CHAPTER 34: Floor 53
Shikamaru alerted Sasuke that the team they have been waiting for had already arrived.
His teammate knew this for a fact because he might have received the information through their outside members, Gaara and Neji who had always been on standby and tech duty eversince.
During their stay with Orochimaru, his team had the opportunity to gain access to the mafia's rare treasure, The Glimpse, which meant they also had access to all public cameras in whichever site they wished to spy on.
Gaara had also discreetly communicated to them the flaw he found on The Glimpse, and everyone agreed that it was indeed an advantage on their part, and a disadvantage towards the enemy-because just like any CCTV camera, the footages could easily be faked or manipulated once hacked into. So, Sasuke left that job to his outside team.
However, despite the info, the team's arrival still wasn't the signal. Hence, Sasuke and his team still had to act in a normal fashion. That's why, after Shikamaru's call, Sasuke contacted Naruto next to carry out the order Orochimaru just gave him... And that was to wait for the very important guest on the rooftop.
When Sasuke and Naruto made it to the rooftop, there was already a slight drizzle that blanketed the city. It seemed that there was a storm on the way, and that the rain would continuously fall and would eventually turn heavy with a slight hint of thunderstorms.
"Don't you think that this rain…this storm…is a little ominous?" Naruto suddenly blurted as they shielded themselves from the droplets of rain using a black umbrella.
"Don't think about anything else, Naruto. Just focus on our mission." Sasuke replied.
It was half an hour later when both Naruto and Sasuke heard the whopping sound of a helicopter. They watched it land on the helipad and was grateful that it was able to land safely.
Sasuke then faced Naruto and spoke.
"You were asking a while back who the big boss was."
"Yes, and no one bothered to answer me. I mean, I know the mission, I'm just confused on who we're doing it for."
The door to the helicopter then opened and out came a man who looked so formidable that Naruto's jaw dropped.
"That's the big boss." Sasuke told him.
"What the-Isn't that Kakashi's papa?"
Naruto and Sasuke did the protocol when they met with Tobirama Senju. He was carrying a single black briefcase with him which needed to be scanned for concealed weapons as he too was being felt up for more of the same.
Several of Orochimaru's men were also sent to the rooftop to welcome the man. All of them watched as Sasuke held the scanner while one of the men held the screen as the former swiped the whole of the briefcase.
As for Naruto, he was suddenly out of sight.
"It's clean." The man said, and Tobirama was given the signal to proceed.
After the scan, Sasuke was the one holding the brief case. He was about to return it to Tobirama when the latter spoke.
"Do hold it for me, son, will you?" He said as each of them went inside to proceed down the CEO's office where Orochimaru was already waiting.
Sasuke was trailing behind Tobirama who was being closely guarded by the three men Orochimaru sent. Before they turned the corner towards the stairs, Naruto appeared carrying an identical briefcase. He then discreetly switched it with the one Sasuke was holding and made sure that it wasn't caught on cam.
After the switch, Naruto disappeared again to dispose of the briefcase which would be collected by Ebisu who was busy patrolling the floors.
Before they reached the office of the CEO, Naruto was already back beside Sasuke.
Nobody had really noticed his coming and going because to Orochimaru's men, once they've seen Sasuke, it was automatic that Naruto was on his side and there was no need to look…and so, phase one of the plan had just been smoothly completed.
The rest was now up to Tobirama…and Kakashi.
The glass doors to the office of the CEO opened and Tobirama entered.
The room was like any other office of someone who was holding a high status. It was spacious, extravagant, and had a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the beauty of the city.
The place would have been perfect if not for the man who was standing at the edge of the room while looking out the dreary scenery from the window due to the impending storm.
"Orochimaru." Tobirama called as the man turned to look at him with a smile on his thin lips.
"Ah. Tobirama Senju. The Tobirama Senju. It is so nice to finally meet a legend!" Orochimaru greeted as he stepped closer towards his table on the center of the room.
"Please. I did not come here for flattery. I came here for business, and you must be fully aware of why I'm here." Tobirama said, cutting off the vain formalities and going straight to the chase.
"Of course. Of course. Do sit down." Orochimaru gestured as he motioned for the seat that was placed directly at the middle of the room in front of the CEO's table.
Tobirama approached the chair and moved it a few inches away before he sat down and crossed his legs.
Orochimaru did the same.
"Since we've already established why you came all the way here, forgive me if I skip the introductions of our business and go straight to the price..." Orochimaru said as he leaned over his table with his chin propped over his hands and asked. "So, how much do you offer?"
Tobirama smirked and threw a question back. "How much do you want?"
Sasuke and Naruto were left on stand by outside the office of the CEO. Since the room was sound proofed and the glass doors were filmed, they had no idea what was going on inside.
Naruto was in the middle of a yawn when one of the vents overhead popped out and Ebisu's head appeared.
Naruto almost choked.
"What the fuck?! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Naruto complained.
"Heart attack isn't what's gonna kill you kid. Better prepare for other things."
Then, Ebisu turned to look at Sasuke.
"The alarm system on this floor had been disabled. Phase two is about to start."
As fast as Ebisu delivered the message, he also immediately disappeared as Naruto and Sasuke prepared for their part.
Phase two was the evacuation of all civilian employees working in the company, and they were to usher as many people as they can out of the building.
Just as when Naruto and Sasuke were about to leave their post, the elevator to the Office of the CEO opened and out came Orochimaru's twin, female body guards.
There was also a change of shift and the women were the next ones to take their place. As Naruto passed by the two, he happily greeted them good luck before he boarded the elevator with Sasuke.
"Good luck? Really?" Sasuke asked Naruto when the elevator doors closed.
"Well, they don't know what's about to happen. So, it was only appropriate to wish them good luck." He grinned as though he really had no sense of danger at all.
When both Naruto and Sasuke got off the elevator on the 32nd floor, everything was in a state of commotion as all the fire alarms on the floors below the CEO's office went off which urged everyone to immediately leave their posts and exit the building.
"What's the status on the security room?" Sai asked.
"They're looking for the cause of the alarms going off. They're trying to shut it down, but they can't." Gaara answered as he switched from monitor to monitor to observe the events on the neighboring building.
Neji, on the other hand, chuckled and added, "Well, of course, ever since the Senju arrived, we've already taken half the control of their security."
"How about Dr. Senju?" Sai asked next.
"He's okay." Gaara responded again. "The one he's talking to and the guards stationed outside the door still haven't been alerted."
"Good."
Sai had teamed up with Gaara and Neji to gain access to The Glimpse. Half an hour before Tobirama Senju arrived in a helicopter, they have already put up their own work station on another building while Kakashi's team were on stand by, awaiting Sai's signal.
Earlier that day, the Senju mansion was surprised to receive a message from the two outside members of Sasuke's team. They swiftly informed them of the building's status as well as their access to The Glimpse, and from there, Kakashi's team began their move.
At the moment, Sai's own team was watching from afar as hundreds of employees exited the building. He first took a deep breath before he connected a call to team Kakashi.
"There are still a few scattered civilians inside. Do you think you can aim well enough?" He asked. It was Genma's voice who came through. He was chuckling on the other end of the line.
[Of course! Who do you think we are?]
Sai couldn't help but let out a small smile after what Genma just said. Yes, Sai was fully adept at combat, but there was a reason why they still called him 'baby gazelle.' It was also that same reason why he was put on tech duty. They still thought of him as a big softy, but he did not mind it one bit.
"Okay. Then I hope you guys are ready. We'll be closing off the entire floor where the security room is. Team Sasuke did a wonderful job in deploying those portable machines."
['Kay. Just give us a heads up gazelle.] Yamato said.
"Okay. The sleeping gas will be going off in 10…"
Sai began the ten-second countdown as Gaara and Neji braced themselves to hit the key to activate the portable devices equipped with sleeping gas.
The moment they wipe out every person in Orochimaru's security room, the whole building will be in chaos because it will be open to infiltration and Orochimaru's men will be losing communication with everyone else.
7 seconds…
Cellphones and other communication devices will be jammed except the ones being used by Tobirama Senju and team Kakashi.
On the other hand, as the count down kept going, Kakashi's team who was waiting inside their car, began wearing their specialized masks equipped with lenses that would help them easily locate the positions of their concealed weapons as marked by the metallic stickers.
5 seconds…
Sai reminded them of their mission one more time as they made final checks on their on hand weapons before stepping out of the car and going through the sea of people who were frantically trying to save themselves from whatever danger that caused all the alarms to go off.
3 seconds…
The rain had started pouring heavier by the second as the clouds gradually darkened...but Kakashi's team didn't mind… They still took casual steps towards the entrance of the lobby.
2 seconds…
They reached the entrance where Orochimaru's clueless men immediately saw them.
1 second...
They opened fire.
Anko had been startled when the alarms on the basement had gone off.
"What's wrong?! What's happening?!" She demanded as she grabbed one of her men to give her answers.
"I don't know boss. No one's picking up their phones." The man answered nervously.
"What are you doing here then?! Go upstairs and check what's happening, then report back to me!"
"Y-yes boss!"
However, just as the man frantically scrambled away, they begen hearing the series of gunshots on the floor above them.
"What the fuck?!" Anko cursed as she looked at the unconscious Sakura.
"Kabuto! Release that bitch. We're taking her with us."
Kabuto nodded as he unfastened the straps on Sakura.
Back at the CEO's Office...
"So, how much do you offer?"
"How much do you want?"
Their exchange made Orochimaru laugh while Tobirama only raised his brow in mild annoyance.
"I would've accepted such a generous offer if it were true." Orochimaru said.
"Why? Was there something wrong with my offer?" Tobirama asked.
"Tell me, Tobirama, what are you buying really? The disc? Or the girl?" Orochimaru asked as he leaned on his swivel while carefully steering it from side to side.
"Orochimaru," Tobirama uttered surely, "everyone knows you don't have the disc…"
"Ah, yes. But what if I tell you that we've made a mistake and the girl really doesn't know where the disc is?" Orochimaru confessed.
"Hmm…if that were the case, then why keep the girl still?" Tobirama asked.
"That's because I'm waiting for something." Orochimaru smirked.
Tobirama raised an eyebrow in question. "What is it?"
"Someone to save the girl." He said "Isn't she the lover of your best friend's son? By the way, how is he? Your… best friend?"
It was obvious to Tobirama that Orochimaru was provoking him. He was forcing him to remember a painful past. One where Orochimaru made his best friend, Sakumo Hatake, suffer.
However, his enemy wasn't the only one who knew how to play the game. After all, he had the ace up his sleeve.
And so, he smiled.
"You mean the White Fang? He's alive and well." Tobirama bluffed as he saw Orochimaru's eye twitch a little.
The man was nervous! But Tobirama didn't want him nervous, he wanted him in panic. So he added a little more to his lie, one that brought back painful memories…one that erupted the war.
"In fact, he's here, and he's waiting for you."
Tobirama foresaw Orochimaru's movement even before it happened. Automatic pistols equipped with silencers were activated to shoot the very place where he was supposed to be seated if he didn't move his chair.
This gave him enough time to shield his face using his brief case when Orochimaru fired his own shots as the latter took cover behind one of the ornamental cabinets while Tobirama crouched to hide himself behind the sofa facing the glass doors.
Tobirama immediately opened his brief case to arm himself with a gun while Orochimaru continued to shoot at him randomly, probably trying to make a guess on where he was hiding.
Though the office may have been sound proofed, the sound of the Orochimaru's gun shot may have been felt on the ground which prompted the twin female guards to enter the office only to be shot by Tobirama.
However, one of them survived and lunged for him but was eventually killed by Orochimaru's own bullet which ricocheted on the top corner of the wall, piercing the woman's neck as the bullet landed on the sofa, almost hitting Tobirama in the face.
Tobirama let out an annoyed huff as he swiftly changed his position while he, too, fired his series of shots to where Orochimaru may have been hiding.
'You're not the only one who knows how to curve a bullet, asshole.' He thought as he opened his brief case one more time to bring out his final weapon.
That's when he heard Orochimaru speak.
"Tobirama! You shouldn't be lying like that because I know for a fact that I killed the White Fang that night."
But Orochimaru didn't. He really didn't-Sakumo Hatake still lived for a short while after his encounter with Orochimaru, but he still died eventually because Tobirama failed to save him.
However, his enemy didn't need to know that.
Tobirama decided to use this opportunity to taunt him, toy with him like how Orochimaru played with their lives before he delivered his final blow...
He looked at the grenade he was holding in his hand, removed the pin with his teeth and held onto its safety handle as he continued to bluff with Orochimaru.
"Sorry to burst your fucking little bubble Orochimaru, but you killed no one that night."
Tobirama thought fast. He knew that Orochimaru had a safe room inside his office and that the latter was a few meters away from it based on where he was hiding at the moment.
Orochimaru may or may not reach the security of his safe room, and Tobirama hoped that he does not but…
Here goes nothing…
"If you really don't believe me, why not check it out and see for yourself. That is if…you survive this."
Tobirama stepped out from where he was hiding and shot continuously at the wide floor-to-ceiling glass window.
His actions surprised Orochimaru but that did not stop the latter from shooting at him.
However, Tobirama began running while successfully dodging most of the bullets shot at him. When he passed by Orochimaru, he flashed him a little smirk before he dropped the grenade in front of him.
"You piece of shit." Orochimaru sneered as Tobirama crashed himself on the broken window and jumped from the building's 53rd floor.
A/N: For those of you who were kind enough to ask how I was during the storm, I'm happy to say that I'm fine, and so is my family. Though a part of our roof flew off, and our heavy, metal gate was knocked down by the wind (I really don't know how the wind did it. Our metal gate was removed from its hinges...), we're still fine.
#GuardianOfTheThunderStorms
Unfortunately, our city may suffer a two-week power outage because of the damage the storm has done.
Thank heavens for our generator and my mobile data!
As for the much anticipated KS moment, it'll come. But until then, let us all be patient until that fateful day comes. Who would get to save her first? What will happen to the rest? How about Tobirama? Well, who knows! Lol.
Thank you, everyone for reading this story I hope for a safe week for you all!
TBC