Hey, everyone. Forgive me for the I scheduled absence. Packing for college and getting sick delayed me significantly, but here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 28 – The Calm Before the Storm
Amaya wondered how hard it would be to get Neji to spar with her. She didn't think it would be too difficult; he was as hot-blooded as Naruto and would probably welcome the challenge of fighting a Jonin. She'd always wanted to pit her chakra-storing tattoos against the Hyuga's Gentle Fist but had never found a willing opponent. Before losing to Naruto, Neji might not have agreed to fight her, but know that he'd been knocked from his high horse, there was the chance he'd be in a more accepting mood.
"You okay?" Kakashi asked, taking the seat beside her.
She glanced down at the arena where Sasuke was doing his best to beat Gaara to a pulp. His attacks were getting close, but still he couldn't scratch the Sand nin. The black-and-red-clad Jonin returned her attention to Kakashi. "I'm fine. Just thinking."
"That's dangerous, Princess. You might hurt yourself." The smile under his mask was genuine. Was he really able to forget all that had happened between them in the past month and act like nothing did? Well, she knew it shouldn't surprise her. That's how he dealt with most of the bad things in his life; he shoved them into a mental box and ignored the hurt.
If he could do it, so could she. "No more dangerous than being around you, Scarecrow. I mean, no wonder you wear a mask. Anyone who sees your face either runs screaming or dies on the spot."
His smile widened with the banter and she couldn't suppress a smile of her own. He glanced around and, at first, she didn't realize what he was looking for; but then she saw them-ANBU in the stands. She leaned over to whisper to him. "What're so many ANBU doing here?"
"You don't know? Hayate's dead."
"What does that have to do with ANBU?"
"Didn't you read the note left for you?"
"No, I was in a rush this morning." She'd woken up later than she'd planned and had to rush to make it to Genma's in time for breakfast. Amaya pictured the folded piece of paper on her coffee table, the seal unbroken and the words unread.
"Hayate was murdered. An attack's expected, but we don't know any more than that; but this isn't nearly enough ANBU. Not in an arena this size."
"They're stationed around key points in the village," Guy said as he slipped into the seat beside Kakashi. "Since Lord Hokage doesn't know what the enemy will do, he thought this was the best course of action. For now, we just need to watch this match. I'll be watching your pupil closely, Kakashi, to see if your training is any good. After all, I am still your rival."
"Hmmm? You said something?" Kakashi responded.
Amaya ignored Guy's exclamations about how Kakashi irked him. She watched Lee talk to Sakura and Ino, saw the way the boy looked at Sakura, saw the glances the pink-haired shinobi was throwing her, so she got Lee's attention. "So Lee, how're you feeling? Better?"
"Yes, thank you..."
The auburn-haired Jonin stretched out a hand. "Amaya. I was sensei to Sakura for a time."
The injured Genin turned his fixated gaze from Sasuke's fight, shook her hand, and gave her a good-guy smile. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise. Guy speaks very highly of you." Before she could say anything else, the sound of Naruto's voice distracted her. The blonde, followed closely by Shikamaru, stopped at the top of the stairs. "Kakashi-sensei, you have to stop this fight!"
"Naruto, slow down," Ino called.
Naruto ignored her. "The guy Sasuke's fighting thinks his only reason for living is to kill. He'll kill Sasuke if this match goes on. Please, sensei, you have to do something!"
"Relax. No need to panic. Sasuke can handle himself. There is a reason we were so late."
The auburn-haired shinobi had to admit that having the young Uchiha copy Guy and Lee's taijutsu was a good idea, but that couldn't be the only thing Kakashi taught him. Taijutsu alone couldn't account for their late entrance. But what could they have been working on? Most of Kakashi's repertoire was copied jutsu, the majority of which a Genin would have to spend months perfecting, even one talented as Sasuke. The Sharingan would help the process along, but still...
"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said as Sasuke continued to fail to get through the shell of sand around his opponent, "you said there's a reason you were late?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story –"
The orange-clad ninja interrupted Kakashi. "You have to do something! This isn't a time to talk."
The silver-haired Jonin's tone hardened. "You're right, so shut up and watch. Sasuke's about to impress you."
Sakura, Guy, and Lee turned to glance at Kakashi. He sounded irritated, but Amaya knew frustration clouded his voice. He was trying to keep everyone's attention on Sasuke, trying to control those around him without anyone noticing as usual. Amaya balled her hand in a fist to keep from smacking him. She hated when he manipulated people. Not that he was doing it to be malicious or mean. He simply wanted everyone to see the fruits of his labor and to admire what he'd done. In all the time she'd known him, he'd never done it on purpose. He was too used to talking and having people listen.
A sound like chirping birds filled the stadium. Amaya's head snapped around to see Sasuke on the wall, Chidori glowing in his hand. She spoke to Kakashi while keeping her eyes on the Genin. "You taught him Chidori?"
"Why wouldn't I? He reminds me of myself when I was his age."
"When you were his age, you were already a Jonin. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Amaya, calm down."
The black-and-red-clad Jonin stood up, glaring down at him. "Can I have a word with you?"
Kakashi rose without a word. Everyone's eyes followed the pair as they ascended the stairs, stopping next to the wall where most people wouldn't be able to hear their conversation. The silver-haired Jonin leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Amaya repeated before gesturing around her. "That sound is what's wrong. You know how dangerous that technique is, how easy it would be for him to use too much chakra. Not to mention the tunnel vision that leaves him vulnerable."
"Which he won't get because of the Sharingan. You're over-reacting. He's fine."
She'd have never called Sasuke fine. Sure, he wasn't out to kill Itachi anymore, but that didn't mean he was okay. And Orochimaru's curse mark wasn't making matters better. She'd heard some disturbing rumors about the evaluation Inoichi-san did on him while he slept after receiving the curse seal. He was on the way to getting better, but Amaya was certain that Sasuke still wanted to hunt Itachi down, if only to learn the truth. She shook her head. "Why'd you teach it to him? Be honest. Please?"
"Because he wants power and that lust will lead him straight into Orochimaru's arms. I wanted to show him that he can become strong here, among people who care about him."
Kakashi didn't look at her when he spoke. She knew he was talking about himself as much as Sasuke. Power, and the control that stemmed from power, were as important to Kakashi as finding Itachi was to the young Uchiha. Both reveled in their strength because that strength allowed them to achieve their goals. She sighed, knowing he was right. Sasuke would seek out Orochimaru to learn where his brother was. "I'm sorry. I should've thought a little harder about your motives."
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad we're talking again." The smile she could see under his mask, and picture in his mind, was full of apology. Perhaps he wasn't pretending as hard as she thought; or maybe she knew him too well and could see what he tried to hide. Either way, she returned the smile, glad at their reconciliation. He began to speak, but both shinobi rushed to the stairs, where Naruto and Shikamaru still stood, when they heard the impact of Sasuke's Chidori.
The screams from within the sand shell made Amaya shiver. They were the screams of someone unused to pain. She watched as the raven-haired nin, unable to pull his arm from the sand, activated the Chidori one more time. He pulled his arm free as the screams of Gaara rose. Some sort of veined, sand-colored arm followed Sasuke as he leapt away, but retreated nearly as quickly as it appeared. Power rolled from the sand shell in waves, setting every Konoha Jonin's senses on high alert. The chakra they sensed felt similar to the Fox's and dread stole into their hearts.
Instinctively, Amaya reached for Kakashi's hand, needing something to anchor her racing mind. What could be in that child? Surely not something kin to the Fox. If it escaped, the Village would be destroyed. She could feel tension radiating from the silver-haired Jonin who gripped her hand, in need of the same support.
The shell of sand around Gaara crumbled. Blood poured from the wound on his shoulder but Amaya stopped paying attention to the arena floor as a genjutsu surrounded her. She, Kakashi, and Guy shared a quick glance before releasing the jutsu's hold on them. Around them, civilians were slumping forward in sleep.
The attack had begun.
