Not Sick Chapter 32
Loose Ends
Jiraiya watched a paper woman form in front of him, and found something pleasantly ironic in it.
Flocks of false butterflies and knife-sharp sheets of white plastered themselves into a human shape, forming feet, ankles, a cloak, sleeves, and finally an angular face. It hung there for a moment, suspended in the crisp morning air and covered in innumerable seams, before suddenly pulling together. Color seeped in, the paper stabilized, and two seconds after the process had started Konan was standing in front of Jiraiya, watching him with a tired look, her lips drawn into a harsh line.
"Hey," he said with a faint smile. Konan's expression didn't change.
"Where is the Hokage?" she asked. She sounded tired, vaguely annoyed; there was some desperation too, lurking like a dark patch in the ocean. Jiraiya shrugged.
"She's got a lot on her plate," he told her. "Your request, an upcoming Kage Summit, meetings with the Daimyo…" He gestured to himself with a loose hand. "I'm afraid that for now I'm all you get."
"What can you give me?" She was a statue, unyielding and cold. Jiraiya felt a pang in his chest looking at her, the memory of a smiling, energetic child, gone as quickly as it had come. He rarely felt regret, but this was something like it.
"I can't assure anything." Konan rippled at that, flaps of paper rising along her arms and face before slamming back down. "You're asking for something unprecedented. Even if I'm in favor of it, there's going to be substantial opposition."
"Don't give me that, Jiraiya." There was a flash of accusation in the paper woman's voice. "This is how the Leaf can atone for some of its past sins. You know just as well as I that what happened in the wars before, all chaos as the Five Villages turned Ame into their battleground, that what you have now is a chance to make up for some of that."
Jiraiya hmmd. "I tried-"
"And you failed. Through no fault of your own, but you failed." Konan spoke the truth. "Hanzo ruined your best attempt. But now, the both of us have a second chance."
"You're already losing people," the Sage pointed out. "I can put up a strong front for Tsunade, and you know I believe it's the right thing to do, but you've already lost enough shinobi, and I'm sure civilians, to make a difference. Enough moved over Stone's border that they called Konoha out before we could explain our actions. If you can't control your people now-"
"They're angry," Konan said. "But most of them are not stupid. And those that are…" Her eyes flashed. 'I've had them leave."
"Surviving is more important than principles?" Jiraiya asked. "How many of them do you think will hold to that? How many of them are waiting for take their revenge?"
"A shinobi is one who endures." Konan's eyes were chips of golden ice. "You told me that a long time ago. I'm living those words now, Sensei. I've been living them for more than twenty years. We can't make our own village; there are not enough of us. We could crawl to one of the others, to Iwa or Sunagakure, but the Fence-Sitter would likely kill us to be safe and the Akatsuki kidnapped and murdered the Kazekage: we would not receive a warm welcome. We are coming to you here, now, to Konoha, because I believe, and my shinobi believe, you will be gracious in victory."
She breathed in, her shoulders dropping, body relaxing, and Jiraiya closed his eyes.
"Are we wrong?"
They were on the outskirts of the village, miles away from the wall but still technically within Konohagakure's borders. There was nothing here but large training grounds, well-watched roads, and miles and miles of unchecked forests. There was nothing to hear but the trills of distant birds, warning one another about the end of summer, and the rustle of trees and grass in the brisk morning wind. It made Jiraiya's silence stretch longer than it should have.
"No," Jiraiya finally said, and Konan exhaled. "No, I don't think you're wrong."
He shook his head. "However."
Konan's eyes regained some of the sharpness they'd lost.
"There's something we need before we can begin to consider it," Jiraiya said.
"Being?"
"The Bijuu," Jiraiya said, and Konan nodded. "Akatsuki took several of them. Where have they gone?"
"We captured six," Konan said, and Jiraiya winced internally at the 'we.' "We only lacked the Rokubi, Hachibi, and Kyuubi."
"And where were you keeping them?"
"Whenever a Beast was captured, all of Akatsuki gathered together." Konan raised her hand. Upon one finger sat a very plain ring, black and gold. "Nagato connected nine of these rings through the Rinnegan; I do not know how, but it was a space-time jutsu of sorts. It allowed anyone bearing the ring to connect over great distances, speaking or casting jutsu together as if there was no distance between them at all." Jiraiya nodded, intently listening. "He taught us all an extraction technique to pull the Beast from Jinchūriki; it was slow work, and all nine of us needed to cooperate, but it was safer than any other jutsu of its kind. As the Beast was removed, it was placed within the Gedo Mazo."
"Pardon?" Jiraiya asked.
"It was a statue," Konan said with narrow eyes. "A horrible looking thing. As more Beasts were placed within it, eyes opened across it, huge and pained. Nagato told me that when all of the Beasts were captured, it would become the weapon that his plan hinged upon."
Jiraiya absorbed the information with a stone face, turning the implications over in his head. A statue that could absorb Bijuu; he'd never heard of anything like it. Especially something that would become a "weapon" after all the Bijuu had been sealed within it. It didn't make much sense. Who could have had the means to create such a thing? The Rinnegan was powerful, but-
"Whenever it was needed, Nagato summoned the statue with the Rinnegan," Konan finished, thoroughly shattering Jiraiya's line of thought. His eyes widened. After a moment, Konan's did too, though not as much.
"Oh," she said, as if realizing something trivial; a dropped napkin, or a word out of place. "I suppose that Konoha has the Bijuu, then."
Jiraiya sucked in a breath.
"That's…" he said, his thoughts spinning out of control. "I need to go back to the village. Right now."
"We're not done here, Jiraiya," Konan said sharply. "My people-"
"Keep sending them this way," Jiraiya said, spinning around and already walking away, picking up speed. "We know they're coming. I'll keep them safe myself if it comes down to it." He looked back, flashing some teeth. "Just make sure they don't do anything stupid."
Then he was off, flashing through the trees, his hair streaming behind him like a white spear. In mere moments, he was gone.
Konan watched him go, her gold eyes narrow and thoughtful. Her nose crinkled, just slightly, and she raised her arm. An insect sat there, just past her elbow. It crawled farther down her arm, its tiny purple shape practically indistinguishable against her black cloak.
She remembered little bugs like these, bigger than these but similar in shape, in Amegakure; they'd poured from one of Naruto's allies. This close to a shinobi village, you couldn't be too careful.
She cut it in half.
###
Suigetsu looked annoyed.
This was rather ordinary, Sasuke thought, but today he looked more annoyed than usual. The Hozuki was grinding his razor teeth, producing a sound not unlike the one made by shaking a box of steak knives.
"I can't stay here much longer," he said, and Sasuke perked up a bit. He'd found Suigetsu sitting on a bench in one of Konoha's nicer parks, staring up in disgust at the Hokage's monument. His Butcher's Blade had been propped up beside him, like a companion at the bench, and though that had initially inspired curiosity instead of concern from passersby, Suigetsu's demeanor had quickly changed that. It was an ugly feeling radiating off of him.
"Stop being so pissy," Karin said, leaning back into the bench and staring up into the grey sky. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She'd been the one to actually find Suigetsu, at Sasuke's request, and he could tell she was already regretting it. "What, being able to sleep in a real bed and not having to worry about some idiot trying to stab you is too much for you?"
"He never has to worry about being stabbed," Juugo pointed out, looking away from the bird that had happily been strutting up and down his arm. "I don't think Suigetsu can be harmed by that."
"Thank you, Juugo," Karin said sweetly, and Juugo shrugged and went back to entertaining his avian friend.
"So, you're going to leave," Sasuke said. Suigetsu nodded.
"I got stuff to do, you know," he said. "I'm still after the Swords. Now that the whole shitstorm with you and Itachi is…" he looked cockeyed at Sasuke, who gave absolutely nothing away, "mostly done, I figure it's time to finish that."
"One of them is here," Karin said, glancing at him. "Why not try and claim-"
"Samehada?" Suigetsu laughed. "Yeah, a month ago I would have. But for now…" He grinned, showing an uncomfortable amount of teeth. "I think I'll go for something that isn't attached to Hoshigaki, thanks."
Sasuke grunted, shifting his weight. He was crouching in front of the bench, next to Juugo. "You're smarter than I thought," he said, leaning forward. Suigetsu chuckled.
"So friendly," he said good-naturedly. "That's not like you."
Sasuke just shrugged again, and what had been Hebi lapsed into silence.
"I bet you're staying," Suigetsu eventually said, twisting towards Juugo. The man just silently nodded, "Yeah, figures." He turned away to Karin. "And you?"
Karin hmmd, and refused to open her eyes. "I'm still deciding," she said. "I like it here. It's…" her lips twisted. "Warm. Warmer than any place I can remember for a long time." She opened her eyes, and Sasuke detected a hint of wistfulness. "But I don't know. If I'll be allowed. Or if it's the right thing to do."
"The right thing?" Suigetsu snorted, and Karin nodded.
"I might be needed somewhere else," she said. "I'm sure I'll know if I am."
"You're very valuable to the village," Sasuke said, and Karin jumped a little. "I would be very surprised if you were not allowed to stay. Maybe even become a Leaf-nin, if you wanted." He smiled, just a little, and only with his eyes. "Naruto would vouch for you. You saved some of his friend's lives."
Karin just stared at him, and Sasuke could see, somewhere in the back of her head, the exact moment she realized Amegakure had changed him.
"So," Suigetsu said. "Guess I'm going then." He stood up, swinging the Kurikiribocho over his shoulder. Juugo watched him calmly, but Karin rose a little from the bench.
"What?" she asked. "Now?"
Suigetsu shrugged. "Got no reason to stay."
Karin frowned. She didn't seem to know what to say to that. Sasuke rose from his crouch, his back as straight as a rod. Or a sword.
"Thank you," he said, accepting Suigetsu's departure. He stuck his hand out, and Suigetsu stared at it for a second, before extending his own as well.
"Don't get any ideas," he warned. Sasuke snorted.
"Sure," he said, and they shook hands, two teenagers from nearly extinct clans finding a moment to be grateful to one for freeing the other.
"Later then," Suigetsu said, turning and striding from the park without ceremony. He looked over his shoulder. "Maybe we'll meet again someday."
"Someday," Sasuke agreed, and then the Hozuki was gone.
Karin sat back down with a "hmmph.' "What a prick," she muttered.
Juugo chuckled.
###
Kakashi stood at a familiar teahouse, and ground his heels into the ground, taking it in for a moment.
The short curtain at the door covered his face, and Kakashi saw the discrete jutsu shrouding the man; but his unmistakable confidence exuded from his laid back pose alone. Itachi did not change much.
Kakashi pushed aside the curtain. The teahouse was bare, and the parties enjoying tea in there were so engrossed so as not to even turn at Kakashi's entry. The waitress took note, but left him be.
Itachi's gaze was marked; he tilted back the cup of tea at his lips as Kakashi sat down. He didn't know what to do with his hands, but settled for folding them so he didn't reach for his book. Something about reading that in front of this man didn't strike him as the right thing to do.
He said man, but Kakashi felt distinctly unnerved, looking at Itachi. With no Akatsuki cloak this time, all Kakashi saw was the exact same clothes he had wore most of the time. How old was he? Twenty-one? He'd just about stopped growing. He was barely past his teens, and was just drinking tea here - when had he last slit someone's throat?
-the thought passed. It wasn't like Kakashi was all that old himself - and his career had started almost as young as Itachi's. It was the familiarity of it that threw him off.
"Kakashi." A nod. "It's good to see you."
Kakashi sat back, crossing his legs in the space under the table. "It's almost nostalgic, isn't it?"
Itachi nodded. Kakashi was a little amazed at how he could cross his legs and drink tea in Konoha like he hadn't painted an entire complex of it red with blood.
He noted the bandage bound sword lying on the beam of wood behind their table. When Kakashi had peered in, it had been completely out of view. "Kisame's here too, then?"
"Indeed," Itachi murmured. He knocked a nail on the side of his cup; the ripple bounced back and forth against the ceramic. "I believe he wanted to talk to you."
"That's encouraging," Kakashi drawled. "Any idea what about? Where is he?"
"The bathroom. He'll be here in a moment."
A waitress set some dango on the table. Kakashi eyed one.
"Please, take one, Kakashi-san. Kisame ordered those."
Kakashi chuckled a little, and took one carefully. "Well, in that case, I'll dig in."
Itachi's lip curled.
The dango was sweet, though not excessively - but Kakashi chewed without savouring and swallowed as quietly as he could. Itachi took another sip of tea, and surprised Kakashi by starting the conversation himself.
"It feels unsettling to be in Konoha like this."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I can only imagine."
Itachi cupped the cup of tea with his other hand as he lowered it and looked at Kakashi directly. "I also wanted to speak to you, Kakashi. About Obito."
Kakashi took another bite of dango, and measured his blinks carefully. One every ten seconds at most, he thought.
He swallowed the dango and put his elbows on the table, throwing the clean skewer onto the dish of dango with a little more force than intended.
"I'm going after him," he said.
Itachi didn't stir, but Kakashi imagined he would have sighed, averting his gaze.
"So I imagined," he said. "This was why I wanted to talk to you. Do you want some tea?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
Itachi held the lid of the teapot with one hand, and lifted and tilted it with the other, pouring with a practiced ease. He called the waitress for another cup, and poured another for the empty seat beside him. It was light ocha, with a strange minty scent and a cluster of tea leaves at the bottom. Kakashi sipped slowly; it was a little too hot.
"Obito is-" Itachi paused. "He is perhaps not in the greatest state of mind at the moment."
The burble of everyday life continued. Itachi's words almost got lost in it, but Kakashi grasped them urgently.
"I know that. But I'm still going to go after him."
"Ahhhh, Itachi, the toilets here are so nice!"
Kisame Hoshigaki looked strange out of his Akatsuki robes, Kakashi decided. Somewhere, the shark-man had found a black sweater to wear. It fit tightly around him, but it went well with his equally black loose pants and boots. The Hatake guessed that this was how Kisame had preferred to dress in that limbo between being a missing-nin and a member of Akatsuki. Kisame stood in a way that made Kakashi think the colossal weight of Samehada had made a permanent imprint on his posture - and he looked incredibly bare without his cloak.
No armor, and no room for ninja tools of any kind; it seemed the man was more than confident enough in his body and sword. Now, he was wandering around the village dressed like a large blue lumberjack, followed by a squad of very twitchy ANBU.
What a loud confidence, Kakashi thought. So unlike Itachi's confidence, like a knife cloaked in black velvet. Kisame was a thorned sword, impossible to safely hold and strangely irreverent. The supremely dangerous man embodied carelessness.
Itachi looked up at Kisame with the closest thing to irritation Kakashi had ever seen on his face. "What took you so long?"
Kisame caught Kakashi's eye, and bared his teeth in a threatening grin. "Kakashi. It's been awhile, hasn't it?"
Kisame hauled his frame into the seat beside Itachi. His frame entirely dwarfed the Uchiha's beside him. He took a stick of dango, and gnashed through the sweets so violently he splintered the stick it came on. After polishing off the dango, he used a sharp scrap of wood to pick between his canines and threw it to the dish.
"I want in."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I'm not quite sure what you mean."
"You've got a mission from the Hokage," Kisame said, and suddenly Kakashi was paying attention. "You're going to track down Madara."
"Obito," Kakashi corrected, a bit sharply. Kisame seemed to stiffen at the tone, but Itachi gave him a sidelong look. His shoulders fell, and he grinned, relaxing.
"It doesn't matter what he calls himself," he said, picking up the tea with hands too large for the cup and taking a gulp far too large for tea. "You're gonna go find him. I want in."
The bustling life of the teahouse didn't stop for the silence Kakashi left, despite the enormous blue man making cocky claims over tea and dango. Itachi, beside him, a stone cold killer of Konoha's best, was looking at his boisterous friend with something close to exasperation. He finished his tea, and poured more.
Kisame smiled, an action that was not the least bit disarming. "I'm not going to kill him."
Kakashi looked into his tea, letting out a chuckle.
"Very reassuring."
"It's personal, then," Kisame said, uncrossing his arms. "But I promise you," –another flash of teeth– "I don't have any ill intentions." He laughed. 'You're welcome to try and kill me if I'm lying."
Kakashi stared at him. After a moment, he reached up and slipped his headband back, revealing his Sharingan. The pinwheel peered into Kisame, and Kisame stared fearlessly back. Itachi's shoulders hiked up a little, cup of tea hanging between his fingertips and his eyes locked onto Kakashi's single spinning Sharingan. The tomoe spun, changed direction, and locked into place, like the dial on a combination lock.
"Say that again, if you don't mind," Kakashi said, and Kisame's grin widened.
"I don't have any ill intentions, Kakashi."
"Hmm." Kakashi turned back to his tea. The swirl of the dark liquid was imprinted on his mind for the rest of his life, and he closed his eyes with a silent sigh. Kakashi pulled the material of his hitai-ate over his Sharingan. Itachi's eyes wandered away, and he took a sip of his own drink.
"I'll think about it," the Hatake said, and Kisame grunted in response.
"Good enough." Kisame took another stick of dango. "Oi, Itachi. Dango again. Someone's going to poison you someday, y'know."
Itachi took a long sip of tea, and placed it down poignantly. "I'm content with the risk."
Kakashi suppressed a smile.
"Moreover, if you are pursuing Obito, Kakashi," Itachi said, "Please remember who he is - who he was. The two, I imagine, have become inherently confused."
Kakashi paused. He saw the women behind the counter squinting at Itachi; probably trying to make him out, to no avail. "What do you mean?"
Itachi sat back, looking at Kakashi. "You can't simply make someone believe something wholeheartedly, without changing the rest of the self, without problems. Clashes of conscience. Difficulty even thinking."
Kakashi frowned, and Itachi pursed his lips.
"Obito, whose entire life and creed has been built on his beliefs, had beliefs with fortitude. Unshakable. To simply change them will have put everything he's ever done into question, even himself."
Something about the implication grated on Kakashi. The clash in his head between Obito and the masked man who had called himself Madara intensified for a second, before Kakashi crushed it. His jaw tightened. Kisame chewed the stick from his dango, and Itachi went on.
"People with irrational beliefs," Itachi said, "are liable to behave irrationally."
Kakashi's back felt warm; he realised the sun was setting by the singed orange reflection in Itachi's eyes. It looked as though his cornea was burning away beneath a magnifying glass. "I thought it appropriate to warn you, Kakashi."
"Thank you." He didn't feel very thankful. "But I'm going, either way. There's no way I can leave Obito to die."
He looked into his tea. The tea leaves had split apart, into two halves. They quivered slightly as someone across the room slammed the table, laughing raucously. "And I have more than one issue to take up with him, too."
"Then it's decided," Kisame grinned, twiddling the stick he'd used to pick his teeth in the evening sunlight. "So, Itachi, what are you going to do?"
"I'll stay here," he said. "The Hokage wants me on hand."
Kakashi remembered the meeting with the Iwa nin. "That might be wise."
"In that case, it'll be just you and me, Kakashi," Kisame said. "For better or worse, eh?"
Unnervingly, the sun glinting over Kakashi's shoulders cast Kisame's skin in a prismatic texture - as though his skin was actually covered in tiny, reflective scales.
A shockwave of sight reverberated through his left eye; a crystal of frost drifted over his cornea like a fuzzy mist, and he was blinded by a white and blue labyrinth. A very long icicle dripped from the right to the left of his vision, as though he were seeing sideways.
Kakashi shivered.
###
'Itachi is a liar.'
A/N: This chapter was definitely not posted by your lord and savior, the mighty Ekusukallybaa, whom all of you should worship.
It was also definitely not posted without Serendipity's full knowledge and consent.
Definitely.