A/N: Amidamaru88, I'll respond to your question tomorrow. I would prefer to have an accurate, honest answer rather than a trite and frequently repeated answer.
Moving along from that for now, it's the 50th chapter! What's coming up this week and next, you may ask?
First of all, during next week I'll be releasing two chapters a day, not one as I would normally do. In total, then, I'll be releasing ten chapters next week. This means that we'll likely get through this arc and start in on VotE. Given how long an arc VotE is, I likely won't finish, but we'll be a decent ways in by next Friday.
Second, on the Monday following that week, I will provide a comprehensive list of changes made that result in this being an AU. This will include original characters, changes in origins, notes on alterations of gender, and so on. I'll go back through my notes and explain the reasons I made intentional changes. Of course, on the other hand, I probably made mistakes as well and didn't recognize those. Hopefully someone is willing to mention ones that don't appear on the list.
Third, I'll begin writing Side Arcs. I mentioned the concept for these all the way back in the Chūnin Exams, but likely due to the events surrounding the Chūnin Exams, support for this concept was at best wavering. Thus, I'll be treating these as less of a priority and updating when I have inspiration, which will likely be infrequent. As a quick reminder, Side Arcs would be focusing on events that are not as important to the main storyline, but develop side characters in depth.
Finally, a quick reminder to send in reviews by Friday so that I can respond to more questions than one. If it turns out to just be one, it'll just be one, but I'd like to elaborate on more details of the story than one.
The tents set in the forest. Flames rose from a central fire set within a ring of large and heavy stones. The black trees cast long shadows in the firelight.
"Why did you lie to me like that?" Naruto questioned, his expression stern and serious.
Hisame raised an eyebrow. "You're still on about that?" she questioned, her hand running along the surface of her throat.
"It's important to me! Why wouldn't it be? I thought we were friends!"
"This isn't the first time I've heard those words." Hisame chuckled quietly. Her laughter turned into coughing as she touched her throat.
Blood filled the mask. Hisame reached upward. She turned a gear connected to a valve. The blood poured out of the mask. The fluid seeped into the ground.
"Eh?" Naruto tilted his head to one side. He studied the mask. "What's that?"
"Not important is what it is." Hisame sighed. "As I said earlier, by taking this act, I have prepared you. You're too naïve. This world is cruel and evil. It's a place that will eat you up. You don't let things pass. So easily we forget. So easily. Yet it's true that we can't trust everyone we meet so easily. Misinformation and false leads are the tools of the ninja. Deception is perhaps the most important part of the work we do."
Naruto's eyes widened.
Hisame lowered her hand. She cleared her throat. "Don't you have chores to do?"
"I'm not going to give up on you."
Hisame's eyes narrowed.
"I'll make you believe that good still exists in this rotten world!"
"Good? There is only innocence. And for that reason." Hisame sighed. "I can admire you only in this; only in that innocence you still have—" She coughed loudly. Her hand turned the valve once again, releasing a flow of blood from her lips. Hisame growled. "You should go." Her hand lowered. "I'll be holding you back. Bring some of these supplies to one of the others." For some reason, his presence agitates me still.
Naruto turned and walked out. He glanced over his shoulder again.
Blood trickled out of the basin at Hisame's feet.
Blood seeped into the base of the drain.
Something is definitely very wrong about that person. Shivering, Naruto stepped out of the tent, rubbing his arms.
The flames rose in the sky. The central pit shimmered.
"Kōju-san. Do you know anything about a condition that causes such things?" Naruto questioned, throwing another piece of wood on the fire. "Bleeding from the mouth, things like that?"
"Rot Lung, I think, is the disease matching that descriptor. It's colloquially called Rain Lung, which is probably accurate." Kōju sighed. "It's a common condition among the residents of Hidden Rain." She looked downward. "I understand it's a result of the atmospheric methods used to grow crops in the area."
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed.
"The lungs themselves are damaged. Holes form in the inner membranes of the lungs; the air pockets become corrupted and perforate slightly. After a certain amount of time, conditions become impossible to improve." Kōju paused. "Well, it becomes impossible to breathe without a respirator or some form of breath modifier. It's like trying to fill a broken-up paper bag with air, to give you an idea." She sighed. "Once the condition sets in for a certain period of time, it's impossible to heal."
"…" Naruto blinked. No wonder she has such a pessimistic outlook. He rubbed the back of his head.
"And usually, at one point or another, it will without exception result in death. Of course, depending on the severity, you could live to a very old age, but you will still probably die from Rot Lung rather than any other cause." Kōju sighed. "Medication can be given to limit the amount of pain felt. However, it isn't certain, and in most cases it's every bit as risky as any attempt at a normal treatment. In any case, if it's as far along as her case, I cannot save either her or her lungs. It must be a strange feeling."
"Hm?" Naruto's head turned sideways alertly.
"Knowing that you can die and there's nothing you can do about it—"
"Oi. You two layabouts." The tall red-haired woman jerked her finger toward the pile of wood. "If you've got nothing better to do than to jaw around, we have work to do."
Naruto scowled. "I really don't like your attitude, Asahi!"
"If you weren't some kind of idiot, you'd certainly know already that I've accepted you. Start gathering wood. We need to set the campfire burning high from the beginning, you know."
Naruto growled. I'll show her!
Asahi's sword shot outward. A flash of red light crossed the clearing, slashing into the tree. The tree fell sideways. A series of slashes cut through the side of the tree. The pieces of wood fell downward, cut into even quarter logs. Asahi snorted. "You seriously are taking this slow, aren't you?" She tossed the wood pieces on a pile within the ring of flames.
Dear god! What's wrong with her? Naruto's eyes narrowed. Fine. If she'll play dirty, I'll play dirty, too! "Shadow Clone Technique!"
A series of clones of Naruto formed around the forest.
"Spread out and find wood! Get going!"
Kōju gritted her teeth. "Okay. Point taken. Flash Technique!" A white flash crossed the clearing of the wood.
"Well, fundamentally, they're about similar." Sasuke glanced to one side.
Asahi's eyes narrowed.
"Naturally, I'm speaking about you two." Sasuke stared into the distance of the wood. "The trouble is that he's an idiot, and you're too smart for your own good."
"That's undoubtedly not untrue." Asahi scowled. "Well, at least you're not the average level of idiot. You're some kind of super idiot. That you won't shut up is quite remarkable."
Sasuke grinned. "Super idiot, huh? Interesting words you speak to me." She turned her eyes toward Asahi.
"Due to reasons, I have some familiarity with your circumstances. It is most unfortunate." Asahi closed her eyes. She stared at the fire. "Even so, only a super idiot wouldn't give up chasing the sun. Itachi-san is incandescent. If you keep following him, you'll be burned up."
"Sorry, but chasing the sun is what I'm inclined to do, so I won't change my mind anytime soon. Even if I do burn up, as you say, it won't be to my dislike." Sasuke extended her hand. She stared into the darkness of the forest, covering her eyes with one hand. "Anyway."
The flames rose in the air.
"What's the plan for dealing with shinigami-san? I assume Shikin-san's come up with something."
"Even before her current condition emerged, we ran into even more trouble." Asahi's eyes narrowed. "She's a member of the Kuroi family."
"Really?" Sasuke's eyebrows rose. "I hadn't expected that. I don't think."
"With that, she can heal from any normal injury we give her. Probably our best chance at it is cutting off or otherwise removing the head. Though that's even rather uncertain."
"You're automatically going for killing."
"If we don't kill her, she'll undoubtedly kill us." Asahi's eyes narrowed. "I don't buy that, what that Kage said earlier."
Sasuke's eyes widened. What does she mean?
"The simple error. It's not that Kūkyo-san has suddenly grown tired of killing or something like that. People do not fall so easily out of old habits." Asahi's eyes narrowed. "Well, it shouldn't take so much work for you to work out that it's the case. Simply put, she didn't kill Ōnoki-san because she didn't want to. She didn't kill him because she didn't have the time to kill him."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "How'd you determine that?"
"Hidden Stone isn't the only village with information regarding other villages." Asahi's lips curled upward. "The Explosion Corps, an organization possessing access to a certain type of clay, works under Ōnoki-san and are his direct bodyguards." She paused. "As a consequence, it's not unfair to say that they'd have arrived. Their duty is solely to protect the Tsuchikage. In short, numbers can kill her, but, more importantly, she is aware of that fact."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I see."
"In short, any attempt to kill her or end her life will be met with the same resistance. Had they appeared, we'd be in trouble."
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. "I see."
"As well, she has more leisure to consider such matters." Asahi turned her gaze toward the woods. "Well, seems that idiot's gathered up all that we shall require." She raised her voice. "Kōju-san, you can come back now!" she shouted.
The massive pile of wood sat just outside the fire.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "From the beginning, you never had any intention of gathering that wood, did you?"
"What?" Asahi shrugged. "That kid's got crazy stamina, even compared to most types of jinchūriki. I simply feel like it's only fair. We've handled that matter ourselves in past, so it's only fair."
The flames rose. Light poured downward from the flames.
"Hah." Shikin sat down in front of the fire. Her hand reached downward, pulling out a pinch of powders.
"What are you doing with those, eh?" Naruto questioned, his eyes narrowing.
"I will communicate with my ancestors." Shikin hurled the powder into the fire.
The flames sparked green.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Whoa! Be more careful with those!"
"Ah-hah-hah."
"This isn't good." A larger figure emerged from the treeline. Biting her lip, she ran her hand through her copper-brown hair.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. What are you talking about? "Yukime-san."
"He's gone."
"Eh?"
"Chinmoku's left." Yukime wiped away a tear. "I'm worried about him. I don't know what he's planning, but of course I'm quite worried about it."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. What's going on? She stared past the firelight into the forest.
Akatsuki
A smaller fire girded a circle of white stones. The small forest clearing rested next to a brook, burbling as it ran through the depths of the muddied waters.
"Hm. It seems he didn't come with vile intentions." Kūkyo pressed her finger against the side of her face. She leaned against a larger white rock.
"Eh?" Deikōgi started. Her head rose from its sleeping position. She stared at the shinigami nervously.
"The person who is currently following us. He doesn't seem to be prepared for battle." Kūkyo yawned. She sat upright after a long moment of delay."
Deikōgi tilted her head to the side. "What's going on, yeah?" Her eye narrowed as she stared into the darkness.
"Good evening." Chinmoku stepped out of the darkness of the forest. "It seems there's no point in attempting to conceal my presence." He inclined his head, his brown eyes flickering. His hand tapped the side of his forehead. "Do you mind if I join you?" He bowed, nodding politely to Deikōgi.
"You're feeling far too relaxed, aren't you, yeah?" Deikōgi questioned, her brow creasing. "I recall you being smarter, yeah."
Kūkyo's eyes narrowed. "She's got a point. You think that you can so easily abuse hospitality, and you're mistaken. Among other things, right now, you're probably our enemy. Even if you're not wanting to fight, you're probably here to take Deikōgi-san back. Am I wrong?"
"You are mistaken in that assumption. I would like to join Akatsuki," Chinmoku stated in a clear voice.
Kūkyo's eyes widened.
Deikōgi leaned back in the sand. "…" She stared at Chinmoku's face. What the hell is up with that line, yeah?! Are you stupid, yeah? This person doesn't let you take things back so easily, yeah!
"It's weird that you can state that so calmly," Kūkyo remarked, her brow creasing. "You're pretty weird, aren't you?"
"I am Chinmoku, born fifteen years ago into this earth. I use a non-state-sanctioned soap and spend a certain number of hours in every action. My favorite word in the world is 'money'. I have my own private dream, something I have kept secret the past fifteen years of my life… and to achieve this dream it is necessary to join Akatsuki. We are probably being observed even here, so I must keep my words brief."
"Hmph." Deikōgi snorted. "To think you kept such a secret even from your teacher, yeah."
"As we were being observed, there's very little point in speaking truthfully. I'd discuss it here, but there may be unfriendly ears here as well." Chinmoku tipped his head toward the darkness surrounding the campsite. "I'm not foolish enough to assume that our beloved Tsuchikage would let you go without some kind of observation."
Kūkyo chuckled. "Heh. You've got a nice spirit there, kid." She stared at Chinmoku. "Whatever that determination of yours is, it's making your soul burn fiercer than anyone else around you. Your heart is really dead set on this dream of yours. Whether it's money or not, if it can make someone's soul extend like this, I approve!"
Chinmoku smiled. "Thank you. In that case, I suppose there's some robes that I should be wearing." He glanced around as though expecting the robes to materialize out of thin air.
"I fear matters aren't that simple." Kūkyo's eyes narrowed. "There's a strength requirement. Of course there is—consider the difference between people for a moment. If you fight as you are now, I am afraid you will certainly die. You will die, and what life you possess will die with you. People die when they are forgotten, and you'll get forgotten."
Chinmoku's eyes narrowed. "So I'm not strong enough. Is that it?"
"Don't misunderstand. You are probably at least at the level of Kakashi-san or something like that. Maybe a little lower; I haven't met with him since he was a kid about as high as this rock." Kūkyo's eyes narrowed. She held out her hand at the level of Chinmoku's waist. "But I am afraid it's not so simple to win. It's not so simple. The level of Akatsuki is entirely different. We're an organization comprised entirely of monsters."
Chinmoku's eyes widened. He gritted his teeth. "I thought I had already passed that limit."
"Let's try another method, if you're so insistent." Kūkyo leaned forward. "Deikōgi-san, this is outside our contract. He's interested in being promoted to a member of Akatsuki, so I have to take this matter quite seriously. On top of that, it seems he's got no interest in recapturing you."
Deikōgi bit her lip. You should back down, yeah. I don't want to see my precious student die, yeah. You made some beautiful works of art too, yeah.
"Kid, I'm giving you one last chance to back out. The agreement I propose proceeds thus—if you manage to force me to use the release of this sword, I'll recommend you as a member of Akatsuki." Kūkyo touched the hilt of the sword meaningfully.
Chinmoku's eyes narrowed. "There's a catch somewhere in that statement. Would you mind explaining why it is that you're hesitant to use another condition, like being knocked out or killed? Perhaps you're afraid of losing?"
"If I go seriously, I'll definitely end up killing you. I don't particularly enjoy messing around like that. You've heard of the berserkers of Hidden Frost, right?"
Chinmoku's eyes narrowed. "That remains even after becoming a death god, then?"
Kūkyo's eyes widened.
"I can sense about ten to twenty percent of most people's abilities just by looking at them. The way you sit, the way you move. It's simply an easy and useful technique to use here." Chinmoku paused. "But I can't sense anything by looking at you. It's like I'm staring at a corpse. There's nothing to learn here. Whatever you know is something that my life can't penetrate."
"Heh." Kūkyo's eyes narrowed. "You really are a weird kid. Give it ten or twenty years. Use your brain. Don't waste your time sitting there and worrying. You need to think carefully about the next move. There's no point in hiring anyone who doesn't see a tomorrow after their actions." She folded her hands together. "You should realize that much at least."
"I don't have that kind of time!" Chinmoku shouted, losing his temper for the first time during the conversation. "For my goal, it's necessary for me to join that organization soon."
"Heh." Kūkyo sighed. "Way too anxious. You're way too anxious to die." She sighed. "Well, whatever." Reaching downward, she touched the hilt. She forced herself upright, her hand grasping the sword tightly.
The air glowed.
Golden light poured downward.
"I'll make sure to write something nice on your tombstone. Since no one lives forever, it seems completely appropriate to say something about Scathi's fire." Kūkyo paused. "To say you shone brightly as a star of Hidden Stone, that is."
Chinmoku stood up. His eyes narrowed. "It's fine if you believe that you'll win so easily. But, then, don't complain when you lose." His lips curled upward. "In this case, I probably won't have to limit myself."
