In which Sasuke asks a question.
I recommend reading the last two chapters of Two Doors to the Right first ("The One With The Fight"). Chronologically, the events in those chapters happen after the Utakata scene but before the Sasuke scene.
O-O-O-O-O
"Hope you're not too full for dessert, Kimimaro-kun." Harusame smiled as he began to cut the cake.
Kimimaro shook his head. Considering the boy's eyes were as wide as plates, Utakata guessed he could have eaten the whole thing on his own. Smiling, Harusame handed the boy a generous slice. With a soft thanks, Kimimaro dug into his dessert.
Utakata watched the display in front of him, resting his cheek in his palm.
Earlier that day, his team had been summoned to the central office. With a few pretty words and an official document, his students had been promoted to chuunin. Shortly after congratulating Haku and Kasumi, Utakata and Kimimaro had headed back home. There, Harusame had offered his own congratulations alongside a full lunch spread and Kimimaro's favorite milk cake.
As he watched Kimimaro eat, Gaara and Yugito's words from the night bounced around in his mind. Now that Kimimaro had been promoted, wasn't it a perfect opportunity to talk? If only Harusame would leave...
"Would you like some tea, Kimimaro-kun?" Harusame asked as he handed a plate with a tiny slice to Utakata.
Kimimaro nodded, eyes growing, if possible, even wider. "Yes, please."
Harusame nodded and headed to the kitchen, leaving the two boys alone. Utakata's heart began to beat faster. His opportunity had come. But what should he say?
Maybe I should've practiced beforehand.
"So how does it feel to be a chuunin, Kimimaro?" Utakata took a small bite of cake. Better to start off casual.
"It feels the same as usual, sensei." He shoved a big spoonful of cake into his mouth.
Utakata shrugged. "I guess it'll take some time to get used to the change," he said. "Just know that you will be sent on more missions, most of them without Haku or Kasumi. After a while you might even be ordered to lead your own."
A frown formed on the boy's forehead and worried eyes met Utakata's. "Does that mean we won't be going on missions anymore, sensei?"
Utakata took another tiny bite of cake before answering. "Well, because we already have established chemistry and teamwork, Mizukage-sama might give us the occasional mission here and there," he guessed. "But we will no longer be seeking missions as Team Utakata anymore."
Kimimaro shifted, frown deepening. "So you are no longer my teacher, are you?"
Utakata's heart threatened to beat out of his chest. "I'm not."
Kimimaro bit his lip, green eyes thoughtful as he placed his dessert on the low table. "Do you remember what we talked about in Konohagakure, sensei?"
"Uh... what did we talk about?" There had been too many conversations to recall them all.
"When I asked you why Naruto called you 'nii-san.'" Was it his imagination or was there a bit of pink on the boy's face?
"Oh, that." Utakata scratched the back of his neck . What had he said anyway? Something about being a teacher and older?
Kimimaro nodded, serious eyes meeting Utakata's own. "Well now that you're no longer my teacher, I was wondering..." Kimimaro fidgeted, hands clenched into fists over his lap.
"Wondering?"
The boy swallowed. "Wondering if I could call you 'nii-san,' too, sensei."
"Oh." Utakata forced his hands not to twitch. Had Kimimaro been thinking about that for long? "Well... uh... if you want. It's fine by me."
In an instant, a smile appeared on Kimimaro's lips and he gave a short bow. "Thank you, sen— nii-san."
Utakata cleared his throat, feeling his face grow warm. "Don't mention it." He took another bite of cake for something to do. Getting called 'nii-san' would take some getting used to.
The boy's smile grew wider and he hummed to himself before speaking again. "There's something else I want to talk to you about... nii-san." The word was still unfamiliar.
"What is it?" Utakata set his plate and spoon down.
"It's about what you said to me when I woke up in the Konoha hospital."
"I-in Konoha?" Utakata felt the blood drain from his face. Was Kimimaro going to bring the topic up himself?
"I remember you said you loved me, s— nii-san." There was no hint of awkwardness on Kimimaro's face as he locked gazes with Utakata.
Utakata coughed, unable to stop a blush from spreading over his face. "Uh... yeah, I remember that." And it's been haunting me ever since.
"I didn't have a reply because I didn't understand what you meant, nii-san." The new name was becoming easier for him to say.
Utakata shifted in place, scratching the back of his neck again. "Well, you don't have to reply to me if you don't want to."
"I want to." Kimimaro's expression grew more serious. "Because I want you to know that I love you too, nii-san."
Utakata hoped his face wasn't as red as it felt. "Oh. Well... I... uh... I love you, Kimimaro."
"I remember, nii-san."
"Oh... uh... good." Utakata forced himself to swallow and meet his student's eyes.
"Thank you," Kimimaro picked up his plate and spoon again. "I think of you as the family I never had, nii-san."
Something lodged itself into Utakata's throat and he forced himself to swallow down the new wave of emotions. "Good." He took a bite of cake. "Me too."
On the other side of the table, Kimimaro did the same, although taking much larger bites. The room grew silent as they ate and Utakata shifted in his seat. When would Harusame return? It was taking him a long time just to make tea.
"Milk tea is ready." As if in answer, Harusame entered the room, placing a teapot and three cups on the table. Without waiting for a reply, he began to serve the drink, handing a cup to Kimimaro first and then one to Utakata.
Utakata thanked Harusame before taking a small sip. It was a bit sweet for his liking but it was Kimimaro's favorite.
Harusame poured himself a cup before sitting down and serving himself a slice of cake and a cup of tea.
"Oh, sensei?" Kimimaro turned to Harusame, setting his cup and plate on the table surface. "May I ask you a question?"
"Hm?" Harusame took a sip of tea, eyes closed.
"I asked Utakata-sensei if I could call him 'nii-san,'" Kimimaro began.
"Oh?" Harusame set his cup down, glancing at Utakata before returning his attention to Kimimaro. "And what did Utakata-kun say?"
He asks as if he doesn't already know the answer.
"Sen-nii-san said that I could." Kimimaro placed his hands over his lap. "He says now that he's no longer my teacher, it's fine."
"I see." Harusame turned his eyes to Utakata, who tried to look nonchalant by continually drinking his tea.
"Yes." Kimimaro nodded, not noticing Utakata's discomfort. "And since you have also taken care of me, sensei, I was wondering if it would be fine if I called you 'father.'"
In an instant, Utakata regretted drinking so much. Coughing, he spat out his tea and thumped his chest. Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, he waved away Kimimaro and Harusame's concerns as they turned to him.
"Are you okay, Utakata-kun?" Harusame asked. Was it his imagination or was the older man too calm? Almost deliberately so?
"I'm—" Utakata forced down the latest cough, tears pricking in the corners of his eyes. "I'm fine." Avoiding the other two's eyes, he lifted his cup and took a long drink, wishing the floor would swallow him whole.
With their attention on him and with his cup empty, he took a bite of cake, tasting nothing.
"So why do you wish to call me 'father,' Kimimaro-kun?" Harusame asked. If he felt any discomfort with the topic, he hid it well.
"Well, Utakata nii-san told me that you don't have to be related by blood to use terms usually reserved for family," the boy began. "And since you have taken care of both of us in a way similar to a parent, I thought I would ask if I had permission to, sensei."
Utakata chanced a glance at the boy and the older man, unable to push down his curiosity. Kimimaro's eyes were wide and innocent, a hint of uncertainty in his expression. Harusame in comparison was as calm and collected as ever. Unsure how to contribute, Utakata mashed his cake slice into paste with the back of his spoon.
"So you see me as family then, Kimimaro-kun?" Harusame placed his hands over his lap.
Kimimaro nodded. "More than my blood relatives, sensei."
The reminder of his biological relatives made Utakata's jaw clench tight. Would the shadow of the Kaguya clan hang over them forever?
Kimimaro's statement seemed to have a similar effect on Harusame because the man's next words were tense. "If you wish, you may call me that, Kimimaro-kun."
"Thank you, sen— father." The boy's voice sounded happier than Utakata could remember.
Utakata tried to ignore his own awkwardness by pushing his cake mush around in its plate. How long had Kimimaro seen Harusame as a father figure? And Utakata as a brother? And why did Utakata have no desire to contradict him?
"There's nothing to say thank you for, Kimimaro-kun." From the corner of his eye, Utakata saw Harusame leaning forward to pat the boy's head. "Isn't that right, Utakata-kun?"
Shit. They're talking to me.
"Uh... right." What was he agreeing to anyway?
Harusame looked like he was forcing himself not to roll his eyes. "Is there anything you would like to say to Kimimaro-kun?"
"Uh..." Utakata turned his attention to Kimimaro, the boy's eyes full of hope. "I'm glad you think of us as family," he began. "And I think of you as not only a student, but as my younger brother, too."
Utakata must have said the right thing because a pleased smile appeared on Harusame's lips and Kimimaro grinned. His heart began to beat faster in his chest.
"Drink your tea before it gets cold," Utakata said before taking a drink himself.
"Yes, nii-san." Kimimaro gave him one last smile before picking up his cup.
O-O-O-O-O
Sasuke glanced at the wall clock, ignoring Iruka's lecture on the transformation jutsu. Only fifteen minutes until the end of class.
Naruto leaned close to whisper in his ear. "You're gonna ask Iruka-sensei to teach you kenjutsu, right?"
Sasuke nodded. "Is there anyone else?"
"Not that I know of." Naruto leaned forward onto the desk, resting his chin on the desk. "Doesn't hurt to ask him, ya know."
"I know." Sasuke frowned, eyes focused on their teacher, a knee bouncing up and down with impatience. His grip on the pencil tightened and he took a deep breath in and out to calm himself.
Would Iruka even know anything about kenjutsu? Somehow Sasuke doubted it. But he had no other options. He couldn't deny his need for an instructor anymore. Not after last week.
After a month of trying to learn on his own, Sasuke had argued with Naruto to the point they stopped talking for a week. And while Sasuke spent that week alone and unwanted, Naruto had only grown closer to Ino, Hinata, and Sakura.
For one week, the four of them had eaten lunch together, shared the same desk, and trained after school. Naruto enjoyed their company so much he now sported spirals and frogs on his nails— courtesy of Ino.
Meanwhile, Sasuke had watched their friendship from the back of the classroom, pretending he wasn't jealous. It was only after getting in trouble with Kiba, which led to detention, that Sasuke finally apologized.
To his relief, Naruto had immediately accepted his apology. That Friday night, they ate dinner at Ichiraku Ramen as if nothing had changed.
The girls, while suspicious at first, also accepted his apology. And now Sasuke had two new friends— as well as the uchiwa fan painted on his left thumbnail.
Sasuke stared at the clock again. The bell was set to ring at any second and the entire classroom tensed in wait.
Sensing the change, Iruka paused his lecture and glanced up at the clock.
"Well, now that the class is almost over, I want to talk about your homework," he said, causing whines to spread throughout the classroom.
Iruka ignored his students' groans with practiced ease. "In addition to the workbook homework—"He wrote the page numbers on the board. "I want you all to practice the transformation jutsu. By the end of the week, everyone should be able to do an accurate transformation and hold it for at least five seconds."
Sasuke forced himself not to roll his eyes when some students complained again. How difficult could practice be? And unlike the fireball jutsu, transformations rarely caused burns.
Almost as soon as Iruka finished speaking, the bell rang. Whooping with excitement, the rest of the students rushed to finish the day. They shoved their things into their bags and pockets and ran out, not bothering to look back.
The only exception was Kiba, who called out Sasuke's name and grinned before leaving. Sasuke frowned— did Kiba think they were friends now, too?— but returned the gesture with a wave.
In contrast to the rest of the class, his friends moved as if in slow motion.
Next to him, Naruto placed his belongings into his bag one by one, faking a yawn. On his other side, Hinata put her pencils inside her case as carefully as if they were made of glass. At the desk behind them, Ino and Sakura did the same, spending longer than necessary to pack up.
Sasuke glared at them each in turn. Did they think he would allow them to see his conversation with Iruka? It was a private matter.
His friends, both old and new, ignored his glare by talking to each other, still dawdling.
"We're gonna practice the transformation jutsu together, right?" Naruto asked the girls, pointedly ignoring Sasuke's glare. "It's better than being alone, ya know."
"Why yes indeed!" Ino stared at Sasuke with a raised eyebrow. "Imagine thinking that training alone is the best thing to do."
Sakura placed a hand over her mouth to hide her giggles. "Wouldn't it be terrible to have no friends?"
"Or to have friends and tell them you don't need them." Hinata's voice was mild but the glare she threw Sasuke sent a shiver down his spine. "That's why it's very important to apologize when you hurt your friends' feelings, don't you agree?"
"Oh yes." Naruto crossed his arms and nodded, turning back to look at Sasuke. "It sure would be terrible to hurt your friends' feelings and never say sorry, ya know. Or to practice kenjutsu on your own without getting a teacher or friend to help."
"Okay, I get it. I was a jerk," Sasuke hissed. He had already apologized for pushing them away, what more did they need?
Ino and Naruto scoffed, eyebrows raised while Sakura giggled to herself and Hinata tilted her head to the side.
Sasuke turned to look back at the front of the class. Iruka was erasing the blackboard, the other students long gone.
"Go on ahead," Sasuke said, eyes focused on Iruka. "I just have to ask our teacher something."
"Of course!" Naruto clapped his shoulder. "We're your friends, ya know! We'll wait!"
With those words and one last squeeze of Sasuke's shoulder, Naruto headed out, the girls following at his sides. As a group, they glanced one last time at Sasuke and Iruka before stepping out and sliding the door closed.
Noticing Sasuke was still there, Iruka turned around, the blackboard half erased. He smiled, arms crossed in front of his chest. "Oh! Good afternoon, Sasuke, did you wish to speak to me about something?"
Sasuke sighed before walking toward his teacher.
"I noticed you made up with Naruto." Iruka smiled, meeting his eyes. "You both seem a lot happier now."
Sasuke hoped his face didn't look as warm as it felt. He nodded, forcing himself not to shift in place. Silent, he dug into his bag and pulled out the calligraphy punishment from Friday's detention.
"I finished writing the characters, sensei." Sasuke took a step forward, assignment in his hands. Naruto and Sasuke had worked on it together during The Steel Samurai commercial breaks, but their teacher didn't need to know that.
"I can see that." Iruka took the manuscript pages, flipping through them and nodding in approval. "I hope you learned your lesson then, Sasuke."
"Yes, sensei." Sasuke bowed, the picture of deference. When throwing water balloons, run away at the first sign of trouble.
Iruka raised an eyebrow at whatever expression was on Sasuke's face but didn't comment on it. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?"
Sasuke shook his head. "There's... something else I wished to ask, sensei."
"Oh?" Iruka walked toward his desk, placing the manuscript pages down before sitting at the edge, arms crossed. "What did you wish to ask me?"
"I... uh..." Sasuke hesitated, doubts rising. What would Iruka know about kenjutsu anyway? Sasuke could learn everything on his own if needed.
Mind racing, Sasuke stared at his fists. He opened his mouth to give an excuse to leave when the tiny uchiwa fan on his thumbnail caught his eye. Ino had painted his clan symbol as proof of their reconciliation and new friendship.
One day, the fan would chip away but the legacy of his clan never would. Not while he was still alive. How could he call himself an Uchiha if he was too afraid to even ask a question?
A new burst of courage made him take a deep breath in and out. "I want to learn how to wield a sword, Iruka-sensei," he said, looking up from his hands to meet his teacher's eyes.
"A sword?" Iruka's eyes were wide. "You want to learn how to wield a sword?"
Sasuke nodded, eyes still staring at Iruka. "I've tried on my own for more than a month, but..." He swallowed. "I'm still not good enough. I already have my own practice wakizashi but I was wondering if... uh..."
"If I know any kenjutsu I could teach you?"
Sasuke nodded again, face warm, eyes still focused on Iruka. "Yes."
Iruka sighed and shook his head. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sasuke but..." He scratched the back of his neck. "Kenjutsu is not something I know much about. I could teach you some of the foundations but—"
"But only the foundations." Sasuke tried to tamp down the disappointment in his stomach and failed. What was he supposed to do now? Considering his progress pace so far, he wouldn't become a kenjutsu master for decades longer. Was there anyone else? Perhaps—
"But Mizuki knows a bit of kenjutsu," Iruka added. "More than I do at least."
"Mizuki?" Why did that name sound familiar?
Iruka raised a single eyebrow. "Mizuki is your shurikenjutsu teacher, Sasuke. He's been one of your teachers since you enrolled."
"Oh." The image of a young man with chin-length hair and a bandana sprung to mind. "Him."
"Yeah, him." Iruka shook his head and sighed. "Anyway, he knows more about kenjutsu than I do. I can ask him if he's willing to teach you after school if you want. I can't make any promises for him, but if he declines, I'll teach you what little I know."
Sasuke nodded, hoping his expression hid his worry. "Thank you, sensei."
"You're welcome, Sasuke." With a grin, Iruka reached a hand over to pat the top of his head. "It's important to ask for help when you might need it."
Sasuke flinched, unsure how to feel about Iruka's hand on his head. Part of him considered pushing the man away, but... It felt nice.
"Anyway, I'm guessing you want to go home now." To Sasuke's relief and disappointment, Iruka pulled his hand back. "Or to train with Naruto? Well, whatever you're doing, feel free to go."
"Yes, sensei." Sasuke stared down at his feet, his whole body warm. "Thank you, sensei." Without waiting for a reply, he gave a short bow before turning to leave.
"See you tomorrow, Sasuke!" Iruka's voice sounded so honest it hurt.
Sasuke slid the classroom door open, pausing only to turn back and nod. "I'll see you tomorrow, sensei."
Iruka grinned and gave him a small wave. "See you."
With one final nod goodbye, Sasuke stepped out, sliding the door closed after him. He sighed. Why was it so difficult to ask for help?
"Huh, I didn't know Mizuki-sensei knew kenjutsu," Naruto's familiar voice said from a short distance away.
Sasuke jumped. "Naruto!" His face grew hot, both angry and embarrassed. "You were eavesdropping?"
"I wasn't eavesdropping, Jerk!" Naruto retorted. "I was just listening to what you and Iruka-sensei were talking about, ya know!"
"That's what eavesdropping is!" Sasuke grabbed onto the front of Naruto's shirt. "You're such an idiot!"
"No, you are!" Naruto grabbed onto the front of his shirt, too.
"Am not!"
"So Mizuki-sensei knows kenjutsu?" Hinata appeared from behind Naruto. "I hope he can teach you everything he knows."
Sasuke pouted at his other friend. "You were eavesdropping, too?"
"It's not eavesdropping," Ino butted in, arm wrapped around Sakura's elbow. "We were just listening in on your conversation with Iruka-sensei."
"That's what eavesdropping is!"
Were his friends that dumb or were they teasing him? He opened his mouth to retort before shaking his head. It wasn't worth the trouble. With a grunt, Sasuke let go of Naruto's shirt to shove his hands inside his pockets.
Naruto did the same, his hands moving up to cradle the back of his neck. He grinned, making Sasuke's own lips quirk up. After a week without talking, it was nice to be friends again.
O-O-O-O-O
Yagura left Zangei's morgue, a grin on his face and a fat wad of cash in his hand.
It's so much easier to be a bounty hunter with two scary friends at my side.
Their latest target— a Kirigakure missing-nin named Kajika— had fetched them a substantial reward. The acquisition of his teammates, Yamame and Iwana, only sweetened the pot. And unlike his time as Akio, the bounty collector had paid him the correct amount, not a penny less.
Loitering in the shade, Han and Roshi turned to him.
"Well, you look happy," Han commented as he leaned against the wall of the rest station. Despite the heat of late summer in the Land of Fire, he wore his full armor.
"So how much did Zangei pay us?" Roshi asked before taking a sip of water from his flask.
"Enough for a year," Yagura answered with a grin as he showed off the stack of bills. "And not just at cheap roadside inns either. We're talking nice ryokan."
Han huffed, nodding in approval. "Good. Glad the effort wasn't wasted." He extended a hand to take his share.
"And our infamy is growing," Yagura added as he handed a third of the money to Han and the other third to Roshi. "Which is good, considering..." He sighed, his earlier joy diminishing.
For the past half year, they had tried to find the elusive Jiraiya through traditional means. They visited new towns. They checked the hot springs. They prepared honeytraps. Every second of every day, they kept their eyes and ears peeled for any evidence of the legendary ninja. But after months of work, they had found nothing.
Running out of cash and with no real plan, they resumed their previous work— tracking down bounties for profit. It kept a roof over their heads and spread their reputation far and wide, which would hopefully increase the chance for Jiraiya to find them. Destroying large portions of the criminal underworld was an added bonus.
"It's hot as hell," Han whined, taking Yagura's attention away from his thoughts.
"Take off your damn armor, then." Yagura wiped away the sweat that was already forming on his forehead. The morgue was creepy and darker than it needed to be, but at least it had air conditioning.
"One must always be prepared for battle." Despite his words, Han took his hat and mask off to fan himself.
"Should we celebrate with an iced beer?" Roshi suggested as he shoved the cash inside his knapsack. Unlike the other two, he ignored the heat with ease. "There's a town around a half hour away if we run."
"Running? At this time? The heat would—" Han's body tensed and he shoved his mask and hat back on.
Yagura followed his line of sight and his heart jumped up to his throat.
Kakuzu, the mercenary Yagura had met years before while disguised as Akio, walked down the road toward the rest station. The same long cloak adorned his shoulders, blood-red clouds impossible to forget. Despite the summer sun, he seemed not to sense the heat as he headed toward them.
"I don't think he's seen us yet," Yagura whispered. "Act natural."
But Yagura had no need to say anything. Already, Han and Roshi were leaning against the wall and talking as if nothing was amiss.
"Have you tried the date wine from the Land of Wind?" Han asked. "I heard it's very good, if a bit on the sweet side."
"I haven't, but the sake in the Land of Fire is very good," Roshi said.
Yagura jumped into the conversation. "Yes, I think sake from the Land of Fire is very good. Although for beer, no one does it better than the Land of Lightning."
"Tch. Beer from Lightning?" Roshi huffed. "The Land of Stone makes the best beer."
"That it does." Han nodded. "Although I will concede Lightning also makes good beer."
Yagura watched Kakuzu from the corner of his eye. Based on what little could be seen of his face, he had noticed them loitering in the shade.
"Alcohol from the Land of Water is the worst though," Roshi added, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. "Might as well drink piss."
Yagura felt one eye begin to twitch. "Well, I beg to differ!" he protested. "Have you ever had umeshu? The drink of the gods!"
Roshi snorted. "Which gods? The gods of trash?"
Yagura pouted. Their fake debate was becoming personal. "You just think that because you've burned your sense of taste with the spicy shit you eat."
"What'd you say about my cooking?" Like Yagura, Roshi was beginning to look genuinely offended.
"I was talking about what you eat, not what you cook!" Yagura responded. From the corner of his eye, he saw Kakuzu was now only a shuriken's throw away.
"Well, unlike a certain someone I actually know how to cook." Roshi crossed his arms and scowled. "And I don't burn the kitchen down."
"I'm not that bad of a cook! I can make fire roasted fish at least!"
Roshi huffed. "Put a fish on a stick and roast it over an open fire? What skill."
"Okay, you know what? I—" Yagura took a step forward.
Roshi did the same, opening his mouth to retort.
But before they could continue, Han interrupted, placing his large body in the middle. He put his hands on their heads, making Yagura feel like a child getting scolded for not making his bed in the morning.
"Stop arguing about pointless things," Han's calm voice said. "There's someone coming and you two are squabbling like children."
We only look like that because you're unfairly tall.
Still, Yagura was glad for the excuse, and he turned to look at Kakuzu, Han's hand still on his head.
"Good afternoon," he said as Kakuzu reached the foot of the stairs.
Han and Roshi did the same. "Afternoon."
Kakuzu himself said nothing, climbing up step by step, eyes focused on the door to the men's restroom that hid Zangei's morgue.
Yagura breathed a sigh of relief at being ignored. There was no plan of attack and while they had the advantage of numbers, a battle's outcome was never guaranteed.
But before disappearing into the men's toilet, Kakuzu glanced in their direction. His eyes widened and he stopped. Journey to the morgue forgotten, he took a step toward them, his attention focused upon Roshi.
Shit. A chill ran down Yagura's spine. Had he recognized them?
Based on Roshi's expression, Yagura could tell his friend was thinking along the same lines. But showing their uncertainty would help no one. Roshi raised his hand to swat Han away. He met the missing-nin's eyes with an intentionally neutral face.
"Is there anything we can help you with?" Roshi asked, arms still crossed.
Kakazu walked closer, saying nothing until he stood close enough for a sword thrust to the stomach. His eyes narrowed as he inspected Roshi up and down.
"Uh..." Roshi shifted in place, unsettled by the man's cold eyes. "Hello?"
Still, Kakuzu said nothing and silence settled.
Uncertain, Yagura turned his gaze back and forth from the two men. Was a battle unavoidable? Based on the intel Fuu had collected, defeating the man would likely require the aid of their bijuu. Unless it was a life or death situation, Yagura would prefer to keep their status as jinchuuriki a secret.
A moment later, Kakuzu finally spoke. "I know who you are," a deep, gravelly voice said. "And..." his eyes turned to Han next, tilting his head up. "I think..." What little of his face was visible grimaced and one hand wandered down to the pouch around his thigh. "I think I know who you are, too."
Fuck. Yagura tensed, fingertips brushing the handle of a kunai. Nearby, Han and Roshi prepared for a fight as well, their stances widening.
"Not sure what you mean by that," Han said in the same voice he used to talk to the children. "We're just bounty hunters, same as you."
"Who are you?" Roshi asked. "And what do you mean you know who we are?"
Kakuzu grew quiet again. Thoughts flitted through his eyes as he considered his next course of action. At last, he relaxed, taking his hand away from his pouch.
"I think I met your father, boy." Kakuzu's eyes were fixed upon Roshi, voice almost sounding amused. "I saw an old man that looked a lot like you not too long ago. Somehow I doubt it's a coincidence."
Roshi's eyes shifted to Yagura before he could stop himself. But the brief glance was enough.
"Seems like you've already found your doppelganger, then," Kakuzu commented in a dry voice. "Be careful, someone was trying to steal your identity. Doubt he was considerate of your reputation either."
Yagura forced himself not to shift in place as Roshi threw daggers his way. Was he ever going to live his time as Akio down?
Kakuzu's cold gaze focused on Yagura next, searching for a weakness. "Who are you? Are you..." his eyes narrowed. "Are you like them?"
Yagura felt another chill roll down his back. Did he suspect he was a jinchuuriki, too?
"Yeah, I'm a bounty hunter," Yagura answered, daring Kakuzu to reveal his true meaning. "Although I mostly just help with bookkeeping."
Kakuzu's eyebrows contracted in a frown and he stared Yagura up and down, as if trying to catch him in a lie. But Yagura was too experienced. He doubted even Anzu could see through his lies.
The missing-nin's eyes wandered from Yagura to Roshi to Han and back again. His frown became more pronounced and his fingers twitched, as if seeking a weapon. But when no one caved, he took a step back, turned around, and walked away.
"I don't have time for this," the man declared. Confident, stupid, or a combination of the two, he left his back wide open for an attack. "I have a bounty to collect."
Yagura felt his heart thundering in his chest. This was the closest to a lead they had gotten in years and it was walking away. Was he going to let Kakuzu leave without at least trying to get intel?
"Wait!" Yagura shouted at the man's retreating back. "I have just one question for you."
Kakuzu ignored him as he neared the men's toilets.
"It's about a missing nin we've been chasing for nearly a year now."
Kakuzu raised a hand to push the door open.
"We're trying to hunt down Orochimaru!"
The name drop made the other man freeze, one hand half raised. His shoulders tensed and his hands tightened into fists. A moment later, he turned, meeting Yagura's eyes in challenge.
"Orochimaru?" Kakuzu's voice dripped with hatred.
Yagura's pulse pounded in his ears. Weren't the two in the same mercenary group? Had Orochimaru left? Or was there infighting within that organization?
Yagura nodded, hiding his new excitement. "We've been trying to find him but he's sneakier than we could have anticipated. We'd split the reward if you want."
Kakuzu lifted his chin, glaring down at Yagura from up high. "Don't talk to me about Orochimaru." His fingers trailed to his weapon's pouch, close enough to touch the flap.
At his sides, Han and Roshi deepened their stances, bijuu chakra boiling under the surface. Yagura's healthy hand reached for the hilt of a kunai, gripping it tight. Silent, they waited for someone to throw the first weapon.
But once again, Kakuzu de-escalated first. He sighed and shook his head, pulling his hand away from his weapons. "I don't have time for this," he repeated to himself under his breath before turning to glare at them.
"If we fight, someone will die." The man's words were certain and he paused before speaking again. "But I cannot determine who." He inspected them like insects again, one by one. "And if you three are what I think you are..." His eyes narrowed when they stared at Yagura. "No... it would be idiotic to even try."
Yagura shifted in place. He's got a point. I don't wanna lose the rest of my arm.
At his side, Han and Roshi seemed to be having the same type of thoughts. Was there a way to guarantee one side would win? Especially when they knew close to nothing about their enemy?
Kakuzu shook his head. "You're not certain of your victory either, are you? Otherwise you would have already attacked." With those last words, he pushed open the door to the men's toilet and entered without a single glance back.
Silent, the three jinchuuriki monitored the entrance, half expecting Kakuzu to come back out ready for battle. But as time passed and the sun traveled across the sky, no one exited, let alone Kakuzu.
"Do you—" Roshi lowered his guard. "Do you think he escaped?"
Yagura sighed, slapping a hand over his forehead. "There must be a second exit from the morgue," he speculated. "Guess Kakuzu is friendlier with Zangei than he's ever been with us."
"Or he just doesn't want a fight between monsters to break out right outside his morgue," Han suggested as he too relaxed. "And as much as I hate to admit it, I'm not entirely sure if we can take on that man on our own."
"Well, I'm sure," Roshi grumbled as he rolled his shoulders and scratched the back of his neck. "Might have to sacrifice an arm or a leg though, which is not ideal." He gave Yagura a pointed look.
Yagura raised an eyebrow, pouting. "What're you staring at me like that for?"
"Oh nothing." Roshi looked off at the road. "I guess a finger or two might be enough," he mumbled to himself.
"How about one of your fingers?" Yagura took out a kunai from his weapon's pouch. "Not too long ago in Kirigakure, we used to cut off the pinky fingers of deserters."
"I dare you to try," Roshi retorted, taking out a weapon of his own.
Han shook his head and sighed. "This isn't the time to fight over cutting off fingers," he said. "We need to make a plan."
Yagura groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We have a plan. It's just... not working out as quickly as we'd hoped."
"We need a new plan," Roshi retorted.
"There is no new plan!" Yagura said.
Han sighed again. "Let's talk about this later. I think..." He reached under his armor to scratch the back of his neck. " I think we deserve a break."
Yagura clapped Han's elbow, the highest place he could reach without jumping. "Agreed," he said. "Give me some umeshu from the Land of Water."
Roshi snorted as he wiped away the sweat from his face and walked down the stairs. "An iced beer would be better."
"You're just jealous that your country's alcohol isn't as good," Yagura retorted as he followed down the stairs.
"If that helps you sleep at night." Roshi started to walk down the road toward the nearest town, Han at his side.
"Whatever." Yagura rolled his eyes before following them.
As they left, he glanced back at the rest station, worry bubbling in the pit of his stomach.
Did Kakuzu suspect he was a jinchuuriki, too? And if so, what did that mean? Was his time as Akio running to a close? Would Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi be forced to reveal himself sooner or later?
Jumbled thoughts running through his mind, he followed Han and Roshi to the next town and its busiest bar.
O-O-O-O-O
A/N: Words are hard.
Morket is super nice and a great beta reader. Even if he does buy me video games that kill my productivity.
Next chapter: a cat.