Chapter 37

The Art of Chaos

Iruka shifted in his chains – trying to find a more comfortable position and failing miserably. He let out a long sigh and turned to take a look at Genma. The jonin looked relaxed and peaceful, with his eyes closed – even though he was trussed up in much the same way as Iruka.

"How can you be so calm about all this, Genma?"

The jonin opened his eyes and grinned back at Iruka. "Eventually you learn that there's no such thing as a comfortable position when you're a prisoner. Once you accept that – your body learns to rest no matter what position it's in."

Iruka blinked back at him in disbelief. "I don't mean about our comfort level, you idiot! How can you be so calm about them taking Kakashi away?!?"

He watched Genma shift in his chains – a portion of his burnt skin cracking open in the process and allowing fresh blood to flow. Iruka frowned while the jonin cringed a bit, but otherwise ignored his injury. "How will worrying about what they're doing to Kakashi change anything about our current situation,Iruka? Instead, you should be reserving your energy for when they get here to rescue us."

Iruka frowned and looked toward the window on the far wall. He could still see the guards pass by every so often, and he was sure these weren't the only ones on this level. "You honestly think they're going to be able to sneak in here and get us out, Genma?"

"Honestly?" Genma chuckled. "Nope – I don't."

Iruka twisted back to look at the jonin in disbelief. "What did you say?"

Genma rolled his eyes while flexing his fingers within his chains. "Iruka – even Kakashi would have trouble sneaking into this place." The jonin smiled. "But – I do fully expect our fellow shinobi to break us out while causing as much chaos and distraction as they possibly can."

Iruka smiled at that. "Yeah – especially if Jiraiya and Ibiki have anything to say about it."

Genma chuckled. "Yeah – the Sannin doesn't really seem like the subtle type, does he? So like I said – just rest up kid."

Iruka turned back toward the door and tried to do what Genma suggested...but his thoughts kept going back to Kakashi – and how they might help the man. He took another look around the room and made note of the security camera located at the ceiling in the far corner. It seemed to be focused on their wall and likely was a live feed back to Lord Orochimaru's quarters or Kabuto's office, if not both. There was also a bed off to one side where they would probably be placing Kakashi once they finished doing whatever the hell it was they were doing right now.

He couldn't hear any screams this time – unlike the last time he and Kakashi were captured. That might mean they weren't hurting him as much...although he doubted that. So maybe instead that meant that this time Kakashi was taken much farther away.

Iruka bit at his lower lip while he tried to puzzle out the possibilities. He may not be a genius like Kakashi – or a jonin like Genma – but he spent his life thinking through scenarios and breaking them down to their most basic pieces so they could be taught to, and remembered by, pre-genin. He should be able to come up with some way to at least better the odds for his fellow Leaf Shinobi if they came...NO...when they came to rescue them.

"Genma?"

His cell-mate rattled his chains a bit. "What's up Iruka?"

"Do you know how long it will take to have our chakra build back up once the dampening chains are off?"

Genma's quiet chuckle made Iruka frown. "Too long to be of much help to them on the way out."

He shifted until he could look into the jonin's face once more. "That doesn't answer my question Genma. How long?"

Genma narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips – obviously trying to calculate it out. "Assuming they haven't also injected us with anything else to keep the chakra-flow in check...you won't restore your chakra for at least an hour."

Iruka frowned. He hadn't thought of the possibilities of injections – and he should have – considering it's how Kabuto kept him in line last time. He rolled his head around to see if he felt any type of injection site on his neck and breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't. Of course – that didn't mean he didn't have one...just that he couldn't feel one in the usual spot. Still – he had to hope that it meant they'd figured he and Genma didn't rate additional methods this time around.

"Okay – so how long do you think it'll take before there's enough for a minor jutsu? Say genin or chunin level?"

Genma glanced over at him. "What are you thinking, Iruka?"

He smirked. "Just answer the question Genma."

The jonin ran his tongue across his dry lips. "Okay Iruka – I'll play along. It'll probably take about two minutes for genin level and four to five for chunin. But that will only allow one – or maybe two simple jutsu at the most. Oh yeah – and that's only if you're not totally drained to start with. "

Iruka frowned. Damn – he'd forgotten that part of the equation. What were the chances that he wasn't still completely drained of chakra from the sealing of Kakashi's curse marks? He'd just started being able to move when Kabuto had attacked them. But that should mean he has at least a little chakra now, right?

"You know, Iruka – that's why I use the senbon."

Genma's voice broke Iruka from his thoughts. "What?"

The jonin chuckled at him. "You just bit through your lip, Iruka. That's why I prefer chewing on a senbon – you're less likely to drip blood when deep in thought."

Iruka felt his cheeks flush slightly in embarrassment. "Heh – you could be right. Genma – I need you to keep an eye on the guards for awhile. I need to know how long between their passing."

Genma smiled. "Nine and a half minutes, Sensei."

Iruka stared back at him in amazement. "How did you know I'd ask that?"

"I didn't. But it's regular practice to time out things like that in situations like this."

Iruka sighed. "I should have known that."

Genma shifted in his chains and groaned. "No, you shouldn't have. Rightfully you shouldn't be in a situation like this."

Iruka glared. "Why, Genma? Because I'm a chunin?"

Genma rolled his eyes. "No – because my team never should have been caught, and you never should have been recaptured. Stop thinking so little of yourself, Iruka. I thought Kakashi was kidding me when he said you did that."

Iruka blinked at the man in disbelief. "Kakashi talked to you about me?"

Genma chuckled. "Not exactly. He mentioned it in his mission debriefing."

Iruka groaned. Great – now everyone from Ibiki to the Hokage knew he had self-doubts. Just great. Pushing back his embarrassment, Iruka made up his mind that he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. "Genma – keep an eye out for the guards – I want to try something."

The jonin raised his eyebrows but then shifted his attention to the observation window without another word. Iruka closed his eyes and tried to calm his nerves a bit. His plan would only work if Kabuto and his goons hadn't been too thorough in their search of him. But he had hope that this was the case when he recognized earlier that he was dressed in his clothes, and his hair was still pulled back in his signature ponytail.

Iruka took a moment to pray to whatever gods were listening, and then leaned his head back and up as far as he could. He shifted his fingers until the tips were buried in his hair – searching for the one thing he'd hoped no one had found buried deep within the gathered strands of hair. He let out a sigh of relief when the tips of his fingers brushed against a thin wire he'd taken to wearing in his hair since the last time they'd been captured.

Working slowly and carefully, Iruka pulled the thin wire loose of its confinement and worked it with his fingers until it was bent over to create a rudimentary lock pick. He felt a trickle of sweat roll down his neck as he concentrated on his task. A sharp hiss from Genma almost made him drop the bit of wire – but he took the noise for the warning it was, and palmed the wire before the guard walked by – peering through the window at them.

Once they passed by, Genma gave the all clear and Iruka slowed his heart-rate down enough to refocus on what he was trying to do. He shifted the wire once more and began the search for the locking mechanism. After the first few minutes passed by without any luck, Iruka started to realize he may have made one large mistake with his logic – the lock may not be on this side of the cuffs!

Just when he was about to give up to defeat, the thin wire slid into what was undeniably the hole for the locking mechanism. He had to keep himself from yelling out in joy, and put a distressed look back on his face as the warning for the guards was given once more. Once clear again, he went about trying to figure out the lock by feel – something he hadn't done in quite sometime. Still – once he started, the technique came back to him, and he figured out approximately how long it would take to unlock it.

He chewed on his lip while he ran the numbers through his head – because he'd have to hope that the cuffs around his ankles had the same lock...otherwise his plan would end before it really began. He closed his eyes and calmed himself as much as he could before settling in to wait for Genma's next warning. Once he heard it – there'd be no going back. He'd have less than ten minutes to release both locks and then hope he could trick the guards to think he was still secure in the cuffs before starting his next stage of the plan.

His heart raced when the all clear was given once more – and he immediately set to work on the lock. The satisfying sound of the tumbler releasing was followed by the not so satisfying feeling of tumbling toward the floor as his legs suddenly had to try hold up his weight once more. Thankfully, his feet were in contact with the floor – otherwise he probably would have snapped his ankles from the shifting of his body.

Iruka twisted until he could bend over his lower body and set to work on the cuffs. He smiled when it became clear the locks were actually the same – and being able to see it this time cut the time needed in half. He let out a long sigh when, at last, he was free again. The elation was cut short by Genma's voice.

"Two minutes, Sensei."

"Right." He quickly stood up and moved so he was pressed up against the wall again and he lifted his arms and placed them just behind the opened cuffs – being careful not to let them snap closed again. With a bit more luck, the guards wouldn't notice the difference.

He held his breath when the next guard passed the window – but the man didn't slow in his pace, and a moment later Iruka was back on the floor again. He moved over to where Genma was still hanging and started to check out the cuffs on his fellow shinobi.

"Don't bother, Iruka. It won't work for me."

He tipped his head up to look into Genma's face. "What are you talking about? It's the same type of lock. I can have you out of these in no time."

The jonin frowned. "Won't do me any good Iruka. Do you remember what that worm, Kabuto, did to my legs the last time? Well – he did it again. Even if you let me loose – I can't stand. You'd do best to just leave me hanging until the others get here."

Iruka paled. Everything he'd figured was based on him having the jonin to back him up. He honestly wasn't sure what to do now.

"Hey – snap out of it, Iruka! You've only got five minutes left to think of something else."

He felt the heat rise in his cheeks and pushed himself back up to his feet. "Okay, Genma."

Iruka chewed his lip some more and glanced around the room again. Then a slow smile pulled across his lips and he moved over to where the bed partially blocked the view of both the window and the camera. He was actually surprised no one had found them out yet because of that camera – but Iruka figured Orochimaru and Kabuto were likely too busy with Kakashi to pay much mind to a crippled jonin and an Academy Teacher.

Pulling on the chakra that had managed to replenish itself since his removal of the cuffs, Iruka made the necessary hand signs and created a clone of himself. He smiled at how easily it came to him – one of the perks of having to show the technique over and over again during the Academy classes, he supposed. Iruka sent the clone over to stand at the wall in his place – making sure the cuffs didn't reseal and negate the copy – while he leaned against the bed and tried to rest up for whatever came next.

Hopefully it would be their rescue – but even if it wasn't – at least he'd be able to fight back this time. He pushed his chakra-signature down and closed his eyes – waiting for whatever fate would throw his way next.

-- --

Kabuto made his way down the long corridor that led to where the unsuspecting Academy Teacher hung. He could barely keep the grin off his face now that he was finally given the order to kill the troublesome chunin. At first, he'd thought it was just something Lord Orochimaru had said to get a rise out of Kakashi...but when the Sannin glared impatiently at him after giving the order, Kabuto knew it had not been a bluff after all.

This was just one more sign that Lord Orochimaru was finally done treading softly around the Copy-Ninja. Perhaps when Kabuto was finished disposing of Iruka Umino he'd head back to his laboratory and start brewing the needed medicines to begin separation of Lord Orochimaru's soul from its current body. It would be much sooner than they usually started the process – but considering how eager the Sannin seemed to be to possess Kakashi's body, it might be best to be proactive.

This time Kabuto allowed the grin to make it to his face when he passed by the stationed guards as they made their rounds. He didn't bother asking for an update – he knew if anything was out of the ordinary they would have already told him. Kabuto walked past the observation window – narrowing his eyes at the spider-web crack in the corner from the counterattack of the seals on Kakashi's back. At least they wouldn't need to worry about that little problem anymore.

Glancing through the window, he saw Genma and Iruka hanging against the far wall. Both men appeared to be dozing in their chains. All the better as far as he was concerned. Sleepy ninja tended to have slower reactions – which meant his task would be even easier.

Kabuto reached into his pouch and withdrew one of his scalpels. He'd contemplated making Iruka's death long and painfully drawn out...but he decided quick and certain was a far better idea. That way there could be no time for Lord Orochimaru to change his mind again. And once the chunin was gone, they'd have to revert back to the more tried and true methods of controlling his grandson.

Kabuto pushed open the door and was greeted by two sets of eyes tracking his movements – even though neither man made any other move to show they were awake. His grin shifted to a satisfied smirk – after all, he hated it when his prey were weak-willed...it somehow took the fun out of it.

"Well, well, well Iruka-sensei. It seems you no longer have any bargaining power where the Copy-ninja is concerned."

The dark-haired chunin lifted his chin and silently glared at him. Kabuto laughed and lifted the scalpel up until he was certain Iruka saw it. The brown eyes went wide and he saw the hands clench into fists when something struck him as wrong. The hairs on the back of his neck raised and he instinctively threw the scalpel to his left, while he pulled a kunai out of his pouch and thrust it into the body on the wall – even as it was lunging for him – obviously free of the chains.

Three things happened at that moment...first – the clone in front of him disappeared with a small puff of smoke, second – a startled gasp of pain came from where the real Iruka had been hiding, and third – Kabuto's respect for the skills of the chunin went up a notch. He spun toward the bed and found the sensei crouched on the floor, glaring up at him with the bloodied scalpel already pulled out of his shoulder where Kabuto had thrown it. He smiled – perhaps he needed to raise that assessment up two notches.

With a low growl from his throat that reminded Kabuto of the Copy-ninja, Iruka lunged at him – scalpel held in a way that enabled the man to use the blade to its maximum efficiency. It didn't really surprise Kabuto...after all, the chunin was used to instructing the best use of many different bladed weapons – so it only made sense he'd know how best to hold this one. Kabuto blocked the attack with ease, and used the chunin's momentum against him – grabbing hold of the man's shirt and flinging him into his fellow Leaf shinobi – effectively removing the scalpel from the equation as Iruka had to drop it to keep from slicing into the jonin.

"Behind you Iruka!"

The jonin's warning was just a touch too slow, and Kabuto's foot found its way to Iruka's side – the sound of the man's ribs cracking bringing another grin to Kabuto's face as the chunin slid across the floor and into the far corner. To his credit, Iruka attempted to regain his feet – but Kabuto was far too used to these scuffles to allow that to happen. With a quick flash of hand signs, he was behind the chunin. He grasped the dark brown ponytail firmly and dragged the man back toward the middle of the room – where he knew Genma would have a clear view to what he was doing to the Academy Teacher. It was always more fun with a witness.

Kabuto leaned close to Iruka's ear, even as he grasped the chunin's arm and twisted it behind his back. "That was rather clever of you Iruka-sensei. Useless – but clever."

"How did you know it wasn't me?"

Kabuto chuckled. "You forgot one small detail on your clone, Sensei."

Iruka tried to twist out of his grasp until Kabuto tugged his hair sharply. The chunin tipped his head back farther until their eyes met. "What are you taking about, Kabuto?!? My clone was perfect!"

Kabuto smirked. "Exactly." He released Iruka's hair and used that hand to pull the chunin's other arm up until his wrist was showing...including the deep brand of the Sound Village symbol. "You forgot to include your badges of honor, Sensei."

He felt Iruka tense at the realization of just why his plan failed, and Kabuto couldn't help but take a moment to make the man even more miserable. "I was going to kill you quickly, Iruka-sensei...but I think, instead I'll let you watch Genma here die first – as a punishment for being such a bad guest."

He moved to haul Iruka back to his feet when he heard a quiet chuckle from where Genma was still hanging. Kabuto turned his attention to that man – never letting up on the pressure he was applying to Iruka's arms.

"What's so amusing, Genma? Are you looking forward to leaving my company?"

"You could put it that way...but I don't plan to leave the way you think I will."

Now Kabuto was definitely curious. He noticed Genma's eyes shift to a spot behind him – in the direction of the door. Kabuto's eyes narrowed, and he quickly turned so that Iruka's body was dragged between himself and the figures now standing in the entrance. Kabuto twisted his lips into a cruel smile.

"Iruka-sensei, why didn't you tell me you had invited more guests? Oh well – I guess you'll just need to help me entertain them until Lord Orochimaru can welcome them personally. Is that all right with you, Jiraiya?"

The Toad-Sannin loomed in the entrance – glaring back at him. "Give it up, kid. You aren't getting out of this one."

Kabuto cocked his head to one side and chuckled. "Is that so? Well – the only way you'll get to me is through the Sensei. Do you really want to explain that one to Naruto...or Kakashi for that matter?"

Iruka struggled in his arms. "Don't listen to him...they'd understand! Don't worry about me! Kill him, dammit!"

Kabuto shifted his arm to choke off the chunin's words. "Now, now, Sensei...let's not cause me any more trouble today, hmmm?"

Ibiki Morino stepped in behind Jiraiya – the man looking even more menacing than he ever managed during the Chunin Exams. He held a bloodied katana in his grip – eliminating the need for Kabuto to wonder why the guards hadn't kept the riff-raff out.

The Torture and Interrogation leader leveled him with a hard glare. "Let go of Umino, Kabuto...now."

Kabuto's smile changed to a smirk. "Remember, Ibiki...you asked for it."

With a motion born of thousands of such maneuvers, Kabuto released Iruka by pushing his kunai deep into the man's back and kicking him forward. In the moment of confusion caused by the impaling of the chunin, Kabuto began the quick series of hand signs that would allow him to escape. Just as he was about to finish the last one, his hands froze in place. Kabuto's eyes went wide. He'd been caught in a shadow jutsu!

Stepping through the door to the room, another Leaf jonin walked into the room – his dark hair pulled back in a way that reminded Kabuto of the sensei's, and his tanned face covered in nearly as many scars as Ibiki's. Kabuto ran the names of the various Leaf shinobi he'd researched over the years through his mind until he found a match. His captor was none other than Shikaku Nara...leader of the Nara clan.

He wanted nothing more than to make some witty remark to them all, but the strength of Shikaku's jutsu made it impossible to even utter a single sound. So all he could do was glare when Iruka Umino managed to turn back and look toward him. The chunin forced words out of his mouth, even though he was in obvious pain.

"The cuffs on the back wall are chakra dampening."

Jiraiya was holding the chunin in his arms, trying to keep the man from moving any more. The Sannin glared back at Kabuto. "Put him them...maybe we can use him to get Kakashi back."

Kabuto felt the hands of Ibiki and some other unknown jonin grip him tightly and drag him to the waiting cuffs. Well – this was definitely not how he'd intended this to go – and now he'd have to find some way to kill them all before Lord Orochimaru learned of his failure to carry out his task. The moment the metal sealed around his wrists he felt the tug of his chakra reserves being drained away. Kabuto closed his eyes at the uncomfortable feeling – knowing that once his chakra was gone, Lord Orochimaru's gift to him would kick in. In their hopes of using him to find Kakashi, the fools had signed their own death warrants. All he had to do was wait.