Chapter Eleven
Hinata stared longingly in the bathroom mirror, admiring her face, her true face. This weekend was a much needed-break from the taxing process of maintaining the appearance and mannerisms of a fake identity. With be big deal going down in a week's time, the extra appearances and conversations as Black Mamba were outright exhausting. I don't know how I'd do this without Naruto around!
She glanced back over her shoulder as Naruto packed his bag, having mixed feelings about this weekend. On one hand, this would be her first week in recent memory without disguises, without makeup, and without surveillance duties. On the other hand, it would be her first free weekend since Naruto got back, and he wasn't going to be around. Because they had to maintain a low profile and continue surveillance on the Red Kitsune, the past two weeks was little more than work, study, train in the cramped apartment, and indulge in each other's affection.
She'd be going two days without his company, without his touch, and without his kiss. While he had gone to Mount Myoboku several weekends during his ANBU/KIB training, something about losing him this weekend felt hateful – the snow had finished melting, and early spring was supposed to make this March weekend absolutely gorgeous. And you get to spend it by yourself.
"Well," Naruto sealed his duffel bag, turning to Hinata, "I guess this is it, beautiful."
"Naruto," Hinata tapped her fingers as she had done in the past when nervous, "I don't want you to go!" Even Hinata was surprised by her outburst, and the tears that followed.
"Hey," Naruto approached and brought comforting arms around her, "it's only for a weekend, I'll be back before you know it, and you'll have to listen to me snoring away as usual!" He placed a hand under her chin, tilting her eyes to meet his, "Besides, won't your family miss you?"
"I can see them any weekend after this mission is done, but I feel like I'm losing you," Hinata rested her head on his shoulder.
"You're not losing me, Hinata," he tightened her embrace, "It takes a lot more than a weekend away for you to lose me!"
"But after being gone so long…" Hinata's words caught in her throat, forcing her to push to make them come out, "Can… can I go with you, Naruto-kun!"
"Hinata," he opened his mouth, clearly ready to tell her that she couldn't come for whatever reason. However, Naruto curious paused his words, leaving his mouth shortly agape. He closed it, rubbing his chin, deep in thought. "Huh?"
"W-what is it?" she asked.
"I don't know, to be honest," Naruto looked into her with his sapphire eyes. "You do realize if the Toad Sages are cool with this, you would be along for training, not relaxing?"
"After two weeks of only training in this cramped room, I could use some space!"
"And you realize," he warned, "this place is rustic. This won't be a romantic weekend away."
"N-Naruto-kun," she leaned into him, running her hands over his chest, "any weekend spent with you is a romantic one, no matter how rustic." Naruto shivered visibly at her suggestion. Their nights together for the past two weeks had been filled with passion, even if they had not gone all the way. She wanted, needed, to be next to him.
Naruto stared thoughtfully, seeing through her, "All right," he slowly guided her hand on his chest over his thundering heart, "you win." He quickly checked his watch, "Pack quickly, we have to be ready to reverse summon in thirty minutes."
"I'll be quick!" Hinata ran for her travel bag and began gathering up clothing.
Temari walked down the streets of Konoha, feeling strangely at home despite being an outsider in disguise. After three months, the streets were now familiar, and she had achieved a certain level of familiarity with the people as well.
She wore simple blue and grey robes with her hair tied in a single tail, and a simple head covering commonly worn by off-duty shrine maidens – only the most trained of observer looking for her would have a chance of recognizing her in this outfit. Among the people, she was just another normal face in the crowd. Another highly skilled warrior, playing at being a normal human being.
After three months of blending in, she had to meet normal human needs: refilling her birth control prescription, getting a haircut, replacing worn clothing, buying groceries, and buying feminine product – sending Shikamaru for it in one case. Temari smirked, remembering the nervous look on his face as he entered unexplored territory for her on a particularly bad night. "Temari, you show that lazy bum of a son of mine what it is to be a man!" she could still hear Lady Yoshino Nara encouraging her to stay on Shikamaru's case at all times. Lady Nara had been beyond thrilled when Shikamaru began showing interest in something other than books and looking at the sky.
In Temari's last stay in Konoha, Lady and Lord Nara had become the family she wished for growing up. Shikamaru had become something altogether different – Temari was in love with him. She paused as she mulled the thought. I'm in love with Shikamaru! She resumed her stride with a bit more purpose at the thought.
"Hey," Ino waved from ahead.
"Hey, yourself," she replied to the blonde kunoichi. Ino, as always, was dressed fabulously in a royal purple outfit that left her midriff exposed, turning the eyes of most of the men in the area. "Ready for lunch?"
"Of course!" Ino took Temari by the arm, guided them to a fashionable restaurant, and they were seated without delay. "So," Ino smirked, "to what do I owe the honor?" She offered Temari a cup of tea.
"Being asked to go clothes shopping with me is hardly anything special," Temari protested, seeing Ino starting to shake with giggles, "What's so funny, smartass?"
"It's not everyday my teammate's girlfriend asks for my help lingerie shopping," Ino winked, "If I had to guess, you have something special planned?"
Temari felt herself turning pink. She and Shikamaru had been dancing around the issue for a while. If it was simply wanting coitus for the sake of coitus, Temari could have stepped out of the shower without a towel on or taken matters into her own hands. This was something different, and she wanted it to be remembered; she wanted him to remember it so that no one else would ever replace her in his thoughts. "I'm trying to plan it," Temari said.
"I see, and you want it to be perfect," Ino sipped her tea.
"Exactly."
"First time?" Ino asked.
The words hung in her throat, an unusual weight of embarrassment and pride blocking easy passage, "Yes." Temari strained.
"No worries," Ino said with a smile, "I haven't yet, either."
"Then how do you know?" Temari ask, shocked that the girl seemed so knowledgeable on the subject.
"For one, I was the flirt of my class, you learn about things even if you don't do them," Ino counted off on her hand, "For two, when you have been in as many minds as I have, you start realizing its all some people think about."
To ask or not to ask? "Have you been in his mind?"
"Oh yes," Ino nodded. The server arrived and took their orders. "He's one of a few people who can resist me in certain cases."
"Does he…"
"Think about you? All the time!" Ino nodded.
"Wait!" Temari balked, "How recently?!" The thought of Ino seeing their early attempts at intimacy weirded her out to no end.
"Not for several weeks," Ino said, trying to calm her, "I promise I respect his privacy." She put her hands up, "I promise, I didn't see anything salacious."
"What does he feel?" Temari wasn't sure she wanted the answer, but she needed to know.
"He likes you," Ino pushed her steel-blonde hair from her face, "He's pretty sure he loves you. That much I can tell without needing to enter his mind. It's just that…"
"What?"
"He's also confused; this is his first time feeling like this for anyone." Ino scanned Temari, but Temari felt no telltale sign of someone in her head, "Tell me, what are your intentions?" The server awkwardly arrived with the meal, and took great pain to set things down quickly.
"Intentions?" Temari thought briefly, "To be honest, I don't know. While he and I bicker endlessly, he can be oddly endearing."
"Do you love him, Temari?" Ino's pale blue eyes penetrated her, demanding an answer.
"I think so…" she paused, assessing the situation, "… would I be asking for your help if I felt otherwise?"
"Possibly," Ino shrugged, "but, I admit it is a good sign if you think so."
"You care about him?"
"He's been my teammate since we were first genin; he's the older brother I never had. Of course, I care about him," Ino laughed softly as she began eating.
Temari mulled over her feelings for Shikamaru as she ate. He had given her pleasure, and she had given it to him in return a few times in the past several weeks. Beyond physical pleasure, she'd been able to open to him about things she'd never opened to anyone – father, her upbringing, and the incredible losses she'd taken at a young age. If she could assign the feeling a word, she'd call it safety. While the thought of what she had planned for tonight made her toes curl, she at least felt secure in sharing intimacy with him.
The rest of the shopping trip was uneventful, if somewhat awkward shopping for a few lacey items she hoped would turn Shikamaru's eyes and push him over the edge. Temari was at the door to their safehouse when she felt the awkward sensation of buzzing in her pocket. Temari fumbled with the keys and was inside the door, careful to shield the lingerie boutique's decorative bag from Shikamaru's prying eyes. As she fished the cellphone from her pocket, the number sent icy down her back. She flipped open the phone, "Hello?"
"Temari!" Kankaro's voice sounded tense even through the distortion of the connection.
Shikamaru sat up in the chair and then stood, alarmed. "Kankaro, what happened?" Temari felt her throat closing.
"Temari, I need you back in Suna, right now!" Kankaro's voice betrayed tears and desperation, "They took Gaara!"
A frozen finger jabbed Temari in the heart, and she dropped the bag. "Who took Gaara!"
"Some group of mercenaries," he choked
The nightmare scenario in her head played out. The Akatsuki are targeting the jinchuriki! "I'll leave immediately!" Temari hung up, frantically grabbed her travel bag, and rifled through the chest of drawers. "Bra, socks, and I'm good!" she said as she tossed a bundle of clothes in the bag.
"Temari," Shikamaru came to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder, "What's going on!"
"Someone took Gaara," she closed the bag, not stopping her stride as she made for the door. "I have to go!"
"Wait," he said, trying to slow her down, "slow down! I'll go with you!"
"No, time!" she protested, "Let the Hokage know, and I'll call you from Suna!" Temari was out the door, praying her brother was okay.
Kakashi awoke alerted to the sound of an intruder in his apartment. No way, how the hell would they get in! He nimbly extracted himself from his blankets, threw on his mask, and moved with cat-like agility toward the door to his room. The morning breeze carried a familiar, unpleasant odor as he cracked the door, scanning for intruders. All he could see was the curtain in front of the balcony's sliding door drifting in the wind.
As he tiptoed across the floor toward the kitchen and living room, his eyes caught sight of something protruding from the side of the couch. His heart thundered, threatening to drown out his ability to hear other sound as he approached. As he reached corner of the doorway, he saw it was an unkempt mass of human hair – brown human hair. Oh god!
Kakashi rounded the couch to see a decayed corpse, almost a skeleton, laying contorted with an enormous hole in the ribcage. "RIN!" Kakashi fell to his knees before the lifeless mass, trying to make sense of the bizarre scene in his living room.
"Why didn't you save me, Kakashi?" the corpse sprang to life, speaking in a malevolent, harsh tone. "Why didn't you protect me like you said you would!" the near-skeletal hands began reaching for his throat.
"AHHHHHH!" Kakashi screamed as the room went black.
"Kakashi!... Kakashi!" the voice shouted. "KAKASHI!" a powerful set of arms shook him.
His eyes opened, Sharingan turning the room a bright hellscape of red. "Kakashi, it's all right!" Shizune's voice came from beside him. Hot tears streamed down Kakashi's face as his Sharingan deactivated. The cascade of sadness, fear, and embarrassment swirled in his head as Shizune rescued him from the horrors of his past. "It's okay, Kakashi! I'm here!" her hands traced up and down his spine.
Several moments past, the pleasant sensation of her holding him dissipated the horrible negativity shrouding him. "Thank you!" Kakashi rested his chin on her cool shoulder.
"Bad dream again?"
"What gave it away?" he sighed.
"Rin again?" she traced fingers through his mop of grey hair.
"I thought I was over it," he shook his head, "Why the hell is this happening now?"
"It's not unusual for those who suffer PTSD to relapse, especially when placed under unusual stress or while being exposed to things that remind them of the stressing event," Shizune said thoughtfully as she pulled back. "What is troubling you, Kakashi?"
"I don't know, love," he shrugged, feeling uncertain of everything beyond his grip on her. Just the thought of letting go of her left him fearful that she'd dissolve like a dream in the morning sunlight.
"What changed?"
"What do you mean?" sweat droplets traced down his back as his heart began slowly accelerating.
"Your nightmares returned when Naruto did," Shizune traced a hand along Kakashi's cheek. "Ever since he came back, you've been having the nightmares with frightening regularity. However, I'm at a loss as to how his return could usher such a change."
Shizune's observance preyed on Kakashi's mind. He was one of a handful of people who knew what storm was coming within the year. In some ways, Kakashi was jealous of his nephew. Naruto's relationship with Hinata had seemingly advanced further in three months than Kakashi's relationship with Shizune had in almost three years. "Shizune," he stared into her eyes, "do I make you happy?"
"How many times do I have to tell you, yes," she tapped his nose gently with an index finger.
"Shizune, I bring so much uncertainty into your life…"
"Kakashi," she cut him off, "I'm a medical-nin. I never know when I'm going to have some poor kid get wheeled into the ER with part of an arm or leg missing, when I'll have to cover over a familiar face of a fallen comrade, or when I'll have to inform someone's mother or father that their child has died in my care. Trust me, you bring many things into my life," she smiled, "uncertainty is not one of them."
"Shizune," he wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to tell her that he wanted to send her away to someplace safe, somewhere where she couldn't be killed or taken. You don't want her dying the way Rin died, the way mother died.
"Kakashi, tell me about the dream," she insisted. He told her everything. "I see," she said.
"You do?" Kakashi tilted his head, wondering if someone else had told her about the future that was coming.
"You're afraid," Shizune said without judgement, "Kakashi, you're not your father."
"What?" a cold chill traversed his spine.
Shizune took a long, hard stare before summoning the courage to speak, "Kakashi, your father was your age when he died."
Kakashi had tried to avoid the revelation that had haunted him since Naruto returned home. The pieces now fell into place. Tragedy followed him and his family. Mom died when he was so young, he couldn't remember her face. Rin died with his hand where her heart had been moments earlier, staring with her lifeless doll's eyes. Hellish images of Shizune falling in the coming war swirled in his head. They were replaced with her lying in this bed, sword protruding from her stomach, and Obito standing over her corpse. He saw her lying dead as the screaming mass of a young child was thrust into his arms.
"Kakashi, breathe!" her command centered him back in reality. "I… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…" Tears began running her cheeks.
"It's okay," Kakashi delicately wiped away her tears. Her rosy cheeks warmed his chilled core, and when he regained his senses, Kakashi found his lips pressed to Shizune's soft, rose pedal lips. Kakashi needed to know. "Shizune," he pulled back, "will they ever end – the nightmares, I mean?"
"End, I don't know," she whispered, "but maybe the key is to make peace with them."
"How?"
"When was the last time you talked to her?" Shizune referenced Rin. "When did you last go home?"
"The day Naruto was born," he sighed, "I never went back to either after that terrible day."
"You had to avoid it for so long, you had to be sharp to protect Lord Fourth and his family, couldn't afford to be weakened." She took his cheeks in her hands, "But you don't have to, now." She stared hopefully. "You're strong enough to go back now. I think you need to, while there is still time."
"Still time?"
"Kakashi, I don't know what is going on, but I've seen the apprehension in Lord Fourth's eyes, and Lady Kushina's. I hear you moaning, crying in your sleep. And I see Lady Tsunade longingly staring at the gate, praying her beloved returns from his mission." She paused to smirk, "I may not know, but don't think me an idiot."
"I'd never," he protested.
"I know you wouldn't," she kissed him again. "And I'll be with you if you need me, and I'll stand back if you need me to," she paused, "Just don't ask me to leave you."
"I'd never," Kakashi grinned. As he kissed her, his eyes wandered to his nightstand. Shizune had no idea that tucked in its drawer was a small box containing a pink gold band with a brilliant sapphire in its center. He was waiting for the right moment to place it on her finger. Despite the uncertainty of what was coming, he was ready to turn the page of his life and stop living in the past.
The electric ring of his cellphone paused any desire to push the engagement to the here and now. Dammit! Only a handful of people had his number – all three of them knew to only call in an emergency. An ominous sour taste filled his mouth as he leaned over and answered, "Hello?"
"Kakashi," Minato's voice was deathly and tense, "I need you at the office right now!"
"What happened?" Kakashi stood from his bed, and Shizune's cold hands rested on his shoulders.
"I can't talk over the phone, get here now, and tell no one!" The line went dead.
Kakashi flipped closed the phone. "Shizune," he apologized, "I've got to go to work."
The sound of another cellphone coming from her side of the bed suggested they both were in for something nasty. "Go," she whispered, "Be safe!"
"I love you," he said, kissing her one last time as he went to the closet for his mission gear.
Itachi stared in the bathroom mirror, observing the ghostly figure staring back at him as he buttoned up his shirt. Never full figured, even as a student, his skin was tight around his chest and neck, and the muscles that had once graced him were beginning to whiter from his inability to use them. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, goddammit! Your village, your clan, and you family are depending on you doing your job, so do it!
"Itachi," Izumi's soft touch almost made his knees buckle. "It's okay."
"It's not okay," tears slowly leaked from his eyes, as he held her hand to his chest, "I'm doing a terrible disservice to you!"
"Love," she hugged herself to him, "you've always done what was right, what needed to be done, even when it was to your detriment. That was why I fell in love with you, and that is why I insisted we get married despite knowing what was happening. I trusted you then, and I'm trusting you now." She turned him to face her, "Go do what you must, my love." She kissed him, gentle but firm.
"Thank you, Izumi," he wiped away tears and straightened himself. Today was not a day he could afford to go to pieces. He had to keep it together until this crisis passed. Then, you can lay down and never get back up, but only then. Hold on until the mission is a success. Itachi left the apartment and walked to the Hokage's office, now using a cane for support. Soon, he'd need a walker. Not long after that, he would need neither.
"Good morning, Itachi," Lord Minato greeted, along with Kushina. Kakashi leaned back against the wall, tapping his foot nervously. Of the other three, he was at least somewhat aware of the brewing crisis.
"I wish, I could say it was," Itachi's voice came out grim. "May I take a seat?"
"Of course," Minato gestured toward the chair in front of the Hokage's desk. Itachi sat, and Minato fidgeted with anxiety, "So, tell me, what the hell is going on, and don't sugarcoat it."
Itachi exchanged glances with Kakashi and then to Minato and Kushina. "As you may know, last night there was an incident in Kumokagure."
Minato nodded, "An attempt on the Raikage's life."
Itachi nodded, "This morning, their embassy delivered this," he placed a stack of papers and photos on the desk and slid them to Minato.
Minato's eyes nearly fell out of his skull as he took in the contents. "An extradition order?!"
"Either Naruto, or someone with his appearance attacked the Raikage, murdering six genin, five chunin, and two jonin shinobi in the process." Itachi folded his hands, "Given the recent improvement in relations with Kumo, and Naruto's secret mission there a few months ago, I'm considering it highly unlikely this was a sanctioned mission."
"It wasn't," Minato shook his head.
"Would he go rogue and do it of his own accord?"
"NO!" Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi said in unison.
"You are sure?"
"Itachi, if Naruto did this," Kakashi said, "and wanted him dead, the Raikage would be dead right now." Kakashi exchanged a troubled look with Kushina and Minato. "Somebody has it in for Naruto."
"I agree," Itachi said, "but that begs the question who and why?"
"Obito comes to mind pretty readily," Kushina said, crossing her arms, "Orochimaru is a close second."
"Who would be able to imitate him so perfectly?" Kakashi asked as he stepped over to scrutinize the photos. "Even with a transformation jutsu, someone would have to know him damn well to get this so accurate. "Even to my eye, I'm having a hard time finding any inaccuracy."
"His tattoo is missing," Itachi pointed out, "He was worried about putting it back in the wrong place," he pointed to the fake Naruto's neck."
"So, we have our proof this is a fake," Kushina said.
"That is where things get complicated, Kushina," Itachi said. "We know the Akatsuki are targeting the jinchuriki, and the situation in Suna I don't need to remind you of."
Minato nodded, "Someone who knows our procedures is setting a trap."
"What the hell do you mean?" Kushina asked.
"As part of the treaty that ended the Second War, the warring powers agreed that a rogue shinobi accused of crimes in peacetime would be sent to Houzuki Castle until he or she was convicted or exonerated. It was an attempt to limit countries from sending black ops teams to commit acts of war without consequence, a key factor in starting that war."
"Minato! We can't send him! We have clear evidence of his innocence!" Kushina protested.
"And it would be putting him somewhere we can't protect him, at a time when the Akatsuki would be trying to snatch him," Kakashi said.
"I agree, but there are… complications," Itachi felt the weight of his knowledge on his shoulders.
"This gets worse?!" Kushina stared incredulous.
"A source in the prison passed these along, before she went dark," Itachi pulled out another set of photos. "I'm afraid it may answer as to who could imitate Naruto and why they want him. Whether or not the Akatsuki are involved, that is even more unclear."
"Sasuke!" Kakashi gasped as he caught sight of Sasuke's photo. In the picture, the boy looked severe and threatening. Even at his peak, Itachi would be reluctant to tangle with his brother looking the way he did.
"Danzo," Minato grit his teeth as he stared at the other photo. The former head of the ANBU had been sent to the castle years earlier while plotting to murder the Uchiha Clan. He had also been implicated in assisting the criminal Orochimaru in several unethical experiments and the attempted kidnapping of Hinata Hyūga on her third birthday. "I should have known prison wouldn't keep him contained."
"Sasuke wouldn't work for him willingly," Itachi said, "but there is another problem. Several unknown figures have been moving freely in and out of the castle, at least one of them matching Orochimaru's appearance, and another matching Obito's. Others, I'm not sure about."
"We'd be sending our son into the lion's den," Kushina slammed a hand on the desk, "We are not sending him."
"Oh god," Minato's face contorted, as he observed the photographs. He saw it, too. "Kushina, we might have to, now."
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" she roared as her hair flailed.
Minato held up the photo, "Whether it is Danzo, the Akatsuki, or both; someone with an axe to grind has the Box of Infinite Bliss."
"No…. no… it can't be!" she said, shaking her head.
"What are they trying to do?" Minato flopped back in his chair and tented his hands. "Danzo wouldn't work with anyone unless it benefitted him personally. And the recordings of Orochimaru's last conversation with Lord Third suggested that Orochimaru held Danzo in as much contempt as Danzo has for me."
"If I had to guess, they are allies of convenience," Itachi said, "they would likely plan on betraying one another once each side achieves its goal."
"No honor among thieves and murders," Kakashi said.
"Regardless," Minato said, "if the legends are true, we can't allow the damn thing to be in anyone's hands."
"So, what do we do?" Kushina asked, "We can't just send Naruto in there by himself, especially if it is dangerous as you say it is."
"It gets worse," Itachi said.
"How?!" the group exclaimed in frustration.
"My diagnosis has been downgraded," Itachi leaned his head down, "I'm afraid I have three months, four at most." He turned pleading eyes, "Whether it be Naruto or someone else, we have to get someone in there to retrieve Sasuke as well."
Minato turned to look at his wife and then Kakashi. "I take it the rumors are true?"
Itachi nodded, "The clan is on the brink of a civil war, and Father and Mother are in no position to produce another heir before I die."
"We can ill-afford to lose the Uchiha clan," Minato said, "After everything we've worked to build, we can't have the village unravel on the bring of another Shinobi War."
"I have a plan, but it requires we move fast," Itachi said.
The trio again exchanged a look and a nod. "Okay, talk," Kushina said, "and impress us. You have five minutes to convince us to hand over our son and explain how we keep him and Nine-Tails safe."
Author's notes: Hi everyone. I hope you enjoyed, and I thank you for reading this far. Next week is the Christmas Holiday, and I may be posting early depending on how time allows. (I will be working on An Irresponsible Thing Called Love as well) I will endeavor in the next few chapters to resolve a few canon issues regarding geography. While taking inspiration from the series and Blood Prison, what is soon to happen will vary significantly.
With all that in mind, I again thank you for reading, and I will see you all next weekend. Stay classy!
-Adam