A/N: I am so sorry! My computer has been a dick lately and refuses to read my external hard drive so i've been having to move stuff using my brother's computer and a pretty small memory stick... 2 GB... Yes, feel sorry for me and then we had no electricity yesterday, i was so bored i finally cleaned my room! (Everyone gasps in shock and horror!) I know, it's what comes in living in a third world country.
Hello once again to Tatty and Dragon, yes, badass action all around and it's not stopping there. Kasumi refuses to loose anymore loved ones to Akatsuki! And you are most welcome, i love answering reviews like this :) SonOfObito, I think it might finish soon, especially with 'O' dying and Naruto's responce to him yesterday, he's going to go ape sh*t on her ass. .. It made me cry yesterday, i really like his character. And this is amazing, thanks for the review :)
Anyway, just a bit of explanation on what to come. Kasu/Shi is coming up, i promise! It's just where it fits in so i'm sorry for the wait. This first bit of the chapter, i've taken from Naruto Movie 3 the Will of Fire but if you haven't watched it, don't fret it's explained on what happens, i just really felt like writing this scene and the next three chapters (I think) are from filler from the anime but again, if you only read the manga, don't fret because it's explained (Of coarse, only a Naruto addict and fan girl like me has seen nearly everything Naruto, I'm stil trying to watch all of the little extra snippets on Youtube, OVA's i think they're called?)
Anyway, this chapter is inspired by two songs: Breathing by Prime Circle (South African band, pretty awesome and such a sad song) and Heartbeat (Chase and Status remix) by Nneka. Anyway, drop a review by and I hope you enjoy and again I'm sorry for the late update.
Tsunade bit her lip as she stood in her office and watched Kasumi march down the street. Hopefully no one would get in her way for the sake of that person and her reputation.
Gai stopped in mid bite of his dango as Genma also looked up and blinked as they watched Kasumi storm down the road. They'd never seen her get so worked up about something before and knew by her well contained KI not to get in her way but they felt sorry for the person she was after.
Even Choji stopped eating his barbeque as Team Asuma looked out the window. Team Kurenai stopped on the roof towards a meeting with Tsunade as they saw the people on the road separate for her.
Minato was sitting with Naruto on the roof of their house as they felt her chakra wavering sadly, pulling clouds of lightning over the sunny village even though the physical day still shone.
"She feels betrayed." Minato said as he put his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"They did tie us up too to stop us from going after Kakashi-sensei. I felt betrayed when I was stopped too but that must be nothing compared to what Kasumi-sensei must be feeling right now ya know?" Naruto said and Minato hummed as he nodded his head.
"You did well to follow your belief son. Tsunade never should have let Kakashi have his way and try to sacrifice himself, there could have and was another way to that threat… I feel guilty for bringing it up and not knowing she didn't know."
"But then again… Kasumi-sensei wouldn't have let him go even if they tied her up as well." Naruto added and Minato smiled slightly and nodded, pulling Naruto into his side.
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Kasumi felt like she was dying all over again. Tsunade had confirmed it and Kasumi quickly locked her sense onto Kakashi's chakra. The burn of anger circled around the hole in her chest and her throat was holding back with a lump of strain as she stumbled down the street slightly and cursed her tears blocking her vision. Her stomach was painful and all she wanted to do was curl into a ball and cry… And never get up again because she was tired of having her emotions pulled with loss and torn from pain, she couldn't get up again and again because eventually you can't and you have no choice to stay down… Kasumi felt herself teetering on that knife's edge.
She wiped at her eyes twice, once to remove the moisture and the second time to fix her dark make up so she could see… She needed to see right now as she sped up her walking a little and vaguely saw people moving out of her way and people she knows. Her pace kept increasing until she was in a full run and her lungs burned from her slightly hyperventilated panting as her tears just flew away into the wind.
Her mind was a muddled mess of 'what if' and angry rants of things she was going to yell at Kakashi once she got there as she began to plan what to say to him. She never guessed that as she got to the cemetery and saw where he was standing that all of her planning would fly out of the window. Her breath hitched as she let out a shaky whimper and her tears streamed freely as she breathed shakily in a slight pant because it was too hard to breath normally right then. The ache in the middle of her chest got stronger and her stomach clenched even harder as she doubled over slightly and grabbed at her flak jacket over her chest and her feet began to move.
Kakashi turned with surprise and her fist connected perfectly as she followed through and Kakashi skidded on his back a metre or two. Kakashi touched his cheek tenderly as he flinched and looked up with question at who punched him.
"Ka… Kasumi?" He asked barely above a whisper. He'd never seen so much angered despair in his life as he looked up at her and she had no aura of anything, showing just how broken she was. Her whole chest and shoulders were shaking right down to her clenched fists and where blood was dropping from her fist and he felt his cheek again before looking back at her fist, shaking and bloodied from her own holding back from punching him… She had held back so much, her own chakra and strength had ripped at her skin.
Her breathing through her mouth was audible and so shaky, it made Kakashi look up at her broken features. Her whole face was an expression of rage he hadn't seen ever in his life but her eyes spoke of a different story as they glistened with continuous tears that were dropping from her high and reddened cheeks… Her eyes were clear and completely shattered. They were shining so brightly that they were actually dull, like watching her life force fade away before his eyes. Kakashi wanted to either crawl into a hole and die or curl around her until she came back to him but then her whole self calmed over and shut tightly… She was feeling world shatteringly betrayed.
"Kasumi…"
"Shut up." Kasumi hissed as her stance shifted. Kakashi leaned up on his elbow before her look made him freeze. The tears and shaking had stopped and she looked right through him with dull eyes and an emotionless face. "Why?" Was her only question and Kakashi blinked as his brow furrowed slightly.
"What?"
"Why?" Her eyes seemed to boar into his soul and he felt a lump gather in the centre of his chest as his sharingan eye began to water… Cry baby Obito… "Do I not deserve to be selfish enough to keep my little brother in this world with me? To forever see the ones I love die right in front of me? Our parents, Obito, Rin, Sensei and Kushina, Sandaime, Jiraiya-ji chan… Now I have to lose you too?"
"You haven't lost sensei…"
"No because I nearly died saving him FOR YOU!" Kasumi cried out as her eyes watered again and fell over, her eyes showing the shattered pieces once again as both of Kakashi's eyes were tearing over now. "I try so hard to fix everything that I already worked for, to stop our lives being full of loss and pain but now Akatsuki are after me and Naruto and Sensei and that stupid chain of bonds is pulling everyone we love and care for in after them and you decided to die another way?"
"It was the only way!" Kakashi yelled up at her as his tears fell over and he yanked off his hitai-ate. "I was going to give my life for the world like you because a world war would only fuck everything up that you've already given your life for!" Kakashi yelled and panted after his rant as his chest was tightening and making it harder to breath.
"Well apparently it wasn't the only way… And you're suppose to be the genius here." Kasumi said softly, her eyes turned away. "A puppet master jutsu is easily broken and everyone is so quick to try and find the easy and quickest way out. Do you think I'd be here or even you right now if that's what we've always done?"
"I…" Kakashi flinched, seeing her eyes close as if she was in physical pain as she held her bloodied hand in a fist over her seal as she shook, holding back her tears again before she calmed again.
"If you want to die I'll just kill you myself." Kakashi found himself lying back into the grass again, his arms up by his head against the grass as a blade barely pierced the skin and flesh just below his breastbone between his ribs. He looked up when he felt something wet and cold seep into his mask and saw Kasumi's face scrunched up in pain as she gasped sobs, both of her hands on her tanto's handle shaking. She gasped out a whimper as she doubled over slightly and removed one hand from the handle as she placed it next to his head and she shook with silent cries.
"Kasumi…" Kakashi whispered as he put his hand on her cheek and she slapped it away, sitting up straight again as she removed the blade and held it to bring it down into herself.
"I can't!" She cried and Kakashi moved as she began to bring the blade down into herself and Kakashi grabbed the blade as it dug into the palm of his hand but tightened his grip anyway when he felt her still trying to weakly push it into herself even as the tip pierced her exactly the same place it had just pierced him and at the same depth. Kakashi leaned up on his elbow when he figured she stopped trying to kill herself and removed his hand from the blade as he leaned on that elbow and raised his other hand to wipe at her tears and fix her smudged make up. Her eyes were still closed as she sniffed gently and her hands just rested the blade where it was as her head tilted slightly into his hand.
Kakashi grabbed her hands and gently removed the blade from her as he dropped it to the grass and uncurled her fingers from around it as she rested them on his stomach and was breathing calmly and lightly with her eyes closed as he sat up further as he didn't need support anymore and ran his good hand through her hair before he pulled her ever so slightly forwards as he rested his forehead against her.
"I'm sorry." Kakashi said softly as his other arm curled around her waist and pulled her closer. "I'm sorry." Kasumi sagged comfortably against him as she rested her cheek on his shoulder and calm tears escaped her closed eyes. "I'm sorry." Kasumi's arms came up around him as one buried into his hair and the other wrapped around his shoulders as she rested her eyes against the shoulder of his flak jacket. "I'm sorry." Kakashi whispered once again as he turned his head and leaned his cheek against her flak jacket shoulder and could hear her heartbeat becoming like his own. "I'm so sorry." Kakashi whispered out one last time as he felt her healing medical ninjutsu against his upper abdomen where she stabbed him and then he began to remember the night of the Kyuubi attack where he mourned over his sister and his mind reversed the roles as his body jerked with a silent sob and he turned his head into her shoulder. He couldn't imagine how broken Kasumi would have been.
"I'm sorry too Kakashi… I don't know how you lived after I died." Kasumi said and it was enough to get Kakashi to cry properly into her flak jacket, almost squeezing the life out of her.
"Are you still awake?" Kakashi asked once their pain had calmed down and they had been sitting in each other's presence for a while already but they hadn't moved.
"Yes… Let me see your hand." Kasumi said as she sat back and onto the grass as they sat with their legs crossed from each other. Kakashi held his hand out as Kasumi gently pulled off his glove and curled her hands around his as she began to heal the wounds. "What exactly happened on your mission and why didn't you come to me if you knew there was a puppet master seal on you. I could have quite easily broken it?" Kasumi asked and Kakashi smiled under his mask.
"I'm too stubborn remember?" Kakashi said and Kasumi smiled, remembering she had said the exact same thing about asking for help. "It was a ninja from our village named Hiruko who came after me…" Kakashi began. Kasumi listened as she finished up with his hand and healed her own wounds from their argument.
"Speaking about Naruto and such… I want something taken care of and I know you're the best man for the job to lead this team." Kasumi said, leaning back on her hand with one leg stretched out in front of her past Kakashi.
"Straight back to business huh?" Kakashi joked and Kasumi smiled, her eyes watching the grass sway in the afternoon breeze.
"Of coarse… Orochimaru will be getting weak round about now, I want you to take him out and his partner if he's there with the snake." Kasumi explained and Kakashi whistled as his eyebrows rose.
"A bit of a tall order don't you think?" Kakashi asked and Kasumi smiled with something telling in her eyes as she sat up and looked at him.
"You'll have Sasuke, Itachi, Shisui and Kabuto with you. It won't be much of a tall order then now will it?" Kasumi asked, narrowing her eyes slightly and Kakashi choked.
"And Tsunade-sama has allowed this?" Kakashi asked and Kasumi shrugged.
"She'll have to accept it whether she likes it or not. She's not stopping the Uchiha trio and Kabuto from going after him… I know you have your own grudges against him." Kasumi specifically pointed out as his eye became hard. "Tsunade will feel better knowing you'll be with them and leading that team and she knows you'll probably all work together flawlessly and come out on top… She has no other choice." Kasumi pointed out and Kakashi laughed.
"You're one hell of a manipulator." Kakashi said and Kasumi winked at him with a grin.
"Just like you." Kasumi said and Kakashi laughed sheepishly since he manipulated Tsunade into letting him go on his suicide mission.
"It's troublesome having to look for you two when you're not in your usual places." Shikamaru drawled as he walked over to them and he leaned on one leg with a sigh.
"Tsunade looking for us?" Kasumi asked and Shikamaru nodded.
"Yeah. She wants to see both of you straight away." Shikamaru drawled with an annoyed sigh.
"Do you have somewhere you need to go next?" Kasumi asked as Kakashi stood up and pulled her along.
"I need to collect the report from the guards on duty by the gates why?" Shikamaru asked and Kasumi held up a finger to tell him to waits as she bent down and picked up Kakashi's hitai-ate. Shikamaru looked at the gravestones with interest, reading Hatake Sakumo and Nozomi and blinked in surprise as he watched Kasumi tie Kakashi's hitai-ate back on and even tilt it over his eye as she ran her thumb lovingly over the engraved piece of metal where his sharingan would be.
"Hold on tight." Kasumi said as she grabbed Shikamaru's wrist and he felt the rush of his life as his knees buckled slightly on the landing. Once his mind stopped whirling he looked around and noticed they were by the gates as he nodded at Kasumi and walked over to the guards to collect the report before his wrist was grabbed again and they landed in Tsunade's office as paperwork flew everywhere.
"I'd appreciate it if someone knocks once in a while." Tsunade growled as she turned around from standing and looking out of the window.
"It sounded urgent since Shikamaru had been looking for us for a while." Kasumi said and let go of Kakashi and Shikamaru as he stepped forwards with the report and Shizune took it from him as she began to read it and he made a quick good bye before he was gone off again. "You're going to run that boy off of his feet one day." Kasumi sighed as she watched Shikamaru go.
"He'll survive. I've called you here because there are a few things I want you two to do. First off Kakashi, I have a reconnaissance mission I want you to take care of." Tsunade said as she leaned on her table, picked up a book and handed it to Kakashi as he opened it and began to read as Kasumi looked as well. "Although we haven't been able to confirm it yet, an ANBU said he found a place he thought to be one of Orochimaru's hideouts. However, the ANBU was killed and the map he sent us only has the general area marked." Tsunade explained and Kasumi gasped as she grabbed the book from Kakashi and looked at the map there where the area had been marked.
"It's one of Orochimaru's prison cells… I vaguely remember seeing this place on one of Orochimaru's maps and it's quite an accurate area circled." Kasumi explained as she looked at the team selected for the mission.
"Then Kasumi, you should take it. Considering she has both tracking and sensory skills and knows Orochimaru better than any of us." Kakashi eye smiled and Tsunade growled.
"I have Kasumi put on another mission." Tsunade growled and Kakashi sighed.
"Kasumi knows Orochimaru best and it's concerning Akatsuki that she's sworn to take down. I'll take her mission if it's okay with you Tsunade-sama." Kakashi said, surprising everyone in the room.
"In that case, Kasumi's mission can wait." Tsunade sighed as she sat down. "What do you think of the team I've selected?" Tsunade asked as Kasumi closed the book and put it down.
"Perfect with their strengths and skill set for reconnaissance." Kasumi said and Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"Then Kakashi. You may go down to the mission desk and retrieve another mission." Tsunade sighed and Kasumi hummed.
"Actually… I have a mission for him but I just need your approval because they'll be going whether you let them or not." Kasumi said and Tsunade scowled slightly.
"What mission?" Tsunade asked and Kasumi shifted her stance.
"Orochimaru doesn't stay in areas located for his prison cells so it's highly unlikely I'll bump into him. Kabuto has already worked out where Orochimaru will be because he's weak at the moment… His three year body cycle is coming up and now will be the best time to take him down… I suggest a five man team." Kasumi explained and Tsunade's scowl hadn't changed.
"Who?"
"Kakashi, Kabuto, Shisui, Itachi and Sasuke have already agreed and decided. A team full of sharingan and Kabuto who knows how Orochimaru's physiology works, getting around his partner and killing both of them will be easy and safe. Now would be the time." Kasumi explained and Tsunade leaned back in her chair, contemplating this in her honey eyes.
"You say they'll be going whether I say so or not?" Tsunade asked and both Kasumi and Kakashi nodded and she sighed. "You love spreading your insubordination around don't you Kasumi?" Tsunade sighed and Kasumi grinned. "Very well. Once the trio have been released from the hospital and fit for duty, they can go off on this mission, I'm trusting you on this idea Kasumi because any of their deaths will be on your head." Tsunade warned.
"I understand that perfectly Tsunade-sama." Kasumi said seriously and Tsunade nodded.
"Dismissed." Tsunade said and they both nodded as Kasumi grabbed Kakashi's wrist and used Hiraishin as they left and Tsunade sighed with relief.
"Seems they have worked out their little kinks." Shizune commented after picking up all of the scattered papers and Tsunade hummed.
"And their strong bond preserved." Tsunade added as a smile came over her face 'Just like I had with Nawaki.'
XXXXXXXXXX
Team Kurenai waited at the gates at sunset, waiting for their captain for the mission, Kakashi. They all jumped back away from each other when there was a sudden movement of air and Kasumi stood there with her hands in her pockets.
"Sorry I'm late but I'll be taking this mission as captain from Kakashi since something else came up." Kasumi said as they regrouped and listened as Kasumi looked over each one of Naruto's peers. "I trust you already know what our mission involves?" Kasumi asked and Hinata nodded.
"Yes. We're supposed to investigate a hideout believed to belong to Orochimaru." Hinata explained and Kasumi nodded.
"Considering the team chosen this should be a synch." Kasumi mused at the interestingly tensed team as they nodded, including Akamaru.
"First, I'll take the lead and search out areas with large amounts of chakra with my kikaichuu." Shino said and Kiba stepped forwards with Akamaru.
"Then it's mine and Akamaru's turn. We'll pinpoint the hideout with our noses." Kiba explained and Akamaru barked.
"And once we pinpoint where the hideout is I'll use my byakugan and check out the chakra of the enemy inside the hideout." Hinata said and Kasumi nodded… Hiruzen wasn't kidding when he said Minato had put Naruto's year together according to matching skill sets.
"Good. I'm counting on you all. Let's head out and don't take any unnecessary risks." Kasumi said and they all nodded.
"Yes Kasumi-sensei."
Kakashi hummed to himself as he walked down the hospital corridor towards a specific room and eye smiled as he walked in with a wave and found kunai, shuriken and needles being thrown past him as it made a silhouette of weapons in the wall behind Kakashi.
"Well it seems you three are rearing to go?" Kakashi asked as he saw three sets of mangekyo sharingan eyes looking at him and Kabuto across the room, leaning against the windowsill with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
Shisui's mangekyo was his usual four-sided shuriken like patter but there was a six-pointed star in the middle. Itachi's were his usual three-pointed star with the bends with the four sided shuriken like pattern in the middle of it and Sasuke's was his six pointed star with Itachi's three sided star like pattern in the middle of the design and Kakashi found it very fascinating.
"We're ready to go when you say Kakashi-taicho." Itachi said with a small smirk and Kakashi smiled under his mask at the old name.
"Well then we are to leave as soon as possible." Kakashi said as they all nodded and stood up, sliding out bags from underneath their beds and already to go and Kakashi laughed.
"Trust Kasumi to have this planned out as soon as possible. Let's get going then." Kakashi said as he turned around and smiled at the weapons in the wall as the Uchiha trio and Kabuto followed after him. Kakashi was impressed by Kabuto's work of finding Orochimaru using spies he still had under Orochimaru and had narrowed it down to two possible bases Orochimaru could be in as they took off at full speed towards the first one that evening.
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Kasumi and Team Kurenai kept a steady pace up and Kasumi was planning to get to the marked area by nightfall in case there was any traps around, it would be easier to see during day light or what was left of it.
"Kiba-kun, what are you thinking about?" Hinata asked as Kasumi looked over her shoulder at the close knit team and smiled sadly before looking ahead again.
"Oh, just remembering our mission to retrieve Sasuke. If this is really Orochimaru's hide out, guys like the last time might be lying in wait for us." Kiba expressed and Kasumi stumbled in her step slightly as she launched off the tree branch.
"That's a possibility… Are you scared?" Kasumi taunted Kiba who looked at her with a slight pout of annoyance before he grinned.
"The exact opposite Kasumi-sensei. Sasuke and Shikamaru are givens but even Naruto has defeated an Akatsuki member, I have to show them I'm no slouch either." Kiba said as Akamaru barked his agreement.
"Then I must show the results of my training as well. Why? Because unlike you all, I haven't been on many missions of that level." Shino said and Kasumi smiled, focusing her senses ahead every now and again before she looked back at their conversation.
"Are you still sulking over that?" Kiba whined.
"That… And Naruto forgot what I look like." Shino complained.
"That goes for everyone, not just Naruto!" Kiba explained with annoyance. "Most of your face is hidden by that get up!"
"You shouldn't forget if they're your comrades."
"Guys, let's work together!" Hinata yelled up at them and Kasumi laughed as they all looked at her funny and she turned on her next jump to face them.
"You three remind me of my old team… Although the fights between my other two teammates were more violent." Kasumi smiled as she turned back again.
"Kasumi-sensei, what was your team like?" Hinata asked, jumping up next to Kasumi who smiled gently.
"I guess you could say we were different. A four man squad instead of the three man squad but it was tough back then as the war was ending off, we all lost a lot back then." Kasumi explained.
"So how come you don't have a genin team of your own unlike Kakashi-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, Asuma-sensei and Gai-sensei? I know you guys seem to all hang out a lot." Kiba said and Kasumi hummed and looked up at the stars coming out.
"I've had many other responsibilities I had to tend to. Not everyone can train a team correctly and I've been labelled as a tokubetsu jonin for a long time because of my versatility of skills." Kasumi explained as they all looked at her with interest, Kasumi hadn't really had much to do with Naruto's peer group except his team and Shikamaru seemed to always have a knack of finding her for Tsunade. "Let's see if we can push a little faster shall we, Shino, you can send your kikaichuu out in another kilometre." Kasumi said with a smile back at the team and they all nodded.
They passed the outskirts of the highlighted area on the map the ANBU left behind as Kiba and Akamaru sniffed around, Hinata looked with her byakugan and Shino's kikaichuu were already out and searching.
"Sensei, we smell burnt remains a few hundred meters from here." Kiba alerted her as Akamaru barked and Kasumi took a slow whiff of the air and smiled… It was so very faint no one would have noticed it.
"Good work. Lead the way." Kasumi said as they took off into the trees again for a few metres and jumped down by a body shaped singed remains on the ground. Kasumi got onto her haunches and swiped some onto her finger as she rubbed it between her thumb and finger. "This must have been where the ANBU set the information off." Kasumi sighed before Kiba put a hand on her shoulder and saw both master and dog were tense. "Do you smell something else?" Kasumi asked and Kiba wrinkled his nose as Akamaru barked with a slight growl.
"It stinks of death. There's a whole bunch of corpses over there." Kiba said and Kasumi stood up and looked the way Kiba was looking as she breathed a slow breath, allowing her senses to travel but she couldn't sense anything so far and she hummed with a nod.
"Lead the way." Kasumi said and they all took off after Kiba and Akamaru leading the way and reached a rocky landscape with a hole between two rocks as they took cover and watched for now. Kasumi scowled as her senses buzzed with odd chakra signals inside the cave as most began to disappear. "Hinata, take a look as we approach. Is there any particularly large chakra in there, Shino?" Kasumi asked, knowing her senses could be wrong and the dropping chakra could be one person from experience. A kikaichuu landed on his finger and he shook his head and Kasumi nodded. "Keep alert then." Kasumi said as she took the lead and they stood around the entrance as they looked in and saw nothing with Kiba and Akamaru going in first with Kasumi, Hinata and Shino behind down the rabbit like hole.
Kasumi and the team watched rigidly as there was a man suffering from the curse seal as it reseeded and the man collapsed, presumably died as the seal continued to crawl across his body.
"Now we know for sure that this was definitely one of Orochimaru's prison lairs… The smell of death and a loose prisoner with the seal proves it. Shall we go see the rest of the disappearing chakra signals? " Kasumi asked as she put a comforting hand on Hinata's shoulder as she looked with her byakugan and could probably see what Kasumi was feeling.
"Let's not waste time." Shino said as he sent his kikaichuu forwards in a huge swarm as they followed at a distance behind in case of traps. Kasumi could now smell death clearly since getting closer to the lair as it got stronger and stronger until Shino stopped as did the others and Kasumi lit up a Raikiri low in her hand to light the area and found a room full of dead bodies. "Considering the situation, it looks like they were fighting each other." Shino pointed out.
"Were they feuding?" Kiba asked and Kasumi shook her head.
"This is what Orochimaru does when he needs the strongest. He's on the move but for what who knows." Kasumi sighed before Akamaru barked and the ceiling began to collapse. Kasumi stepped closer to the group to use Hiraishin before Akamaru barked again and Team Kurenai began to follow him and Kasumi ran along. It was a small escape tunnel as they crawled out of it and stood on a small rock formation as it seemed the hide out and the land turned into one giant whirlpool.
"Good job Akamaru! But to think they set up a trap for us." Kiba said and Kasumi hummed, undecided.
"I doubt it. It was a prison lair and it became useless without any prisoners anymore so I think it was just rigged to collapse within a certain time period." Kasumi explained as they watched the evidence getting washed away and destroyed.
"But there were still people alive in there!" Hinata said and Kasumi patted her shoulder with an understanding look.
"That damned Orochimaru is unforgivable!" Kiba hissed and Akamaru barked viciously in agreement.
"Kasumi-sensei. How do you know so much about Orochimaru?" Shino asked and Kasumi shrugged.
"Let's just say my past is extremely complicated and I worked with him during his cruellest times… He'll use you until you become worthless and then dispose of you in some of the most horrible ways, I'm one of the lucky few to have survived." Kasumi sighed as Hinata looked sadly at her, Kiba still looked angry and Shino looked… Well she couldn't tell because of his outfit like Kiba commented earlier.
"Our mission isn't complete though… We can't return to the village without getting some new Intel about Orochimaru." Shino said.
"We haven't lost our chance to gather new information. The enemy set a timed device. In other words, there must be some people who left this hideout." Hinata said and Kasumi looked up at the night sky. Technically their mission was finished however if people just left like Hinata said, it could be a lead to Akatsuki and to foil their plans to slow them down… They already had two bijuu in three, almost four months and now would be the time to show them they couldn't just get away with this, that they were being watched.
"You all know Orochimaru is connected to Akatsuki right?" Kasumi asked, looking back at them as they all nodded. "And you know who Akatsuki are right?" She asked and they all nodded again.
"They're after Naruto-kun." Hinata said out with slight anger to her voice and she saw a similar reaction in Kiba.
"Then this is our chance to uncover some of their plans and slow them down. I'm counting on you all." Kasumi said seriously as they all nodded.
"Right!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Kakashi was impressed to say the least. He wasn't very happy when Kasumi mentioned taking Kabuto along to find Orochimaru but now he was quite grateful. The first base was a bust but with Kabuto knowing the people there, the ones who trusted him, they managed to raid the base for anything and get some new information on a lot of things… Now Kabuto was a hundred percent sure Orochimaru was in this next base as it was coming up to the early hours in the morning.
"I think we should stop and take a rest. Attack the base during the day after some rest while we're feeling fresh, three of you just came out of surgeries, some worse than others." Kakashi said as they jumped through the trees, eyeing Itachi behind him.
"I'm perfectly fine Kakashi-taicho, I can keep going." Itachi said and Kakashi hummed.
"I'm sure you could but if we rush things we'll have a problem even if it is us going after him." Kakashi explained as Kabuto came up to his other flank.
"Kakashi-san is right. Orochimaru-sama is as slippery as a snake itself and we should be at our top performance to go up against him, create a plan in case his partner is there and begin again in the morning, refreshed and ready because if we slip up, he'll take that advantage… Especially with you Sasuke-kun." Kabuto said as he shifted his glasses on his nose.
"What exactly is that suppose to mean?" Sasuke asked back harshly and Kabuto just smirked.
"Have you already forgotten what happened just over two years ago?" Kabuto asked and Sasuke scowled as his sharingan activated.
"Relax Sasuke." Shisui said, putting his hand on the younger Uchiha's shoulder and squeezed warningly as his sharingan faded but he was still scowling. "Kasumi has worked hard for this, if it wasn't for her we wouldn't all be here right now and doing what we're about to do. Kakashi knows her and her plans best and that is why he's captain right now. We will be taking a break." Shisui said with his tone not allowing any arguments.
"Let's set up camp then." Kakashi said as they descended into a decent area and got a small camp set up and had a quick ration bar before Kabuto unrolled some maps and papers as they all huddled around it.
"Orochimaru-sama's bedroom is normally in the inner circle of his hide outs. I can dismantle most traps but I don't know if he's integrated new types of traps and their positions into this particular lair we're going to infiltrate. If he has anyone watching like his partner, they'll most likely be here in the training room separating the outer ring from the inner ring. He may have some guards but they'll most likely be easy enough to trap into a genjutsu and then kill straight away. Our only problems should be fighting Orochimaru-sama and or his partner." Kabuto explained, pointing to specific places on the map as all sharingans memorized it.
"Do you know anything about who his partner may be?" Sasuke asked and Kabuto shook his head.
"All I can tell you is the obvious but he does have many capable shinobi at his disposal so don't underestimate any of them. Take them out quickly and quietly otherwise we're just shaking the grass for the snake to jump out at us." Kabuto warned but they all took the warning to heart.
"Kasumi did once say something about his partner being one Hoshigaki Kisame or a plant like being called Zetsu… It could be either one, none of them or someone completely different knowing Orochimaru." Kakashi said and Kabuto nodded.
"She also mentioned something about bringing out his final form?" Shisui asked with slight confusion.
"Yes, something about a white snake." Itachi clarified and Kabuto nodded over exaggeratingly before he smiled.
"His final form is apparently a huge white snake but that's all I can say, I've never seen it before as no one has pushed him to that level of desperation since I worked for him. We need to kill his final form to make sure he stays dead." Kabuto clarified and Kakashi shivered.
"I've faced something similar to it once… It truly is horrifying but surprisingly easy to kill." Kakashi said as they all nodded.
"I'll send some ravens ahead to look for any inconveniences along the way in the morning." Itachi said as he formed the hand seals for summoning and three ravens flew off for their reconnaissance.
"We should go over the plan one more time in the morning… Wouldn't want to disappoint senpai would we?" Kabuto smirked as did Itachi and Shisui in amusement.
"Kasumi-sama wouldn't have sent us if she didn't think we could handle it. We'll be done with no problems." Sasuke said and Kakashi hummed.
"But still… Even the most perfect plans can go wrong as we've all seen before. We'll take turns for watch and we'll get going as soon as the sun rises and be heading back to Konoha by the end of the day. Let's make this quick and easy." Kakashi said as they all nodded in understanding and fought over their watch before they got some rest, mentally preparing for what could come with the break of dawn's light.
Kasumi's annoyed anger simmered under a calm looking face as they looked out among the field Shino's bugs had led them too as well as Kasumi sensing the sudden chakra before it disappeared… Now she knows why. The soon to be morning sky glittered with pink as the field was littered with it as crystal structures slowly shattered with the people inside of them, leaving no trace but the pink crystal dust.
"A technique that traps them in crystal." Hinata said out in wonder.
"Is it earth natured?" Kiba wondered.
"It looks like my kikaichuu were caught with the same technique." Shino said as he held up a crystallized bug as it shattered and Kasumi growled. She got onto her haunches and found another crystallized bug as she picked it up and looked at it in the morning light coming up slowly.
"Like I said earlier… Orochimaru has a lot of people to use. She's one of them." Kasumi said as the team perked up.
"She?" Kiba asked and Kasumi nodded as she turned to face them.
"This crystal style user, her name's Guren and she works closely under Orochimaru… She's troublesome, no doubt about it." Kasumi sighed as she played with the crystal between her fingers. "Let's keep pursuing further then we can take a break." Kasumi said as the team nodded and followed Kiba's nose for a while, all the way across a field until they came across an area that was partially covered and they stopped. Kasumi cut her thumb and formed a few hand seals as she summoned Pinku who wagged his pig's tail at her.
"You summoned?" He asked with a yawn and Kasumi smiled.
"I need you to take this to the village for analysis… I want to know everything we can about this jutsu." Kasumi said as she held the crystal out to Pinku who scowled at it. "There's around six or Orochimaru's subordinates we're tracking but if Guren, the crystal user is around it means Orochimaru is doing something big." Kasumi explained as she tucked the crystal into Pinku's pocket on his light blue coat with the Konoha insignia on it and she patted it and nodded.
"I'll do my best." Pinku said as he dashed off into the forest and she stood up with a stretch as she looked around.
"Let's get going again. Spread out further and increase the range a little more… Look under every nook and cranny, we can't miss them since we're so close." Kasumi said as the team nodded determinedly as they headed out again and Kasumi summoned the rest of her pack to search as well.
XXXXXXXXXX
Kakashi could feel the whole team had tensed since Kabuto opened up the secret entrance to Orochimaru's lair as they navigated quietly down the multiple corridors towards the training rooms.
They got to the last corner as they all pressed themselves up against the walls and looked into the dimly lit room with sharingans before jumping into the room and landing in one line as they continued to cautiously look around.
"Doesn't seem his partner is here." Sasuke said.
"Here, no. But they could be somewhere else in the hide out so keep alert still. We're so close." Kakashi said as they began to carefully walk across the room towards the entrance of the inner circle.
"This suspense is killer." Itachi breathed out and Shisui hummed.
"I have to agree with you there. Perhaps one of us should take the lead Kakashi?" Shisui suggested as they got to the door and regrouped slightly.
"Why do you say that?" Kakashi asked.
"Susano'o will be able to stand an attack and quickly, even cover the others behind the susano'o plus is has no presence like any other shielding jutsu so we won't have to worry too much about springing traps and the damage they could cause." Shisui explained as Kakashi listened with intrigue.
"Susano'o huh?" Kakashi half teased and Shisui smiled as the green ribcage formed around him and nodded to Kakashi as he walked in first with Kakashi behind, then Kabuto, Sasuke and Itachi at the back. They began to slowly and carefully open doors that Kabuto couldn't identify as they moved further into the centre and their nerves got tense.
"Seems like there were some mice running around." The whole team froze as Orochimaru appeared in front of them and Sasuke pushed forwards, sending a Chidori formed spear for Orochimaru as he held up his arms and it pierced right through both of his wrists as he scowled.
"Seems he is weak like Kasumi-senpai said." Itachi said softly to the team as he stood next to Sasuke who was tense and brimming with rage. Sasuke began to walk forwards with Itachi right next to him as his Chidori Spear began to pierce further and Orochimaru moved his arms to the side to miss getting anymore damage to him.
"I should have known those idiots would betray me exactly how you have… Isn't that right Kabuto?" Orochimaru asked and Kabuto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You should have known from the beginning that Kasumi-senpai would always be stronger than you Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto stated and Orochimaru scowled.
"My sister and your old subordinate removed the curse seals on both Sasuke and Anko." Kakashi pointed out as he stood tense.
"She would have been your downfall years ago if you didn't attack her that night… Yet you never saw I trusted her more than I could ever hope to trust anyone, even though you were more powerful at the time." Kabuto said and Orochimaru sniggered.
"You're selfish and experiment on people like toys that you continue to play with… You disgust me." Shisui said, taking his tanto from his shoulder strap and charging in while Sasuke held him down. Orochimaru jumped back but Shisui used his famed body flicker and aimed for Orochimaru to jump right into his tanto before something shot out of his mouth and the body collapsed over. They all watched with wide eyes as the small brown snake that jumped out of Orochimaru's body began to bulge into the giant white snake Kakashi could remember facing once before.
"A giant white serpent like Kasumi-senpai said…" Itachi breathed out in slight wonder.
"I shall have your sharingan!" Orochimaru shouted as he dived right for Sasuke and they had limited space to move as they jumped back and Kakashi formed hand seals… They needed more space to fight this thing.
"Earth style: Earth Fissuring Palm Jutsu." Kakashi called as he placed his hands down in a back flip and activated the jutsu as the hideout began to cave over the snake as it flailed slightly and hissed.
"Shisui!" Itachi called out in panic once the ground stopped shaking and half the hideout was brought down, exposing them to the daylight sun.
"I'm okay don't worry." Shisui shouted through the dust from the other side.
"Look out." Kabuto called as they saw smaller white snakes slithering for them with their fangs exposed. Itachi and Sasuke pulled out their katanas and Kakashi pulled out his tanto he had brought with him as Kabuto's hands glowed with a chakra scalpel as they cut the snakes down and the rubble shifted as the snake was exposed again.
Orochimaru dived right for Sasuke once again, almost like he couldn't think but obtaining Sasuke. They were all surprised when a green glowing Susano'o popped up, grabbing the giant snake and picked it up before throwing it onto the ground with a stab from it's drill like sword and the snake hissed out.
"Sasuke!" Shisui called as his susano'o held down the wriggling snake and Sasuke ran forwards with Itachi right by his side as the youngest activated his Chidori spear once again and cut down into the snake like a knife through butter as it still continued to struggle and hiss.
"Move, the fluid turns into a paralysing drug!" Kakashi shouted, remembering his last encounter when Kinoe, then Tenzo and now Yamato saved him even though they were enemies at the time… Danzo wanted his sharingan.
"You can never kill me!" The snake said, the part with it's head sat up right again but the Uchiha trio had already inhaled some of the paralysing evaporating fluid. "Now I shall have you!" Orochimaru said as he surprisingly turned to Shisui as he froze and his susano'o faded.
"Shisui!" Itachi yelled with worry but he had to get his already paralysed brother out of there as he used what was left of his movement to jump back towards Kakashi who was running towards them already with Kabuto behind and syringes in hand.
The snake began to dive towards Shisui and Kakashi growled as he pushed himself to move quicker to save Shisui in time when the drill of Shisui's susano'o pierced right through the skull of the snake… The susano'o having popped up even after he hesitated but Shisui did look a bit spooked as Kakashi got to him and the susano'o faded as Shisui's paralysed body fell against Kakashi as he put his arm over his shoulders and hoisted Shisui up as he jumped him away from the gas.
"Hey, Shisui, focus!" Kakashi said, kneeling him down as he tapped his cheek.
"You think I didn't know about Kasumi." The snake still spoke but it was weak. Both Kakashi and Shisui looked up at the snake with scepticism. "She has been a thorn in Akatsuki's side since the day she joined yet so easily gained the trust of Leader-sama and Madara but no longer. She won't be returning from her next mission… Let's see how she handles four Akatsuki members at the same time." The snake laughed as both Kakashi and Shisui's hearts stopped.
"Destroy it… With Amaterasu." Shisui said hollowly as Sasuke, Itachi and Kabuto came around to them and Kabuto began to administer the drug to help Shisui's paralysis. The two brothers turned and activated their mangekyo as black flames of Amaterasu engulfed the chopped up snake and surprisingly ate through it quickly.
"This was all planned." Kakashi hissed as he stood up and began to pace as he rubbed at his temples.
"Planned?" Sasuke asked out as he looked at Shisui for answers but he just barely shrugged as the antidote began to work through his body.
"What's going on Kakashi-taicho?" Itachi asked harshly to gain the attention of the stressed man.
"Kasumi has gone on a mission to explore one of Orochimaru's hide outs that were just found. She even mentioned it was purely a prison lair where he kept prisoners…" Kakashi began but stopped in his step and seemed to have extreme panic in his eyes.
"Orochimaru mentioned how well would Kasumi do against four Akatsuki members… He said she wouldn't be coming back from her next mission, which is what Kakashi just explained." Shisui explained and everyone seemed to gasp silently as their breaths froze in their throats.
"Then we need to go after Kasumi-sama." Sasuke said as he stood up shakily from the paralysis still.
"Do we even know where she went?" Kabuto wondered and Kakashi closed his sharingan eye, pulling his hitai-ate over it and tapped it with his finger.
"I know the general area… The mission was meant for me before I gave it to Kasumi… Stupid!" Kakashi hissed as he began to pace again with his hands curled into fists.
"Well there's nothing you can do now so calm down." Kabuto said with command to his voice, effectively surprising everyone.
"He's right. All we can do now is go there and try and step in to help as soon as possible." Itachi said as he also stood up shakily and both he and Kabuto helped Shisui to stand up.
"But first you three need to get your bodies back otherwise we'd just hinder Kasumi-senpai." Kabuto said and Shisui nodded with a hum.
"What if she's in danger right now? We'd be too late to save her." Sasuke said out with slight panic but Itachi just put his hand on his shoulder.
"We'd be no help to her in the states we are now. It's exactly what Orochimaru was looking for with that toxin." Itachi explained a little forcefully and Sasuke scowled.
"Right, here's what we'll do." Kakashi said, stopping his pacing as he faced the group with a plan in mind. "We'll send a report back to Konoha to alert them of this revelation and as soon as you all feel fine enough to travel without worry, we'll head out, no sooner. Understood?" Kakashi asked, taking command back as they all nodded.
"Yes taicho."
XXXXXXXXXX
Kasumi could feel her chakra pulsing out in waves as she meditated. Shino's Kikaichuu were also searching while they took a little rest for a while since they hadn't found any new leads yet. They were currently resting in a hollowed out tree as they rested.
"Can we go yet, I've rested enough." Kiba complained as Kasumi opened her eyes, meditating always made her feel calm.
"If we rush this and we become to tired and brash, we'll loose any tracks and leads. But if you all fee the same way we can get moving again." Kasumi suggested, looking into each of their eyes all saying the same thing: 'Let's go!' Kasumi nodded with a sigh as she formed some hand seals, summoning her pack once again as they spread out before they took to the trees again, all spread out with Kiba in front with Akamaru and they stopped after a while.
"There's no scents around here." Kiba confirmed.
"Even with my byakugan, I can't see anything." Hinata said before she gasped as a bat flew past her.
"There are signs. My bugs don't get so excited." Shino said and Kiba drooped with a sigh.
"Oh, just your bugs. Don't surprise me like that. You have tens of thousands of bugs don't you? I'm not surprised if one of them managed to survive." Kiba complained.
"But that one out of tens of thousands that managed to survive can help us." Shino said and Kasumi perked up at this.
"It can? How?" Kasumi asked with intrigue.
"Because it survived an encounter with the enemy's jutsu." Shino pointed out.
"So does that mean it's immune to the jutsu?" Kasumi asked.
"The lifespan of my bugs is only a few hours at most and during that time, an immune bug can breed in a short amount of time. It's just a possibility. I don't know if it'll work. In any case, I have to find the surviving bugs." Shino explained.
"Anything to give us an edge against that deathly crystal jutsu is a plus. I think we can take this chance Shino." Kasumi said to Shino with a nod as he nodded back.
"We'll help you." Hinata said with a smile of hope.
"No thanks. I'm the only one who can search for the bugs. If you guys help me, you'll be searching blindly and may end up stepping on the bugs." Shino explained.
"Couldn't you just be a little nicer if you're going to refuse us?" Kiba whined and Kasumi couldn't help but smile.
"I don't want to waste time by being nice." Shino said and Kasumi giggled slightly.
"Very well then. Shino can search for his bugs while we continue with our search for clues." Kasumi said with one last nod at Shino before they followed after Kiba again in search of any clues as to where Orochimaru's henchmen have gone and why.
Akamaru suddenly stopped with a growl and a slight whimper as they all stopped again and Kasumi tensed up as she heard her pack returning as well and looking quite tense.
"What's happened?" Kasumi asked them and Kaname the German Shepard stepped forwards.
"We heard a dog whistle." He growled and Akamaru barked as well and Kasumi scowled.
"Then could there be a dog with the enemies?" Hinata wondered.
"I doubt it. It's harder to cover than a human's scent. We would have noticed a long time ago if there was a dog with them." Kiba explained and Kasumi hummed in confusion.
"Other animals respond to the same frequency though… The pack has felt followed for a while now but we cannot find any trace or scent." Kaname growled and Kasumi growled.
"This is just going to make things more complicated… Dammit, why did I send Pinku out back to Konoha, I could really use his skills right now." Kasumi sighed and some of the pack laughed at their leader. "Very well. Keep searching and watching since they're watching us now and report back if you find anything. Scatter." Kasumi called as the pack of dogs scattered again.
"Another animal huh?" Kiba wondered out loud.
"In any case. We've probably been spotted so keep extra vigilant for traps and such, they could be waiting for us." Kasumi said to them as they headed off once again until it began to rain and they retreated into a small cove and her ninken left to take a break while they waited… Most of the scents would be washed away now. Kiba flinched and looked up at the ceiling and smiled slightly.
"Even the bats are taking a break… Bats?!" Kiba exclaimed. "I've been thinking since that dog whistle, what other animal uses frequencies like a dog whistle… Bats." Kiba explained to them and Kasumi scowled up at the little animals hanging from the roof.
"That explains why there's no scent or trace of someone following us and the ninken… But this forest is full of them, it could be one or all of them following us. Hopefully Shino finds his bug and we discover more about this crystal element then we'll have something to go on. But for now, let's wait this storm out, we're just going to get lost and tired if we carry on. So get some rest." Kasumi sighed as she sat down against a wall and leaned back, closing her eyes, hearing Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru settle down as well as her chakra began to pulse again looking for the enemy or another threat approaching.
XXXXXXXXXX
Tsunade sighed quietly as she took a sip of the tea Shizune had brought in for her as she turned her chair around and looked out over Konoha. She vaguely wondered how Kakashi's team was doing with Orochimaru as she stroked Pinku sleeping on her lap, still waiting for the results on the crystallized kikaichuu. Team Kakashi had already been sent out for back up with Yamato even though they were missing their one member. Pinku's head perked up as Tsunade heard her door open and she turned in her chair to see Shizune standing there.
"Pakkun?" Pinku questioned as the tired ninken came panting around the corner.
"I have a message from Kakashi but first… Please can I have a drink of water?" Pakkun asked and Pinku nodded his head next to Tsunade's desk where a water bowl for him sat as Pakkun trotted over and lapped it up quickly.
"Has something happened Pakkun?" Tsunade asked as Pakkun finished his drink and hopped up to sit on her desk as Pinku jumped up as well and sat next to him.
"You need to call Kasumi-sama back now." Pakkun said with urgency and slight panic.
"What? Why? What did Kakashi find out while they were finding Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked, getting slightly tense at the dog's urgency.
"Orochimaru is dead however, he let slip that this mission Kasumi is on now is a trap made by four Akatsuki members… They're on their way over to her now as we speak." Pakkun said and Tsunade swore as she slammed her hand down on the desk.
"Shit… This is bad." Tsunade hissed as she bit her nail. "And now Naruto's been sent into the middle of it."
"Naruto?" Pakkun questioned and Pinku nodded.
"They came across a troublesome crystal user and Tsunade-sama sent back up… We're waiting for results on the analysis of a crystallized kikaichuu of an Aburame she has on her team." Pinku explained and Pakkun nodded.
"What do you want us to do Tsunade?" Pakkun asked as she was still biting her nail.
"Shizune, send for Minato… I'd like to speak with him about this decision." Tsunade sighed, feeling a little cornered as Shizune nodded and left to find Minato.
"Minato?" Pinku asked and Tsunade nodded.
"I need his advice on this since he knows both of those teams well." Tsunade explained and the Chihuahua nodded his head.
"But why corner Kasumi-sama so badly like this?" Pakkun wondered out loud.
"She's just taken out three Akatsuki members, not personally but she's become a threat to them and finishing their plans that have barely begun. Taking her out now would give them much needed time and power to get back into control of this imaginary tug of war." Tsunade explained and the two ninken nodded with growls, they wouldn't be touching Kasumi on their watches.
OOH! It's a trap! MWAHAHAHA! Sh*t is about to go down! And Orochimaru is dead! Sorry for the slight cliff hanger, couldn't resist :D