Chapter 24: Asylum
"Killer B is dead"
Sasuke's voice was clinical, collected as he announced the news to the party of five, now gathered in the Hokage's office.
Naruto lurched backwards before sinking in his nearby chair, he didn't take lightly to the news of his outgoing friend and fellow Jinchuriki's demise.
"What happened to the tailed beast?" Shikamaru as ever keen minded was the first to recover, concern evident through his strained voice "He can't have let it off that easily"
"I am afraid the Raikage probably has found a new more complaint vessel for the beast. Iwa along with Kumogakure have also dispatched troops to Kirigakure, already on their way now, and, Kumo has raided some of Orochimaru's hideouts, meaning they might have acquired some of his research and added some of his biological weapons to their Arsenal"
"So, they are raiding Kirigakure, the richest nation in the five lands, which is torn into a thousand factions and is in no shape to defend itself whatsoever with advanced weaponry right now."
"I see no point in repeating what Sasuke has just said, Kakashi. What do we do now?" Hiashi's lumbering voice bounced off their ears "They are on their way to acquiring massive funds that will certainly be directed towards financing and refining their already advanced artillery rather than feeding the starving population, what for?"
"Conquering the rest of the hidden villages, the question is which one is next? And what can we do to minimise the damage?" Sai presumed
Sasuke nodded his agreement
"I need to relay this to Yamato and Kankuro at Ushio" Shikamaru announced
"First, we have to decide what to do about Kiri? We can't just let the face the onslaught on their own" the recovering Naruto inquired
"We can't send troops over there right now, already we have some stationed in Ushio, we need the rest to defend the village had they attacked" Kakashi clarified
"But ..."
"This isn't how things are handled, Naruto" the Hokage smiled wistfully at his young idealistic counsellor "However, we need to secure communication channels, a form of link to Kirigakure in order to procure and send aid or help if it is needed"
"To what end? Why would we do that?" Sasuke uplifted his demoted head, as he propping his slanting body off the wall.
He stood upright, facing their questioning sceptical eyes.
"What are you aiming at?" Kakashi inquired
"The end of all this, Kakashi. A bigger picture. A more strategic plan than the recurrent letting the war happen and taking on the defensive."
"This is not the most suitable time"
Sasuke shifted his attention towards the admonishing Clan's head
"When is the most suitable time in your opinion? When one of those crazed hungry maniacs succeed in ascending to power over the entire realm?!" he indignantly replied
"So we should turn to bigger tyrants in order to counter them? That is what you are suggesting?"
"Good god, I am saying that we don't have to victimise ourselves and fall prey to their likings. Whatever course of action or plan we undertake must heed that"
A particular understanding, dare say approval even, seemed to flash off Sai and Shikamaru's eyes.
"Sasuke, we already talked that, before. The initiative you aspire to is hard, Kakashi and Hiashi-san may not be able to understand it or work on it right now." Naruto interposed, hoping he could dispel Sasuke's buildup of frustration and anger.
"I am not demanding we put it in action right now, I demand we just consider it. Is it that much?" He huffed
"At least, let's get out of this with something, we have to secure a logistical line with Kirigakure ... fast. Sai, Naruto, that is your job for the time being." Kakashi stated with a finality. It was no time to start a lengthy argument, so he thought.
"You were quite too aggressive in there." Naruto casually noted
"Sometimes, Kakashi gets too consumed in a sole line of direction that he needs someone to snap him out of the gutter. He has to think of the bigger picture"
"You acted like you were the Hokage, not him"
"Well, whatever I did I know it was right"
"Always a conceited snob" Naruto shook his head as he stated in good humour "Anyway, it is sad this raikage disposed of Killer B, he was a good man" Naruto looked down cast.
"Indeed … It is scary to think what people like this raikage are capable of doing"
"It is even scarier to think what they can lure us into doing, Sasuke. It is scary to think that in the process of standing up for that murderous Kage, we can even turn bloodier"
"Why is everybody telling me this? What are you implying?" Sasuke's steps got heavy, sturdier than before.
"You have always been prone to getting carried away, even when your intentions are good, But don't worry" he smiled "I will always be here to stop you and bring you back"
Naruto's stride was wider; he was now a couple of feet ahead of Sasuke, the bright blue light in continuum with the contrasting deep dark crimson shadow.
"Wait up" He called after him "I wanted to speak to you about something."
Naruto stopped before turning back to him expectedly.
"Kurama"
"What about him?"
"I need to speak to him"
Naruto's head jerked back at his friend's request.
It occurred to Sasuke that maybe the ancient tailed beast would know what was so special about the Byakugan that drove Kumo obsessively into wanting to acquire it.
"About?"
"The Byakugan"
He quizzically looked at his friend
"Orochimaru thinks that there is a connection between the tailed beasts and the Byakugan. That it is why they are so adamant on having it."
It was an alarming development
"You told Hiashi-san about this?"
"No, I just told him to keep an eye on his clan's men until we can figure out the extend of truth of this claim"
As they stepped out to the streets, Naruto could see the ghostly puff of their breaths scattering against the transparent plane of cold.
The last winds of Autumn were brewing steadfast troubles heading towards Konoha.
That night the blue bird visited his house again
Team Taka was seeing the asylum he promised them not so long ago.
They marched their way through the reputed busy town, so foreign to their vagabond likings guided by their former de facto leader.
"Where are you taking us, Sasuke?" Suigetsu sneered
"To the Hokage's office"
"Are you turning us in?" Jugo's mind was already starting to turn, to formulate and speculate the worst of scenarios, so deranged and gruesome.
Sasuke spared the bipolar follower a single side glance before scoffing
"I thought you kept him on medication"
"We ran into your wife as the guards accompanied us to you. The good guard pointed her out and Kabuto here could recognise her. She is quite fancy" Suigetsu coolly stated, as sly edge to his voice, causing Sasuke to stiffen for a brief moment, before quickly gaining composture. "She seemed so dainty and refined, like a Hokage or a Hokage's wife would be" he proceeded, aiming to strike his ire even more, to deliver a point across.
Sasuke kept moving one, appearing undeterred by his trite comment. However, discreetly his one hand tightened around the hilt of his sheathed Kunai.
"Of course, she is. She is from the main house of the prestigious Hyuuga clan. You should have observed her cousin; he carried himself in such regal manner" Kabuto interjected in effort to derail the weaving tension created by Suigetsu's unneeded remark.
Karin stayed silent the entire path to the Hokage's office.
'She looks warm, so kind and warm that she is hard to begrudge' she thought as she remembered how Hinata unnerved as she seemed smiled at her politely when her desdainful gaze lingered longer than should be while they were passing
Kakashi proceeded to instruct them about the laws and rules they'd have to follow during their stay in Konoha and the fact he'd put them under surveillance and probation until deemed safe enough to roam free through the leaf village.
"It is of utmost necessity you provide us with a compiled list about the weaponry the Raikage could have obtained" Kakashi finalised before dismissing them to a designated lodging.
"Where is Orochimaru? and Why do you think they have come here of all places?"
"He wouldn't seek refuge in the village he despised so much, that is what Kabuto disclosed. As for coming here, it seems the Raikage has eyes everywhere and is expanding his hegemony and reign of terror among the relatively smaller neighbouring villages, they'd have turned them in" Sasuke calmly replied.
"Do you think they will stay here for long?"
"Not all of them at least, I am planning however to use their stay to the utmost advantage"
Kakashi raised his eyebrow inquisitively at Sasuke.
"We should establish a research base"
"Like Orochimaru's"
"No … an audited more humane base"