Chapter Forty
Pre-dawn humidity coated Naruto's skin in an itchy, oily sheen of sweat, dew, and mist. By the ozone-smell of the air, it was about to rain, too. Just our luck! He hoped they could wrap this up quickly, maybe grab a few hours of sleep afterward, but already Naruto had the sickening feeling in his joints that they were all in for a trying day.
Hinata's fist shot upwards in the signal to hold, and she dropped to a squatted position. He and Sakura did likewise. As he knelt, Naruto sniffed the air, trying to determine what Hinata was seeing that he couldn't. He could sense nothing unusual, but he didn't know if that was because there was nothing there or everything here was unusual. Making Hinata take point after such a restless night had been a cold decision but a necessary one – Hinata was the only one who could see clearly in the dark without additional lighting. Even with eyes adjusted to the dark, Naruto could barely read his compass with what little ambient light his eyes could find. With the unseen threat of Oorochimaru stalking them, Naruto did not want to be any more conspicuous than necessary.
Rain began falling, a few small drops at first, as Hinata signaled for them to follow her around the unseen hazard. The hairs on his neck stood up, wondering what danger she's seen that none of them had as she carefully guided them over a fallen tree and through the thick undergrowth. Driving mist began forming, and soon the rain began pitter-patting loudly on every leave, every tree, and every put as it came down like icy shuriken. An entire army could be following us, and we wouldn't be able to hear them!
Hinata paused again taking time to lean against a tree to stretch her left dancer's leg. Naruto's heart began thundering away, causing him to forget his own right shoulder was aching in the cool, damp weather. Please, don't mind me, stretch all you want! The angel on his shoulder slapped him upside the head, forcing him to remember they were on mission time, and Gaara would die if they didn't hurry. Either that, or Sakura had caught him staring.
Hinata turned back to them, faint illumination came from her Byakugan made her eyes shimmer like starlight against the dark backdrop of her deeply painted face. "We're close, I can see the swamp, and I think I see several plants that might be the correct type."
"Let's get moving," Sakura looked at her watch, "It's already past 0400; we're in real trouble if we don't collect enough and get it back to Gaara!"
"Right," Naruto pulled out a darkly painted kunai.
Hinata and Sakura did the same. "Remember, harvest as close to the root as possible, or uproot it altogether," Sakura reminded them, "The sap is the important part; without it, no antidote. Naruto and Hinata nodded in unison.
Hinata went over a fallen tree, and Naruto hear the mix of splashing and the squishing sound of mud. He followed next, landing in a deep puddle that extended off the marshy swampland. Mud swallowed him up to his ankles, and frigid water and muck began seeping into his boots until it soaked his socks. The disgusting sensation of swampiness in his boots remined him that leeches and water snakes, among other things, were endemic to the swamps and lakes in the forest. Thank god we wore heavy boots and not our regular shoes!
Sakura splashed in next to him, landing on one knee. By now the rain was driving, and the ground became slick as mashed potatoes. Naruto huffed in frustration as his outfit clung to him, making even the simplest of movements a struggle as he slogged along. Any attempt at stealth was now fruitless if it weren't for the sound of the heavy rain. Lightning began to illuminate the area, and Naruto's eyes captured a slender figure standing in the middle of the swamp.
Lightning cracked, and they dove low, expecting an ambush. As he landed face down in the mud, Naruto realized it wasn't someone planning their untimely deaths. Another flash of illumination, and Naruto could see the slender man was in fact a dead tree. Nobody in their right mind would be trudging in a swamp at four in the morning with the mother of all rainstorms going on – nobody except us! The lightning was in fact natural lightning, and they were still in plenty of danger. "We have to move fast!" Naruto shouted, dropping any pretense of remaining stealthy as he splashed along in the ankle-deep slurry toward the shoreline.
Lightning flashed again, and he saw it. Mother's Love! "Over here!" he shouted as he ran to it. Naruto pulled out his flashlight, cupping his hand around the beam. He doused the light and began digging up the plant.
"There's some over here, too!" Hinata called forward and to his left. Lightning crashed as he desperately used his kunai to loosen the root from the sucking mud. Gingerly, Naruto tucked the precious plant into his pocket; his eyes had already locked onto the next one.
As the next thistle plant release itself from its muddy prison, lighting flashed, and thunder boomed at the same instant. Shit! It's right on top of us! They had to leave right now!
"Naruto, Sakura! Look!" Hinata's voice called excitedly over the rain. He and Sakura trudged forward along the shoreline to Hinata's side. "In the middle of the lake on the far side of the swamp," Hinata pointed to the darkness, "there is a scroll! It's an Earth Scroll!" Naruto recognized the island – the same spot where the dead tree stood.
"Well, what are we waiting for!" Sakura took a giant step in the direction Hinata pointed. Naruto instantly clamped a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Hey! What gives!?" she screeched.
"Hinata," Naruto asked sternly, "are there any visible traps?"
She scanned intently with her Byakugan for several moments, "None that I can see," she answered confidently.
"You see, nothing to be afraid of, let's get it and go!" Sakura shook.
Naruto held up his still bandaged right hand in Sakura's face, "That's what scares me!" Hinata hadn't seen the bunker was filled with a flammable gas, either. On cue, lightning crashed, "Besides, even if it isn't boobytrapped, we are taking our lives in our hands with the storm!"
"B-but Naruto, it's right there," Hinata said, "we could get it and be done with all the sneaking around. We could leave the forest in the morning!"
Naruto weighed it. On one hand, Sakura and Hinata were both right. If they got the scroll all the teams in the bunker would have the needed scrolls. They could leave and be to safety any time afterwards. On the other hand, Team Eight was still out there, and they had made a pact to all leave together. He thought back to Temari's warning, that the scrolls in the main clearing had been nothing but genjutsu, and he remembered that Shikamaru warned that all the scrolls would be boobytrapped somehow. We're wasting time! "We have to go!" Naruto said firmly, "Do we have all the thistle we need?"
"Naruto – we… yes," Sakura deflated.
"Sakura, you, yourself, said we have until sunrise to save Gaara," Naruto looked at his watch, already thirty one minutes past four, "and it will take at least an hour to get back to the bunker!"
"I'll mark the position on our map when we get back," Hinata nodded.
Sakura stood staring at him for several moments, and she nodded thoughtfully, "You're right, I'm sorry!"
"Don't be!" Naruto said, as they began splashing their way back toward the bunker. "For a long moment, I was tempted too, but I guarantee, there is something nasty waiting for us in that lake!" The girls moved on ahead, and Naruto stole one last glance toward the swamp. Backlit by a flash of lightning, Naruto could see the shadowy figure of the tree standing on the small island in the swamp. Naruto blinked, and the tree was gone at the next flash. He hurried forward, desperate to keep up.
Shikamaru lay back on his sleeping bag. The stifling humidity and excessive amount of body heat in the bunker made actually wrapping up for the night unnecessary. Deep down, part of him felt guilty for not offering to go with Naruto and Team Seven. On the other hand, someone had to stay here and stay in charge. He'll be okay, he always is. Despite his confidence in his friend, Shikamaru's mind refused to turn off as he lay here. As much as he'd rather be in his own bed reading a good book, Ino and Choji wouldn't let him off the hook. Neither would Asuma Sensei.
Then, there was Mom and Dad, mostly Mom. Troublesome woman! Shikamaru loved his mom dearly, but she had an almost genetic urge to push him further and further when he was happy to sit back and watch the world go by. Unlike Naruto's mom, who encouraged people to succeed, Mom would frequently question why Shikamaru hadn't yet succeeded at a task, mostly reminding him how lazy he was. Melancholic rain began pelting the bunker, another reminder of how screwed up this day had been.
A sweet, soft, melody dispelled the bittersweet thoughts of Mom and the harsh sound of the rain, taking him back to a time he had almost forgotten despite his near eidetic memory. "Hushabye, Hushabye! My good baby, sleep!" he heard mom's heavenly voice take him back to when he was only three years old. Every night until he was five, Mom would sing the lullaby to him whether or not he was sleeping already. The simple cradle song reached him somewhere soft and innocent, and he began to sing along, "Hushabye, Hushabye! My good baby, sleep! Where did my boy's good baby-sitter go? Beyond that mountain…"
The melody quit suddenly. Shikamaru didn't know why, but his eyes shot open in horror. His body lay frozen as his eyes darted to his left. Temari sat cross-legged next to Gaara, a wooden flute hanging from her mouth, her eyes wide in surprise. Ah, dammit! She heard me singing! Her surprise turned into a smirk, "I never guessed the one thing your lazy ass would be good at was singing!" She giggled.
"Troublesome woman!" he rolled, turning his back to her.
"I'd ask if you're a eunuch," she laughed bemused, "but I have it on pretty good authority that you're not, last I checked!"
Her laughter made him furrow his brow in angst. Of all the things she had to bring up! "Listen, Temari!" he hissed as he sat up to scowl at her, "I don't know what your game is, but it's not going to work this time!"
She continued to smirk as she shook her head. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you can't take a compliment on your divine singing voice!"
"I don't get you," he crossed his arms and huffed, "You spent the last few days ready to kill me, and now you want to be my friend!" Time to hit back! "What, did you like what you saw?"
Without missing a beat, she stung like a hornet, "I didn't notice anything worth seeing." She bared her teeth slightly. Whatever arrogance she had was suddenly replaced by panic as Gaara began stirring.
"AAAHHHH!" the boy began writhing. The blood vessels on his face began protruding, and his face began slowly morphing into something inhuman. Oh my god! Gaara was losing control of One-Tails. Shikamaru rushed to kneel next to the boy.
Temari shook off her panic, taking the flute between her lips and began playing the lullaby again desperately. The melody had some calming effect, but it wasn't working as intended. We're in shit if he loses control! Shikamaru's mind flashed through all the horrific intelligence reports he'd read about Gaara when he'd lose control of the Tailed-Beast. Think!
The melody hit him, and Shikamaru began his low, crooning voice, "Hushabye, Hushabye! My good baby, sleep!" Gaara's face began shifting back to normal, "Where did my boy's baby-sitter go? Beyond that mountain, back to her home. As a souvenir from her home, what did you get? A toy drum and a shō flute."
Sweat beaded down Shikamaru's back as he prepared to sing again, but Gaara's face soon became normal. While his breathing remained labored, Shikamaru could tell Shukaku was not stirring. Whether or not it was the result of Gaara asserting control or the song somehow suppressing the beast, Shikamaru didn't care as he sank backwards on his back, panting as the adrenaline kick wore off into exhaustion.
Again, Temari laughed, "You're surprisingly good at that," she grinned, "If this shinobi thing doesn't work out, you should consider being a stay at home dad!"
"Now you're getting nasty," he wiped away sweat from his brow.
"Where'd you learn it? The song, I mean," Temari asked. He could see her staring intently.
"My mom," he replied.
"Ah, mom," Temari shook her head. Shikamaru knew Temari's mom had died giving birth to Gaara. "The song is the only thing I remember of her," she sighed. "It's the only thing I know that can calm Gaara in one of these states."
"I thought," Shikamaru turned his head to face her, "that Shukaku was sealed by Lord Minato."
"Aye, he did," Temari explained, "but even extreme stress can overwhelm the seal." She traced her hand over her brother's forehead.
"Temari, why did you come to us?" he asked, not sure if he was ready to deal with a back and forth just yet.
"I told you, I was afraid of what might happen if anyone knew he was a jinchuriki," she sounded annoyed.
"That isn't it," Shikamaru said, "at not all of it." He stared the girl in the teal eyes, "My best friend, his lady-friend, and our best medic are putting their lives in danger; you could at least give me full disclosure." It was a calculated risk, but at this point, there was nothing to gain by being conservative.
She scowled for a moment, but her face soon became contemplative. "You're right," she sighed, "that wasn't the whole story."
"So, tell me, or do I have to tell the Hokage to keep me watching you in hopes you slip up," he smirked, hoping to get a rise out of her.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you," she scowled again, "give you another excuse to spy on me in the bathhouse!"
"Dammit, I wasn't sneaking a peak! You walked in on me as much as I walked in on you!" Shikamaru felt himself flush at the implication.
"You're really insecure about this, aren't you?" her tone became softer.
"Can we stop talking about it, and maybe get back on task? Why didn't you just take him to the medics at the temple?"
"It was for Gaara's sake," her eyes drooped, and she deflated like a balloon.
"Explain." How the hell could it be for his good to keep him away from help?
"Before we arrived, father told me it was imperative that Gaara get through Part Two of the exam, and even more important that he at least make it to the finals." She shook her head, "Now he's going to be lucky if he lives to see the sun rise." A lone tear began forming in the corner of her vision.
Curiouser and curiouser. "Did he say why?" Shikamara's brain began computing a variety of nightmare scenarios with Gaara and the final part of the exam.
"He said," she began crying, gently, "if he didn't, he'd disown Gaara. He'd cast him out of our family like the monster everyone thinks he is!"
Shikamaru balked. That's beyond screwed up! He paused to consider. Is it, really? First Lady Kushina had to keep it hidden for how long? Naruto and Hinata have largely kept it hidden. You've read Lord Rasa's file, how he changed after his wife died, and the assassination attempts he made on Gaara over the years. "Why was it so important, Temari?"
His eyes penetrated her, and he sat up, "You owe that to us, especially if Gaara lives!"
"I-I can't tell you," she again looked conflicted.
Not getting anywhere. This is as fruitless as listening to Lord Rasa's recording. Wait! "Temari, has your father been acting strange, lately," he asked excitedly.
Her eyes shifted side to side. Bingo! "Strange how?" she straightened up.
"Has he acted weird? Not his normal self?" He knew he was on to something.
"If you mean uncaring, unfeeling, and outright hostile toward Gaara, yes," she said.
"Has he given orders that made no sense, or seem to run counter to your village's best interests?"
"How did you…" she trailed off, surprised.
"Temari…" he paused. You could easily lose your head over this if you're wrong. "…there is a very good chance your father is dead and is being impersonated by someone else. Has his voice changed recently, or has he avoided verbal contact with you?"
Temari's teal eyes peeled wide open. Behind them, he could see the tumblers of a lock falling into place. "I haven't spoke with him in person since we came here when the exam was supposed to be in July." She looked down at the ground, and then to Gaara, "and I've had almost no verbal communication, almost all letters, since we got here." She looked back at Shikamaru, "You suspect he's already dead?"
He nodded, "And whomever it is might be using you and your brothers as disposable assets. If you have some kind of special orders, they may be false ones, and you're possible expendable. Temari," he shook his head, "you trusted Naruto to save your brother, now tell me what you know."
"I thought the idea was horrible from the start," she shook her head. "Kankuro and I were supposed to do everything to ensure Gaara made the finals… now it all makes sense." She shook her head again. "Father is planning to invade Konoha during Part Three."
"So, I was right," he said.
"I didn't want any part of it; I still don't, neither do Gaara or Kankuro" she protested. "After everything Lord Minato did for Gaara! After everything Naruto did for Gaara!"
"I understand they became friends of some type during that summit a few years ago," he nodded. "By the way, does the name Kenji Takahasi mean anything to you? Or a man named Mizuki?"
Temari wrinkled her face, searching, "No, can't say that I do. Who are they?"
To tell or not to tell, either way it could be your ass. "They were both involved in an attempt on Naruto's life back in July," he said. "And at least one of them had recently been to the Village Hidden in the Sands. Did your father mention anything about trying to kill Naruto?"
"No," she shook her head, "he was vague, about everything, only that we needed to protect Gaara at all costs." She stared at Gaara. "What are you going to do now?"
"We need to talk to the Hokage, you and I."
"About what," she became defensive, "I just became a traitor by talking to you!"
"If I know your family's succession right, then you might be saving your true Kazekage," he gestured to Gaara, "Especially if your father is dead."
"Gaara…" she looked pained as she stared at her brother.
The bunker door swung wide open, and in came three soaked figures. "We got it!" Naruto's voice was refreshing.
"Hurry!" Temari got to her feet.
Sakura rushed to the boy's side, extracting the blue thistle plants and a mortar and pestle. Sakura quickly began muddling the plant stems and focusing her chakra into the ground up vegetation, trying to break it down. A few other things mixed in, and she pulled out a syringe. "Okay, Gaara," she said as she felt for a vein in his right arm, "here goes!" Sakura filled the syringe with the milky blue mixture and slid the needle into Gaara's right arm above the festering wound. After injecting him, she once again tried her medical jutsu on the bites on his arm. This time, thankfully, they began to heal. Gaara's labored breathing began to ease slightly. "He'll be all right, but he'll need to rest." She said.
"Shikamaru, we got a lot to talk about," Naruto said. Even through layers of grease paint, something about his friend's face looked haunted
"That's an understatement," Shikamaru sat back on the floor, stretching his neck. "Do you want to go first or should I?"
Author's note: Hey everyone, thank you for reading. I hope you are all well and staying healthy wherever you are. For everyone stateside, have a good holiday weekend! Apologies if the past few chapters have been short; Work has been insane! Hopefully the three day weekend will give am a chance to write a longer chapter for the coming Saturday. Take care everyone!
- Adam