Chapter 32: Limit
"Kokoro, Naruto," A familiar and energetic voice calls out to our group. "Congratulation on Winning your matches. Shino and Shikamaru, you two fought incredibly well as well!"
"Indeed, these three definitely show the true power of Youth!" Gai exclaims.
"Thank you both of you," I say with a polite smile. "But should you really be out the hospital Lee?"
"I am fine I assure you, I did not want to miss these matches if I could help it." Lee says with an overly bright smile. "It is nice to see that you and Tenten have started to get along."
"We aren't exactly getting along," I say looking over two where Tenten is arguing with Chouji over what is a higher priority when packing: weapons or food. "We are more tolerating each other for the time being."
"Ah Gai, Lee, I trust you both are well," Kakashi-sensei says as he approaches us.
"We are fine Kakashi," Gai assures his long-time rival. "However, you should have seen you other two students amazing performances. I think Kokoro's would have been one that you have found very interesting."
"I am sure that they both won their matches," Kakashi says ignoring the pointed underlying question about my use of Hatake techniques. "I was wondering what the two of them were doing over here."
"We got permission to sit over here," Naruto exclaims. "And both Kokoro, Aōko and me won our matches. You should have seen what Kokoro did at the end of hers I have never seen anything like it."
"Calm down Naruto," Ino scolds as she pulls the energetic blonde back down into a sitting position.
"With all of your group here, plus Tenten," Kakashi says. "I would think that you were planning something again."
I look over at the rest of the group asking the silent as they all nod in agreement to the move I want to make.
"We were just discussing whether or not snakes have more camouflage in the sand than the forest," I say innocently. "Shino just pointed out that snakes will grow bigger in the forest than in deserts but become smaller but consequently more venomous in the desert. But I argued that areas with lots of mice such as rice fields would allow for snakes to grow just as big as they do in the forest."
"I do believe that there was a particularly dangerous type of snake that was driven out of the Fire country and into the surrounding areas like the land of rice patties and Land of waterfalls a few years ago." Shikamaru adds.
Kakashi and Gai both hide their surprise well aside from the brief flaring of Gai's nostrils and the sharp intake of breath from both of them. Lee however disguises his surprise in a very different way.
"You're in depth knowledge of different ecosystems is amazing," Lee exclaims. "But that is something of which both the Inuzuka and Aburame clans excel in. I never realised that the Nara were just as skilled."
"If I may borrow Kokoro for a second I have something I wish to discuss with her regarding her training." Kakashi-sensei asks.
"I am fine to leave sensei," I reply as I exit the seats and follow the white-haired ninja. "I'll be right back guys."
After we get a bit away I expected Kakashi to interrogate me one what the squad had discovered. Instead he grabs my arm and I find myself standing in behind Kuranai and Asuma.
"What is going on Kakashi," Asuma asks as he lights a new cigarette.
"I think Kokoro would be the better one to answer that question," Kaksahi sensei says throwing me into the hot seat.
I take a breath as I use my enhanced senses to tell if it is safe to explain everything fully.
"The rest of the rookie Genin and some of the members of Team Gai think that there is something much bigger going on with the chunin exams." I state not comfortable with the attention being placed on me. "Since the start of the Chunin exams and even a bit before them I had been noticing strange behaviour from members of the sand and sound village. Kankuro continuously actively sought me out especially when I was alone. By analyzing the conversations with him I came to the conclusion that he was trying to get information about the village from me. I in turn attempt to extract information out the same way and noticed some peculiar things about the sand sibling's relationships. As you know all three of them are the children of the Kazekage however neither of them had been heard of as being such by another genin until I extracted that piece of information from Kankuro. Both Ino and I have observed not just mental instability in the youngest Gaara, but also a distinct and intense hatred that the boy has directed to his father the Kazekage. I have reason to believes based on observations of him in combat and a few other sources that you can probably guess that Gaara has a power similar to Naruto's."
I can see the flicker of surprise in both the Jounin's faces as they get both what I am implying about Gaara and what I know about Naruto.
"I also believe that Oto has direct connection to Orochimaru due to events while we were in the forest of death. I also believe that Oto is connected to sound since they seemed a little less hostile to each other and Orochimaru did not also target a powerful person like Gaara and only went after Sasuke." I relay. "There is also another person that I believe is connected to Orochimaru and he is also the person that makes the strongest link between Oto, Orochimaru and Suna. I did not want to reveal this information till I had gathered enough to be sure and also got second opinions form the rest of the rookies."
"I believe that Yakushi Kabuto is actually a spy planted by Orochimaru," I reply noticing an even greater amount of shock and also anger on Kakashi's part since I kept something hidden from him but I know it is going to get worse as I reveal more. "Kabuto knew more about the Sand siblings than any Konoha Genin should be able to get his hands on. He also was injured by the sound ninja before the first exam started yet full recovered from it by the time it started. However, I know of know Kabuto's who have practiced and studied that complex of medical ninjutsu. This would also indicate that he was familiar with the technique since that kind of technique is very rare and predominantly used only in Oto. Kabuto was also the one who left those flowers from me when I has healing due to over working myself and managed to make it into the Hatake clan compound and learn that I was there. During the encounter, he made a ploy to win my trust by warning me that the suna nin were dangerous. He also approached me while I was hunting down the boars a few days before the exams. While doing so he showed an advanced knowledge of anatomy and was not afraid to approach me despite the aggression exhibited by the near entirety of Pakun's pack. I have also never come across Kabuto's scent prior to the exams in the leaf village which indicates he isn't from the leaf village. A ōko, Akamaru and my brother did not recognise the scent either. Ino also picked up on discrepancies in his demeanour consistent with that of someone who is highly trained to a jounin level of espionage and also signs of disjointed personality and identity consistent with that of someone who has been an undercover spy for multiple years and multiple times without psychological help and healing."
"You rookies just can't keep your noses out of trouble can you," Asuma sighs before taking a long drag of his cigarette. "I don't know how you managed to get Shikamaru to take action on this kind of thing."
"Also, why did you with hold the information about Kabuto and Kankuro if you knew both were clear threats that were targeting you?" Kakashi asks angrily.
"It was more strategic that way," I reply. "If Naruto were to have been targeted and taken out less people would be likely to notice and it would be easy to make it look like some fed up village that despise Naruto for certain reasons to have gotten carried away. If any of my other squad were to be targeted than that would put the clans in danger since they are all heirs and therefore would have also had more valuable information due to their position. I however was still in an important enough position to attract the attention as I am the daughter of a clan head and one of the most praised of my generation. Yet I am not the clan heir and I am third born."
"I hate it when you make sense," Kakashi-sensei says with a sigh as he ruffles my hair. "We'll take this into account but you should get back to your friends before your absence is noticed too much."
Before I know it, I am back in the hallway and Kakashi sensei is gone again as well leaving me to walk back to my seat. Sasuke and Gaara's match has already started and I wasn't given enough time to tell them that the attempted invasion would start during it. Taking the chance to take a few solider pills I take five out of my sleeve and devour them. My family had been watching me like a hawk when it comes to my usage of them.
I sigh as I sit down in my seat between Shino and Kiba as I automatically link arms with my brother. Why the hell is everything so complicated? The image of Emil's face behind the mask comes to the front of my mind and I try to push it away. I have too much to deal with to add that to the pile now.
I hear my brothers heart beat increase as his crush joins our group having found us. Akamaru growls at her feline companion and my brother starts apologising and flutily trying to get Akamaru to stop. I unlink my arm from my brothers as the exhaustion hits again. I can barely resist the call of Shukaku's chakra. Leaning my head against Shino's shoulder I close my eyes. I have never felt Shukaku's bloodlust this strong before. Keeping my defenses up against the chakra onslaught is draining the so quickly I don't think I can hold on much longer. I can hear the pitch of Shino's insects grow sharper. Whether it is because of the chakra from Gaara or Shino being concerned for me I don't know.
"There is something wrong with the chakra in the air," Shino sates. "Hinata can you take a look at Gaara and see if you can find anything abnormal."
"It looks like the abnormality is a lot like Naruto's which means that you, Kokoro and Shikamaru where right." I hear Hinata reply.
The chakra from Gaara feels like it is burning me and it is getting harder and harder to fight it. The younger vision of me is cackling in elation at the feeling and it is making me feel sick.
"Kokoro-chan" Shino asks worriedly and I realise I am gripping onto his jacket.
"That damn chakra," I rasp quietly. "my body keeps on trying to pick up on it and mimic it. But I know from experience that letting it in is a bad idea but its hard to keep it at bay. Don't get the others attention about it. We can't afford to make a scene."
"You mean that this happened before and you never told anyone," Shino asks and I can tell that my withholding of information bothers him. "Why and when?"
"I never mentioned it because it wasn't that bad and only happened when I was in very close proximity to Gaara or when my chakra reserves where extremely low. It has never been this bad," I reply honestly. "It happened back in the forest of death and during the preliminaries and while I was training but I didn't want to worry anyone."
"You know this is exactly why I worry about you constantly right," Shino says back. "I know that you will act normal even if there is something that I should be worried about so it is better to be prepared."
"Worrying about someone constantly isn't good for your health you know," I reply back though my heart isn't into it.
"Well neither is the majority of the things you do," Shino says. "Or Shinobi life in general for that matter."
I can feel some of his Kikaichuu make there way onto my arms and neck. Opening my eyes, I look down at one resting on my finger.
"They should be able to eat some of the chakra being drawn to you without disastrous effects," Shino replies.
"I would have died a long time ago if it wasn't for you, Aōko and Kiba," I say with a small smile as I close my eyes again.
"I'd probably have lived a quiet life that followed logic if you hadn't forced our self into my life on day one," Shino replies fondly.
"Wait so that is Shino," Tamaki exclaims. "Ino and Hinata were right they really do act like a couple."
I don't have the strength in me to argue about it so I let it slide.
"Kokoro didn't even try and deny it," Ino says triumphantly.
"That is probably because she has almost fallen asleep," Shino replies and I can feel him adjust his glasses.
"Wait but its here own teammates match," Tenten exclaims.
"Sasuke will probably be glad that she slept through it," Chouji says. "Kokoro has a tendency to work herself to the point of exhaustion and will go weeks without sleep."
"Given the fact that Kokoro already put herself in the hospital once this month and that she is already low on chakra Sasuke will understand that she needs the rest," Naruto says in my defence.
"Besides Kokoro and Shino look like a really good couple when she's all curled up beside him like that," Ino says enthusiastically and I finally snap.
"Shut up Ino," I growl but end up having coughing. Looking down I see blood on the palm of my hand. A symptom of excessive soldier pill usage.
"Kokoro are you okay," Chouji says worriedly as he looks down at the palm of my hand recognising the severe symptoms immediately due to the Akamichi clans proficiency with chakra supplements. "Why didn't you speak up about being that low on chakra I have some food that should help."
"How many did you take?" Tamaki asks worriedly and I realise that as a merchant who sells shinobi equipment that she would know quite a bit about the pills and the process that needs to be followed when selling them to anyone and what the correct dosage is.
"Five," I admit. "Which is under the normal limit for an Inuzuka."
"Koko, know you shouldn't have taken more than one a day for at least four months after being hospitalised for taking over twice that amount." My brother scolds. "I thought Kakashi had taken them away from you!"
"Wait Kokoro did what," Chouji says astonished abusing chakra pills is almost as grave a sin as wasting food to the Akamichi.
"Chouji I'll be fine," I say trying to reassure him and calm him down though it doesn't seem to work very well. "Trust me it is better that I be overdosed slightly on chakra pills than what the alternative is."
"What are you talking about Koko," My brother asks angrily as both Tamaki and Chouji shove food at me.
"Her body has been trying to pick up on and mimic the strange chakra coming from Gaara," Shino says outing me.
"Traitor," I grumble. "Anyways I'll be fine we are getting distracted. If that aura that Gaara is giving off gets any stronger than we are in big trouble."
"I hate to say it but Kokoro is right," Shikamaru says with a sigh and I can tell he is really not happy to be saying that. "All we can do now is try and get her chakra levels up with food and hope for the best."
Looking down at the battlefield bellow I can't help but be shocked at how long we had been distracted for. A small sphere of hardened stand sits in the arena and Sasuke is already charging chidori and almost ready to strike.
Suddenly an ear-splitting scream echoes out of the dome and I can't help but close my eyes against the onslaught of madness, "Looks like Sasuke landed a hit and got through every single one of Gaara's defences. By the sounds of it this is one of the few times if not maybe the first time Gaara has been injured in combat."
Sasuke pulls his arm out of the dome and it is revealed that a large arm the colour of sand with blue lines on it has grabbed onto his. The arm retracts and an even more disturbing howl echoes out of the dome causing me to cover my sensitive years.
The dome collapses revealing Gaara clutching his bloody shoulder. I can't help but want to help him knowing the leader he will grow up to be but for the time being he needs to experience pain in order to become that person.
Slowly white feathers start to fall down across the arena and I am brought back to the full reality of the situation, "A Genjutsu. Kai!"
The rest of the group all dispel the genjutsu from around them even Tamaki manages to as well for a reason that I can't explain.
Suddenly smoke begin emitting from where the hokage is and I can see that many of the chunin and higher ranked jounin are shocked by the tern of events. Extending the reach of my hearing to the maximum amount I try and detect what is going on outside the village.
"I can't say for certain but it sounds like an enormous amount of shinobi are approaching the village form multiple directions," I say reporting my findings to the highest ranking induvial to us who happens to be Gai.
"A full-scale attack then," Shino says and I can't help but hear a change from his usual tone.
Suddenly activity burst around us and we all look to gai for orders. But before he can give them a cloaked figure dashes out before us and is soon flanked by two other shinobi.
"Wait let me guess," I say reaching into my sleeve. "It's you isn't it Kabuto."
The figure slowly removes his mask revealing that I am right, "you're quite the clever one, Kokoro."
Dashing forward I let fly the weapon I had retrieved from my sleeve, "I have been meaning to return this to you!"
Kabuto easily doges the weapon as it lands right where he had been standing as he reaches to pick it up, "Ah the ninjato I lent you how nice of you to return it."
Before I can react, Kabuto is behind me and I can feel the pain of my flesh being sliced through at my collar bone. So close to the neck that and vital areas that would leave me to bleed to death that it is clearly both a taunt and a threat. Perhaps even a display of dominance. Whirling around I manage to nick kabuto's heel with my spear blade which is unfortunately void of charge the action however does let my spear pick up his chakra signature so I won't be easy for him to deceive me again.
"Kokoro back out now," Gai orders and I retreat back to the res to of the genin who are holding their ground.
"What were you thinking doing something like that," Tenten scolds as she glares at me. "Were supposed to wait for orders."
"I was getting a sample of his chakra in case we need to track him down latter," I say pointing to my spear tip. "But enough of that we need to take action. Sasuke has already taken off after Gaara and the other suna shinobi."
"What about you wound," Chouji asks in concern.
"It isn't serious in the slightest," I reply as I heal it to the point where I don't have to worry about it bleeding though the action will cause it to scar. "I have already stopped the bleeding. I think that he porously made it so that the wound wouldn't be fatal to taunt me."
"Tenten," Gai says giving us orders as Kakashi appears beside him. "Go find Neji and help Genma and the other chunin in the area."
"Kokoro, Shino and Shikamaru," Kakashi says looking at us. "You're in charge of your respective teams and are to work together. You are to follow Sasuke and catch up to the sand siblings. Naruto and Kokoro you are both to send your summons to get help if anything should go wrong."
"Yes sir," We all reply.
"What about me sir," Tamaki asks holding up her hands armed with a pair of weapons that looks like a set of wolverines' claws.
"You know how to wield a set of Tekko-kagi?" Tenten asks look at awe at the civilian.
"Of course, I do! My family might not be a shinobi clan but we have passed down a fighting style," Tamaki replies. "I wasn't very interested when I was little so I didn't train much but after seeing how strong Kiba and Akamaru are I wanted to get stronger and better at fighting."
I can't help but see these two getting along really well.
"You should stay here where you will be more protected," Kakashi says. "You're a civilian still and not a ranked shinobi so we cannot let you go out into the thick of battle."
"we need to stop talking," Shino says adjusting his glasses/ "Why because we are wasting time and one of own is off facing against three strong enemy ninjas."
"alright let's go then" Naruto says enthusiastically. "Hinata will you be alright fighting."
"I-I'll be fine Naruto-kun," Hinata replies with redden cheeks.
Kiba isn't very happy about leaving Tamaki behind but as we watch in astonishment as she pounces on top of one of the sound ninja and starts clawing at him like a cat attacking a person who just tried to give them a bath he seems a bit more reassured.
"Damn it Kiba-nii," I say turning to my brother as we take the head position of the group so we can track. With who tense everyone is it would be better to lighten the atmosphere a bit. "You have one dangerous girlfriend."
"She is not my girlfriend!" My brother exclaims going way to over board with his denial causing me and the rest of the kunoichi to giggle at his behaviour.
"Guess denial runs in the family," Ino says.
"What is our plan when it comes to taking them down," Shino says not letting Ino continue. "Both Hinata and Kokoro are not in the best condition for fighting."
"Naruto should go after Gaara due to the possibility that they have similar powers. Hinata should go with him because of her ability to see distances to alter him of any more approaching enemies." Shikamaru says.
"Ino-Shika-Chou would be the best combination to take down Temari," I say putting in my input. "We will also want to split them up and spread out our battles to give them the disadvantage of not being with their team. Kankuro is one of the weaker of the three and the most likely one to fall back to take on a group of us so he will be the first we will have to deal with."
"Kokoro, you already have experience fighting him," Shino points out. "If I utilise a colony of termites than I will be able to disarm him. However, the group will need a tracker still which means that Kiba will have to go on ahead with the rest while we take down Kankuro. Plus, we need to make sure that Sasuke has back up not just because of Gaara but because of the possibility that Orochimaru is involved."
The unsaid concern over getting me too close to Gaara hangs in the air but I can still tell that it is another part of Shino's case and really, I can't argue with it.
"So, the teams we have are Shino, Kokoro and Aōko against Kankuro, Team ten against Temari and Hinata, Akamaru, Kiba and Naruto against Gaara and backing up Sasuke." Shikamaru says. "Does anyone have any problems with this plan?"
"Kokoro also has the most medical training of us so having her at the back makes sense since it will allow us to fall back if injured." Kiba says. "Even though I would rather be fighting along side my sister I am fine with this plan."
Everyone else voices that they are fine with the plan as the trackers of our group lead us to catching up with them.
"Kankuro is on the left side," Kiba reports.
"And Temari is on the right" I finish. " Me and Shino should flank them to the left to catch Kankuro's attention and draw him away."
"That is probably the best course of action," Shikamaru agrees.
"the rest of the group should not reveal itself till team ten is ready to separate Tamari from the group." Shino adds before nodding to me.
"Look after my sister Shino," Kiba yells as we break off from the group. "Make sure she doesn't push herself too hard."
After we get bit away from the group I find myself nearly missing my landing on the next branch causing Shino to reach out to catch me.
"Are you alright Kokoro," Shino asks his eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"I'm fine," I say though my body feels like it is burning from the lack of chakra as well as the assault of the toxic chakra from Shukaku. I can feel the pool of water in my mind starting to over flow. "We have to keep moving. Once we take down Kankuro we can rest for a bit since I am playing the role of backline medic."
"If we travel a bit faster we can set up some traps and lure Kanakuro to them," Shino suggests. "That way you won't have to use extra chakra."
"Good idea," I reply. "How far away is he from us."
"Not far away we are actually almost parallel to them right now," Shino replies.
"First, we have to set up the traps, then get ahead and lure Kankuro back here." I say thinking aloud. "How the hell will get all that done in a short time span?"
"Are you capable of summoning those dogs of yours from earlier, Kokoro?"
"Maybe," I reply.
"Don't push yourself too," Shino warns. "You have pushed yourself way too much in the last while."
"I won't be able to summon the whole pack," I admit not likening how useless I am being in the situation biting my thumb I press my hand to the tree branch. Inu- tora-tori-uma-inu, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Shuryō ryōken!"
Pakun, Bull and Akino all appear from the cloud of smoke along with Kumomaru. Grabbing onto Shino's shoulder I try to steady myself from the wave of exhaustion that is the after shock. I didn't think the jutsu would use that much energy.
"Do you need back up," Pakun asks looking at me worriedly. "No, we just need some help getting some traps set up quickly. The rest of my pack is pursuing the prey. We decided to dived and conquer the prey and we are the first ones up."
Taking out a set of 34 kunai set up with normal wire I hand a group of four to each of them as well as Aōko, "Setting them up in a tripe death jaw formation should work. You know the set up and the trip parts to that trap right Shino?"
"I do," Shino replies.
"Alright let's get to work," I say as I place four of the wired kunai in my mouth and take five into each hand. Throwing each into place the trap is set in very little time thanks to the closeness of the trees and the very recent hours we had all spent of setting up wire traps as a unit.
"Alright now we just need to catch up with them," I say despite the exhaustion.
"You should stay behind and let me lure him in," Shino says concerned that I am actually let my exhaustion show without trying to hide it.
"I am not letting you go out their all on your own," I point out. "Besides Kankuro is more likely to want a rematch with me than wanting to fight you."
Aōko yips and tugs at the edge of Shino's coat and I can tell she is planning something.
"I think she is trying to suggest that she transforms herself into your clone and come with me while you take some time to rest," Shino says.
"Kankuro will notice if I don't verbally taunt him," I reply looking at the two. "But neither of you are going to let me come anyway. I barely have the chakra to perform that technique and it is extremely difficult for one to do it without their partner."
Aōko yips determinedly and I watch as she is sounded by a cloud of smoke which dissipates reveling a mirror image of me.
"Your argument seems to have been fully dismantled," Shino says. "Why because even your point about him realising it is not really you by the lack of taunts is not that crucial since he has seen Aōko can transform into you which would mean that you would not be very far away."
"I hate that your brain thinks in a logic way so easily sometimes," I grumble poking him in the chest. "Now get going our group has wasted way too much time chatting already."
With a nod Shino and Aōko both disappear leaving me alone with the four male canines. Leaning against the trunk of the tree rub my temples trying to relieve the headache from my lack of chakra and soldier pill usage. I didn't take into account the need to fend off Shukaku's madness when I thought about the amount of chakra I would need. That as well as the high rate of chakra drainage from my match have left me at a way lower chakra level than I anticipated.
Sighing I look around to pick out a good place to wait to ambush Kankuro. There are a few good spots but I prefer to come in from above rather than bellow. Everyone says I am more like a cat in that regard than a wolf when I am hunting. However, there are a species of wolves in this world that hunt from higher areas in the mountains.
Finally making my way to a position that gives me a good view and position to set up my traps and ambush from I resist the urge to take another one of those pills. Buckling over I look down at my hand again to see that I have coughed up blood again and more than the last time two. We will have to end this battle as quickly as possible.
Suddenly an array of shuriken enters into the trapped area followed by Shino and Aōko landing on the branch in the middle of the trapped zone. Kankuro follows quickly behind them and narrowly evades one of my traps by fluke.
"Are you goanna keeping on running like a coward or actually fight me," Kankuro spits angrily and I can see that he hasn't been given a chance to pull out his puppets. Dropping down I swing my spear over head to charge it before slashing down towards Kankuro as he narrowly evades me.
"You can call it cowardice all you want puppet-kun," I say narrowing my eyes and baring my fangs. "We call it cunning."
Kankuro barely has a moment to process what happened before having to doge bull who would have leaped down onto Kankuro's head. Kumomaru however takes a quick bite from the suna nins calf while he is distracted before darting back to my side.
He is probably expecting my whole summoning pack to be out now which means he will feel even more backed into a corner. I hold my ground and watch as he goes to unravel the puppet on his back. But by the scent in the air I can already tell that it has been damaged by insects already.
"Termites," Kankuro growls. "Damn it."
"I'll be nice since I like playing with you Puppet-kun," I say putting on my sickly-sweet act again as I tilt my head to the side. "You can surrender now and I won't have my friends and myself tear you apart. It would really be a shame to end our game sooo early on."
I can hear and feel the pool waters rising in my head even faster as fear starts to make Kankuro's heart beat faster.
"Like hell I'll give up so easily," Kankuro say as he sends his puppet towards me.
I merely swipe my spear to my left setting off apart of the trap tangling the incoming puppet in it, "You really should be more aware of your surroundings Puppet-kun."
It is then that I notice the slight twitch of Kankuro's lips into a brief smirk. Toxic gas begins to emit from the puppets mouth shrouding the area in its cloud of poison. I know that Shino and insects are vulnerable to it.
Jumping over to them I send out my chakra into a weak but far reaching cloak around myself and Shino. Swinging my spear, I set off more of the trap causing the wires to close in on Kankuro rendering him unable to move anything other than his hands which are the dangerous appendages when it comes to a puppeteer. Jumping over towards the puppet I use my spear to carefully sever the threads without getting too close to the puppet.
"That didn't take long," Shino comments as his insect's swarm Kakuro and start to drain his chakra. "Though it would be best to keep him alive for the sake of information."
I don't bother answering as I let my spear slip from my fingers onto the tree branch bellow. Leaning against Shino I lose the strength to stand. I can feel my body trying to draw on the natural energy of the area and the energy emitted by Shukaku. I can hear the insects still within Shino's body buzzing with concern as he picks me up and brings me over to the trunk of one of the trees and sits me down so my back is resting against it.
"We are going to spread out and look for help," Pakun says as he and his packmates plus Kumomaru approach. "We can't leave Kokoro in this condition for very long."
"One of you should go ahead and report too the rest of the group," Shino suggests adjusting his glasses.
"I'll do it," Kumomaru says enthusiastically as he bounds off before anyone can say anything. He hasn't even met any of our team's members yet but he will probably be able to identify them by the scents on me compared to theirs.
"Alright I'll go find Kakashi," Pakun says. "Bull I want you to go after that overgrown pup. Akino you can look for help in the area. Look after the two pups for us Aburame-san."
With that the remaining canine aside from Aōko who has transformed back into a puppy spread out to complete their assigned tasks.
"Is Kankuro out cold yet," I ask Shino as I pet Aōko's head reassuringly.
"He is," Shino replies as he holds a bottle of water in front of me. I go to grab it but my hand is too unsteady so Shino just ends up putting it next to my lips for me to drink from. "You're always causing trouble."
"You're starting to sound like Shikamaru," I joke though I know that it is empty.
My head feels like it is filled with cotton and I am fighting to remain conscious. I can feel Shukaku's madness clawing at me as Catmask stares at me from far away.
I am not really afraid of him anymore but seeing him just fills me with despair due to what and who he represents. The waters in my mind are starting to recede again and I can tell that the 'me' shown in it is not happy about this but Enid seems to be reassured by this. I still don't know what will happen if I ever let either of them get full control.
Looking up at the sky I can't help but notice that despite all the chaos and the wires around us that the forest is still calm. The sun filtering through the leaves is just as beautiful as always. The memories of quieter days spend in sun dappled spots eating snacks with Chouji, watching my brother and Akamaru run around, napping with Shikamaru and just plan talking with Shino.
"I wonder if things will ever be like that again," I ask not realising that I said it aloud.
"Like what?" Shino asks sitting down on the branch next to me.
"Like when we were younger," I reply looking over at the insect loving ninja. "It's like Chouji said we haven't really caught a break since my team went to wave. Sure, we have had lighthearted times but it seems like they are always just a small respite in a long string of chaos."
"I think that all shinobi's lives feel like that," Shino replies. "But we still have the time to spend together no how hard things get. I am sure things will become closer to how it was when we were young someday."
I can't help but smile bitterly as I squeeze my eyes shut because of the pain. I know that things will not be like that for a very very long time and even then, it is liable to not be the same. Digging my claws into my palms I struggle to continue resisting the pull of Shukaku's chakra which seems to be getting stronger.
The sound of others approaching makes me open my eyes and turn my head to the left. All I can make out is a blurry grey figure next to me as I fight to keep consciousness. I can hear people talking but it sounds are muffled as if I have my head submerged in the pool of water in my mind. I swear I can feel small child sized hands with claws at the figure tips trying to drag me farther under like a siren dragging a sailor to the water depths. Am I actually dyeing again?
I feel something bitter be shoved into my mouth and my first instinct is to spit it out but a firm hand holds my mouth shut and closes my nose and I am forced to swallow the bitter thing before the hands release me.
A few more minutes and my eyesight goes back to normal and I can see three pairs of dark glasses looking at me. I groan but a slobbery puppy lounge lessens my displeasure and makes me smile a bit. I reach up to stroke the head of my near constant companion who I have linked my very soul and being too. I can feel her straining to pump more of her own energy into me through our link and I know that my own has nearly dried up completely. My own chakra, my soul is only a little match flame within me and had almost gone out.
"Her chakra shouldn't be this low," Akino says with concern. "I don't know what is draining it so quickly."
I know that my connection with Kiba, Akamaru and Aōko are taking a toll on me but the links I have with them replenish what I loose and then some at times. I grimace as I speak up, "My cha- chakra is draining because I am trying to ke-keep myself from absorbing the na-natural energy here. Whatever is wrong with G-Gaara has made it to-toxic and even then, natural energy is harm-harmful to me."
"Then the best course of action would be to get you somewhere where there is a low level of natural energy," Shino says trying to give me water again. I can tell that he is extremely worried.
"Where could we possibly go that has a low level of natural energy?" Akino asks turning to the tall man wearing typical Aburame clothing.
The man who I can tell is Aburame Shibi from his scent pulls out a scroll and looks at it, "Kokoro reported that the Nise Shiroari feed off of natural chakra. If that is true than the area around it should have low levels of it."
"Wh-what about the attack on the v-village," I rasp trying to sit up despite my screaming muscles and bones. "Th-they need all the help they can get."
"My orders along with all other Aburame clan members Chunin are higher, where to ensure that all the Genin were safe and stayed that way," Shibi says. "Therefore, it is part of my orders to make sure you are brought to safety given your condition."
"The rest of the group is fine and will remain fine and don't need you to act as medic anymore," Shino says picking me up despite the glares I send at him for the action. "Why, because Sakura is already joining up with them to provide back up and we have already completed our part of the mission."
I sigh realising that I have pushed myself to the point of not only being useless but a burden as well.
"You're not arguing your way out of this," Shino says sternly as we head off in the direction of the Nise Shiroari's nest. "Why because we already had to feed you a soldier pill to keep you alive despite the fact that you're already overdosed on them. If you take anymore it will cause permanent damage if it hasn't already."
I can't argue at all. Shino is already having to carry me in his arms since I don't even have the strength left to hold onto him if he were to carry me on his back. I can't help but smile a little at how awkward Aōko looks carrying my spear in her mouth like that.
Shino, Aōko, Akino and Shibi all stop at the edge of the swampy area that the Nise Shiroari call home. "I am going to go an find Jirarya and tell him that the seal on your forehead will have to be put back in place, Kokoro." Akino says dashing away before I can protest.
"I see so that's how it works," Shino says as he looks at the tunnelled structures built and carved by the termite creatures. "These tunnels are a lot like the ones that spread out underneath Aōkigahara which means that both must be responsible for directing the chakra."
Looking at them again I can't help but see the same connection as Shino sets me down on the ground next to the swamp though Aōko refuses to come closer than three feet.
The rush of my brothers and Aōko's chakras into me has me recovering more quickly from the chakra exhaustion and I am able to speak up again with less pain, "Perhaps they are descended from summons like the ninken of the Inuzuka clan or a summons like the Shinjiki. Or maybe they are a branch of a larger summoning group like the Hatake clan dogs are to the wolves that Kumomaru are apart of."
"It is most likely that they are descended from a summon," Shino says and I can tell that he is thinking the hypothesis over. "Why, because there have been no documented cases of such creatures being summoned in recent years. It might even be possible that we are seeing a new species of summons evolving with this colony since we do not have documentation on the behaviours or features of other colonies due to how rare they are."
"That hypothesis is so crazy it might just work," I reply leaning against his shoulder as a familiar black critter pops up out of the swamp and makes its way towards me. Both Aburame become tense as the insect approaches my hand and Aōko growls out of general dislike for the creature.
"Hello again I coo," still unable to move much. "I told you I'd be back and that I would bring friends."
The little creature crawls up my arm and nuzzles its head against my neck as it starts purring much to the surprise of both Aburames. I can see three more of the black insects peering out from the swamp.
"well it would appear that they are very resilient to water," Shino says looking at the ones peering out from the swamp. "They may even be able to breath under it to some degree."
"Or they could have a very efficient and large lung capacity," I suggest as the little guy at my neck purrs away. "Or it could even be a combination of both."
I look over at Shino's father who has been silent the entire time. The pitch of his insect's hum gives away how on edge he is either from the presence of the notoriously aggressive insect next to one of my most vital areas or the situation that the village is in as a whole.
"What ever happened to Kankuro," I ask remembering that the Suna nin had still been caught in one of my traps.
"Genma and the active genin from team Gai retrieved him," Shino answers as Kuroneko gets curious and decides to venture closer to Shino. Shino's insects obviously don't like it judging by how defensive they sound.
The peace is suddenly broken as a snake springs out of the swamp towards me only to be bitten in half by Aōko before disappearing in a puff a smoke. Aōko quickly gets into an aggressive stance as she growls at the figure that has just appeared on a branch on the other side of the swamp. Shibi takes a defensive stance in front of Shino and me after sending Shino a look that clearly tells him to stay put. Aōko knowing that she is also outmatch falls back behind the higher-ranking shinobi.
"Easy now I am not here to hurt any of you," Kabuto says with a fake pleasant smile and tone. "After all there wouldn't be any fun in destroying such and interesting thing before I could fully observe it. I thought I would never come across someone so similar to myself. Smart, tactical and manipulative. Those three words could be used to describe both of us well right, Kokoro-chan."
I growl at the white-haired man as I curse my body for not being able to move, "I am nothing like you!"
"Evidence would suggest otherwise," Kabuto says adjusting his glasses smugly causing the light to block out the view of his eyes. "Back in the forest while you were dismembering that boar I felt your pulse. You take the same pleasure in killing and dissecting as I do. You show just what people want to see. A wolf in sheep's clothing just like me."
"He is right." The words echo from within my head and I can't tell which image spoken them. But the mere fact that a side of me admits it makes my blood run cold.
It is then that I realise that Shibi's insects have been slowly making their way towards Kabuto without him noticing.
"Why the hell are you even hear bastard," I growl as I bare my fangs.
"No need to be so hostile I was actually going to lend you some advice," Kabuto says turning his back to us as he looks over his shoulder. "Be warry of the part of the tree that lurks underground. They have taken a special interest in you Kokoro. But you probably already know about that, your too smart and keen not to."
With that the younger of the two traitorous snakes Konoha has created disappears and Shibi's insects have no choice but to return back to their host. I can tell that Shibi is definitely concerned by the warning Kaburo gave. Shino is just plain angry about the implications.
"Well he at least got one thing right, "I reply weakly. "I was already aware of the attention I have garnered."
"How do you already know about that," Shibi asks addressing me directly for I think is the second time.
"I realised that someone had been tailing me during the one-month training period and that they were hiding their presence and tracks extremely well," I reply with a sigh. "However, they neglected one thing that they probably weren't aware that I am capable since Shino is the only one who knows about it to my knowledge with the exception of Aōko and I's brothers. My hearing is heightened to an extreme degree due to me using chakra to enhance it since before I even knew what chakra was. It is heightened so much that I am actually capable of hearing the sounds Kikiachu and other insects of the Aburame clan make. The person that they had surveillance me was an Aburame and I was able to hear the insects that they hosted but they didn't sound like any breed I have heard of before. It was also my enhanced hearing that lead me to over hear conversations that I was not supposed to hear from time to time. I knew it was dangerous business so I kept my mouth shut about my knowledge about it till I realised they were targeting me."
Our conversation however is interrupted by a large amount of smoke, sand and noise erupting from where we had been before as Gaara and Naruto's fight commence. I sigh, "I hope that frog summoning is the only habit Naruto picks up form Jiraya-sama. Not that it would make much of a difference given some of Naruto's tendencies."
Shino glares at me from behind his glasses. "You are not changing the topic that easily, Kokoro."
"Well I told you everything about the earlier topic," I say wincing as my arms refuse to move due to the pain.
"I don't see anything wrong with my habits," Jiraya himself says as he jumps down in front of us. "You also seem to be causing a lot of trouble yourself miss."
I watch as both Kumomaru and Akino appear next to him both looking grim. It's the first time I have seen Kumomaru without the aura of hyperactivity that surrounds him almost constantly.
Jiraya comes closer to me and squats down, "This is goanna hurt like hell kid. You were probably lucky that you were unconscious the last time I did it. But this seal is completely necessary if you want to recover from the state you are in kid."
I want to move away as Jiraya slightly cuts my left palm drawing blood before he applies it to a brush and starts applying it in a seal pattern on my face.
"Why would a seal hurt," Shino asks. It is true that most seals applied to the body do not hurt aside from the pain that comes from getting it tattooed on if it is done that way.
"Because this seal is literally supressing apart of her," Jiraya answers grimly. "In this case it is supressing part of her Kekei Genkai."
"You might want to stand back," Kumomaru says to both the Aburame. "It wasn't dangerous for Jiraya to apply it the first time since he caught Kokoro by surprise but now that her system knows what the seal does it will most likely activate the combat part of the Kokoro no Mori in self defence. However, in such circumstance Kokoro-hime would not be in control of her own action since the more feral side of her would take over."
My more feral side? Is that what was going to happen when I felt the water pulling me under earlier? As the seal gets closer and closer to completion I can feel the pool bubble as if it is boiling. Cat mask is hang upside down from a near by tree branch his mask slightly loose revealing part of his face for the first time. A disturbingly wide smile plays on his lips that mirror that of the smile the cat on his mask wears.
A sudden surge of energy enters my previously empty pathways and I feel myself be fully submerged in water as the younger feral side of me takes over and tries to attack Jiraya. He easily manages to over power the feral side of me as I am left to watch helplessly as my more feral side kicks in.
Enid is panicked and I don't know what I can do. Reaching out of the water I place my hand against the glass of her mirror and once again I plunge into blackness. I am getting really tired of that happening.
~oOo~
"Split into three," a feminine voice that I don't recognise says into the darkness. "Why is it always three?"
"It isn't always three," A male voice replies this time. "After all we are just two."
"Or we are four," The female voice replies back. "Two and Two."
"That is true," The mans voice says with a slight laugh. "But we always lose at least one."
"There," The female points out. "Three does follow us. For most four-means death but for us it is three that means death."
"Does it really," The male voice asks.
The female doesn't answer this time and I am left with nothing but silent darkness. A nothing of sorts. But is it really nothing?
~oOo~
Light blinds me as I open my eyes again. To my surprise it smells like I am in a forest and not a hospital like I expected to be. Looking down I see a familiar wolf pup siting next to me with his paw on my hand. I can feel his energy flowing into me. It would make sense that Kumomaru would know techniques like those of the Inuzuka clan. All of this seems to be more connected than I ever imagined really.
Wincing I press my palm to my forehead which just causes me to feel more pain from my arm and forehead. My whole body is in pain actually. A hand quickly grabs mine and pulls it away from the seal on my forehead.
"Jiraya said that you should keep your movements to a minimum for the time and to not touch the seal," Shino says and I realise that he has been holding me up since I woke up. "Why because both would be detrimental to your health and the seal is still fresh and should not be tampered with."
I just groan though it comes out as more of a growl. An annoyed one at that. Aōko looks at me with a look that just says that I did this too myself and that I have to pay for it.
"Well you sure are supportive," I grumble at the puppy who just gives a mocking half fang bearing grin. "I swear you picked up too many bad habits from Ino and Sasuke."
"She could have just as easily gotten them from you and your brother," Shino says completely used to the bickering that goes on between human and ninken partners in the Inuzuka clan.
"I don't- "I go to defend myself before realising that I do actually smirk like that quite a bit. "Damnit."
"How are you even talking," Kumomaru asks.
"Sheer determination and stupidity would be my guess," Shino says. "Why, because those are two of the things influence both of the Inuzuka twins' behaviour."
"Hey," I snap at the Aburame. "Determination yes but stupidity no. Talking just takes my mind off the fact that my entire body feels like it has been dunked in acid."
"You put yourself in that condition," Shino counters. "though I guess recklessness would be a better word than stupidity when apply to you. However, stupidity would apply better to Kiba."
"Nope my brother is just as reckless as me," I reply back. "He isn't as stupid as he acts. He just doesn't use the brain he has unless someone puts him in a select few states of mind. If you don't believe me than try talking philosophy with him when he is half asleep or half awake. Or ask him about complicated mathematics."
An angry growl interrupts the conversation, "You just can't stay out of trouble for more than a few weeks can you."
"M-mom," I squeak terrified of the expression and tone she has. Even Kuromaru has taken a few steps away from her.
"Too be fair Tsume," Shibi says coming to my defence. "There was no way anyone could have fully anticipated what happened today."
Oh, how very, very wrong that statement is.
"True but that still doesn't except the numerous times Koko has done this exact same thing," My mother snaps and I am surprised the Shibi is able to not even flinch under the gaze of a very, very pissed off Inuzuka mother. "She has been doing this since the day she started walking. Even before that."
"You were exactly the same as her when you where her age Tsume," Shibi says. "It wasn't until your first child was born that you stopped acting reckless constantly. Even now you still do extremely stupid things."
My mother growls and glares at the Aburame who is in very real danger of getting clawed, punched or just plain mauled. Surprisingly my mother doesn't attack him and instead kneels down in front off me as she takes note of the half-healed wound at my collar bone.
"I knew you were going to be the biggest trouble maker of the three of you from the day you first spoke," My mother says placing her hands on my clan markings the someway I did that day. "You have been proving me right ever since."
My mom presses a kiss to the top of my head as her anger seems to fade more to worry. Aōko whines as Kumomaru sniffs her and checks for injuries. It is then that I realise the sounds of combat have ceased to echo in the air.
"Is the battle over," I ask. "Is everyone okay?"
My mother sighs and I already know what she is going to say, "Not everyone is okay Koko. The hokage is dead by his own former student's hands."
Both Shino and Shibi are highly shaken by the news. Aōko however doesn't react much probably having suspected the outcome as much as me.
"The smoke from where the Kages were siting in the arena," I say lowing my head to hid the lack of reaction on my face. "Orochimaru was posing as the Kaze-kage then. Which means that the real Kazekage is probably dead. That also explains why Suna was helping Oto attack Konoha. Orochimaru must have been planning and preparing for this for years."
"That would also explain why Kabuto didn't kill us," Shino says darkly. "If your theory about him being a spy for Orochimaru is true, which a lot of evidence suggests that it is, then he would have had to return to the village to treat Orochimaru's injuries."
I sigh as I remove my hand from beneath Kumomaru's paw and place both hands to my face. Even though I knew it was going to happen and that it was something that I couldn't have prevented the third hokage's death is still a heavy blow to take. To think that the kind old man will never be there to laugh at our teams' antics or smile at us. He made a lot of bad calls during his time as Hokage but he still did his best to keep the village safe.
Hello everyone I am terribly sorry about how late this update is. My laptop broke and getting the files from that on to the new one was very difficult as was finding a new laptop and obtaining the money to buy one. Updates should be uploaded on a monthly basis from now on plus I am currently working on this story like crazy now so I might even update again within the next week or two.
Next time on KnM: A few old friends make a reappearance