won't get to see her." With that, the man buried his large, blue fist in Asuma's gut, sending him flying across the hall, where he slammed into the wall hard enough to be dazed for several moments... moments in which he would most likely be killed.
Kakashi was running even before he had a target, and by the time Asuma's attacker stepped out of the suite and into Kakashi's path, he had already been marked for death. That the man was immediately recognizable as Hoshigaki Kisame barely registered in Kakashi's mind; as far as he was concerned, that only meant that Kisame was already full of the water that would contribute to his demise.
Kisame noticed Kakashi, though, or he noticed the glowing mass of chakra in Kakashi's hand, and instantly moved his right hand to the sword on his back. Thankfully, Asuma chose that moment to regain his senses and lash out with his trench knives, opening up two deep cuts on Kisame's right wrist. Kisame winced slightly, but the goal had been met: he wouldn't be drawing his sword with that hand.
This left Kisame with a choice: ignore Asuma and face Kakashi, or ignore Kakashi and face Asuma. Kakashi was easily the bigger threat, so both Leaf-nin were surprised when Kisame again drove his fist into Asuma, this time into his jaw with such speed and power that Asuma was twisted all the way around before he hit the wall.
But Asuma was not dazed this time, and the fire in his eyes was proof enough of that. He went for Kisame's throat, his trench knives flashing ominously as they closed in.
Kisame merely opened his mouth and laughed... just before he opened it even wider, allowing a powerful stream of water to shoot out and slam Asuma against the wall again. The Leaf-nin slid to the floor, out cold.
The stream cut off abruptly, just as Kakashi's Raikiri plunged into Kisame's heart. Seeing Asuma batted aside twice in such a short time had convinced Kakashi that a normal Chidori wouldn't be enough. He would have to remember that precisely, when the council questioned him on the use of excessive force.
There was a small problem, though. Kisame certainly looked like he was in a great deal of pain... but it didn't seem to be the dying sort of pain. No, it seemed a lot more like that "Now you've REALLY pissed me off" sort of pain that was never a good sign.
"Nice try," Kisame growled through gritted teeth, even as he seized Kakashi's wrist with his left hand, "but they don't make you Itachi's partner if you go and die from just one attack, no matter how good it is." Then, in the very definition of excessive force, Kisame ripped Kakashi's arm from his chest, twisted it sharply, and drove his free, supposedly neutralized hand straight into the Copy Nin's face.
There were only three possibly good things about this.
The first was that Kakashi definitely heard something in Kisame's hand break as it crashed into his face. This could only mean that Kisame was favoring his right hand, because there was no way anyone became Itachi's partner with a punch that sloppy.
The second was that Kisame wasn't too interested in killing him, because from that position, he could've and should've done far worse.
Third, Kisame released Kakashi's captive arm just as the blow connected, meaning that the arm wasn't yanked clean off of his body as he went flying down the length of the hall.
Kakashi stayed upright only by anchoring himself with chakra in his feet and hands as he clung to the wall to stop his momentum. If he hadn't done so, not only would he have landed badly, but he would've missed the greatest sign of just how thoroughly fucked the three of them were.
Kisame had just taken a Raikiri to the chest. By all rights, he should've no longer been breathing. It was important to note, then, that not only was Kisame breathing, but he was grinning, even as small amounts of blood dribbled from the sides of his mouth. The reason for this grin soon became clear: the gaping hole that had been in Kisame's chest was healing at an incredible rate. Inside of a minute, there would be no trace of damage at all.
Both of Kakashi's eyes widened as he took this in, but only the Sharingan eye confirmed what his mind was thinking. Whatever Kisame was, he wasn't human, and this fight was only going to get worse.
End of Chapter 25.
Next Chapter: The battle between Kisame and the Leaf-nin ends with devastating results. Gaara makes a lifelong promise. Suna meets its end. Naruto borrows one of Kiba's jutsu without asking. The chuunin exams begin.
Endnotes:
Shika-oji: basically the same as saying "Uncle Shika."
The backstory between Ino and Shikaku was a last-minute thing, and it assumes that Ino was a lot closer to the Nara Clan than she ever appeared to be anywhere else. Still, I don't think it was too unlikely.
People are always saying that the Sannin were a lot like Team 7 when they were young. I just took that idea and ran with it. I made Tsunade a lot more like Sakura (and Jiraiya like Naruto), and you see how well THAT turned out. Although I have to say I don't think I changed Orochimaru's character at all to match Sasuke. Sasuke strikes me as very logical (at least, you can almost always tell what he's thinking and why he feels the way he does; tunnel vision makes you predictable), which is almost never the case for Orochimaru. At least if Sasuke ever did take Sakura into his bed, you could pretty accurately guess at his motivation (it's not like there's a long list of possibilities). With Orochimaru, you never know what he's thinking (so don't bother asking!).
I'm not quite sure how Sasori would appear to a Byakugan user. But his heart probably wouldn't be in the usual place, and his actual body would be missing the expected organs and blood. Plus there's all the weapons crammed into him, as well as the poisons.
Yes, there is a purpose to that weird conversation between Konan and Tobi, as well as all the backstory. I also decided to keep Pein on as Akatsuki leader, since he's turning out to be such a cool character. And if I add any more couples to the story summary, I won't HAVE a story summary... Also, Zetsu was the one to popularize calling Tobi "a good boy."
Perhaps I made Kisame a bit TOO powerful (and this IS Kisame, not some cheap or even expensive clone). There is a method to my madness. I've already dropped one or two hints as to why he's so tough, and I'll touch on it again next chapter. Also, again, I don't think Akatsuki should be dying left and right, no matter who is after them. I mean, they're down to five members in the manga, and that doesn't seem right at all. At first I assumed that the later a member was introduced, the tougher they were and the longer they'd live. Then Hidan got "buried" by Shikamaru. I'll admit the kid is a genius, but if you can be killed by a chuunin that DOESN'T have a demon sealed in him, maybe you shouldn't be in Akatsuki... or at least you shouldn't be so loud about it. But I like the idea that Pein, Konan, Itachi, Kisame, and Zetsu are the best Akatsuki has to offer. Although if Sasuke kills anyone but Itachi with yet another cheap trick, I'm going to be pissed. Has anyone noticed that lately most of Sasuke's wins seem to be controversial, technicalities, and not clear-cut victories? He's becoming more like Orochimaru every day. Bleh. And that ends my rant for today.
Ino's jutsu:
Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique):
A genjutsu technique that discovers a target's fear, and then makes that fear appear before them.
Kakashi's jutsu:
Magen: Kyoten Chiten (Demonic Illusion: Mirror of Heaven and Earth Change):
A genjutsu technique exclusive to Sharingan wielders. It reflects any genjutsu back at the caster, trapping them in their own illusion. (Actually, this jutsu may be exclusive to Uchiha, but I figure if Kakashi can get the Mangekyou through other means, he can get everything else he supposedly shouldn't have access to).
Raikiri (Lightning Cut):
It is my understanding that Raikiri is really just a more powerful version of Chidori. Apparently Kakashi is a bit like his "eternal rival" in that he has a flare for the dramatic occasionally. But since the Chidori/Sharingan combo is draining enough, I assume you wouldn't waste a Raikiri on anyone that wasn't as highly ranked as the jutsu itself. Chidori, on the other hand, seems to be good enough for anyone below A-rank, which is a bit weird, but not really, considering how much Naruto breaks out Rasengan, and damn I'm ranting again! Gah.
Kisame's jutsu:
Suiton: Kaikou Honryuu (Water Release: Open Mouth Torrent):
Kisame opens his mouth wide and releases a powerful, rushing stream of water from his throat. Excellent for driving back close-up enemies.
(Probably not an exact translation, at least not when "open mouth" and "torrent" are combined like this.)