Author's Note: And we're back! Hope these monthly releases aren't too bad. It's been hard to find the time to write lately, so apologies for that. Just know that the story is always on my mind.
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On to the chapter!
Chapter 40: Team Hebi
"How am I just noticing it now?" Her attention was too divided at the time to take notice of it. "Is this even possible? Does someone like this actually exist?"
Some say that the eyes are the window into the soul. In actuality, this was far from the truth. If skilled enough, even the most perceptive of people could be fooled by the eyes of a manipulator. That fallacy, or naïve trust, one puts in such a misguided statement has led many gullible individuals down the path to their own destruction.
Orochimaru taught her that best. At first, those eyes reflected just what you wanted to see in them; kindness, compassion, concern, and even promises of a brighter future. It made you really believe that the grass was always greener on the other side. News flash, it wasn't. The moment you got caught in the Snake's den, that damned gaze, he then showed his true colors. Warm, inviting eyes turned into black holes of despair that sucked you in and held you so tightly you felt like you might suffocate from the pressure.
And by that point, it was too late. You needed him… there was nowhere else to go. You had nothing. It didn't help that he would purposely string you along just enough to make you feel wanted, necessary.
Loved.
What a farce that turned out to be. She promised herself that no one would ever trick her like that again.
Then, you may ask, if looking into someone did not show their true character, what did? That answer was actually quite simple.
Chakra.
Chakra does not lie or discriminate; it is an unbiased and absolute extension of one's self. The beautiful life energy that exists within everyone resonates with the deepest parts of a person's consciousness and puts their true colors on full display; all you need is the ability and awareness to extend yourself and grab hold of it. Once that happens, you can learn more about someone than even their loved ones, all without the exchange of any words.
If you lie, your chakra will become muddied and ugly, as if it knows that what you're doing is wrong. Even if someone were to bypass this, what you can't hide is your true nature.
Depraved individuals, like a certain snake, have chakra so dark that it makes your skin crawl. That darkness radiates off of them like a bad smell to the extent that it's nearly sickening. To willingly associate yourself with something like that is complete madness; that sort of logic was evident to her now.
Kindhearted individuals were so much… brighter. Their chakra was like a warm, hug that comforted you with a sense of safety and security. By far, the most inviting aura that she had ever encountered was on that fateful day in the Forest of Death. She should have never been there in the first place, but life was a cruel game that not everyone knew how to play. However, that series of unfortunate events had led to one of the most incredible experiences of her life.
He had saved her, and she would never forget how beautiful his chakra was. Seeing it again had made being subservient to Orochimaru worth it, as crazy as it sounded. That was how awestruck and mesmerized the experience left her.
And yet, even that was nothing compared to what was in front of her right now. It was like staring directly into the blazing sun; her face tingled slightly from the orange warmth that rolled of this mysterious boy. The sensation was so intense that she felt the need to look away but couldn't bring herself to miss a second of the dazzling display.
If Suigetsu's chakra was equivalent to the luminosity of a lit candle in a bright room, and Sasuke's was comparable to a roaring campfire under a starry night sky, then Naruto Uzumaki's aura was an inferno that blazed brightly in an otherwise pitch-black void.
It was unlike anything that Karin had ever felt. Just admiring it left her nearly breathless. The brilliance of it all almost made her miss what was bubbling underneath. Once she looked deeply enough… it was impossible to ignore. The hair on the back of her neck stood up at what she was now sensing.
'H-Hold on… what is this chakra…?' She thought in horror. It felt like hatred incarnate was thrashing around beneath the surface of Naruto's aura as if he were keeping the terrible energy in check with his own. 'It's… so dark…' Not even Orochimaru compared to whatever this was.
"I'm the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, in case you were wondering."
Karin blinked away her surprise only to find that Naruto was already looking intently at her. Her brow knitted in confusion after the initial shock diminished slightly. "How did you… are you a sensory type, too?"
Suigetsu looked on in confusion while Sasuke kept walking in stride with the group, his head angled down at his feet and eyes closed.
"No, I'm not." He broke eye contact with her to look straight ahead. "I noticed earlier that you were, though. It wasn't hard to figure out what you were doing with that terrified look on your face. Just so you know, if you care, I'm not offended; I'm used to it."
Based on the sudden change in the blond's chakra flow, he wasn't actually used to it. Karin determined that to be a lie.
"N-No, it's not that!" The sensor protested. "I just-"
"Save it for later…." He didn't bother to turn around this time. "We're here."
Karin looked down at her feet with a frown. She hadn't expected to feel guilty over something like this, and it annoyed her.
Suigetsu, surprisingly, held his tongue during the entire interaction. He was unaware if it was because his focus was on the blade, or the sudden uncomfortable tension amongst the group. Either way, he wouldn't bother to put much thought into it.
The quartet walked into the Hokage Tower and walked up the stairs as the ANBU operatives surrounded the building. They were confident the two Sannin inside could handle themselves, but additional safety measures never hurt anyone.
Inside, Team Hebi made their way to their destination. Naruto reached out and politely knocked on the door. Kae put up no resistance this time. She saw the team walk into the hallway and went wide-eyed when she saw who trailed behind the Leaf's Jinchuriki. She didn't even try to stop them, too shocked to even manage a couple of words of resistance.
Who could really blame her?
He tried not to show it, but to say the Chunin was nervous was an understatement. This would go one of two ways: either Tsunade would understand and be reasonable, or he was about to walk directly into his own funeral.
Something told Naruto that the latter was the likelier option of the two.
"Enter." Came the stern voice on the other side of the door.
Jiraiya's student looked over his shoulder and gave the trio one last look that said: Please, for the love of God, don't do anything to make things worse than they already are.
They seemed to understand.
With one last shaky breath, he pushed the door open, and the four of them walked in.
The only people in the room were Tsunade and Jiraiya. Based on the glass of hard liquor in the Hokage's hand, it was evident the two were having an urgent and stressful conversation about the information relayed to them by Kurama.
However, once the pair of Sannin saw who had joined them, the room's entire atmosphere shifted drastically. The usually reserved Jiraiya went slack-jawed when he noticed the renegade Uchiha that stood quietly behind his protégé. Similar to Kae, he didn't seem capable enough to form words in his state of disbelief.
Not a good start.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was not afflicted with the same issue.
"Naruto…" Her tone made the boy in question gulp nervously. "Are you fucking insane?"
It took a lot of convincing and restraining, but Jiraiya finally convinced the Hokage not to beat Naruto into unconsciousness right then and there. Even though the tension in the room was at an all-time high, it seems that the teen would have the opportunity to clear the air with his superiors. He then defended himself against the verbal onslaught of the angry Senju while the rest of Team Hebi looked on as helpless bystanders.
The Uzumaki was not against throwing his new team under the bus. He made it abundantly clear that they had altered their plan without his knowledge, showing up in the village unannounced with former affiliates of an S-Class criminal. It wasn't exactly a glowing review of their trustworthiness, but he assured the Sannin that the three Shinobi could be trusted, even if he didn't entirely believe it himself.
At the mention of that, Lady Fifth turned her attention to her former subordinate gone rogue. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, Sasuke Uchiha, or do you plan on letting this idiot over here fight all your battles for you?" If it sounded harsh, it was because it was meant to be. Truth be told, she was still bitter about nearly losing several of her young Shinobi when they attempted to retrieve him from the clutches of Orochimaru. The mission had some positives, such as Shikamaru's development as a capable leader and Sakura's desire to better herself, but the situation should have never happened in the first place. The pain in Naruto's and Sakura's eyes when the boy left was enough to leave her with more than some resentment directed at him. "Coming here after what you did, I can't tell if you're gutsy or a complete idiot."
Despite being face to face with an angry Sannin, Sasuke didn't appear all that worried. After all, the one he spent nearly three years with was more dangerous and volatile to be around.
"There isn't much to say." He said in a calm tone. "If you're asking if I regret my decision or actions, I don't; I would do it all over again without hesitation."
She arched an eyebrow while restating the urge to be combative with the boy. They had all figured that to be his answer. "So, your target is Itachi Uchiha, then? Is that why you came all this way to recruit Naruto?"
The renegade Uchiha fought back a grimace. Extended conversations always annoyed him; it was much easier to keep to himself when nosy people weren't asking him questions. The decision to leave the Leaf was made less difficult because it would be easier to reach his goal when he had no one left to answer to. "Itachi has always been my target. He is the only thing that matters to me."
"And what will you do after your brother is gone?" Lady Fifth asked with a side-eyed glance. "What will matter to you then?"
"That doesn't concern you." The prodigious teen said coldly, not the least bit worried if he offends someone. "Don't mistake us having mutual enemies with me coming back to the Leaf. Those days are long behind me."
"What's your plan, then?" The Toad Sage cut in, cognizant of the fact that arguing about allegiances will get them nowhere. If business is what brought Team Hebi to them, then some business is what they would do. In truth, this was a golden opportunity to deal a considerable blow to the Akatsuki with little risk on the Leaf Village's end. Their only soldier on the front lines would be Naruto, and he was more than capable of taking care of himself. "There's a good chance Itachi already knows you're coming since I'm sure the news of Orochimaru's death has spread into other nations. Do you even know where to find him?"
"That's something we still need to do." Everyone in the room turned their attention to the Uzumaki. He gestured to his former Team 7 comrade. " Sasuke and I are going to stop by and have a word with Sasori. He was partners with Itachi for a time, so he may have an idea on where he could be."
Tsunade cocked an eyebrow. "You two have plans to see Ibiki? I thought you were blindsided by the arrival of these three, Naruto, or were you not telling the truth again?" Her dangerously narrowed eyes made Jiraiya's body tense in anticipation to intercept her wrath, but the Hokage did not move.
It was evident that the Chunin had lost a bit of the trust previously awarded to him.
"No, that isn't it at all." The blond boy recoiled slightly and waved his hands defensively in front of his body. "After they defeated Orochimaru, Sasori agreed to tell us about the Akatsuki and Itachi. I was supposed to gather that information and share it with these guys when we met up, but…" He shot the Team Hebi trio a dirty look. "Our teamwork and communication are going to need some serious work, as you can plainly see."
The two Sannin looked at each other, simultaneously crossing their arms at their chests and letting out a frustrated sigh. They were in a tough spot in this situation. If it were any Shinobi other than Naruto, then this decision would be a no-brainer. The child's skills were not in question; his status as a Jinchuriki concerned them the most. While Naruto was certainly proven, having already bested an Akatsuki member in battle before, was it wise to again put him in such a precarious position?
"What if we sent along an elite team to accompany you?" Tsunade bartered hopefully. "That way, we could ensur-"
"Absolutely not." The level voice of the rogue Uchiha cut through the Hokage's, which left the older women with a noticeable frown. Jiraiya's eyes narrowed slightly, but he chose to take the time to listen before inserting himself into the conversation again. "This fight is mine, and mine alone. Mission protocol, and all of that other nonsense will just get in the way of my vengeance. A small, elite team is all that I need."
Karin, who had remained silent until this point, pushed her glasses farther up her face and cleared her throat. The entire room was now focused on her, though she didn't seem to mind. "We're fully aware that the Akatsuki typically operates in two-man teams." She gestured to herself, Suigetsu, and Naruto. "The three of us will be tasked with dealing with Itachi's current partner, whoever that may be, while Sasuke goes on ahead to face Itachi by himself. I wouldn't be too worried about losing your Jinchuriki; Sasuke is the one who will be in the most danger, as he is the only one fighting alone."
Tsunade and Jiraiya's mouths dropped open in a similar fashion at the casual mention of Naruto's status by an outsider. The pair followed that up with strong glares in the Uzumaki's direction; he returned their looks with an animated shrug.
"If they're going to be my new team, I wanted to be open with them right from the very beginning." Was his simple response.
"Unbelievable." The sage muttered, arms still crossed. "I might have to muzzle this idiot."
"He's your student, Jiraiya; what does that say about you?" Though the man didn't disagree, a grumpy grimace told her the jab at him wasn't appreciated.
In all honesty, she wasn't shocked by this. A little disappointed but not surprised. She looked into Sasuke's intense eyes. Beneath the surface, there swirled an inferno of hatred ready to consume and overwhelm the object of his rage, none other than Itachi Uchiha. She looked over to Naruto, whose eyes reflected a much different kind of determination. The Chunin's true motives were still unknown to her. It was a strange feeling; for some reason, it seemed like Naruto still wasn't giving them the entire truth, as if all of them were pieces on the board in his elaborate game of shogi. Unfortunately, there was just no way to prove her hunch to be true. However, she was supremely confident that the boy had the Leaf Village's best interests at heart. If there were ulterior motives behind those blue eyes, his intentions were to get as few people involved as possible; that was just who Naruto Uzumaki was.
The Fifth Hokage sighed once more.
"I will accept these terms of yours. Naruto will join your team on the mission to eliminate Itachi Uchiha, only under the condition that he send us routine status reports during this assignment. I think that's more than fair, considering you're taking one of our Shinobi with you." No one reacted significantly to her stipulation; Suigetsu didn't even look like he was paying attention. Instead, his shark-like eyes were transfixed on the Uzumaki like a predator that stalked its prey. The Sannin gave the group a moment to think over her proposal before speaking again. After what she deemed to be an adequate amount of time passed, they continued. "So, what do you say; do we have a deal?"
Itachi's brother stared through the Slug Sannin, glanced at the Toad Sage, and then towards the former knucklehead. After what seemed like too long, the teen nodded wordlessly.
Tsunade let out a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding in. "Excellent." It wasn't really. "I will inform Ibiki that you will be stopping by in the next couple of days. Until then, we'll supply the three of you with living quarters." Karin appeared troubled by this, something that the Hokage had quickly picked up on. "And, before you ask, yes, you will be followed by the ANBU Black Ops as long as you remain in my village. We've recently had some… events take place, and the villagers are already on edge, so I can't in good conscience allow outsiders to operate without constraints within the walls. I hope you understand."
"Hmph, so be it." The Uchiha said dismissively as he turned to leave; his team, save for Naruto, followed suit. "We don't plan on staying long, anyway." Before he reached the door, the Fire Shadow chimed in one last time.
"Sasuke." She called out. The onyx-eyed teen stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. "If you have any decency left in your body after all your time spent with Orochimaru, you'll go see Sakura. She has been worried sick about you ever since you left. It would do her well to know that you're at least still alive."
'Sakura?' The redhead of Team Hebi wondered with a touch of jealousy. 'Who is that supposed to be?'
Naruto didn't dare interject. He, too, was guilty of leaving the pinkette out of the loop. He had a few opportunities to tell the kunoichi about his arrangement with Team Hebi and chose not to. Why, you ask? To be honest, Jiraiya's student wasn't all that sure. A piece of him felt it would just further complicate a matter that was already bad enough.
The Uchiha opened the door and stood in place for a few seconds. His posture was stiff as his eyes stayed transfixed on the floor in front of him. To some, this may seem like he was considering the Hokage's word.
Then he spoke once more.
"I don't owe Sakura, or anyone from the Leaf, anything." His voice was harsh and unforgiving. "The sooner you all get that through your head, the better."
And, with that, the raven-haired prodigy was gone along with his two foreign recruits. To say his response was expected was a massive understatement; Sasuke was never one to backtrack on, or regret, his actions. In fact, he was maddeningly stubborn and selfish with the way he operated.
Not that anyway could blame him all that much, when one considers what he went through as a child and young teen.
Well, with that out of the way, for now, it was time to move onto other matters. At the present moment, the only people left in Tsunade's office were her, Jiraiya, Naruto. The two Sannin stared directly at the Chunin while he didn't dare meet their gazes. Instead, he found the floor beneath his feet to be much more captivating.
Once the tension in the room bloomed to what Naruto deemed to be uncomfortable heights, he spoke. "You know, guys, I should really go and make sure those three don't give the ANBU any trouble." The Uzumaki sputtered out nervously as his free hand frantically scratched the back of his head. It was evident that he was aware of the trouble he'd be in for this mess and didn't feel like being around for the lecture. "We'll definitely talk more later." With that, he scurried towards the door to follow Team Hebi.
"You're damn right we'll talk more later!" The Slug Queen shouted after him and slammed her hand on the desk. "Don't think you're going to get out of this one, you little brat! Hey, did you hear me?!" She looked over to the teen's student, who could only throw his hands up in apparent defeat.
Jiraiya felt a thump in the spot behind his headband, a clear indication that a rather nasty headache was on its way. His eye couldn't help but be drawn to the empty bottle on the desk in front of him. It seemed there was even more for them to discuss now. "You got any of the strong stuff?" He asked hopefully.
They were going to need it.
"You sure you wanna do this?" Naruto asked as he made his way to the other side of the training grounds. After about twenty paces, he turned around to face his opponent. With the sun down, visibility was not ideal, but it was manageable. It was a cloudless sky; the bright stars above were truly beautiful. "I don't really have any interest in fighting you."
"Of course I want to do this. I've been itching to get my hands on that blade for years!" Suigetsu sharp teeth glinted in the moonlight, his entire body trembling with lively excitement. "Besides, aren't you the one who suggested this little game? Are you really trying to back out now when it's just about to get good? You didn't strike me as a coward, blondie."
'I'm still a bit surprised that Sasuke would choose someone this volatile for such an important team. I'm expecting him to be pretty strong.' Naruto knew that as long as he had Zabuza's blade in his possession, then this guy would constantly be looking over his shoulder for an opportunity to strike. In truth, this minor skirmish served just a single purpose; to prove his superiority to such a degree that it will keep the former Mist Shinobi in check for the foreseeable future. He didn't want to resort to violence, which is why he hoped the antagonistic teen would reconsider but knew that to be a long shot.
Karin and Sasuke watched intently from the sidelines; their expressions differed significantly for what was about to come. The Uchiha did his best to seem uninterested and aloof, but there was no way he was going to miss this. Not only was it the perfect time to assess the strength of the two combatants, but this was also a way to measure himself against his former teammate. Even after everything that's happened, their old rivalry still bubbled beneath the surface with plenty of bitter feelings.
The redhead, on the other hand, was already tuned into the Chunin's chakra signature. She couldn't help herself; it captivated her to such a degree that once started, she was unable to look away. The fact that it was beside Suigetsu's ugly aura only exacerbated the issue. However, even that couldn't alleviate her worry about a fight happening on enemy soil.
"Are you sure that this is okay?" She called out to the surprisingly friendly Jinchuriki. "We're still surrounded by Black Ops guys. What if they try to get involved?"
"Don't worry about them." Naruto did his best to disarm any of the girl's concerns with his soft tone. "I let them know ahead of time that we're going to have a little 'spar.' As long as we don't get too crazy, they'll stay right where they are."
Suigetsu grinned mischievously at what was clearly directed at his impulsive behavior. So, he liked to let loose every once in a while and go wild; what was wrong with that? He wasn't concerned with how others perceived his actions. That was their problem, not his.
"Well, I say…." The razor-toothed Shinobi disappeared from everyone's field of view. In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Naruto with both hand guns pointed precariously in the Chunin's face. "We give these guys a good show!"
'Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu!
"Bang!"
Naruto moved out of the way just as the Water User fired highly compressed bullets of water from his fingertips. He traced their trajectory behind him and watched as they pierced cleanly through the thick trunk of a tree several meters away. Such force for an attack of that size was a rarity.
'So much for not going crazy!' It was starting to become more apparent that this Suigetsu guy had a screw loose in his head. 'Is that the Jutsu he was threatening the ANBU with?!' Now that things had kicked off, he put his hands into his favorite seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Five copies of the blond materialized into existence and all of them circled the razor-toothed teen.
"Heh," Suigetsu laughed as he clenched his right hand into a fist. "Five on one... I like those odds." Just as the doppelgangers rushed him, his arm tripled in mass. "Hah!" With a massive swing of his brutish arm, the strike easily ripped through their guards.
Five 'poofs' followed by a cloud of smoke obscured Naruto's vision of his opponent.
Naruto scratched his chin in thought. 'So he can expand and strengthen his limbs to increase his attack strength. That reminds me a bit of the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Jutsu. I wonder if there are any differences in these abilities.'
'Water Style: Water Gun.'
Naruto sidestepped just in time as another bullet of water cut through the smoke and zipped right past him. He wanted to grimace but resisted the urge. 'I have a feeling getting hit by one of those would be bad, even for me.' Was his only thought.
"Hey, not bad. You're pretty quick on your feet." The Hozuki pressed forward with a flurry of strong punches. "Let's see if you can keep it up!"
Naruto blocked and parried most of them; he winced slightly as one got past his guard and grazed the ribs on his left side but didn't seem too flustered by the onslaught. Instead, he would bide his time and wait to exploit any mistakes. The blond's wish was granted, as his opponent extended too far on an over-zealous strike; this gave him the perfect opportunity to counter.
Naruto kicked Suigetsu's plant leg out from under him with pinpoint precision and loaded his hips to explode into a vicious lead hook to the body as his target careened towards him. The goal was to force the air from the teen's lungs and incapacitate him with an arm drag slam over the shoulder. However, that plan was halted; the impact point of his sternum blow exploded into a pool of what appeared to be water.
'Wha-?'
To his great surprise, his arm was now lodged in the Water User's gut as his hand protruded out the other side. Even with considerable effort, he was unable to pull his arm free. 'What kind of technique is this?!' The Jinchuriki thought to himself.
Once again, Suigetsu pointed a singular hand gun in the center of his opponent's forehead; blue eyes went wide in shock as he did it. The Mist teen's wicked smile told a story that words would not do justice.
I've got you right where I want you.
All of this happened while the two spectators watched on in relative silence.
Until.
"Shouldn't we do something?!" Karin wasn't frantic, but she did seem relatively worried at the scene in front of her. "Suigetsu is going to kill him at this rate!" She looked to the silent Uchiha and immediately noted that his Sharingan was activated. Since her ability to see the fight remained unhindered, Sasuke's use of his visual prowess was not because of the dimly lit night sky.
"Don't look away, Karin." His tone was measured and firm, while his analytical eyes were transfixed on the fight in front of them. "Do you really think we would have come all this way if Naruto was that weak?"
The woman's brow knitted in confusion, but she did as instructed in time to see Suigetsu load up his second round of the Water Gun Jutsu.
"Bang!"
…
Except it didn't fire.
It started at Suigetsu's fingertips and up his arm until his entire body was shredded and ripped apart by an invisible force. Instead of blood, similar to last time, water spurted out of each new cut that was made. The attack seemed faster than the boy's regenerative prowess; this was evident as he was slowly reduced to a puddle.
'What is this?!' The Hozuki child thought to himself in shock; he watched as his hand loaded with the Water Gun Jutsu was lopped off and helplessly splashed against the ground at his feet, barely able to keep the rest of his form intact. He noted the grass and dirt beneath them were lifted off the ground and sent in every possible direction, as their position seemed to act as the epicenter for the strange disruption.
The Jinchuriki went through a quick series of hand signs. 'Earth Style: Mud Wall.' A sizeable slab of earth rose from the ground behind Suigetsu, which eliminated nearly all forms of escape for the razor-teethed teen.
Suigetsu looked over his shoulder, fully aware that he had been effectively cornered. His liquid state granted him the ability to squeeze through even the tiniest of cracks in rock, but it would take time and be highly noticeable; something told him that blondie wouldn't sit around and let him squirm away that easily. The Executioner's blade, which felt just out of his grasp a moment ago, suddenly seemed like it was on the other side of the world.
"Are you ready to stop making a fool of yourself?" The Uzumaki asked monotonously. The water constricted around his arm loosened to a point where he could easily pull the appendage free; he flexed his hand a few times for good measure, satisfied with the restored blood flow. "It seems like your ability is some kind of Water Style body manipulation; that's how you were able to strengthen your arm like that. You can try to solidify and shoot me, but, at this close distance, my Wind Wall will rip you to pieces before you even get the chance. Outlasting my stamina is also out of the question. You lost the second you got within range; it's over."
Suigetsu looked up into the cold, steely, blue eyes of his opponent, and he immediately knew; blondie was right. There was nothing that he could do. If he somehow managed to escape through or around the rock at his back and gain some distance, his opponent would just follow with his superior speed. Conversely, if his choice was to do nothing, he'd be reduced to a wet spot in the dirt by this damned wind technique in a matter of moments. Based on the look the blond gave him, a bluff call also seemed out of the question. For someone who seemed so aloof and indifferent at first, this side of Naruto Uzumaki was entirely different.
The unspoken message between them was as clear as crystal.
'I truly don't want to, but I'll kill you if you force my hand.'
This instilled a rare sensation in Suigetsu, one that only Orochimaru could get out of him; fear. How he hated that feeling of helplessness; it was like he was back in the Snake's hideout again, locked up in that cramped water tank, nothing more than a mere experiment. No different from a lab rat that would eventually serve its purpose and be discarded like all the others.
The words of his late brother, Mangetsu, echoed in his mind.
'No matter what you have to do, where you have to go, or who you have to kill, just know that I want you to be free to chase after your dreams. Live your life no matter what it takes.'
Naruto cut the flow of his Wind Wall to allow the Hozuki prodigy's body to reconstitute into flesh and blood. Once it was fully formed, the Mist teen dropped to his hands and knees. His fingernails dug deep into the dirt, and his teeth ground together in a mix of frustration and despair.
'All those years trapped in that hellhole as Orochimaru's guinea pig… just for this?' Suigetsu felt sick enough to vomit. That appeared to be the straw that broke the camel's back. 'Am I just stuck in an endless cycle of being used by other people so they can achieve their goals?' His image of his brother once again flashed in his head. 'Brother… how can I achieve my dream of reviving your legacy along with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist if I can't even obtain one of the blades?' Once again, there was an obstacle in his way that dwarfed him in stature, and it made him realize how insignificant his aspirations were.
Life was so unfair.
Naruto looked down at the member of Team Hebi with an indecipherable expression on his face. In all honesty, the sudden surrender surprised him. With that sharp tongue and wild behavior, the assumption was that their battle for the ownership of Zabuza's blade would be a constant game of cat and mouse. In fact, that is what he hoped would happen. His disappointment was apparent from the frown on his face.
"Why are you giving up?" He asked the man at his feet. "I thought you had a dream you wanted to achieve. Is your resolve really that weak?"
"Without one of the blades, there's no way I'll be able to get any of the others." The Hozuki responded, his usual snarky tone absent from his voice. "If you won't give it to me, and I can't take it by force, what else can I do?"
"You keep moving forward; you keep fighting until you don't have the strength to pick yourself back up anymore." Naruto got down on one knee and extended a hand. "And then, if you fail, you'll know that you gave it everything you had. That's the only way you'll never have any regrets."
"No regrets…" Suigetsu looked wide-eyed at the outstretched limb, which contained a scroll. He took it wordlessly and looked at it, then to the man who gave it to him. "What is this?" He asked in a confused tone.
"Your reason to keep fighting." That was all the blond said in response. With his hand still out for the Mist teen to take, he spoke. "Now stand up."
Suigetsu grabbed the helping hand and pulled himself up. His thumb traced over the kanji seal on the outside of the scroll, breath caught in his throat. He unfurled the scroll and unsealed its contents. There it was, in all its glory.
The infamous Executioner's Blade, once held by the Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi. Did that mean he would finally be able to live up to his nickname as 'The Second Coming of the Demon?'
"It's even heavier than I thought it would be." Mangetsu's brother said in a quiet tone, a rarity for him. This whole situation still didn't feel real to him. He was waiting for the moment where the blond would take the sword back and laugh in his face. With each second that passed, it seemed less likely it would happen.
"There's more to this sword than just how much it weighs," Naruto explained. "that weight you're feeling is the responsibility that comes with that weapon. I won't stop you from trying to reach your dreams; just know that I can't allow it to be used for the wrong reasons." There was an ominous undertone in his tone as he spoke.
Suigetsu tightened the grip around the hilt of his new possession with a reinvigorated mindset. This moment felt even better than expected, which was hard to believe with how much he anticipated it all these years. 'Six more to go, brother. I'll bring back the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from the disgraceful state they're currently in; that way, your legacy will live on forever. You will never be forgotten….'
Kisame Hoshigaki, wielder of the Samehada, is the first on his hit list.
"Are we finally done here?" To pair looked in the direction of the voice. It was Sasuke with Karin in tow. "Any issues between the two of you going forward will interfere with the mission. That can't happen."
"We're fine as long he doesn't cause any trouble in the village, and I don't think he will." Naruto answered with a dismissive wave. "I never had any problems with him, to begin with."
"Good." The Uchiha seemed satisfied with that answer. "Tomorrow, we'll meet with Sasori before heading out in search of the Akatsuki."
"Fine by me." Naruto shrugged.
"Can't wait." The Hozuki teen strapped his new toy to his back, a satisfied smile on his face. "I'm itching to make some shark fin soup with this thing."
"Yeah, okay." Karin seemed the most unsure within the group. For once, she was glad that she wasn't a battle type.
And, with that, the Team Hebi formation was officially completed.
Leaned up against a water tank, Sasuke crossed his arms at his chest and let out a deep breath. With Suigetsu and Karin already turned in for the night, it left him alone with nothing but silence and his own thoughts. The inn Tsunade provided them had a nice spot on the roof that overlooked a good portion of the village; even the Hokage Monument was in view from where he stood. And yet, most of his attention was on the stars and moon above his head. They shined and twinkled in a way that relaxed him. Yes, it was definitely the stars and nothing else… right?
No, it wasn't.
After all this time, even when it pained to admit, a small piece of him would always consider this his home. Just being in the Leaf Village made him remember things that he wanted to forget and feel things he'd rather ignore. It all started with that day, the day he chose to turn his back on his village and loved ones.
To sever all ties with his comrades, while difficult to do, was admittedly made easier by Naruto's actions. At one point, his best friend threatened to break every bone in his body and drag him back with little regard for the context behind his actions. The blond made little attempt to understand his friend's trauma, feelings, and the reason why he decided to defect in the first place. If anything, it made Sasuke's resolve even more resolute. Had Naruto acted more like the friend he typically was, their conflict may have been entirely avoidable.
Itachi's brother shook his head in frustration. Where did these thoughts come from all of a sudden? He told the Hokage that there were no regrets tied to any of his actions. And yet…
Was that actually true?
The desire to cut ties with the Leaf stemmed from the belief that the connections to Team 7, among others, stunted the growth in his strength and made him softer. This, of course, would directly conflict with his ability to get vengeance on the monster that murdered his entire family. With that logic, it made sense to seek the power Orochimaru offered him in exchange for his humanity; his home simply could not shape his skillset to the degree needed to defeat the Uchiha Clan's boogeyman.
That decision was then reconfirmed by the outcome of his battle with Naruto at the Final Valley. The rogue Uchiha, who had no one, bested the Uzumaki that tried desperately to cling to those attachments. In the end, loneliness had prevailed.
That's what he had thought, at least.
The appearance of the new and improved Naruto Uzumaki at the Tenchi Bridge made Sasuke question his choices to some extent. Not only that, but it effectively shattered his belief that connections to others made you weaker. If it were true, how could the blond get so powerful? As much as he hated to admit it, the blond idiot was, at the very least, just as strong as he was before he absorbed Orochimaru; and, at the very worst, still stronger than him despite taking a portion of the Sannin's strength. Even with the second state Curse Mark, the winner of an all-out fight between the two was unclear. In the end, nothing's changed. Both Shinobi progressed at similar rates while apart, despite opposite beliefs on how to get there.
Did I really go through this hell just to still be inferior to that idiot?
That thought was in the deep recessives of his mind, but his superiority complex didn't allow it to bubble to the surface.
The prospect of being the weaker of the two made his blood boil. And yet, he wasn't foolish enough to let his jealousy cloud his judgment. The Chunin's Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and considerable skill would be crucial in the search for and elimination of Itachi Uchiha.
They were comrades, yet again. The irony of it all… this had to be some sort of cruel trick played on him by those up above; it just had to be.
"What's it like being back?" Came a familiar voice.
The Uchiha glanced over to the rooftop entrance to see his old teammate step through the doorway, then quickly looked back up into the sky. 'Speak of the devil.' He thought to himself.
"Not feeling very talkative today, huh?" Naruto was used to this kind of response from the raven-haired teen. He rubbed the back of his head and chuckled lightly as he walked towards him. "I was just curious because I came back not too long ago. You and I left the Leaf on very different terms, but it still felt weird when I returned. Even though nothing had really changed, everything still felt completely different, like I was somehow out of place in my own home. Do you know what I mean?"
There was a faint twitch in those onyx eyes. "What do you want, Naruto?" The tone in his voice conveyed that he was annoyed by the interruption. "Just because the Hokage ordered you to keep an eye on us doesn't mean you need to bother me."
"I couldn't sleep." The Chunin said simply with a light shrug. "Besides, aren't we on the same team now? Is that any way to treat one of your comrades?"
"Hmph." Sasuke grunted.
"You trusted me enough to allow me onto the team, and you saw how I truly felt when we exchanged blows." Despite being better at reading into a person's mannerisms and body language, Naruto's best friend was as unreadable as ever. "I'm not asking to be your best friend, but a little communication would be nice."
A lengthy silence befell them, one that Naruto wouldn't break again on account of his pride; he wasn't about to have a conversation with a wall. Just when he decided to turn around and go inside, his former teammates spoke up.
"I thought I would never return to this place." Naruto could only blink in response, surprised to hear more than a couple words come out of his mouth. "To answer your question, it feels strange. I can't put it into words."
"Why'd you come back at all?" Naruto asked the question that was on his mind the entire day. "I told you that you didn't have to."
Sasuke asked himself the same thing since the decision was made; he tried not to think about too much, fearful of what the answer may be.
"Suigetsu's joining the team rested on him getting Zabuza's blade. If you showed up to our rendezvous without it, then I might have had to get a new recruit." They both knew that to be, while partially true, the easy answer. "I also wanted to see if I could trust what you said. I had assumed that the Leaf would be adamant about bringing me back to the village by force. Though, thanks to you, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore."
Naruto accepted the response with a nod, though his stoic expression didn't match it. "I'll be honest with you; I don't know what will happen after this is all said and done. Once Itachi is gone, and this team has served its purpose, the village's upper leadership may come after you again." A specific person came to mind. "There's this one guy, in particular, that I'm worried about. His name is Danzo Shimura, and while I've only spoken to him once, he doesn't seem like the type to allow a powerful Leaf asset to roam free. He's in charge of an ANBU faction outside of Granny Tsunade's authority, so he has the means to come after you; just a heads-up."
Sasuke grinned. "Thanks for the tip, but some ANBU aren't a threat to me. I can handle myself."
His friend matched the expression. "I know you can." For the first time tonight, Naruto yawned. Since he got more words out of his teammate than expected, it was time to cut his losses and get some rest in. After all, tomorrow looked to be a busy and troublesome day. "I'm gonna turn in for the night." The Chunin said with a half-hearted wave over the shoulder. "Don't stay up too late."
"Naruto."
The teen in question stopped in his tracks. He stood motionless in the doorway that led back inside, his hand placed on the door frame. There was a brief pause before Sasuke spoke once more.
"What is your goal in all of this?" It was a good question, one that no one bothered to ask him directly. After such a drastic change in attitude and personality, it was hard to believe that those aspirations from childhood are still what drove him. "I can't imagine you're doing all this just be acknowledged by everyone and become Hokage."
The Uzumaki blinked at the curiosity, touched his hand to his chin, and appeared to mull over his reply. "Ah, no. I don't really care about that anymore." From his early Genin days, there have been plenty of people who acknowledged him; Kage, Sannin, friends, fans of his novel, the list goes on. Those experiences that led him to this point evolved his mindset and outlook on the world to the point where his desires became unrecognizable; along with it came the realization that the world wasn't the simple, black and white reality he thought it to be. No, it was far darker and much crueler. "If I had to put it into words, my dream is… to save the world."
Sasuke stared at the back of the Jinchuriki's head, brow slightly knitted in confusion. His uncertainly wasn't due to the words themselves but the odd manner in which they were arranged. If Naruto's statement referred to the Akatsuki, he would have just said that and been done with it; it was almost like they were purposely omitted.
"Save the world… from what?" He finally asked, surprised at his own interest.
In response to that question, Naruto looked back and smiled. Something about that look seemed off, but his teammate couldn't place what it was. As he answered, the Chunin walked through the doorway and disappeared down the stairs.
"From itself."
His response rang in Sasuke's ears for the remainder of the night and effectively dashed any hopes of a good night's sleep.
Ibiki looked his guests up and down. After a particularly nasty sneer directed at the onyx-eyed youth, he rummaged through his pocket as he grumbled quietly to himself. "Everything the bastard deemed relevant to your request is written on this." He explained in his typical unapologetic tone. "Here, take it."
"Thank you. I appreciate it." Naruto took the piece of paper gratefully and immediately passed it off to Sasuke, who then looked over it and stuffed it in his pocket. "Has he given you any trouble? You seem pissed."
The interrogation specialist walked over to his desk and sat down in his surprisingly squeaky chair; for whatever reason, that appeared to annoy him further. "He's been a major pain in my ass ever since you brought him back from the Sand Village. "The former Chunin Exam proctor grunted out. "We only just got him to start talking recently, and that was after he made another request. He's been cooperative since then, but there's no guarantee it'll last. I personally think he gets off on pissing me off."
"I see… another request, huh?" The blond glanced to his teammate, who stood at his side, then back to Ibiki. "Can we?" He gestured to the cell door at the back of the room.
"Lady Hokage already informed me." The scarred man waved dismissively. "My only terms are that someone will be sitting in on the conversation, and there will be two guards stationed outside the cell while the two of you are inside. Are there any problems with that?" His tone betrayed the fact that he didn't care about their answer to his question; it was absolute, whether they objected or not.
Naruto shook his head. "Nope, none."
"Good, now get out of my sight." The man pointed over his shoulder. "I have a lot of work to do, and I don't want to spend my time babysitting a couple of brats."
"Maybe you should use some of that time to come up with a better tenth question…." The Chunin muttered under his breath as he and Sasuke walked past the desk towards to cell room.
"What was that?!" The proctor growled at their backs.
"Nothing, Ibiki-sensei." Naruto teased with a quick wave over the shoulder. "See ya around!"
Ibiki Morino audibly sighed while he went through the stack of paperwork on his desk. 'That kid is getting far too comfortable around here for his own good.' Despite his annoyance, he couldn't help but grin at the kid's antics.
'Now, if only the new chair I ordered could get here faster… this one is as uncomfortable as all hell.'
…
"Oi, do you guys have crap in your ears? Did I say you could put that there?" The irritability dripped from his tone. "Idiots; do you think I have the time to walk across the room every time I need a tool? Put it next to my bench before I lose my patience with all of you."
The men nodded nervously, did as commanded, and moved the Puppeteer's new toolbox into the appropriate spot. He merely stood back and watched with a keen eye to see if the layout was to his liking. The workbench was a long slab of beautiful oak wood with space for cabinets and drawers underneath. Next to it sat the spot for his tools; a tall, black and wheelable cart with plenty of room to fit all he needed. Lastly, he received a soft and comfortable swivel chair with wheels that would allow him to traverse his makeshift workshop without the need to stand up. More importantly, it was the chair of Ibiki Morino that he specifically requested. It wasn't that he needed it, on the account that he's a puppet without a sense of touch, but because it gave him joy to see the veins bulge on the forehead of the renowned interrogator.
The rest of his setup had not arrived yet, which meant this was all there was to work with for now. It was modest, familiar, and more than enough to get started. Now that everything was in order, he gestured for the laborers to leave; they did so in a hurry. With a semi-satisfied nod, he turned to the silent man that stood in the corner of the room. While the other Leaf Shinobi were tasked with Sasori's orders to arrange the room to meet his demands, this one's job was to keep a close eye on the redhead throughout the entire process.
"Mozuku," Sasori called to him. "make sure Ibiki ordered my hooks for the ceiling. I like to hang my finished pieces once they're done. Having the ability to look at them from all angles allows me to find any imperfections in the design and craftsmanship."
"I'm not your secretary, you know?" The man said grumbled.
"Should I include one in my demands?" The former Akatsuki member thought aloud with a hint of humor. "Though, I fear it'd be pointless since Ibiki would just appoint you to the job."
Mozuku refused to comment in fear that those words were true. A sigh escaped his lips. "You know as well as I do that these shipments will take some time." He looked down to write in his notebook. As he did, the light from the ceiling glinted off his glasses and obscured his eyes. "The supplier for these orders is located in the Land of Wind, and they rarely get business outside of their nation's borders. They insisted that we send a team of ninja to act as caravan guards, which is why most things have been delayed."
"So be it, I suppose." The Puppet Master sat down in Ibiki's chair and allowed himself a petty smirk. He grabbed a wooden hand on his workbench and fiddled with the fingers to check the integrity of the joints. "Ningyo Company makes the best equipment and tools around; I'll wait that long if it is for the sake of quality."
The door to his cell room clicked open, followed by a familiar voice. "And here, I always thought you hated to be kept waiting." Said Naruto as he stepped through the door, followed by Sasuke.
"I was wondering when the two of you would show up. Though I have no idea what for; I already relayed everything you needed to know about the Uchiha's obsession to Ibiki." Sasori didn't bother to turn around to see Sasuke's glare and, instead, turned his focus to the flex in the wooden hand's wrist. "Say, where's this team I heard you were forming?"
"We decided it'd be easier if they stayed at the inn; no sense in all of us coming." The Uzumaki surveyed the scene in front of him and arched an eyebrow. "Your demand was to open up a puppet workshop?"
"Working on my craft is infinitely preferable to sitting strapped to a chair all day staring at a wall." A soft click in the wrist flexor triggered a frown across the man's usually stoic face. He grabbed a screwdriver from his tool cart and poked around the inner workings of his creation. "Though my progress is severely hampered without the use of my Puppet Master Jutsu, my core is one of the few things I was unable to negotiate for."
"Can you blame them?" The blond asked.
"No, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating." Sasori quipped back. "It would take forever to… never mind, why have you come to see me?" He seemed to catch himself. "Standing there like fools, you're nothing more than distractions to me."
"I want more information about Itachi," Sasuke spoke up for the first time. "tell me where I can find him."
"You already have everything that I know about the Akatsuki." Repeated the redhead with a grunt. "There's nothing else for me to tel-"
"What about any little details?" Interjected the blond. "It could be anything that seems even remotely noteworthy; did he ever mention anything? Places, people, areas, likes, dislikes?"
Sasori put the hand down on the bench with a bit of force and turned to face the duo. "Didn't you hear me?! I already said-" He paused as his eyes seemed to veer off and focus on empty space behind them. "Actually, now that you mention it…."
"What is it?" The Uchiha prodded aggressively. "Tell me!"
"There is one thing that comes to mind… It was on our way to the Hidden Sand Village; we had to pass through the Land of Fire on the way. He mentioned something that seemed out of place to me."
"Sasori, were you aware the mountain to the south is home to the Uchiha Clan's hideout?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" The Puppeteer asked, his voice deepened through the use of his Hiruko puppet. He stopped to look, but his vision was obscured by the trees of the thick forest. All that could be seen from their viewpoint were two pillars that framed the sides of the rock structure. "It just looks like a pile of dirt to me, or did it suffer the same fate as your clan?"
The mass murderer shook off those words and continued his tale. "It's there, built into the terraced mountain itself, and has remained since before the formation of the Five Great Ninja Villages. My people used it as their base of operations during the Era of Warring States." A rare crack in his visage betrayed a slight smile, one that didn't go unnoticed by his partner.
Sasori couldn't help but chuckle cruelly. "For someone who massacred his own kin, it's odd that you would bring up the past. Despite what you did, you seem fond of this place. Could it be possible that you regret your actions, Itachi?" The dark and sarcastic tone was made abundantly clear.
"To ignore the past is to doom the future. A person can try and wash away the weight of their transgressions, but it will leave a scar on the Earth that will never be forgotten… The Uchiha Clan's hideout is a monument to my sins."
"So, this puppet guy thinks your clan's hideout is where we'll find your brother?" Suigetsu asked in between sips from his water bottle while leaned up against one of the large gate doors that marked the entrance to the village. "Why does that… feel a bit anticlimactic; like it's the first place we should have looked anyway?"
"You could say that it's fitting." Naruto added his own thoughts. "Where else would it make as much sense for them to fight? And did you hear what Itachi called it? 'A monument to his sins'; it only makes sense that he would try and lure Sasuke there for their final battle."
"I don't know; seems kinda lame if you ask me."
"That's why no one is asking you, Suigetsu." Chimed in the only kunoichi of the group as she turned to their leader. "What do you say, Sasuke? Is that where you want to look first?"
"It makes sense and isn't too far from here. I had planned to find and comb through a few Akatsuki hideouts, but this ." The raven-haired teen said after some deliberation. "Team Hebi… let's make our way to the Uchiha Hideout."
'You'll be dead at my feet soon enough, Itachi….'
"Wait…" Naruto drawled out as he tried his best to hold in a bark of laughter. "Team Hebi, are you serious? I thought that was a joke; is that seriously our name? So we're Team Snake?"
The Water User's look turned dubious. "You're the only one here that isn't in some way affiliated with Orochimaru, blondie. It makes perfect sense."
"Yeah, but he killed Orochimaru. Why make the team name in reference to someone you killed and want to distance yourself from?" Naruto shot back and turned his attention to their leader. "Not only that, but Sasori said you referred to yourself as a 'hawk' in your fight, so why are we Team Hebi and not Team Taka?" He leaned in close and whispered. "Is it 'cause you have weird snake powers now?"
Sasuke reserved the right to send a nasty glare the Uzumaki's way; the idiot from their old Squad 7 days was starting to resurface, and he didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. Before the Uchiha could muster an insult in return, a voice called out to them.
"Sasuke… no way… is that really you…?"
Naruto and, to a lesser extent, Sasuke's bodies went rigid, and they didn't dare turn around. The tone in her voice betrayed so many emotions. Anger, betrayal, sadness, disbelief, shock…
Hope.
Both make members of Team 7 had the same thought, but with entirely different meanings behind it. 'Shit, Sakura…'
Author's Note: This chapter, aptly named Team Hebi, dives a little into each of Naruto's three new teammates. It's important to establish motives, feelings, and desires as they relate to Naruto and the overall team dynamic.
Another note: Karin and Suigetsu will be very similar to their canon selves, but not exact replicas. Just call it my own interpretation.
Lastly, Sakura has finally shown up. I know some of you have wondered when she would become aware of Sasuke's presence in the Leaf. Well, now you won't have to wait much longer.
Leave a review if you enjoyed, and I'll see you next time for Chapter 41: The Broken Promise?
vishusingh2009 – I would classify my fic as a canon-divergent story, and I do my best to make good on that. I'm glad you see it the same way!
ThelittleKing – Team Hebi's inclusion with Naruto seems to be a fan favorite so far. It makes me even more eager to show everyone what's coming next. I have a lot planned, and a few twists that I can't wait to reveal.
Ky111 – It just seems like it's one thing after another with Naruto. The guy can't catch a break.
And I appreciate the understanding about the update frequency. It means a lot to hear that.
vyoom – The team Hebi dynamic will be a bit different with Naruto on board. Hopefully he can help keep the team grounded to some extent.
SwiftFate – Naruto doesn't know about his Uzumaki lineage and based on canon, I don't think Karin knows much about her clan either. Someone else would have to inform them about their familial link.
TrenchcoatMan – Glad you liked it!
That1RainyDay – Wow, thanks! I've been working on this story since 2014 so to hear you say that makes me happy.
Myobleans – I always wondered if people would be annoyed if I gave Sasori a meaningful death, only to bring him back to life 2 chapters later. To me, the irony of it is rather funny. I wrote it with a smile on my face knowing he was coming back.
Yogami Asura – Jugo likes his jailcell.
suryamgangwal63 – Pm'd
HaywireEagle – The teams weren't changed to kill Kankuro. If anything, his death was a byproduct of that change. Itachi and Sasori's team up is way more significant than that.
RubyGemGreen – I take a lot of influence in Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul. Narratively speaking, I think a character like his fits perfectly in with the dark themes you can pull out of the shinobi world. Naruto plays a role similar to that beautifully.
Lilthug – Sure, no problem.
Hikari means 'Light' in Japanese, and Yami means 'Dark.' I mentioned this at the beginning of Chapter 28: Two Steps Back: Breakpoint."
Both versions of Naruto represent reflect elements of these opposing that helps!