Chapter 158
"You look …. nice." Being a ninja Sasuke knew how to keep his emotions under control and maintain a cool head in even the most critical of situations. But apparently those skills were not applicable to when you went on a date with someone. He mentally punched himself for saying something so clichéd, but nothing else came to mind.
"Thanks, that is nice of you to say." Sakura smiled. It was actually the first time Sasuke directly complimented her looks, though she didn't feel that special. She wasn't dressed up all fancy. It was just a simple date, nothing too special and since Sasuke was also wearing a clean and fresh version of his usual outfit, it was clear they were not going to some high class place. Actually, she had no idea where they were going exactly.
"So ….."
"Lead the way and I am curious on what you have planned."
"Listen, in advance, I am not good at such things." Sasuke admitted. This was the first time he felt so awkward around Sakura. Being comrades in a ninja team was so much simpler. In a way he almost envied Naruto who earlier left with that shady Danzo fellow.
"Like I have any experience." Sakura laughed. "You know, if this happened when we just graduated from the academy, I probably would be squealing the whole way, nodding to everything you say."
"Hn."
"Yeah, I know, now that I think about it ….. tsk, was I very annoying?"
"You rivalled Naruto."
"Harsh, Sasuke-kun." Sakura elbowed Sasuke with a smirk, walking next to him down the street. "But I suppose that is true. Girls like me and Ino were probably driving you nuts."
"Sort of." Sasuke sighed. "It is not that I disliked attention in principal."
"Huh?" this time Sakura blinked in confusion. "Strange, I never remember you being at least somewhat positive about it."
"Because it was constant." Sasuke rubbed his forehead. "Always loud, with reason and without reason. And worst of all, it wasn't really about me. It was about the pretty image of me you all had in your heads. And I had no desire to fulfil someone's silly fantasy. I still remember the gossip about me liking girls with long hair. Where did that even come from?"
"I honestly don't know." Sakura replied after a moment of thought. "I think Ino heard it from someone and then it sort of spread."
"And the next thing I knew, you all had long hair. Tsk, I wonder what would happen if someone started a rumour that I like bald girls."
"Err, lets never bring this up again, because that is just ….. wrong." Sakura shivered imagining the female part of their class shaved bald. "But yeah, it was very silly."
The young kunoichi didn't know why exactly this topic came up, but it was nice to talk about. It felt comfortable, like both having a measure of nostalgia over those times, when things were perhaps more annoying, but also in a way simpler.
"We are here."
"Here where?" Sakura looked around. They stopped in front of a place Sakura never knew, tucked in between two larger buildings was a small restaurant, if you could call it that. But once inside she felt instantly, that she liked the atmosphere. It was very cosy here and not crowded at all.
"Ahh, Uchiha-san. It has been ….. a while." An elderly man approached the two ninjas, obviously recognising the crest on Sasuke's back.
"I suppose that is true."
"You are always welcome here, as if your lovely companion. Come, come." The man led them to a table and after a few moments a waitress came with the menus.
"Is it me or that man knows you?" Sakura looked curiously at Sasuke who seemed conflicted for a second, before shaking his head.
"No, he doesn't know me personally. He recognised the clan symbol."
"So, this place was popular among Uchihas?"
"I am not sure about that either."
"You know, Sasuke, you are living up to the whole mysterious trope, like back in the academy."
"This place is ….. the favourite of my parents. Whenever they went out, they ate here. We also came here as a family a couple of times."
"Oh." Sakura pulled back slightly. That is not the reply she expected.
"Before deciding on this place, I honestly tried asking Kakashi."
"Worst idea, ever."
"Tell me about it, he was no help at all. I guess parents should give you advice on such things. So I remembered about this place, checked if it was still working. This is the closest thing to a parental advice I can get."
"Well, I think this place is lovely. I understand why your parents liked to come here."
"Really? I never figured it out myself." Sasuke shrugged.
"Please, just look around and get the feel of this place. You feel welcomed here and at the same time, it is quiet, almost private. The reason your parents loved this place is not that much different from the reason why Naruto likes Irchiraku's ramen stand."
"Hmm." Sasuke slowly looked around. "You have good insight on such things. Never thought I'd be able to better understand my parents by talking with you."
"Care to tell me about them? If you are willing of course." Sakura bit her lip wondering if she did the right choice asking about it. Family was always a sore spot for Sasuke."
"I haven't talked about them with anyone for years." Sasuke sighed, before looking up. "But yeah, sure, I guess I can tell you what I remember. It might be a bit boring though."
"I'll be the judge of that."
…..
The day always began early in the Hyuga clan estate. It was common to get up with the sun to start the daily routine. So it wasn't unusual at all, that both Hinata and Neji were already hard at work in the chilly morning air.
"Again." Neji nodded, while observing Hinata through his byakugan. He was already somewhat used to the fact, that reddish wisps of chakra constantly appeared in her hands as she used juuken. Right now Hinata was in a specific stance, indicating that she was getting ready to use the 64 palms technique. For this specific training the Hyugas had a special training dummy, that allowed to replicate the tenketsu of a regular human when looked at through byakugan.
"Two palms!" Hinata began.
"Four palms!" the attack continued.
"Eight palms!" the number of attack again doubled, Hinata's face showing intense concentration.
"Sixteen palms!" Hinata finished this part of the attack, but then broke off breathing heavily.
"It only takes practice, nothing more." Neji crossed his hands on his chest. So far sixteen was Hinata's limit. The increased chakra output of her strikes made the whole attack sequence more difficult for her. But the damage she caused was terrifying.
Even regular juuken style attacks were extremely painful and could render the target completely incapable of using chakra for quite a while. Hinata's blows were more powerful, capable of tearing up the chakra system. To put it simply, if Hinata would master the full 64 palm sequence, anyone falling victim of her attack would most likely die or the very least be left a cripple.
"Thank you Neji. I will work harder." Hinata nodded, but then turned to the side. Hanabi rushed into the training yard.
"Yes?" Neji turned to the younger girl.
"There is an ANBU at the gates. Says Hokage is assembling your team, Neji."
"I understand. Thank you." Neji then turned to Hinata. "I suppose you will have to show me the basics of your technique later, when I get back from a mission. I doubt Lady Tsunade would be calling us for a different reason."
"Of course. Thank you for your time." Hinata gave Neji a polite bow. Even though he was from a branch family, she always treated him with outmost respect. Neji still was not entirely comfortable with that, but knew that Hinata meant well.
"So, about your technique." Hanabi approached her sister once Neji left. "Can I try and learn it? You can show it to me."
"Hmm?" Hinata looked curiously at her sister, who looked away with a huff. "I suppose. But we have to ask father for approval."
"I already did. He says he trusts your judgement."
"The sure, how can I say no to my little sister." Hinata covered her mouth to hide a laugh, as Hanabi sent her a glare for calling her little.
….
"Come in." Tsunade looked up when she heard a knock on the door of her office. Moments later Neji, Fu and Lee walked in. Fu was about to say something, but Neji elbowed her and shook his head.
"Chomei doesn't like you." Fu whispered with a pout.
"Still not sure who that even is." Neji sighed.
"He thinks you are somewhat of a jerk."
"Ughhh." Neji rubbed his forehead, specially noticing a large grin from Lee.
"Are you three ready for a mission, or should I give you a couple more minutes to get your act in order?"
"We apologize Lady Tsunade."
"Whatever." Tsunade sighed, before pulling out a scroll and double checking something.
"You three will need to make a delivery to the Hidden Waterfall."
"Yay, home trip!" Fu cheered, but then quickly collected herself when she saw an irritated glance from Tsunade.
"The exited comment aside, your team was chosen because Fu is from the Hidden Waterfall and the mission is in a way an inside matter of that village. You three are to meet with Shizune, who will join you for a mission."
"Err, but wasn't our mission supposed to be a delivery one?" Lee tilted his head.
"Yes, you will help Shizune deliver the body of the rogue ninja Kakuzu to the Hidden Waterfall, as he was from that village originally, so as per our agreement, we are returning the body. Also, you will stay there, as Shizune will join local experts in the autopsy of that body. Hidden Waterfall already agreed."
"What about Gai-sensei?" Lee asked after exchanging a glance with Neji.
"I need Gai and some other jounin for some other high ranking missions. Shizune has the rank of a jounin, so she will act as your instructor for the mission. Feel free to ask her for any medical related knowledge, she might teach you stuff Gai can't. Any other questions?"
"No! All is perfectly clear." Lee gave a salute.
"We understand our mission." Neji gave another polite bow.
"Good fortune smiles upon us, my friends!"
"Yes! We are in the springtime of our youth!" Lee and Fu gave each other a high five, while Neji again sighed, with even Tsunade sending him a look of sympathy.
"Just in case, the mission is considered to be low risk. But you will have the body of an Akatsuki member. They may try something to prevent you delivering it, so just in case, be on your guard."
….
"You are early. Good." Ameyuri nodded, once she met up with members of team ten.
"We are all ready to go." Ino stepped forward, even though she felt intimidated by the mist kunoichi, who right now had a large scroll strapped to her waist, with Samehada inside.
"Excellent. Now listen we are only traveling together for the purpose of convenience. The might be a risk of someone attacking due to my …. ahem, cargo."
"We are not afraid of a fight." Chouji shook his head with a frown.
"Oh, a brave one. Love it, brave ones often scream with such passion, it just brings a smile to my face."
"Eep." Ino nearly jumped back when Ameyuri bared her teeth in a very predatory style smile, before breaking into a laugh. Though her laugh sounded almost pleasant, as she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Oh, I get it, it was a joke, right?" Sai turned to his teammates.
"I guess so." Chouji nodded.
"Eh? A joke? I wasn't joking." Ameyuri raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe I was. I don't care what you think. But listen here. While we travel, I am in charge, you hokage said as much. So, if I tell you run, you run, if I tell you to hide, you hide. If I order you to gather flowers, I expect a full basket from each. Got it, meals?"
"Yes." All three genin nodded, even Sai looking somewhat intimidated, though his face quickly returned to his usual neutral expression.
"Err, Ameyuri-san, can I ask a question?" Ino took a deep breath before approaching the mist Kunoichi after they walked for a short while, with the village gates disappearing from view.
"Sure, unless it is private." the redhead shrugged, before readjusting her swords on her back.
"You are from the hidden mist …"
"Did the forehead protector tip you off?" Ameyuri smirked again.
"I mean, we have a mission to help investigate some events that happened there."
"Yeah, I was informed. You have your work cut out for you. Stuff happened years ago and then there was Yagura's reign. People often disappeared without a trace, records were lost, it was a mess for quite a while."
"Right, but perhaps you have any ideas where we can start?"
"Using every opportunity to do a good job. I like that." Ameyuri nooded with approval and Ino somewhat relaxed a bit. Sure, Ameyuri Ringo was a kind of a ninja that outright scared her, but she didn't seem like a maniac, just somewhat strange.
"So, any tips?"
"Well, one of the things that more or less functioned for years is the medical system. Hmm, I knew one person in the hospital, she might help you find something in the medical archives. I met her when I was sick, back in the Hidden Mist."
"Medical records?"
"Yeah, if it was possible to find something in mission reports, my fellow mist ninjas would've already found it. But records were either destroyed or corrected to not provide anything useful. But medical records, there is a chance something might be there. You may be able to cross reference mission details you have from Konoha, with medical records from that period to find something matching your needs."
"Thank you, I am sure that will be very helpful."
"Perhaps. I any case, that is all I can offer you." Ameyuri shrugged and turned away, with Ino falling a bit behind her. She didn't expect an actually helpful reply from this kunoichi. She knew Ameyuri Ringo was a powerful and efficient fighter. But now she also realized, that behind the bloodthirsty exterior there was a very good tactical mind. This made this kunoichi seem even more dangerous than before.
…
"Has everything been done as instructed?"
"Yes, all have been arranged." Two men walked down a narrow corridor, more resembling a cave.
"Were there any problems with the retrieval of the target?"
"No. All was as the hands of Jashin promised. Our agents found the target in the designated spot."
"So, the plan worked well?"
"Very well." One the men nodded with a smirk. "The right hand of Jashin predicted correctly, that his abilities would act as an excellent counter to the abilities of the traitor. Our agents observed most of the engagement. As expected, the right hand first isolated the target and then allowed him to use the ritual, turning it against him. Our agents found the traitor crucified to a wall, crushed both physically and mentally."
"As expected of the hand of Jashin. Our lord made a wise choice acting through them. Now we must do our part."
"As I said, all is ready." One of the men opened a set of metal doors leading into circular chamber where they saw Hidan strapped to what looked like a large stone altar.
"You, who are you?" Hidan raised his head glaring at the two men.
"Our names are of no importance to you, traitor. Enough to say, we are loyal servants of our great lord Jashin, who once again leads our great order, bringing it back from the shadows of oblivion. We have regained our purpose and as before will serve to the best of our abilities."
"Release me, I am his servant, I …."
"Silence. You serve only your own bloodthirsty tendencies, masking them behind religion. You are not entirely at fault though. As sad as it is, our order lost its way. We walked around as blind men, not knowing why we were doing the things we did. We created you, but failed to direct you."
"Then tell me what to do. I will serve him. I will do anything!"
"We will restore all we have lost. His hands are already working on it."
"That bone freak?! So, he is really one of you?"
"Do not insult the hand of Jashin! He did what he had to and returned you to us, along with the artefact."
"An artefact you didn't even know how to use. But do not worry. When time comes, we will find a suitable wielder and then his wrath will once again walk among us and not some crude, maniacal and bloodthirsty replica."
The man walked around the altar, Hidan silently following him with his eyes, unable to move even a finger, as he was held down not only by metal bindings, but also by complex seals, that left him almost completely paralyzed.
"Time will come, brother. But there is much work to do. Either way, to truly restore our link with our lord we need to find the voice."
"As I said, the hands are working on that. We must trust them and wait patiently.
"What are you two idiots talking about? What is the voice? What is this nonsense." Hidan's voice had notes of clear panic. He simply did not understand what was happening and what would they be doing to him.
"Alas, you are a crude replica, a shadow." The other man placed his hand on Hidan's forehead. "There is no fixing that. But it doesn't mean you have no uses. But all in due time, all in due time."
One of the men reached for something in his inner pocket and pulled out a vial of blood, looking at it with interest.
"When time comes, the blood of Uchiha Itachi will come to be quite useful. The right hand showed restraint, by only injuring him and good insight by gathering the blood from his weapon. A wise choice."