A/N: Wow, chapter twenty-nine . . . we've come a long way. Tsume's grown a lot too. She went from a meek, shy, mute of a girl, to a proud, determined kunoichi with a voice all her own. I went back and read the whole story when I posted chapter twenty eight, and it really amazed me at how much Tsume developed as a person. I mean, she went on this whole journey that really changed her. Think about it. Before, she wasn't of any real use to anyone, and couldn't speak up for herself or for others. She was really withdrawn, and didn't see much of a future for herself. But she ended up facing one of the Three Legendary Sannin, and she lived. She earned the admiration and friendship of some of the most dangerous shinobi in the world, and . . . she fell in love with one of them. And even better, the one she fell in love with felt the same. I really hope that she can forgive me at some point. She's one of the most deep and complex characters that I've ever written. It feels like I'm writing about a real person, like I'm writing a biography, and not about some fictional character in my head. It feels strange. I actually feel lucky to have been able to write a story about someone like Tsume . . . . . . damn, I'm probably not making any sense at all. Sorry. I'm just so proud of this story.
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Tsume landed silently on the branch, Itachi and Kisame having done the same. They could hear movement among the branches ahead. One hand resting on the trunk of the tree she perched in, Tsume closed her eyes, focusing in on the approaching presences. There were two of them. They were approaching quickly; likely ninja from Konohagakure. Tsume, Itachi, and Kisame had been traveling since before sunrise, and now it was mid-afternoon. The sun had sunk below its peak, but was a ways off from setting.
As the unknown people drew closer, Tsume's hand rose to the hilt of her sword, her eyes looking to Itachi for instruction. They had once again donned the small communicators, but the things were unneeded at this point. Itachi spoke quietly. "Try to avoid confrontations," he whispered. "We move to the north." Tsume's hand fell away from her sword and she nodded. Without a word, she, Kisame and Itachi leaped away to the side in a new direction, making not a sound in their evasive move. However, those who followed them were no strangers to chasing after prey.
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Rock Lee turned his head to Haruno Sakura. "They've changed direction, now heading north," he said. "Do we follow?"
The pink-haired kunoichi nodded. "If the information is correct, and individuals with black cloaks with red clouds have indeed been sighted, then we have to neutralize them as quickly as possible. If that fails, retreat and inform Tsunade-sama." Sakura narrowed her green eyes. If one of the Akatsuki even tried to harm one of her friends, they'd be unconscious before they could even blink. And suddenly, Sakura saw someone up ahead, only just visible through the branches. Though the individual did indeed wear a black coat, they were not clad in the garb of the Akatsuki organization. But then the weapon the person was carrying on their back finally registered in Sakura's mind. It was the sword of Momochi Zabuza. Sakura remembered all too well the mission that had brought her team and their teacher up against he nuke-nin of Kirigakure. But Zabuza had died ten years ago; who was this person now wielding his weapon?
Against her better judgment, Sakura called out. "Who are you?! Name yourselves!"
Without pausing for an instant, the figure whirled in mid-jump, pushing off of the next branch they hit, their hand going to the hilt of Zabuza's sword and swinging it free.
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Tsume whirled at the voices in mid-leap, pushing off as soon as her feet met wood. Her sword was swung from her back as she lunged forward at the two approaching figures. The sword came down fast and hard, slicing through the branch on which the pink-haired kunoichi had just been perching. Tsume's eyes followed the woman, noting the surprise and shock in her green eyes. But Tsume was forced to whirl around as she felt someone behind her, bringing her sword before her just in time to block a kick from the other shinobi that would have been devastating had it hit; her arms shook with the force of the blow.
Leaping away, Tsume landed on a branch several yards back from the two Konoha-nin. They were an odd pair to be certain, but hardly any odder than the people that Tsume knew. Other than noting their Konohagakure forehead protectors, Tsume took notice of little else. She hefted her sword again, eyes narrowed at her adversaries. Just then, Kisame's voice crackled over the communicators that he, Tsume, and Itachi had put on in the early afternoon.
"Tsume! What's going on?!" he called, sounding both worried and angry. "What are you doing?!"
Still holding the sword with one hand, Tsume lifted the other to her neck to press the button in order to respond. "I'm fine," she said calmly. "Keep going. I'll hold them back. You go and find the Jinchūriki."
"Tsume! You can't—!"
Tsume cut Kisame off, not quite noticing the widening eyes of the two shinobi she faced. "I'll be fine, Kisame! Go!" Kisame sounded as if he was about to protest, but he stopped, and the communicator went silent. When Tsume refocused on her two opponents, she saw anger burning in their eyes.
"You've come for Naruto," the kunoichi growled, her black-gloved hands clenching into fists at her sides. "You're part of the Akatsuki."
Tsume forced all emotion from her voice as she responded, though her eyes shown with regret and a wish to apologize. "I'm only here for the Jinchūriki. Please, if you do anything to harm Kisame or Itachi-san, I will—"
The kunoichi exploded in rage. "NO!" she yelled, eyes burning with green fire. "I won't let you hurt Naruto! I won't let you lay a finger on him! I'll kill you if you do! And Itachi and Kisame!"
Tsume's control snapped. She gripped her sword with both hands, her own eyes now burning with a fire to match, and perhaps overpower, that of her opponent. "No. You. Won't," she hissed, voice laden with warning and anger. "I won't let you hurt them. You won't hurt Itachi-san, and you certainly won't hurt Kisame. I won't let you hurt the man I love."
Though both shinobi's eyes widened in surprise, it was the green-clad male who spoke. "The man you . . . love?" he said in surprise. "Are you talking about Hoshigaki Kisame? The Monster of the Hidden Mist?"
Tsume leaped at the male in anger, losing control. She swung her blade in an arc, wielding it as if it were light as a feather. She landed where the male had been standing, her head hung low and face still hidden by her hood. "Don't you ever call Kisame a monster again," she snarled. "If you do, my anger will overtake me and so too will Orochimaru's curse mark. I don't want to become a senseless, blood-thirsty killer, but that is what the mark makes me."
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Sakura and Lee blanched at the young woman's words. Her words echoed in their minds, taking some time to sink in. Curse mark. Orochimaru's curse mark. Lee glanced sideways at Sakura before shifting his gaze back to the young woman who stood before them, his body tensed but his mind curious. "Orochimaru's . . . curse mark?" he asked quietly. "Are you one of his—?"
The girl straightened and whirled, eyes blazing. "I WOULD NEVER WILLINGLY HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO THAT BASTARD!" she screamed. Then her voice lowered. "He marked me the same day he killed my parents, but then sealed my memory of the event as well as the mark itself. It lay dormant until not long ago." The girl lifted her hand and pulled back her hood, revealing a young, innocent face. But the bright amber eyes that gazed out from that face were anything but innocent. They shown with the hardships of life, and with an anger that Sakura hadn't seen for a very long time. The girl felt the same hate towards Orochimaru as Uchiha Sasuke held for his older brother, Itachi. Sakura and Lee's eyes strayed to the massive sword the girl currently held easily in one hand, her muscles not showing the slightest strain. And as Sakura looked closer, she recognized the sash wrapped about the woman's waist. It had once belonged to Haku, the tool and follower of Momochi Zabuza.
"Who are you?" Sakura breathed.
The girl looked Sakura full in the face as she responded. "My name is Tsume," she said softly, all anger gone and voice calm. "I am your opponent, and I cannot let you pass.
Sakura and Lee saw raw determination in Tsume's eyes, and they somehow knew that she was more than able to back up her words. They had seen her wield her sword; easily and with frightening speed. She was more than able to fight them on her own. Both the Konoha shinobi suppressed unwanted shivers that threatened to rush up and down their spines. In this woman—this girl—they saw a power that was out of place in the small, compact body. She radiated a pure, raw confidence so like that of their friend, Uzumaki Naruto.
Naruto . . . Naruto . . .
No. They could not admire this girl; Tsume. She was here to aid in the capture and eventual death of their friend. They couldn't let her stand in their way; they had to get past her. To protect their friend, they would do anything. They would even kill this young woman if they had to.
And at the same time, Tsume could not let Haruno Sakura and Rock Lee get past her. They would pose a danger to Kisame and Itachi if they did. Tsume would give her all to protect the two men. Both her saviors, and one the man she loved with every fiber of her being. If Tsume had to, she would kill to protect the two shinobi.
Tsume raised her sword, pointing it at her opponents. "The sooner this begins," she said softly, a note of sadness echoing in her voice, "the sooner it will end." Sakura and Lee tensed, waiting for Tsume's charge it came quickly and without hesitation. Tsume leaped away from the branch, determination blazing in her amber eyes.
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A/N: Well, sorry that one was so short. I'm gonna work extra hard on the next few chapters. I hope you enjoy yourselves!
