A/N: Onto the badass action! Sorry for the irregular chapter lengths
Thanks to dark prime 0 for your reviews, much appreciated. SonOfObito i don't expect you to review all the time, it just makes me appreaciate how dedicated you are to the story and how many times you do review, you're awesome. And your Kasu/Shi is still coming, you'll just have to wait a little bit longer (Please don't kil me, or you won't know how they get together) And hello to Tatty and Dragon, hope your ankle is better and you'll just have to wait and see how everything pans out (Grins evilly)
So, chapter inspired by two kick ass song:
Get Back- Ludachris and Sum 41
You're gonna go far kid- The Offspring
Enjoy!
Kasumi ran. Sneaking out with the platoons was easy and she knew exactly where Kakuzu and Hidan were going and if she was right, she'd catch them there and follow, hoping no one had found them yet… But she had this sick feeling in her gut, one she always got when something was about to happen to someone she cares for and right now, there were too many people she cared for.
She'd tie Hidan up in a seal and deal with Kakuzu, it was the only idea she had with fighting the immortal pair. Even the strongest had a weakness, it was just finding it and hers was pretty obvious and maybe everyone's was but it was always the idea of looking underneath the underneath, you had to know when to look and when to just judge a book by it's cover.
She'd never felt this excited to kill since the war… Especially Akatsuki and someone she absolutely hates since their one sided relationship began, it seriously pissed off Leader-sama and Sasori even though it was quite entertaining, it passed the time in Akatsuki.
She was going to make it this time… No one else was going to die on her watch and Kasumi had made that promise the day of Jiraiya's funeral. Steel her heart, fight for what is right and she was never going back, the past is in the past and she needed to stop focusing on it and follow what she felt.
Chakra's clashed close by and Kasumi instantly recognised them as her smile turned into a smirk as her adrenaline rushed through her chest, tightening it almost as if she was nervous but she knew… This was the thrill of the battle, would she make it? Will she be able to stand up to Akatsuki standards once again? Could she fight them at the same time if she had to? Would she win?
"Yes I will… I refuse to loose anyone else this time around." Kasumi growled out loud as she noticed the battle was right by her destination of the exchanging of bounties. The tree line cleared as she ran at full pace along the road as she could see the blurs of people up ahead and blood floating in the wind's scent.
Asuma, Shikamaru, Kotetsu and Izumo. She'd recognise those scents anywhere and the silhouettes of Kakuzu and Hidan… The thrill made her even more excited as she saw what was coming at the almost heartbreaking scene in front of her… The loss of a sensei was hard, Kasumi had experienced it before, especially saying Shikamaru was at the same age she was that time.
Hidan was standing in a blood drawn diagram, exactly like his religious necklace he always wore and he was almost like a skeleton in black and white. His scythe blades sticking through him as Asuma was on his knees in front of him, choking on blood, holding his abdomen… Exactly the same place Hidan was stabbed… The exact same wounds as Hidan and Hidan was standing in the bloody diagram.
Shikamaru was running, tripping as he was exhausted and Kotetsu and Izumo were being held by Kakuzu who must have been forced to get involved. Hidan's laugh grated on her nerves, passing the stunned Kakuzu and Kotetsu and Izumo, catching up to Shikamaru as Hidan held a spike up by his heart to bring it down into himself. Kasumi's body acted on it's own, her unconscious battle hardened mind already predicting things as her hand reached for her pouch and pulled out her specialty kunai that glinted in the unusually sunny day and she threw it as fast as lightning, landing where she wanted it.
Flash one. She landed on Hidan's right, behind him as her hand grabbed her kunai and swung upwards, knocking the spike away as she used her momentum. Wrapping her left arm around his waist, she quickly took him down and out of the blood drawn diagram and threw her kunai again, past Asuma as they rolled through the flash and Kasumi recovered quickly. She formed hand seals as her feet slid across the ground, still crouched ever so slightly before she stopped and slammed her hand onto the ground. Pinku shot out, running straight for the diagram and began digging it.
She hadn't retrieved her kunai in the last jump as she jumped to it and picked it up, continuing her run over to Asuma. She got to his left and quickly slung his arm over her shoulder, her keen eyes taking in his damage as her right arm wrapped around his waist. Using her wrist, she flicked her kunai from her right hand closer over to Shikamaru as she jumped with the injured Asuma and landed gently as Shikamaru skidded down by him.
Kasumi pointed her kunai at Kakuzu and he was unready for her sudden strike of lightning as he let go of Kotetsu and Izumo and jumped back. Kasumi had stood during the attack and threw her kunai over, getting to the two chunin before flashing them back over so they had regrouped again.
"Kasumi-sensei?!" Shikamaru gasped through his tears as Kasumi instantly focused on healing Asuma as well as keeping her senses alert.
"Kasu-chan! How lovely to see you!" Hidan yelled out over excitedly and Kasumi shot him a death glare.
"I can't say the same Hidan." Kasumi growled at him before her focus was back on Asuma and Pinku had destroyed the diagram.
"Your speed has gotten better." Kakuzu said and Kasumi scoffed, her eyes and hands focused… It was a bad and serious wound… Stuck with three tired chunin and a very hurt jonin who is out of commission.
"It was the heat of the battle and my promise… I had to make it on time." Kasumi said softly as Kotetsu and Izumo were still slightly stunned.
"Konoha's Silver Ghost?" They both asked as the situation was beginning to be clear to them.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway? You know not to mess with my ritual you little bitch." Hidan yelled, back to his old state of self and Kasumi knew her opponents were getting restless… Asuma would be okay for a while but not for long as her healing chakra faded.
"Kas… Sumi." Asuma whispered out and she patted his chest gently with a small smile.
"It's all right. You're going to be okay." Kasumi said to him as she got onto her haunches and stood up. Her chakra lashed out around the four man team and forced Kakuzu and Hidan to jump back out of range for a while to sort things out. "Shikamaru, take Asuma somewhere safe for now and keep him awake and talking, Kotetsu, Izumo, protect them and stay safe. Reinforcements are on the way, I can last until then."
"No, I won't let you sacrifice yourself as well." Shikamaru said, standing up and thinking twice about putting his hand on her shoulder as her lightning still covered them as well as herself.
"Back in line chunin." Kasumi ordered, looking over her shoulder at him, she needed to establish command to calm their nerves it had always worked in the war. It worked as they all stood a little straighter as the chain of command was taken back and Kasumi breathed. "Go, I'll handle them." Kasumi said, putting her hand on Shikamaru's shoulder and nodded at Kotetsu and Izumo as they nodded back. They carefully lifted Asuma and jumped onto the roof of the building and Kasumi saw Kakuzu move after them.
Kasumi quickly took a scroll from her flak jacket, nicked her thumb as she ran her thumb across the open scroll before winding it up fluently as she formed hand seals, watching Kakuzu as he moved towards the roof where the team had just gone.
"Summoning: Earth Style: Tracking Fang Jutsu." Kasumi called as she slammed her scroll into the ground and her ninken appeared, snapping Hidan into place. "I'll deal with you later." Kasumi said, making sure her ninken had him and she chased after Kakuzu.
"Come back here you bitch!"
"Your fight's with me." Kasumi said as she skidded to land on the roof between the team and Kakuzu. He looked down to see Hidan struggling with the eight ninken holding onto him and looked back at Kasumi who was crouched to fight.
"Let me go! I will sacrifice you all to Jashin-sama!" Hidan yelled and Kasumi couldn't help but smile slightly at his outburst.
"What's so funny?" Kakuzu asked and Kasumi shrugged. Kakuzu froze and seemed alert and Kasumi quickly looked to Hidan to see he had reacted the same way.
"Can it wait a little longer? Seriously we're fighting at the best part." Hidan complained and Kasumi's eyes widened as she dug in her pouch and quickly flicked the little red ring onto her finger.
"It's time to seal the Niibi. That takes priority, return immediately." Pein's voice came through and Kasumi scowled.
"You haven't sealed it yet? Wow, have you gotten slack." Kasumi laughed over the connection.
"That is none of your business. Return the ring while you're there Kakuzu." Pein said and Kasumi scoffed.
"I don't think they'll be returning any time soon Leader-sama so deal with it." Kasumi growled before she took the ring off and fingered it as Kakuzu and her eyed each other.
"What the hell was that?" Kotetsu asked the team as they watched the interaction and Shikamaru had his eye on her ring as he looked over to Hidan and Kakuzu as well.
"It was almost like a conversation we couldn't hear between the three of them… And who's 'Leader-sama'?" Izumo wondered and Shikamaru scowled, noticing the same rings all three of them had, what was Kasumi's connection to Akatsuki?
"You're the best Kasu-chan! Giving us a few more minutes but don't worry, I'll sacrifice a loyal girlfriend of mine to Jashin-sama." Hidan said as he laughed and Kasumi rolled her eyes as the injured team stiffened slightly at the information.
"First, I'm going to take you out then I'll deal with that idiot Hidan." Kasumi said as she slipped both hands into her hip pouches and pulled out her specialty kunai as she spread them out among the area in one throw. "I have my otouto to thank for that technique." Kasumi said, her eyes sliding to see Hidan trying to shift his position but her ninken clamped down tighter with growls.
Kasumi moved in close, engaging Kakuzu in a hand-to-hand fight, his experience showing through as Kasumi dodged his hits just in time. Using Hiraishin too many times would result in exhaustion and quickly and she'd need it as a back up… Knowing where all marks and kunai are is the technique's only weakness unless you know your opponent like Kasumi used on Minato once during their spar for the bells. She needed to take Kakuzu out quickly as she lured him to a new spot as they sparred and she skidded back from a surprising hard hit that she blocked but it seriously hurt her arms which could either be seriously bruised or a possible fracture but Kakuzu was in place as she activated Hiraishin and didn't use her signature flash as the air just displaced as she landed by Hidan to throw Kakuzu off before appearing behind him, Raikiri in hand as she plunged it through Kakuzu's heart.
"Yes! She got him!" Kotetsu said out, pumping his fist slightly as they watched.
"Are you still immortal if I crush your heart?" Kasumi growled into his ear, still on edge because her chakra was sensing something else within him… He was still alive. Lightning hit the ground from the storm a distance away as Kakuzu grunted in slight pain and Kasumi placed her left hand over her right arm as she grimaced, placing more lightning chakra throughout his body to try and kill him since she was already paralysing him.
"Kasumi-sensei, behind you!" Shikamaru shouted as Kasumi quickly dislodged her hand and dodged to her left as Hidan swung his scythe downwards and Kasumi skidded along the floor. She looked to where Hidan should have been and found he was gone as were her ninken as she saw a hand down there, holding onto her summon scroll. The metal like tentacles shot towards Kakuzu as he absorbed them and they became apart of his arm again.
"Dammit." Kasumi cursed quietly, thinking of a new plan. They pretty were much like immortals and if the sewing around Hidan's neck was anything to go by… She was at a huge disadvantage.
"Finally getting serious huh?" Hidan asked Kakuzu who closed his eyes and began undoing his cloak. His body was stitched full with the metal like tentacles as his back stretched outwards and four masked black creatures appeared, pulling from Kakuzu's back as he stitched himself up and Kasumi scowled. The one creature began to gurgle and got onto the floor, almost in pain as its black body turned liquid as Kasumi examined it's smashed face… It had taken the Raikiri she punched through Kakuzu earlier.
"Kakuzu! Whoa, whoa, whoa! One of them died right after you let it out! Kami, could you suck anymore?" Hidan yelled at Kakuzu.
"Hidan. Sit this one out. I'll fight her." Kakuzu said and Hidan growled.
"Hold up! No way! I'm getting really pissed about this. Let's do this like always okay?" Hidan smirked and Kakuzu nodded before he held a hand seal. Hidan moved in for the kill as Kasumi quickly unsheathed her tanto's and the cord wrapped around her wrists as she blocked Hidan's constant attacks.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Asuma sensei!" Both Ino and Choji called as they caught up and both Aoba and Raidou continued towards Kasumi.
"Don't get in her way." Pinku jumped in front of the two men and growled at them.
"She needs help. She can't take on five opponents on her own." Raidou said and Pinku growled as his fur stood up. They looked up from the Chihuahua as they heard the clash of metal against metal as Kasumi blocked the scythe with her white glowing tanto's.
"She knows them. I'm pretty sure she knows how to deal with them after she called them both immortal." Shikamaru said to them, backing up Kasumi and what he observed earlier.
"What do you mean?" Aoba asked as they heard a huge explosion and ducked from the forceful wind jutsu that Kasumi was forced to take head on.
"Kasumi!" Raidou shouted out in panic after he saw the impact through the one immortal Akatsuki with a scythe. The wind died down and when they looked, one of the black masked creatures were in front of them and sparked lightning, an attack heading right for them. They braced for impact when they heard the electrical sound and opened their eyes to see Kasumi crouched, deflecting the lightning with her own.
Kasumi was breathing heavily as they noticed one of her kunai by her feet and she had made it in time, Aoba could sense she was already running under half with her chakra and scowled.
"Stay out of this. Protect yourselves and help Asuma, it's possible to save him." Kasumi explained as she looked over her shoulder but they found no killing intent or anger of what they heard of when Kasumi had been in battle but there they found worry and fear for her comrades and friend.
"You can't take on five of them yourself." Raidou said with some anger and Kasumi shrugged, turning her head as she looked around as her eyes landed on Hidan regrouping with Kakuzu as well as the lightning creature.
"Their combos are insane and Hidan can kill anyone with a drop of their blood. I'll know I don't have to worry about any of you if you all stay together and protect each other, besides." Kasumi said as she looked over her shoulder with a smile. "I'm Konoha's Silver Ghost, I've died before."
"I'm impressed." Hidan called as she looked down. "You're the first person to survive that combo Hatake Kasumi."
"Hiraishin saved her like usual. Her kunai were spread around for a reason… But can she keep up?" Kakuzu said as he formed hand seals and another masked creature stepped forwards. "Fire style: Cranium Carver!"
Kasumi dropped her tanto to dangle as she formed hand seals and quickly flicked them back up into her hands as the white chakra turned into clear blue wind natured chakra.
"Wind Style: Hurricane!" Kasumi called as she held her arms out and turned into a windmill motion as a hurricane formed and hit the fire jutsu head on and redirected it out.
"A fluent lightning nature and wind nature user. I will be taking your heart to replace the one I've lost Kasumi." Kakuzu threatened as Kasumi still stood on the roof of the building in front of the two teams
"By the way… Is that guy dead yet?" Hidan asked as he slung his scythe over his shoulder, motioning his head over to where Ino was still trying to heal Asuma.
"How dare you." Kasumi hissed as her eyes narrowed and her tanto's turned white once again, sparking slightly with white lightning. "I'm going to take you both down." Kasumi hissed as she used Hiraishin with anger, creating a bright flash as her tanto's clashed against Hidan's scythe again, creating both metallic orange and white sparks of lightning as they clashed, her body surrounded by sparking lightning, taking more of her already worn down chakra.
She had Hidan right on her tail as she flipped off of the building and clashed with him again, trying to lure the battle away from the two teams that stood there, confused as to what to do, whether to interfere or not.
"We'll back her up with long ranged jutsus like my shadow and your genjutsu Aoba-senpai." Shikamaru said as he walked up next to the two jonin who were watching with rapt attention.
"So this is the sister of the Copy Nin?" Raidou wondered out loud as both Shikamaru and Aoba began their hand seals for their back up jutsus.
XXXXXXXXXX
Kasumi dodged the fireballs heading in to her side after knocking Hidan away as she rolled and turned her head to a lazer like sound to see the lightning creature above her as she flipped to her feet and dodged the high density lazer like lightning, cutting deep grooves into the ground as she flipped away from it.
The sound of wind slicing came next as she looked up and dodged to her side as the wind creature shot wind bullets as she zigzagged her run. The dust up ahead was dense from the lightning creature but Hidan's manic laugh was easy to hear as she twisted slightly and dodged his scythe swinging for her, deflecting it slightly. The three creatures created a combo as her eyes widened, trapped with no where to run as a small explosion was created and she hit the floor running by Kakuzu as she stumbled and began fighting hand-to-hand with him… A never-ending battle.
A shadow shot out and forced Kakuzu back away from Kasumi and crows began to fill the area from Aoba's genjutsu technique and Kasumi smiled slightly, thanking them in her head before she had to spin quickly and knock Hidan's attack away. The sound of lightning hit her ears as she saw the lightning creature on the building again and she flashed away, taking the lightning right into her imbued tanto and directed it with the flow of her chakra.
Kasumi almost used a quick attack like Hiraishin from spot to spot and jumped up behind the lightning creature as she took it away, landing it hard on the ground again before she had to roll away, close to the ground as the fire creature attacked again and she was forced to constantly use Hiraishin.
A triple combo hit her as she flashed from point to point, getting hit each time as she rolled and skidded along the floor and laid on her side, her face scrunched up in pain. Her eyes flashed open quickly as she saw Hidan standing over her and she shut her eyes tight, flashing to another skidding point as she tried to recover and stumbled slightly… She had only taken out one so far as she held her shoulder that was tender from hitting the ground constantly.
The crow genjutsu was confusing the wind creature and Shikamaru's shadow was chasing after Kakuzu but it was as if they weren't even helping at all as she tried to think of a new approach otherwise they were all dead. Rain began to pour down and Kasumi cursed silently as her fist curled, the water was giving a disadvantage to the battle now as well as it soaked down the dust created from the fight and made the dirt ground muddy and slippery.
"Earth style: Earth Decomposition Jutsu." Kasumi called, dropping to her hunched as she put her hands on the ground and the ground became ever softer as Kakuzu and Hidan both jumped away and landed on the steps of the building. Kasumi stood and threw a smoke bomb at the same time as the two Immortals began to look for her kunai scattered throughout the area as they moved to the decomposed ground before the lightning creature was dug underground and Kasumi hopped out of the ground a she headed over towards the fire and wind creatures but Kakuzu decided differently.
Kasumi looked and noted one of her kunai to her left as she activated her lightning chakra and it sparked out at Hidan and forced him back as she turned her head to focus on the two creatures she was going to take out. Kasumi gasped and stumbled in her run as a hand shot out from the soft ground and grabbed her neck before tentacles shot out of it like metallic spikes and she tensed for the pain.
XXXXXXXXXX
"We found her." Pakkun said, meeting Kakashi as they ran through the forest. "She's with Asuma and his team as well and four other scents we recognise from Konoha but there's two others we don't know and they're dark." Pakkun warned and Kakashi hummed.
"Must be the Akatsuki, she has a knack for running into them." Kakashi mused and Pakkun nodded and they noted the sound of thunder overhead.
"We know where they are so it's okay if it begins to rain." Pakkun added as they focused on running.
"Do you know what was happening before you came back here?" Kakashi asked and Pakkun grunted.
"Asuma had been hurt badly by the looks of it and his team weren't much better off. Back up had arrived but Kasumi was still fighting them both head on by herself… She has a hard head boss." Pakkun said and Kakashi couldn't help a slight quirk of his lips behind his mask.
"She knows them better than anyone and probably has a plan. We'll make it in time, I'm sure." Kakashi said as the sky rumbled once again and rain began to pour down as they pushed a little faster and they were nearing their destination.
"Kasumi!"
"Kasumi-sensei!"
Multiple voices had called out with panic and fear and Kakashi closed his eye for a split second, he couldn't thing the worst right then… He had to believe he would make it in time this time… Unlike what happened sixteen years ago when he left her side. The reached a clearing as they took off full speed down the road and Kakashi's eye widened slightly, lightning hitting near by, turning the scene into a dramatic silhouette.
Kasumi was above the ground, curled forwards slightly with tentacle spikes going right through her as blood splattered out from behind her and her eyes were closed with pain and she was gone with a second flash of her own as she rolled along the floor and Kakashi pushed chakra into his feet, pushing faster towards her as she crouched to catch her rolling and slowed her down quicker as he fell to the floor and pulled her into his arms.
She was already cold as he felt her neck, her pulse beating erratically as her breath panting out as he felt the warm blood seeping through her uniform… What was left of it and into his lap. Kakashi wished he didn't see the wounds had hit her dead on target, vital organs and all, five times as she held on, her face scrunched in pain as blood leaked out of her panting mouth.
Was he really too late this time?
Kakashi looked up, murder in his eyes as he flicked his hitai-ate up, revealing his sharingan eye… The very definition of death and blood as he memorized the faces of the two people he aimed his despaired anger on… Akatsuki had taken too much from them already and he wasn't about to let them get away with it this time as his whole being began to spark like Kasumi would. Is this what Kasumi felt every time her power would lash out? Kakashi didn't know and didn't care right then. He had just rekindled his close relationship with Kasumi, exactly like sixteen years ago but this time her dying evidence was right there in his arms and leaking out her soul through her blood right onto his hands… Just like Obito and Rin, he couldn't save them either…
But he could damn well avenge them!
"Calm down." Kakashi flinched as he felt the cool hand touch his jaw and squish his cheeks using her thumb and fingers on either side of his face.
"Don't speak." Kakashi said, cradling her closer and she smiled at him as she continued to squish his cheeks and she giggled with a slight flinch.
"I have Kabuto to thank for this technique." Kasumi said as she unzipped her flak jacket and pulled up her top to show the wounds searing closed. "Called Chi. It takes up a shit load of chakra but to fight and defeat immortals… You have to become immortal yourself." Kasumi explained as she sat up and Kakashi worried after her.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Kakashi hissed in a whisper and he wrapped his arms around Kasumi from behind and she leaned back slightly to reassure him. Kakashi's sharingan had seen her chakra working overtime to replace the old damaged cells with new cells and almost couldn't believe it.
"Seems like they're not wasting their time." Kasumi said as she noticed the wind and fire creatures had merged into one creature and the lightning creature was free of the ground where she had pulled it into previously.
"Their abilities?" Kakashi asked as he helped her to stand up as she shrugged off her flak jacket and took off her open front apron, dropping them to the ground and noticing they were weighted.
"The one with a scythe has an interesting ability. He can take a drop of blood and physically injure himself, injuring the person he's tasted the blood off of… Plus you can't really kill him. The other one is controlling those black monsters, the fire and wind natured ones have merged then there's the lightning creature and Kakuzu is earth, Water has been taken out and only destroying the mask works. Each one has it's own heart and element nature." Kasumi explained as they both tensed, seeing the combination creature open both of its mouths and both siblings began hand seals.
" Water style: Circular water wall jutsu." Kakashi called as Kasumi dropped to her haunches.
"Earth style: Mud wall jutsu." The wall appeared behind the water as the explosion was seen over the wall as it cracked slightly and Kasumi's eyes narrowed as she quickly grabbed Kakashi's flak jacket and flashed them away to their opponent's left and Kakashi stabled her stumble by grabbing her hand as they saw another combination heading their way and Kakashi flared his chakra as Kasumi's fingers linked with his and white lightning took the combination technique head on. Some time during the attack, Kasumi had taken out one of her kunai she had held onto and activated some of their combined chakra through it as lightning encased the rest of the field through her scattered kunai. Kakashi pulled Kasumi into a crouch as he shielded her and the clashing techniques created an explosion that shook the ground.
"Fanged pursuit." Kasumi said into his ear over the explosion as he nodded and they both retrieved a scroll from their pouches, swiping their blood along it as they slammed them into the ground.
"Summoning: Earth Style: Tracking Fang Jutsu." Hidan's yell was heard as they stood up and the area began to clear, the rain keeping dust and such to a minimum. This time Hidan was being a chew toy for sixteen dogs and not just eight and Kasumi's three Great Danes had placed seals around his body to end his movements as well. One down, Three to four to go.
"Nice job." Kakashi said and Kasumi nodded with a slight smile but she was beginning to feel slightly dizzy as Kakashi squeezed her hand and placed his other hand on her shoulder to stabilize her. "You need to rest." Kakashi said with concern as she leaned back into him and he could feel her erratic heartbeat and harsh breathing, barely audible to his ears, even over the rain. He felt her shiver against him before she turned suddenly and pushed him to the side. He was surprised at the sudden movement but he twisted to recover and saw Kakuzu had wrapped his metallic tentacles around her and swung her into a wall of the building before he was on her and she struggled.
"Now I'll be taking your heart." He said coolly as tentacles began to invade her body and she gritted her teeth with a slight yell as let what was left of her chakra and lightning loose and then there was a large spark in front of her face as she squinted, seeing a hand there and the familiar sound of Raikiri as she gasped and Kakashi pulled Kakuzu off of her and threw him away as he crouched by her.
"Shit… He invaded my body quickly." Kasumi panted as Kakashi helped her to sit up and she tugged at the tentacles around her heart. "Soldier pill and blood replenishment pills in my medic pouch, I need one of each." Kasumi asked as she quickly grasped the tentacles in one hand and placed the other over it as it glowed green and she began to pull them out. Kakashi quickly dug in her pouch for the required pills and pulled out one of each and placed them into Kasumi's mouth as she focused on her quick work and the tentacles came out and her eyes shifted up to look behind Kakashi. Kakashi looked behind him as he saw the two creatures running at them and looked back to Kasumi quickly for her guidance, this was her fight.
His sleeve was grabbed as he felt the familiar pull of Hiraishin as they landed softer than they had all day, right next to Hidan as she smirked up at him and he growled.
"Yo Hidan… Feeling a bit dogged up?" Kasumi joked tiredly as she laughed breathlessly and Hidan began to throw out curses at her and threats as he struggled and the dogs growled and sunk their teeth in further. The rain began to ease up as the day got lighter, the sun pushing through the clouds already as they watched the lightning creature merge with Kakuzu and its mask break as Kakuzu began to get up once again.
"What now?" Kakashi asked and Kasumi shrugged as he helped her up once again. The combination creature raced for Kakuzu as well as his seams on his body extended and the metallic tentacles hung out everywhere, including his mouth and he didn't look to impressed.
"You've destroyed two of my hearts. It's been ages since anyone has managed that. You won't escape me again." Kakuzu warned and Kakashi reached for his pouch on his leg but the tentacles emerged out of the ground and wrapped around them once again as they struggled. "Hatake Kakashi and Kasumi… I intended to replace the heart I lost with yours but I change my mind. I can stock up on hearts any time… Now die!" Kakuzu said as his eyes narrowed and both of the siblings tensed but Kasumi sensed something coming their way as the two fire and wind masks appeared in the bush of tentacles and opened their mouths for an attack once again.
Kasumi used a chakra scalpel as she cut the tentacles around her arm and reached out to Kakashi as she gathered up the last of her chakra and removed them from the situation.
"Wind style: Rasengan!"
"Water style: Crashing rapids."
"Water Typhoon Vortex Jutsu!"
Kasumi would admit, they crashed rather roughly as the two techniques clashed and steamed out the area as her body shielded her otouto's and waited for the steam to clear before the siblings opened their eyes.
"Are you okay?" Kasumi asked down at Kakashi as he nodded his head and sat them up and Kasumi turned with a grin. "Nice timing… Team Kakashi."
"Sorry we're late ya know." Naruto said calmly and Kasumi smirked.
"For the both of you to be so beaten up… Must be one hell of an opponent." Yamato said to them and Kakashi eye smiled and Kasumi shrugged and flinched slightly. Naruto looked beaten up and his chakra was wavering slightly, a little better than Kasumi's own as she sensed the conditions of Yamato, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke.
"I can handle him." Naruto said, stepping forwards and Kasumi smiled as she closed her eyes tiredly.
"I take it you've finished your training with the desired results?" Kasumi asked and Naruto nodded his head and she saw Yamato's face narrow slightly with worry.
"He's about half way there at best." Yamato said and Kakashi nodded, supporting his sister as she leaned back against him, dozing slightly. "But… Actually, just watch." Yamato said as Naruto held up his usual cross like seal and Kasumi's eyes opened as she felt the presence of the Kyuubi, which made her seal burn and itch ever so slightly. "You're about to see a completely new Naruto." Naruto created two clones as he stood before Kakuzu.
"We're up against two members of Akatsuki. One is currently incapacitated and the other one is right in front of you. He's able to split off parts of himself and both those masks can be detached into single entities and each one had a heart behind the mask and act independently… We've already killed him twice already and he has three left to go. He's mainly a mid ranged fighter but can cover the other bases if necessary and can currently use high-levelled techniques of the fire, wind and earth natures." Kasumi explained and Naruto ran in with his clones with a nod of understanding.
"I'll heal you right away." Sakura said as she crouched by them and Sasuke stood with Yamato in case Naruto needs back up but he had an understanding that this was something Naruto needed to prove to himself as well as his diminished eyesight that would drag him down.
"Don't bother. The roof, Asuma is up there and barely holding on and I'm sure Ino could use your help by now." Kasumi said as she saw the shock on Sakura's face as she nodded and jumped off.
"Do you think…" Kakashi began but she just knocked his chest gently with her head.
"I can still feel all of their signatures… Just. We're gonna make it through this." Kasumi said softly as they watched Kakuzu dispel Naruto's clones. Naruto summoned three more clones as he began forming a three-man rasengan instead of his usual two but this time, there was an inhuman screech coming off of the rasengan as everyone grimaced at the unpleasantly loud sound. The new rasengan began to create a vortex around it with the massive chakra and force of the wind nature.
"Wind style: Rasen-Shuriken."
"He actually did it." Kakashi breathed out and Kasumi smiled, she had faith in the knucklehead ninja and now he just reaffirmed that faith she had in the most unpredictable kid, young man as he headed in to attack with his clones. The clones were quickly dispelled as Naruto snuck up behind with his new technique but it failed before it could hit his target and Kasumi tensed as she got onto her haunches and her eyes scanned the area before she was gone in a flash and used the shunshin to get to Naruto before Kakuzu's tentacles could grab him and she flashed him back towards the group and landed roughly.
"A surprise like usual." Kasumi sighed as she looked Naruto over… They both looked as tired as each other and Naruto still scoffed with outrage at her and she smiled and patted his shoulder. "But if we can collaborate here for a second… Hiraishin and Rasen-Shuriken, two ultimate techniques, it'll work better than using clones to distract him… You know what to do" Kasumi explained as slitted blue met a shade lighter blue in trust.
With another puff of smoke, there were seven Naruto's as three began to form Rasen-Shuriken again as it seemed he was going for the same tactic once again as two clones rushed forwards and Kakuzu quickly dispelled them and then the rest charged in but Kakuzu was being careful now he knew the plan. His tentacles over grew almost like the mane of a lion and drawing up a lot of chakra to counter Naruto's technique.
Kakuzu moved forwards and jumped over the four remaining clones and went straight for Naruto with the Rasen-Shuriken in hand with his massive tentacles, disrupting the technique and bringing Naruto down quickly.
"This time you're finished." Kasumi said from behind as the instant screech was heard from behind him and Naruto hit dead on with Rasen-Shuriken and it sent him flying as the technique concentrated and then exploded into a ball of lightning fast chakra needles, ripping Kakuzu apart.
Kakashi was surprised that Kasumi was a shadow clone leaning against him when it suddenly disappeared as they braced for the explosion and the attack finished up, dropping Kakuzu uselessly to the floor. Kakashi was beginning to figure out their plan that they used from the beginning as Kasumi made two shadow clones, one that leaned against him and the other was apart of the first two clones Naruto had sent in to attack Kakuzu to get Kasumi to set a mark on Kakuzu for Hiraishin. She then transformed and mixed herself in with the Naruto clones that rushed in first with the original Naruto as he created one last Rasen-Shuriken with the other two remaining clones and Kasumi used Hiraishin to get a dead on target this time against Kakuzu.
Both Kasumi and Naruto were lying on their stomachs and breathing heavily as they made sure Kakuzu wasn't going to suddenly pop up again as the attack died down and everyone stared in awe at what just happened.
"Nice… Job." Kasumi huffed out as they looked at each other and Naruto smiled with a slight grimace and gave a thumbs-up as they both let a slightly breathless laugh out.
"You too." Naruto said back as Kasumi smiled at him, quite content to stay where she was.
"Dammit you bitch! There's no way you could have beaten Kakuzu so easily dammit!" Hidan yelled and Kasumi groaned as she looked back slightly to see they were pretty close to the chew toy Hidan.
"I forgot about you." Kasumi said as she brought her hands together and pushed herself up onto her hands and knees.
"Good work you two." Yamato said as the team came over and they were all looking at Hidan right then.
"Kasumi-sensei." Shikamaru said as he jumped down with Sakura and a very tired Ino in tow and also looked at Hidan before he pointed at Hidan. "What do you want to do with him?"
"We can try to kill him." Sasuke suggested and Kasumi shook her head as she stood slowly and carefully.
"You can't kill him." Kasumi said as they looked at her thinking she had gone insane. "No, really, he can't die, not even chopping his head off works."
"Then maybe we should take him back with us and interrogate him." Kakashi said and Hidan scoffed.
"Hey, don't talk about me as if I'm not here dammit!" He yelled but he was still being ignored.
"How is Asuma?" Kasumi asked and Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes.
"He'll be fine." Sakura said from kneeling next to Naruto with Ino as they checked him over and Shikamaru smiled as he pointed over his shoulder at what was left of the building. They all looked to see Asuma still looking a little roughed up but being supported between Kotetsu and Izumo with Raidou and Aoba there too as they waved.
"Then we destroy Hidan." Kasumi said as she saw his eyes widen. "Rip him apart and separate the pieces… He's too dangerous to try and transport and then contain plus we won't be getting anything from him I don't already know."
"Then I have the perfect solution." Sasuke said, opening his eyes to show the six-pointed star of his mangekyo sharingan with a slight grimace of pain. "Amaterasu is a fire that cannot be put out and will burn until its target is completely gone." Sasuke explained and Kasumi scowled but nodded anyway.
"Kakashi-senpai and I will handle it with Sasuke. You've done enough already Kasumi-senpai, just sit and relax." Yamato said and Kakashi nodded as well and Kasumi nodded back before she whistled. Both packs of dogs released Hidan as the three Great Danes still surrounded him with a barrier.
"I'll come with. We can use my Shadow Mimic jutsu to get him to our destination." Shikamaru said as he performed the jutsu and the four-man squad headed out with Hidan shouting all the way about not wanting to die. Kasumi just breathed a careful sigh of relief as she walked to pick up her kunai and clean up the place a bit before they headed back to Konoha.
XXXXXXXXXX
"You should be in the hospital." Tsunade said with a dangerous tone as she read over the report of what happened. "Actually, you shouldn't have even been out there on duty Kasumi." Tsunade added as she looked up and bit her lip as she looked Kasumi over… So much damage. Then there was Naruto she had read about as Kasumi, Yamato, Kakashi, Shikamaru and Raidou stood there.
"She stepped in and saved Asuma's life. I'd say we are indebted to her Tsunade-sama." Shikamaru spoke up and Tsunade hummed.
"That is true but we can't have our shinobi going awole and doing their own things… Am I right Kasumi?" Tsunade questioned her as she nodded her head once looking exhausted.
"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama. It won't happen again but I had a promise to myself to keep." Kasumi said almost hollowly, staring at nothing.
"Kasumi?" Tsunade called with worry as she stood up and her eyes opened and closed slowly before they completely closed and her body sagged forwards but Kakashi caught her quickly and flipped her up into his arms. "Let's get her to the hospital."
"Call Kabuto as well, he should know of any side affects of a jutsu she used out there." Kakashi said and Shizune nodded as she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"The rest of you are dismissed until further notice." Tsunade said as she began to walk around the table and Shikamaru and Raidou nodded to Kakashi as they both gave Kasumi a worried glance before they left and Kakashi followed Tsunade out with Yamato right behind them towards the hospital. "She should have gone straight to the hospital. How beat up was she when you got there, Kakashi?" Tsunade asked.
"She used a technique called Chi she said she learned from Kabuto after Kakuzu stabbed through her multiple times and her chakra became extremely low as the relentless attacks continued. We tied Hidan down quickly but we still had three hearts of Kakuzu to take care of and fought for a while before my team arrived." Kakashi explained.
"She even used Hiraishin and shadow clone jutsu after we got there and collaborated with Naruto for the final attack… I'm surprised she lasted this long at all." Yamato added and Tsunade bit her lip as she directed them to a room and Kakashi laid her down as Tsunade quickly discarded her shredded long sleeve vest and flinched at the damage. Five new scars, exactly like her own from using her seal on her forehead… Kabuto did show them what this technique was and shouldn't have any side affects when they were training. Kasumi was bruised and burned, internal damage as well as fractures that had turned into near breaks already.
"You wanted to see me Tsunade-sama?" Kabuto asked as he rushed in calmly with Shizune right behind him.
"I'm putting Kasumi under your charge to look after. She's been in a pretty rough battle with two Akatsuki and will probably want to be up and going as soon as possible knowing her." Tsunade explained and Kabuto fixed his glasses with a smile as he stepped towards the bed and Yamato put his hand on Kakashi's shoulder as he could see the tension in his frame as Kabuto touched her with his glowing green hands… He still didn't trust him.
"She's pretty banged up." Kabuto assessed and Tsunade nodded with a hum. "It may be a slightly unorthodox method but one that has always taken a positive effect on Kasumi-senpai if you're wiling to trust me?" Kabuto said and Tsunade closed her eyes.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Kakashi growled out. Kabuto looked over his shoulder and saw murder in Kakashi's eye and he couldn't help but smirk at the over protectiveness.
"It seems as though someone still doesn't like me huh?" Kabuto asked and Kakashi snarled as Yamato's fingers curled into Kakashi's shoulder.
"Senpai." He warned and Kakashi's shoulders relaxed.
"I trust you Kabuto, you haven't failed me before. What do you need?" Tsunade asked and Kabuto hummed before grabbing the chart at the end of the bed and began to write some requirements down.
"Sooner would be better than later." Kabuto said as he handed the list to Shizune, whose eyes blinked with surprise and looked at Tsunade who nodded and the raven-haired assistant was off again.
"You two should go and get some rest. Kasumi won't be waking up for a while." Tsunade said and Kakashi quickly turned around and left with Yamato in tow.
"You really know how to hold grudges don't you senpai?" Yamato asked from behind as he noticed Kakashi's clenched fists. "Kabuto-san has done nothing but good when he got reinstated as a ninja again and a medic, you need to learn to let go because I've seen the faith Kasumi-senpai puts into certain people and I don't believe anyone has broken that trust… Except Sasuke and we've all seen what she does to people who break her trust." Yamato said as they both stopped in the hallway and Yamato stood next to Kakashi who seemed to have conflict in his dark grey eye.
"How many times will she tease death before it catches her for good one day?" Kakashi wondered out loud with a heavy sigh as he closed his eye.
"She's stubborn like you are senpai and Kasumi always has the best intentions in mind. She risks enough but not to much and she knows that limit after the amount of times she got herself into tight binds and she looks to her comrades and especially you to back her up and keep her teetering on that edge, just like today… And we ended up with no deaths and having taken down two Akatsuki." Yamato explained as he saw Kakashi shake slightly as he opened his eye and wiped his hand across it to get rid of the moisture that had built up with another sigh as he stood up straighter again.
"You're right Tenzo… Kasumi is able to put herself on the line because she's been past it and knows she can rely on people which most other shinobi have a problem to just place pure trust into someone… Just like I saw her do with Naruto today and they gave it mutually." Kakashi sighed again as his gloomy aura dispersed. "Let's go and visit Asuma, shall we?"
The sun had risen on a new day as Kakashi and Yamato walked through the hospital towards a room with Tsunade. They had all just been down in the morgue as Shizune and Tsunade had both examined Kakuzu's body they had brought back with them. Naruto's Rasen-Shuriken affected the body almost like a poison and severed the chakra network too many times to count and would have been painful to live if they allowed him to after the devastating attack.
However… The greater the jutsu the greater the risk. The jutsu effected Naruto's arm the same way and he can no longer use it unless he wants to never use chakra in his right arm ever again. Tsunade opened a door and stepped inside as Kakashi and Yamato followed and Yamato froze as soon as he saw the room and Kakashi tensed up as well.
In the middle of the room was a sealed cylindrical pod with greenish liquid inside and multiple large pipes running into it… It reminded them both of Orochimaru's labs and it made Tenzo shivered… Having been in one of those before as he was made into the wood style user he is now. In the pod floated Kasumi with pipes coiling around her body and an oxygen mask against her mouth as her eyes were closed and surprisingly peaceful as it almost seemed like she was sleeping.
"What's going on in here? It almost looks as if Orochimaru has launched his own lab in here." Yamato asked but anyone could hear that it was slightly strangled in his throat.
"No, just one of his ex-students." Kabuto said as he walked around the pod, his glasses gleaming and wearing a white lab coat as he carried a clipboard and passed it to Tsunade.
"It might be a little unconventional and not something I would permit to use on anyone else but the results on Kasumi are astounding from the day before." Tsunade explained, her eyes still flipping through Kasumi's charts.
"Why would you not use it on anyone else?" Kakashi asked, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up at those words.
"The first time could be quite uncomfortable to wake up in such a position as well as other things, including the pipes running into her body at this current moment. However…" Kabuto began as a surprisingly dark and slightly haunted look crossed his face. "It's something that Orochimaru-sama use to use a lot in his experiments as well as keeping Kasumi alive after waking up after the Kyuubi's attack according to his recovered records from his lair and ROOT's archives." Kabuto explained as they all looked at Kasumi sleeping in the water pod. At least they had the decency to cut up a hospital gown to cover her chest and wrapped the rest around her waist and some of her thighs.
"According to this data, she should be waking up today?" Tsunade asked as she passed the board back and Kabuto nodded as something beeped and they all shivered.
"Right now actually." Kabuto said as they all looked back at Kasumi to see her eyes were open and she smiled slightly under the oxygen mask. Kabuto turned to her in the glass pod and made a few ANBU hand signs as she nodded and gave one back. Kabuto moved to a large computer and began typing something as there was another siren like sound before the tank began to bubble and the water level drop. Yamato's breath hitched as his eyes shut tight and Kakashi put his hand on his shoulder for silent support.
Kasumi was standing in it with one hand up against the glass and her eyes closed with exhaustion as she roughly removed the oxygen mask and she was panting slightly as the door opened and she stepped out with Kabuto's support. Her eyes opened tiredly as she reached for her arm and yanked on the particularly large tube and pulled it out as hundreds of needles left her and she sat down in the offered chair. She lifted her hair to drape over her shoulder as Kakashi flinched at the almost leech like tube over the left side of her back over her chest where her heart would be. Kabuto rested his one hand above the tube as he gripped it with his other hand and began to pull as Kasumi grimaced in pain, hunching slightly. Kabuto's hand above the tube began to glow green as he had a look of focus on his face. Finally something gave away and he pulled the tube away as wires pulled out of Kasumi's back and they heard a heart monitor go dead as Kasumi was breathing heavily.
"Not very pleasant is it?" She asked them gently, opening her eyes a crack and looked to her side with dark rings under her eyes. Yamato still had his eyes closed as Kakashi's eye was conflicted and unreadable. There was anger as well as worry for Yamato, having seen the inside of Orochimaru's lairs before but there was also deep sadness, pity and despair as he remembered the story Kasumi told him after her supposed death those years ago… It was just the icing of the cake.
"You'll be taken to a room to recover for the next three days but this treatment has worked well so far. Good job Kabuto." Tsunade said and Kabuto nodded as he began working on the machines again and Kasumi stood on slightly shaky legs as she gasped in effort.
"Ask for help for once in your life." Kakashi said as he picked her up gently into his arms as she clung onto him with a smile like a kid.
"I'm too stubborn to do that." Kasumi said as she felt Kakashi laugh silently against her. "Thanks for everything Kabuto." Kasumi said as she was carried out of the room and Kakashi carried her down the hallways towards the recovery ward.
"But at least you're looking better already than what I found you in yesterday." Kakashi said as they turned a corner and Kasumi nodded against his shoulder.
"Yeah… It would have taken me weeks to recover if he didn't put me into that tank. How are you doing and Asuma, oh and Naruto. He was pretty roughed up by the time he got to us yesterday." Kasumi enquired and Kakashi hummed.
"It'll take a few weeks for Asuma to recover and Naruto is okay, he's just had to have his hand casted… Kushina freaked." Kakashi laughed and Kasumi smiled, closing her eyes as she was lowered into a bed and the blanket pulled up and tucked stiffly against her. "Sorry… I'm not to good at 'tucking' others in." Kakashi said almost sheepishly but Kasumi just smiled as she snuggled her head into the pillow.
"It's good enough if you tried." Kasumi yawned before she fell asleep and Kakashi kissed her cheek.
"Rest well."
XXXXXXXXXX
The shadow snuck skilfully into the darkened hospital room into the late evening as Kasumi slept peacefully in the bed, her breathing still heavy, slow and even.
"Minato. Stop acting like an idiot ninja." Kasumi said sleepily as she turned her head and opened her eyes to see Minato sitting next to her bed with a pout and his arms crossed.
"Well someone is definitely grump this evening. How are you feeling?" Minato asked and Kasumi just blinked her eyes with a deep breath.
"Sore… Like shit… I've been trampled by a herd of horses…" Kasumi began to list but it made Minato smile. He looked ragged and tired.
"I heard about it from Naruto. I can't believe how much has happened since I've been gone." Minato sighed as he ran his hand through his head and Kasumi nodded.
"Yeah, a little too much for my liking. Found much out there on your travels?" Kasumi asked and Minato hummed as sat up straight and Kasumi flinched when she heard his back crack and he slumped again with a relaxed sigh.
"Not much but Akatsuki are moving and quickly. They're most likely on the hunt for the Sanbi already, no one knows where it is." Minato said and Kasumi hummed.
"The last one to have it was the Yondaime Mizukage but he died with the bijuu still within him didn't he?" Kasumi asked and Minato was surprised by her knowledge but nodded anyway. "Akatsuki was already on the hunt for the bijuu back then and the base was in Kiri back then… Hoshigaki Kisame would know more about that."
"One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Its surprising Akatsuki would have had a base there back then but then again you seemed to have been a core ingredient for that organisation." Minato said and Kasumi sighed as she turned her head to look outside.
"Both Madara and Leader-sama took an interest in me and my power and connection to bijuu with my seal. Any bijuu presence makes my seal burn as they use the same type of chakra… Being trained as one of the best." Kasumi sighed as Minato listened intently at the dive into her time with Akatsuki.
"Almost like a bomb dog?" Minato asked and Kasumi glared at him with a pout before she nodded anyway.
"Basically… What are you doing back anyway?" Kasumi asked, sadly changing the subject away from her time with Akatsuki.
"Ah… My time was up and it was time I returned to Konoha. We family men were beginning to miss home and our loved ones." Minato said as a slight blush dusted his cheeks but he was smiling full of love and Kasumi smiled.
"I heard you took Fugaku, Shikaku, Choza and Inoichi along. Anyone else?" Kasumi asked and Minato nodded.
"Inuzuka Tsume asked to allow her daughter Hana to come along as she had medical experience and just to represent the canine clan." Minato laughed and Kasumi laughed quietly before the lights shot on and Kasumi had to blink.
"You're as bad as Kasumi when it comes to reporting in Minato-kun." Tsunade said a little too sickly sweet and Minato froze with wide blue eyes.
"I blame Minato for that habit anyway." Kasumi said grumpily as Tsunade moved into the room.
"How are you feeling?" Tsunade asked, grabbing her chart and looking through it.
"Like I've been run over by a train?"
"That's good then. Two more days and you should be fine to get back to your duties." Tsunade said sweetly as she hung the chart back up and began to replace Kasumi's drip.
"Why does it feel like I have serious stiff muscles?" Kasumi whined and Tsunade scoffed.
"Be thankful you little brat! You'd be suffering a lot worse like Asuma is right now if I didn't need you and Kabuto knew your medical history inside and out." Tsunade warned and Kasumi grinned cheekily as she pulled out her tongue and Minato noted the sudden change in Kasumi since he last saw her.
"So why do you want me back out there as soon as possible?" Kasumi asked, sitting up carefully with a few grimaces but she made it.
"The Uchiha eye surgery has been confirmed and I want to do that in two days with you watching over it with Fugaku now he's back and Kabuto mentioned it was coming up to Orochimaru's three year cycle for bodies… We need to strike Akatsuki when they're down." Tsunade explained and Kasumi hummed with a nod of her head.
"Eye surgery?" Minato asked and Kasumi patted his arm.
"We'll explain later." Kasumi said to him quickly. "Now's the time to counter strike but he may be guarded by his partner but who knows who that is since we've taken out the supposed 'Immortal' Akatsuki like I suggested last time to them. It could be any one of the other members of Akatsuki left and Kisame is a likely candidate since he's one of the last Akatsuki I could think of apart from Zetsu and Madara wouldn't show his face… Konan would always stay by Pein's side since we've taken out Hidan, Kakuzu, Sasori and that new blonde bomber I heard about." Kasumi rambled as Minato and Tsunade got lost along the way in her rambling about the members of Akatsuki.
"Well you can continue thinking about that while you stay here and recover. Minato, you're coming with me." Tsunade said, grabbing his ear and dragged him out.
"Chat later Kasumi." Minato blurted out quickly before the door closed and her lights were off once again. Kasumi sighed with a smile as she snuggled back down into bed to recover some more in her sleep.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Good to see you again Fugaku-taicho." Kasumi grinned as she hobbled on a crutch into the operation theatre and sat next to the stoic Uchiha clan leader who grunted his greeting with his arms crossed.
"They say I have you to thank again for saving my son and realising both of their blindness?" Fugaku asked and Kasumi hummed, undecided.
"Itachi could have passed out anytime, it just so happened I was there and Naruto was the one who told me Sasuke had missed during a mission before Shisui blurted it out… Just pure coincidence sir." Kasumi said and Fugaku smirked.
"You have a bad habit of doing that with those three and my clan." Fugaku smirked and Kasumi smiled as they saw the theatre lights come on and three beds rolled into the room.
"Must be fate then sir." Kasumi said, amusement leaking into her voice and Fugaku nodded with his smirk still firmly on his face. 'Perhaps it was Obito.' Kasumi thought with a smile as she watched Tsunade, Shizune, Kabuto and Sakura begin setting everything up. Shisui, Itachi and Sasuke already had blankets pulled up to their chins, oxygen masks over their faces and a heavy cloth draped over their eyes.
"Is it true they have to stay awake during the procedure?" Kasumi asked and Fugaku shook his head.
"If the eyes are going from Uchiha to Uchiha, I've read its fine to transplant the eyes normally, however in your otouto's case, both of them would have had to been awake which I presume they were." Fugaku said and Kasumi's smile dropped as she remembered the events of that day in a flash before she zoned back into the present.
"That's true." Kasumi said softly as Fugaku noticed the regret in her eyes… She would live with them for the rest of her life with having lost so much when she was younger.
They both watched as Shisui's eyes were removed first and placed into a jar with specialized liquid in it above his head before they moved onto Itachi and then Sasuke. Sakura was having very little to do with the surgery but most likely just watching for mistakes as Kasumi remembered the pink haired girl had deep emotions for the emo Uchiha. Shisui's eyes were picked up first as they moved over to Itachi and began to transplant them in then Itachi's eyes to Sasuke and lastly Sasuke's to Shisui as the operation was ending as clean up and final checks were made over the three patients.
"It seems to have gone smoothly." Fugaku said after the hour and a half long surgery and Kasumi hummed, sitting forwards in her seat.
"For their sakes I hope so too but I'm sure it has gone smoothly by the calm looks on the medics' faces." Kasumi said and Fugaku hummed.
"Why did you not do the surgery yourself since you've done it before?" Fugaku asked and Kasumi unexpectedly flinched as she looked down.
"Post Mission Stress Disorder. I cannot perform eye surgeries without going into a state of shock… It took me nearly a year to be able to use medical jutsu again after my Otou-sama's death and even now if memories invade me while I'm working, I can be a bit shaky and I expend way too much chakra on the simplest things. I've never been able to get my control back." Kasumi said sadly in a low voice but Fugaku heard all of it and was surprised at how unexpected her confession to him specifically was.
"I apologise for bringing it up." Fugaku said but Kasumi just nodded and leaned her head against the seat in front of her.
"Thank you… Are you going to visit them?" Kasumi asked, sitting up straight, her eyes becoming unhaunted as they watched the three beds being rolled out of the operation room.
"I will later but if they are awake, give them my regards and… Love." Fugaku said unexpectedly as he shunshinned out and Kasumi just smiled widely at the show of emotion Fugaku just gave. Kasumi stood up with a grimace of stiffness as she hobbled down on her crutch down the corridors towards the Uchiha's room.
"Are you guys awake?" Kasumi asked into the room.
"We're sitting up aren't we?" Sasuke asked with annoyance and Kasumi just grinned, knowing they couldn't see it through the heavy bandaging they had to wear.
"Well you could just be one of those creepy people who can sit perfectly up straight and sleep, how should I know?" Kasumi teased as she sat on a stool in the middle of the room.
"Did you watch the operation?" Itachi asked, turning his head in her general direction and Kasumi grinned evilly.
"Oh yes. You got Sasuke's eyes, Shisui got yours and Sasuke got Shisui's correct?" Kasumi asked as she could feel the panic in the room as they all began shouting with panicked worry and Kasumi laughed all through the joke as she assured him they all got the right eyes and the operation went perfectly.
"You sound like you have some hidden agenda being here though Kasumi." Shisui said and Kasumi scrunched her face in annoyance at the always-perceptive Shisui.
'Damn perceptive Uchiha's' Kasumi mouthed with a bearing of teeth in annoyance before she mulled her thoughts over in the suddenly quiet and tense room. "It's about our little Akatsuki problem." Kasumi began as they all tensed up.
"What about them?" Sasuke asked and Kasumi sighed.
"It'll take a few days for your sight to be good enough again so I want you to mull this over. Orochimaru is weak and can even take on his other two former teammates even when he's weak. The sharingan should be the perfect thing to lure him out of hiding during his weak state and now would be the best time to strike hime down." Kasumi explained as she could see their scowls wrinkling their bandages as they listened and Sasuke unconsciously touched his neck where the seal use to be.
"So you want us to take him out now once we get out?" Itachi asked and Kasumi hummed.
"There's only five Akatsuki left and then Madara and Orochimaru may have his partner with him during his weakened state. Four sharingan prodigies should be enough to bring them both down with no problems." Kasumi explained.
"Four. So you're planning to send your otouto with?" Shisui asked and Kasumi nodded before mentally cursing herself and gave a hum of approval.
"Kakashi has grudges against that man for me and Sasuke. He'd be forever pissed at me if I planned this and didn't include him in it." Kasumi said and she saw all three of them smirk in amusement before the door clicked open behind her.
"Then you wouldn't mind including one more into your plan then?" Kabuto asked darkly as Kasumi smirked and he gave one back and the three Uchiha seemed intrigued at this.
A/N: The technique Kasumi used (Chi) is originally Kabuto's which he uses in the saga when Jiraiya and Naruto go off looking for Tsunade to become Hokage and Naruto slams him with rasengan!