This chapter is not as happy as the last
Disclaimer: Don't Own Naruto
Warning: Violence, Death
Beta busy
It was the jinchuuriki duo's turn with the students again, the Zombies were off chasing after some ridiculously high bounty rogue, the spymasters were collecting information, Haku was trying to convince Zabuza to be less of a porcupine demon, Deidara and Itachi were sparring each other which was resulting in explosions, while Kisame and myself watched to ensure the pyromaniacs didn't burn the base down.
All in all a very normal day for Yūgure.
Until Juugo's birds came screeching in, causing Dei to create a large hole in his shock.
"That's not a good sign" I murmured.
"No, Koneko, it isn't" Kisame agreed, standing with me to go find out what the news was.
"Akatsuki has gone after the Sanbi" Juugo informed once we reached him."Konoha has sent some teams out as well, trying to interfere".
"Lovely. We've got to go say hi to Isobu" I sighed.
"So, you're telling me we've got to go protect a temperamental turtle?" Kisame questioned.
"Yes" I nodded.
"Koneko, protecting Isobu means we're offering ourselves up as turtle chow. I'm a Shark. You have any idea how demeaning a death that would be?" Kisame sighed but turned "We'll grab Haku, Zabu-teme, and the arsonists. The tailed duo and the spymasters can hold down the fort. Kakuzu would murder us all if we interrupted a bounty chase".
"Yeah, let's not get between a miser and his money" I shuddered. Things didn't end well when Kakuzu couldn't get his pay.
"Haku! Zabu-teme! Time for some work" Kisame called to them as we went to fetch the pyromaniacs.
"Kisame-san, what are we doing?" Haku questioned having to give a look to Zabuza to convince the porcupine to move.
"Fighting Akatsuki and protecting something that will potentially kill us" the Shark replied.
"And here I thought it would be something difficult" Zabuza drawled.
"Koneko, I think your sarcasm has been rubbing off on Zabu-teme" Kisame smirked.
"What? Me? Sarcastic? Kisame, surely you've got the wrong person" I grinned back.
"Haku-" Zabuza started.
"No, Zabuza-san, we aren't leaving. We still haven't payed our debt" Haku interrupted smoothly.
Zabuza did love threatening to leave, even though we all knew he wouldn't miss out on taking Tobi down.
We fetched the arsonist duo and explained to the other four our current task of getting to and protecting both Isobu and the Konoha nin.
"We don't know who'll be there" I admitted "Shinga and Kajika perhaps. But in the other universe it was Dei and Tobi that collected Isobu".
"So there's a chance we'll be running into Obito" Itachi stated flatly.
"Yes" I nodded "But we've got no choice, we've got to keep them from getting the Sanbi".
"He'll most likely still be playing an idiot anyway" Kisame assured.
"So we hope, yeah" Deidara muttered.
Some Time Later – 3rd Person POV
The mist lay heavy over the lake where the the Sanbi now lived.
The giant turtle had chosen this place because it had been quiet.
Not anymore. Now chaos raged on the shores, and Isobu wasn't honestly sure was to do about it.
Normally, there would be no issue attacking anyone that dared come close.
But, being intelligent, Isobu noticed there were three factions here.
Two of which seemed to have an accord of some sort, keeping the third away.
The main reason the Sanbi hadn't deigned to join the battle yet was someone, a female, had declared that 'You're not getting Isobu!'
Which had been interesting.
Few knew a biju's name lately.
So, Isobu had decided to watch and to wait, making note of the three factions present.
The first all wore matching hitai-ate. Konohagakure, based on the information from its previous jinchuuriki.
The second wore a gray haori. Not a faction that his past jinchuuuriki had been aware of.
Then there was the Akatsuki. There were vague memories here from Yagura. The Akatsuki were not to be trusted.
Though Konoha and this other faction seemed to be handling the spiky-haired tattooed male and the shark-hood wearing male just fine.
That was until a man in a orange mask flickered right in front of Isobu.
The turtle recognized those red eye just before losing free will.
Sharingan.
Being controlled by it once again sparked the turtle's rage.
The orange masked man laughed, flickering off, content to let the turtle wreak destruction.
Normal POV
There was the sudden raging sound of water.
Isobu had effectively been enraged.
We'd been doing so well, the Sanbi seeming content to watch our meager human antics.
But someone had to go and piss off the giant turtle.
"Jashin damn it!" I cursed catching one of Kajika's numerous water clones with the kusarigama, destroying it. "Kisame!"
"I noticed!" the Shark called back as Samehada freed him from one of Shinga's genjutsu.
The Sanbi lunged with a swipe of its foot. Aiming for us and any Konoha members it could.
Itachi flickered beside us, dispatching another water clone while Dei continued raining bombs on the Akatsuki, attempting to get them to flee.
"Sharingan control" the Weasel informed as we had to dodge another strike from the turtle "Isobu is effectively on the same side as the Akatsuki".
"Jashin damn it" I cursed again.
"Itachi-san, you and the terrorist get the Konoha idiots out of here" Kisame snapped, blocking incoming shuriken.
This Konoha team was a mix of unknown and known, so this had somehow turned into a clusterfuck of a three-way-battle.
We'd stuck with self defense only, but the Konoha shinobi we weren't familiar with were insistent about fighting us as much as the Akatsuki.
"Biju can't be killed, but we can make it so our friend here is out of the game a few years" Kisame eyed the turtle as it swatted at a cluster of Konoha shinobi. "Just get the soft Leaf-idiots out of here so we're not fighting a biju and them at the same time".
"Very well" Itachi nodded, easily jumping up into the trees and landing back on Dei's bird with the ease of practice.
The clay bird swerved off, heading for the Konoha group.
There was the familiar sensation of one of the Weasel's genjutsu, and who knows what they saw, but the Konoha ninja were starting to retreat as the bird hovered over them to allow Itachi a safe vantage point until they were out of harm's way.
"Zabu-teme! Haku! You're handling Akatsuki idiots!" Kisame called to them.
Zabuza shot back a glare that read 'Like we weren't already' as he destroyed another water clone with a mocking salute.
"Hai!" Haku at least answered.
"You and I are taking on the Sanbi, Koneko. My water jutsu won't do much damage, but combine it with your lightning and we may be eating turtle soup tonight" Kisame smirked at me.
"Oh joy" I answered, following after him.
Tobi POV
This was all going according to plan.
The Sanbi was doing his work of scattering Yūgure for him.
It had already been obvious they worked in pairs but now he had confirmed the groupings of three.
Two mist shinobi he didn't know nor cared about.
His cousin, Itachi and a blond.
Then the leader duo.
Oh he knew them.
The Shark had insulted him by declining his generous offer all that time ago.
He knew that kunoichi too.
My, had the little Sudachi grown.
The Bingo books had listed them as partners, but he liked confirming such things.
Now, his plan was even more effective.
Because, to skin a cat...
It was typically best to start at the feet.
Yūgure would fall, piece by piece, much like his Akatsuki.
Starting with that unknown Mist duo.
This blow wouldn't be as emotional as he would like.
Had to start somewhere.
Make the bond between the bigger thorns even more precious.
That would make it hurt all the more once it was ripped away.
He chuckled darkly, redirecting the Sanbi.
Forced the turtle to ignore the blows from the Shark and the kunoichi.
The turtle formed a tail-beast ball on his command.
The leader duo swore, almost in unison as they were forced to vacate or die.
His Akatsuki dodged away as well.
The unknown Mist duo started off.
Too slow, little bugs.
The Sanbi attacked.
The older one shoved the younger just out of range.
Oh well.
That was one down at least.
The turtle prepared to attack again.
One more to go.
Haku POV
Zabuza-san had shoved him down.
He'd felt the immense chakra of Isobu's attack barely missing him.
Turning revealed the path of destruction left by the tailed-beast ball.
"Z-Zabuza-san?" he questioned.
There was the gleam of metal.
He rushed towards it.
Kubikiribōchō. Shattered.
He lifted the sword to reveal that the giant blade was now cut down to being nearly nothing but a hilt and scattered pieces.
Kubikiribōchō could repair itself.
Zabuza-san could not.
He was familiar with death.
There was simply no way Zabuza-san had survived.
And this time, it wasn't a genjutsu.
He knew because he was repetitively attempting to break the horrible lie in front of him.
He heard Kisame-san and Toki-san yelling something.
Probably attacking Isobu again.
He couldn't bring himself to care.
Normal POV
"Haku!" I warned, seeing the Sanbi preparing another swipe.
"HAKU! Move!" Kisame snapped at the frozen boy as Isobu lunged.
The shark was forced to intercept the attack with Samehada.
"Toki, move him!" the Shark called.
I jumped, tacking Haku out of the way. One look in his eyes and I knew. He would simply stay where ever I put him.
I let Haku stay far back enough I was sure he was well out of the way before racing back towards Kisame, tossing electrified senbon into the water-sharks he was tossing at Isobu.
The turtle was getting nasty zaps, but it simply wasn't enough.
"Koneko, we may have to leave this one" Kisame admitted as the Akatsuki returned and started attacking again.
Now we had them and the biju to deal with.
Itachi and Dei were still getting the Konoha shinobi away.
Haku was out of the fight.
Zabuza was dead.
I was running low on chakra thanks to all the fighting against Akatsuki, Isobu, and Konoha idiots.
We were outnumbered and outmatched.
We'd lost.
Kisame and I were forced to retreat, grabbing Haku on our run back for the arsonists.
There wasn't even time to get our own clay bird ready, being chased like we were.
We had to resort to retreating back to Dei's bird and jumping on it with the pyros.
There wasn't a question from Itachi or Deidara on seeing Haku's face about what had happened.
Itachi simply dropped his genjutsu as Dei redirected the bird to fly back to base.
Tobi POV
He couldn't help his chuckle as he had the Sanbi 'fight' the Akatsuki.
Who took down the turtle with ease.
Well that was one biju down.
Eight more to go.
Judging by that boy that had survived that was also two Yūgure down as well.
He chuckled darkly again.
Cat and Fish were his ultimate goal and revenge.
But picking their little group off like this was admittedly lots of fun.
Hmm... which one next?
He supposed he should analyze Yūgure's pairs some more.
Then he could take his pick as to which one he wished out of the picture next.
Remove potential leader replacements.
Then, once he'd whittled them down enough, he'd strike his last blow.
The leader duo down, and no one to replace them, the others would scatter, and thus no longer be a thorn in his side.
He mentally thanked Madara for the lessons.
The old man really had been a good strategy teacher.
Normal POV
"Haku?" I tried, but got no response from him.
He hadn't moved, hadn't spoken.
Just continued to hold onto what was left of Kubikiribōchō.
A solemn silence descended as Dei landed his clay bird back at base.
It took all four of us to convince Haku to move.
Once inside, the boy only walked willingly to his room into which he vanished silently.
"What do we do, yeah?" Dei questioned softly.
"That depends on Haku" Kisame answered.
"He may wish to be alone or he may wish comfort" Itachi clarified. "Though, I do not think any of us are the best for the job".
"That went badly, un" the artist continued, meaning the Sanbi encounter.
"Zabuza... at least he went out fighting" Kisame murmured. They'd never gotten along much.
Honestly, the only person Zabuza got along with really was Haku.
It didn't mean the rest of us weren't affected by the loss.
"Maybe there are some things you can't change" I stared at the floor "Zabuza wasn't supposed to live nearly this long".
"Bullshit we can't change things, Koneko" Kisame snapped "That Demon twerp got an end that has no dishonor in it. Fighting a biju, Akatsuki, and Konoha, all while saving Haku in the end" the Shark started to chuckle lowly "I wouldn't mind, going out like that. And I think, on this Zabuza and I agree, for once".
Suddenly, the Shark snarled "However, that doesn't mean we can't make Obito pay for his loss".
"He has only succeeded in furthering our common goal with this" Itachi's eyes flickered red with the Sharingan.
"He doesn't even deserve to be turned into art, un. He deserves to be whiped from existence, yeah" Deidara agreed.
"I was hoping to put Obito through therapy-jutsu" I admitted "But right now, I'm no longer feeling that generous".
Haku POV
He was left alone for some hours.
Staring at nothing.
Kubikiribōchō was so light, like this.
Zabuza-san would be most displeased by his sword being in this condition.
He raised his hand to the blade.
"What are you doing, 'ssu?" Fū's voice stopped him.
"The sword needs iron from blood to repair itself" he explained simply.
"So you were going to bleed yourself out to do so, 'ssu?"
"Yes".
"I think Zabuza would not have liked two broken tools, 'ssu" Fū came to sit by him "That, and he cared for you more 'ssu".
"I was useless" he stared at the ground "I couldn't save him".
"No. He saved you 'ssu. And you were just about to throw that away 'ssu".
He couldn't help looking up at her when her words made so much sense.
"You should honor his gift 'ssu. Repair the sword, but use the blood of his enemies 'ssu. Your enemies 'ssu" Fū grinned at him "Show that his spirit lives on and the Demon of the Mist can haunt people from the grave 'ssu".
He felt some life return to him. Not much, but some.
Yes, it wouldn't do to allow Zabuza-san's memory to fade like that.
"I cannot use Kubikiribōchō after I repair it" he admitted "It's not my fighting style".
"So find someone worthy of it 'ssu. You were his student 'ssu. You can find someone worth of continuing your master's legacy 'ssu".
He felt himself nod.
Fū nodded and stood to go.
"...Thank you... Fū" he offered her a weak smile.
She grinned at his lack of a suffix "Knew I'd get it out of you eventually, 'ssu".
Then she left, leaving him feeling more human that he had been for hours.
And so Yūgure loses not only Isobu but Zabuza as well.
No genjutsu, no trick, no edo tensei or Pein's hax revival jutsu.
Poor Haku. I feel sorry for him.
Next time – "How in the Jashin-damned hell are we keeping Pervy Sage from dying? We can't take on Pein for him".
"We sit him down and have a nice chat. He'll be the first outside person to know the truth".
"You're kidding me".
"No, Koneko. We're telling him that story of yours".
Contest !–So far I have submissions from: DianatheRune, LadyMimi101, Darkclaw6, Freedomits2l8, and Nazebaka. If you have sent me art and your name is not on this list PM ME.If you have a submission, but you haven't gotten it to me DO SO TODAY.
Contest submissions will be accepted until I have time to check them after class tomorrow so approx Monday 11AM EST.
Q&A! (No replies this time, as this got rather long)
(to author): Are there going to be any teacher's pets?
Me: Unsure as of yet. Possibly. It would be adorable to see.
(to Zealot): You think you'll have a teacher's pet?
Hidan: "Fuck if I know. None of these shits are that fucking impressive so far".
(to Fū): Who is your cutest student?
Fū: "I can only pick one 'ssu?! There's too many 'ssu!" D8
(to puppet): Do you think any of your students will become puppeteers?
Sasori: "Perhaps. It is too early to tell. Some of them do have promising chakra control".
(to Zealot): Are you planning on teaching the genin about Jashin? Maybe have a mini-you?
Hidan: "These fucks aren't ready for the damn teachings of Jashin-sama. But maybe once they fucking are..."
Kakuzu: "No. Or I will murder you slowly. Numerous times".
Hidan: "Fuck you Kakuzu!"
(to Fū):Do you like Haku as a friend or more?
Fū: "Somewhere in the middle I think, 'ssu. He's so adorable 'ssu".
(to author): How long is this story going i.e. Toki and Kisame's ages?
Me: Hm. Toki is about 31-33, so we'll just say 32 for convenience right now. I'm not entirely sure how long exactly in years Shippuuden was, so I'm going to peg it as about 2-3 years until Fourth War which I'll say lasts a couple months. That makes our duo about 34 and 35.
(to Zealot):Exactly how much do you like Yugito?
Hidan: "Enough that I'll fucking sacrifice you to Jashin-sama if you so much as fucking touch her".
(to puppet): Would you ever take on one of the students as an apprentice?
Sasori: "Only if they showed promise".
(to author):Will Naruto or his Team ever stumble on Sakuragakure?
Me: Maybe~ ;)
(to Toki): Did you ever internet stalk a celebrity? If not, who would you?
Toki: "Nope. I didn't. Celebrities are boring. I suppose, if I had to I'd say Johnny Depp".
Kisame: -growls-
Toki: "I said only if I had to".
(to Toki): If you could've landed in another alternate universe where would you go?
Toki: "Narnia! All hail Aslan! OH! Oh maybe Harry Potter, so long as I was a witch".
(to Zealot): How's your relationship with the burning hot kitty?
Hidan:-smirk- "Fucking burning hot is damn right. I'll fucking leave the rest to your damn imagination".
(to Haku/Fū): What do you think of each other?
Fū: "He's adorable, 'ssu!"
Haku: "Fū is very nice... and pretty..."
Fū: "Kyya~!" -glomps- "He called me pretty 'ssu!"
Haku:-red-
(to Dusk): Would you consider a teaching career after this is over?
Kisame: "Maybe. A few genin wouldn't be so bad after this insanity".
Toki: "I second Kisame's answer".
Itachi: "I would not mind genin".
Dei: "Not really, un. I prefer my art, yeah".
Juugo: "They are not so bad. But I worry about my cursed side".
Sasori: "Only if they showed potential".
Haku: "I would not mind a single student... much like Zabuza-san taught me..."
Fū: "So long as they were just as adorable 'ssu!"
Han: "It is not something I thought I would be able to do. But I find I don't mind it".
Kakuzu: "No".
Hidan: "These fuck-wats are enough".
(to Miser): Is there anything you won't do for money?
Kakuzu: -counts his money- "Perhaps. I have not found it yet".
(to Pein): What do you think of Yugure?
Pein: "They are annoying at best, but nothing when compared to a God".
(to Lollipop): If you could go back would you kill Toki or make her and Kisame join Akatsuki?
Tobi: "Preferably kill. They're damn thorns in my side. If I could get them in my organization, I suppose their power would be useful. I'd kill them afterwards".
(to author): You mentioned another story you lost you muse for, but you only have this one?
Me: That's cause the other one sucked. I deleted it.
(to Toki):Adopt me~!
Toki: "If you're psychotic and socially deprived, sure" ^^
Kisame: "Koneko, no".
Toki: "But Kisame~!"
Kisame: "No".
Toki: "Aww~" -sulks-
(to Weasel): Imma glomp you and hug you for the next 10 chapters~
Itachi: -blinks- "..." -bursts into a flock of crows going who knows where-
(to Han): What does your face look like? Do you have scars?
Han: "The point of me wearing a mask is so that you don't know".
(to Toki): Ever tried to ride your summons?
Toki: "Course! Nami-sama is an epic ride. I can ride on Yama too, though he doesn't like letting me".
(to terrorist): Ever put your hands together in a kiss?
Dei: -twitch- "No, un".
(to Juugo): Does Shark-tou-chan ruffle your hair?
Juugo: "Sometimes, but very rarely".
(to author): Is there a plan in place to save Pein and Konan?
Me: Er... yes and no? ^^;
(to Toki/Kisame): Who's your favorite adopted son?
Toki: "I have no favorite child of course".
Kisame: "I'm going to second that cause otherwise she'd murder me".
(to Dusk): What duo other than the leaders works best?
Kisame: "The Zombies".
Toki: "Zombie Combo, though they'd never admit it".
Dei: "Zombies, yeah"
Itachi: "Probably Hidan and Kakuzu".
Hidan: "The fucking terrorists".
Kakuzu: "... I suppose myself and the whelp".
Fū: "I'd say Itachi and Deidara 'ssu".
Han: "I second the vote of Itachi and Deidara".
Haku: "Probably Hidan-san and Kakuzu-san".
Juugo: "Itachi and Deidara".
Sasori: "Hidan and Kakuzu, though they are obnoxious".
(to Haku):What do you think of Fū?
Haku: "She's... growing on me I guess".
(to Shark): What would you do if you saw Toki being flirted with by another girl?
Kisame: -chuckles-"Laugh as Koneko flipped out and ran to hide behind me".
(to Han): Can I have your hat? Or your clothes?
Han: -holds hat- "No you may not".
