Shadowed Fury 36
a/n: sorry for the delay my loyal peoples.
Kyouran sat on the roof of the Mizukage's home. Her tail swished back and forth slowly. Their arrival in the village didn't go unnoticed by the nin. They were wary of the high caliber shinobi that walked among them. Kisame landed gently beside her.
"No sign of either of them?" he asked softly.
"I'm not actively trying to draw either one of them out, but if Madara comes I'll need to be ready."
"I say draw him out and finish it," Kisame grumped.
"No, this baby is so important to her and the Uchiha Clan to risk him."
"Figures it'd be a boy," Kisame laughed.
Kyouran looked over the city quietly. Her ears were trained forward and flicked every once in awhile to catch some distant sound. "If the clan is so important why isn't the girl…"
"Her name is Chiharu and she's being protected. There's an ANBU who's a Dragon. She's taking care of the female Uchiha."
"She look like Itachi or Koori?"
"A mix of both. Time will only tell when she's older if she'll favor her mother or father."
"Money says she'll favor Itachi more."
"Probably so no bet there Kisame."
He paused and looked over at her. She tilted her head to the side to look at him since he went quite. He seemed intent on saying something important to her but wasn't sure how to phrase it.
"I owe you for helping Kiri and I."
"Think nothing of it Kisame."
"Kiri gained control of her other side with your help. Then didn't capture us when you could've."
She scoffed at his thanks. To her it wasn't necessary. She was paying a kindness forward not that the bigger nin needed to know that little fact. Minato vouched for her to the Hokage and Kushina took her in until she could get a place of her own. They did so much for her and they asked for nothing in return. She vowed that she'd protect Naruto but in the end it wasn't necessary sometimes.
"Kiri needed to learn control or be stopped. I chose to help her gain control."
"She was not a Leaf Shinobi."
Kyouran rolled her eyes and snorted as she turned to look back over the village.
"Why are you trying to get an answer from me why I helped Kiri?"
He was about ready to say something when a scream ripped through the silence of the morning. Kyouran sighed softly. "Kiri being in labor makes you anxious doesn't it?"
"That obvious?"
A blank stare from Kyouran answered that question.
"You're rambling. She's in good hands Sakura'll take care of her."
"I know we've already gone through this before, but I wasn't there for that."
"So I heard. It was my daughter's hand that stayed Gaara's hand in using your little family against you."
Kyouran shifted and slapped the bigger nin upside the head. "Control yourself Kisame. She'll be fine like before. Go comfort your kits before I beat you to death."
"They're pups by the way, that's what you call baby sharks…"
She swung at him playfully but missed him on purpose. A familiar smirk graced his features.
"Go back to your family. I'm on guard duty."
He nodded his head before vanishing in a puff of smoke. Taking a deep breath she looked out over the city. Her sadness gripped at her when she was near birthing females. Her thoughts stray to the daughter she'd never get to take care of. She loved Sakura, Kaho and Kaji, but they'd never be the daughter she'd lost. A innocent life that was taken too soon.
"The hag says you shouldn't linger on the past."
Kyouran fought the urge to punch Sai right off the roof. To avoid that she shifted back and sat down.
"You shouldn't call her a hag Sai. Because one day she'll obliterate you and make you heal like a normal person."
He cocked his head to the side to watch her. He plopped down beside her and broke out his sketch book and started sketching the landscape and the fox beside him.
"She's right you shouldn't."
"But you still do," he pointed out.
She hummed in agreement not offering anything other than that. Her ears flicked back and forth.
"I have heard things."
Her ear flicked to his direction to tell him she was listening. "The rumor that there is another Uchiha out there."
"His name is Uchiha Madara. He's the founder of the Uchiha Clan. He's been dogging my steps since I was pregnant with Kyo. I am only telling you this because before we go back to Leaf I have a feeling we'll be facing him."
"The Hag and I are a team."
The pitch in the piercing scream drew her gaze from their conversation.
"Come on Artist brat we have to make sure the newest Hoshigaki comes into the world."
They dropped down to the balcony and walked into her room. It didn't take long for them to locate where Kiri was having the baby. Kisame was sitting out in the halls with the twins on each side. They were napping. Kyouran and Sai both sat down beside the bigger nin. Sai was drawing in his pad like he normally did. After awhile the room went into silence. Before Kisame could rush to his feet in worry Kyouran's paw shot out and stopped him and motioned to the twins against him. Sakura walked out with a small smile.
"It's okay Kyouran they can come in for a bit…"
Kisame growled lowly in his throat as the scent of blood drifted to their noses.
"Easy Shark. It's a natural thing to lose a bit of blood during childbirth."
He looked at her quietly.
"Kyouran's right about that Kisame. I've healed the small tear that happens when she gives birth. She's awake, but I doubt for much longer. She's exhausted."
Kisame carefully scooped his twins up and walked in to see the newest addition to his little clan.
"So?"
"It's a girl."
Kyouran smirked.
"I knew it would be."
"Only because you cheat."
"Hey I can't cheat because my nose is better than yours."
Sakura wrinkled her nose at the older woman. "Come on kit they need time to bond."
She nodded her head and followed Kyouran down the hall. Sai trailed behind the two. Kyouran watched Sakura rub her hands over her stomach.
"It won't be long before you're holding your own kit."
"I kinda wish Sasuke could be here when his son comes into the world."
"I know you wish that Sakura but it's not wise to draw him out because there is another that would do terrible things to this baby if he knew about it."
"I know but I still wish."
Kyouran tilted her head to the side and watched her. She sighed softly.
"If you can wait till after the baby is born I will draw Madara out and fight him to the death. Then you can tell Sasuke if I survive to find him."
Sakura looked in shock at Kyouran. "I didn't want to tell you this at all but I'm waiting to draw the last two remaining Uchiha males out into the open until you're strong enough to protect your son should I fall against Madara."
"I don't understand…"
"Madara knows the same jutsu that Orochimaru knows to transfer bodies. I'd imagine Madara's body isn't good enough anymore, and I doubt Sasuke is stupid enough to fall in his trap willingly."
"A baby can't fight against that kind of thing."
"Nope. So, if you want I can draw them out now."
Sakura's hands went to protect her stomach.
"I want to be strong enough to protect him until Sasuke can help us."
"I thought you'd see it my way. So I will not actively look for either Uchiha until I feel the time is right but if they come before then I will destroy Madara and beat Sasuke senseless."
A sound of protest escaped Sakura at that. "He shouldn't have left you Sakura. No matter what and that's a fact. He gave you those gifts for a reason."
Sakura ducked her head to try and stop the tears that were forming. Kyouran shook her head and shifted and lifted her head up. She brushed the tears away with her thumbs.
"I'm not scolding you Sakura; you should know this by now. You two are soul mates. Two people that were always destined to meet and fall in love. Granted Sasuke's a bit stunted in that department."
Sakura snickered a little bit. The truth hurt sometimes and Sasuke was a bit stunted in the softer emotions department. She yawned softly and tried to hide it. Kyouran shook her head an picked her up and carried her to her room.
"Sleep little medic. You've earned it."
Sakura nodded softly as she tucked her head against the pillow and drifted to sleep. Kyouran covered the girl up and sighed softly.
Months would pass all too quickly. The newest Uchiha was due soon. Kyouran watched Sakura quietly. Sakura was laying in her bed staring out the bay window. Kyouran knew that she was thinking about her raven haired shinobi. With the baby due soon and the girl was a getting anxious about what he thought about them being parents. Kyouran shook her head with a smile. Sakura was worrying over nothing. If Sasuke knew he'd be as happy as she was for an Uchiha anyway. This child would be the hope for the Uchiha Clan. With Sakura as a mother there would be hope for this socially inept family.
It didn't take long for Sakura to lull herself to sleep. Moving forward she draped the blanket over her. Sai appeared in the room.
"It's my turn Kyouran."
She nodded her head. Her feet led her to the Mizukage's office. Kisame was hard at work. The twins were conked out on the couch in the room. He leaned back in his chair at her entrance.
"What brings you here Kyouran?"
"Have you felt it?"
"The extremely dark chakra circling the city?"
He didn't seem so shocked that it was out there prowling like a predator on wounded prey.
"I would have hoped he would've held off a bit longer."
Before they could say anymore Sakura pushed out her chakra brushing it against Kyouran's.
"Wha…" Kisame started.
"Great just great. Sakura's gone into labor or something close to it."
"The kid's early."
"A couple of weeks. Hoping for him to wait a few days is probably out of the question."
"Don't count on it. I'll get someone…"
"No. I don't want to alarm Sakura or Sai."
Kisame looked at the fox worriedly for someone who didn't show those kind of emotions. "Just their normal guards posted no different. Madara is mine to deal with."
"If you need help…"
"Protect Sakura and the baby."
She felt him shift and shift fast in the direction he was coming from.
"Kyouran?"
"He's moving fast. I'll go distract him."
Kyouran didn't wait for the acknowledgement before she vanished. When she came out of the jump he was there waiting for her. He stood there with a smirk that made her want to rip his face to shreds.
"Hello Kyouran," he purred.
To her his attempts to be seductive were unappealing and like nails on a chalkboard.
"What do you want Madara?"
"You know what I want Kyouran. I want the baby Uchiha."
"Over my dead body."
"That would be a waste Kyouran but if you insist."
Her eyes glittered dangerously as if silently accepting his challenge. Her hands flexed showing off her claw like nails. They were waiting for the other to make the first move but both were too old to be that stupid.
"Come on Kyouran," he taunted. "Go ahead and make the first move."
"If I did you'd counter it with your flickering technique."
"Very clever."
"It's not very clever because you're so predictable Madara."
"You know it's too bad you wont join me. Had your daughter been mine she would've survived."
That shot anger through her blood quicker than a millisecond. Her eyes shot crimson and she forgot all else. She leapt for him claws extended. He just smirked and dodged her. He reappeared and ink snakes surrounded him as soon as he came out of the jump.
"What the hell…" the older Uchiha growled.
Sai landed beside Kyouran scroll in hand and poised to draw more ink creatures.
"Sai," she growled in annoyance.
"Sakura insisted I help you," he said with one of those annoying fake smirks.
She growled loudly cursing him for listening to the pink haired ninja.
"Stay out of this Sai. He's mine to deal with."
Madara smirked and went for Sai breaking the snakes easily. Kyouran caught his wrist before he could strike the artist nin.
"Touch him or anyone else under my protection, and I'll bury you."
"Just try demon."
"Sai go back and protect Sakura. I have this battle."
The ink master looked at her before facing Madara. The Uchiha seemed to be daring him to run. Kyouran growled loudly. She leapt in front of Sai. In a blink she was in her fox form and stood as tall as Sai. Her fangs were bared and her hackles were standing on end. She backed up and Sai backed up with her.
Before either of them could get far Madara shot forward going for Kyouran, but dodged to her left. The scent of blood exploded around her senses. Pain washed through her as she realized what had happened. Madara grinned madly at her as he tossed a gasping Sai to the side. Kyouran ignored Madara and went to Sai.
"Keep them safe," he managed to murmur.
Blood was dribbling down the corner of his mouth telling Kyouran his lungs were damaged. It took only a couple minutes before his body succumbed to the injury and stilled. Her eyes returned to their normal color at the nin's death. Her heart ached knowing Sai's family would be devastated. Sakura and Naruto would react just as badly. Taking a deep breath she calmed herself. Madara would pay and pay dearly for this. Turning she knelt down beside Sai and shifted. Reaching forward she crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes for the last time.
Taking out a scroll she unrolled it and took out a familiar cloth. Wrapping Sai up in it and placing an old jutsu over him before sealing him in the scroll. A small whisper summoned a small white fox. She handed the scroll to it and whispered something to in an animalistic tone and it nodded and poofed away. When the fox was gone she rose slowly. Her tail was thrashing showing her anger and irritation.
"What are you going to do now Kyouran?"
She tilted her head to the side. Her glamour vanished. Her cat like eyes glittered under the suns light.
"I'm going to bury you Madara."
"You only wish Kyouran. One last time join me or die."
"Death, your death," she rumbled.
Her voice had an animalistic tinge to it making it more threatening.
"You only think little fox that you can win against me. I'm eternal."
She snorted at his words.
"Nothing is eternal. Not even the ground we stand on."
"When will you grow up Kyouran? You can't win against me and Kakashi will die eventually."
"I know Kakashi will leave me one day. I dread that day with everything inside me but that was his choice in the end."
"He can't accept you for what you truly are."
Madara moved forward and circled around her.
"That's the thing. He has but my ways are different and scary."
She kept her eyes on him as he moved around her like some appraiser or a predator. His mistake was thinking for an instant he could intimidate an apex predator. He reached out and ran his hand over her tail. Anger raced through her and she swung on him. Her claws met skin. A smirk graced her features as she reached up and licked off the blood. She spit it out considering how it tasted of soil and ashes.
"Know this Madara no matter what happens between Kakashi and myself, you will no longer haunt our shadows."
Before he could do anything she was gone and blood sprayed everywhere as a major artery in his arm burst open. The Uchiha howled in pain. The sharingan blazed to life in his eyes as he searched for her.
Kyouran smirked as she lounged in a tree a short distant away.
"You know I'm tired of the Uchiha's I've come across trying to use their sharingan on me. Only one has ever trapped me in it but it didn't last long."
He shot forward towards where she sat but she melted into the shadows.
"Let me guess it was Itachi?"
"No, it wasn't Itachi."
"Then Kakashi?"
"Oh please," she huffed. "I wouldn't allow that even if he could and this was before Kakashi got the sharingan."
"Who of my clan would be so foolish to teach you things about my clan?" he demanded.
Pain was wavering his voice.
"Itachi's best friend. He only caught me once and that was the last time. Though an Uchiha would have to be exceptionally strong to catch me in the first place with it before Shisui got to me."
Her words ticked something off in him as he flickered and went towards her again. At the rate he was bleeding she had a feeling this battle wouldn't be much longer. He came out of the flicker and tried to kick her in the head. She dodged easily and slashed his leg with her claws. He staggered a bit. Blood loss was starting to set in. he was getting paler by the moment. When he stumbled in mid flicker she struck and drove her claws through his chest. His heart and her hand came out his back. He jerked a couple times before going still. The heart and body crumbled into dust making her curse softly.
"You honestly think that it would be that easy Kyouran?"
"Yes."
A loud gurgling sound echoed from the woods in front of her. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and moved forward. Madara laid in a crumbled heap against the base of a tree. His heart ripped out. Her clone looked at her and nodded her head before poofing out of existence. Moving forward she ripped out his eyes and took the heart and burned them and put the ashes in a jar. Then did she destroy the body and scattered the ashes to the sea.
When she came back Sakura was sitting up in bed feeding the baby.
"Where's Sai?"
"Dead," she said after a moments hesitation.
Sakura tilted her head down and allowed tears to fall. Then her head came up with a determined look.
"His name should be Sai Uchiha."
"He would be honored."
Sakura nodded her head. "Rest up Sakura we'll leave in four days."
She nodded her head and slid down in bed and laid her son beside her and stroked his cheek softly. Kyouran left the woman alone but didn't go far. She sent a message to Naruto that Sai Uchiha had come into the world and that Sai had passed away defending her against Madara. Once the message was off with her summons she leaned against the wall in the hallway outside Sakura's door.