Chapter 15
Sustainability Stone Arc part 5 (last chapter to this arc!)
Guess whose POV this chapter starts with? Clap with me if you're pro rounder villains!
Shinobi have long memories. The more veteran of the Konohagakure and Iwagakure bunch are easy to pinpoint, and Delta doesn't even need to try. All sharp eyed, bodies leaned back instead of tensed like the younger ones, so they can move in an instant if needed, in whichever direction. It's been a long 20 years of peace now for this side of the world, a fact Delta does not appreciate at all, and it's all the more apparent by the Genin and Chunin on the field, visibly shaken and somewhat frightened, but not aware enough.
Pathetic. A few detonations and they're all rattled like the traitorous snakes they are. Konoha…this is a surprise to her day. Their spies managed to unfold most of the mapping and guards to the artifacts the Allied Forces assigned, but the back up team is news. The Byakugan wielder was unplanned for this stage. Delta had enough battle experience to counter it in seconds, which makes it a damn good thing Koji wasn't assigned on this mission. The man is a babe in age compared to Delta (and some of the other inner circle Kara members) yet he launches into everything as he feels like it and Delta knows it'll kill him gruesomely one day, likely by the very people he'll be trying to hurt and she's just hoping to have a decent seat for the show. The annoying twerp.
She touches the roman number in the middle of her forehead, knowing the ink's there but unable to feel it through half numb fingers. No matter what Amado tries, her fingers and toes are always half numb, in every one of her bodies. Likely, the cause is not a physical deficiency, but Delta is loath to admit to any such humanity still in herself.
The drone returns lazily through the branches to her alcove. She lets it connect to her mind-server and reads everything it's been recording as its collected reconnaissance on the ninja.
Annoyingly, it starts at the end and reverses backwards. Thankfully she's used to seeing battles backwards. The forces are on the move once more. Then the attack on the sensory team bound to piss them all off and create chaos. The last few bombs – Delta pauses at the small scuffle between Iwa and Konoha. She scoffs. "Well well, pretty sure Allied Forces or not now that everyone's back to wearing their own Hitai-ate old grudges scrap back to the surface."
"Delta-sama?" one of the few subordinates she held back from the sensory team attack questions politely.
"A naïve Genin opened a door for some old Iwa Jonin to excuse their hatred of any Konoha shinobi and it was quite amusing. Blatantly they tried to grab the girl, and her Jonin intervened… I dare say I should've held our attack off and just enjoyed them all tearing each other to pieces." It grates on her nerves that one Shinobi War spent fighting alongside each other and not against each other makes everybody best friends for life. At least she's not the only shinobi who's resentful, going by the pair of Iwa Jonin. Her fingers graze her forehead, but everything is still numb.
The Second Shinobi War had Konoha and Iwa at each other's throats. She rewatches the scene again in vicious smugness, when she realizes whose life the brat saved. Hmmm, Akira. That name is familiar, and finally the erring clues her in – The Land of Earth's last Daimyō's only son. Well beloved by Iwa.
Perhaps not that well loved if they're sending him on high-risk missions like this one. Delta is familiar enough with politics and the shinobi world to assume the current Daimyō likely hopes for some tragic accident to befall the boy here.
Moving on. She watches further, as far back as the first confrontation. It was meant to evaluate the main forces in this area, and the Konoha delegation was an unpleasant surprise. But she was there for most of it, and it always bored her to watch a recording of her in it – about to shut off the feed inside of her cyber-eyes only she can see –
Red eyes.
Sharingan.
Young eyes – weak eyes! Not Sasuke Uchiha's eyes. She watches until one of the girl's comrades utters her name in foolishness and arrogance and everything the ninja world reverted to these days.
Tactics run through her mind in quick succession; the mission is complete – playing mouse and cat is only fun until the cat is needed somewhere more important and while this is a sorry attempt at a protection squad she still managed to identify too many of Iwa's best Jonin and a master Byakugan wielder amongst them. It'll take too long and she needs to keep an eye on the situation at Kiri. That's the main battle – and both Kara and the Allied Forces are no fools to both not be ready for it. Then she'll go to Lightning Country, and capture Kawaki. That he thinks they don't know where he's hiding out since running from the Hokage is utterly foolish of him, and for that he'll be punished severely.
Another option is – no, no. the mission. The objective. The Cube, damn it all. She'll leave this for another day.
Sarada Uchiha.
She'll allow the girl to develop her eyes further before she comes for them. (Not as far as her father had, because that'll just be another pain to deal with).
"We're done here." Delta declares, allowing the ninja to keep their little trinket they're transporting; what need does she have with nature chakra anyway? She is beyond it. Kara is beyond it.
Sarada
"My legs are going to fall out!" Shikadai hisses in whisper so neither Jonin hears him.
"We have been walking for a good three days." Sumire surmises, falling into step next to Sarada.
"At least the rain is letting up." Inojin comforts mildly. "Though our clothes are still wet and these cloaks sure weigh me down."
"Stuff it in your bag, Yamanaka!" Wasabi calls, already doing so.
"It'll weight the same." Shikadai points out tiredly, passing a hand through his tight ponytail tiredly.
"At least it won't feel like your drowning in your own clothes." Wasabi shrugs logically, her short hair already looks dry despite the small drizzle still falling on them.
At the end all the Genin ignore the drizzle as they near Earth Country and take off their hooded coats except Shikadai who's still got a bit of an injury and decides he doesn't want to let it get wet.
"I think I see the border." Sarada blinks her Sharingan away. Next to her, Sumire didn't try and sneak a glance at her red and black eyes, having seen them activate several times during their morning practices, and that time during their academy graduating exam.
Amusingly, Inojin and Namida squint their eyes. "Where?" Inojin demands. "It's called trees Sarada."
Shikadai rolls his eyes. "With her Sharingan, guys."
"You used to be on the watch out a lot, Sarada-chan?" Moegi-sensei asks curiously.
Sarada nods. "Konohamaru-sensei would keep me checking for borders and spying eyes usually."
"You're right. Three hours ahead." Hanabi-sensei hums calmly, glancing at Sarada approvingly.
"Can the Sharingan see everywhere like Hanabi-sensei's eyes, Sarada-chan?" Namida asks, squeezing one of her pigtails to let out some of the rainwater.
"I don't think so." Sumire says. "I mean, then the Hyuga wouldn't be so unique, right?"
"I thought it could only place others under Genjutsu." Wasabi admits, stretching her arms above her head like a cat.
"Nah, it can also do other stuff." Inojin corrects, and Sarada glares at him for acting all high and mighty and knowledgeable when it's all from pestering her as kids and then teasing her that she can't do half of what her dad can.
"It sees better than regular eyes, anyways." She answers before anybody else can throw another random guess. "I can't see everything like Hanabi-sensei can, but I see better than others. So if somebody is watching us from a far, I'd see them probably better then they'll see me and if you can't see a border watchtower because we're not close enough to notice it yet, my eyes can vaguely see it before you."
"So…" Wasabi blinks at her. "Like the Byakugan then?"
Sarada sighs and looks up at Hanabi pleadingly to try this time.
Hanabi huffs a small breath of amusement and thankfully decides to help. "Byakugan!" veins appear around her eyes, and the purple eyes deepen, almost throbbing.
Shikadai and Inojin stare at those pronounced features as the focus seems to shift like she's watching things none of them can see. Then she disables the Byakugan and tells them "Three levels watchtower. Three Iwa ninja on break, five on the higher levels. One going down the staircase as we speak to the ground level to meet our front teams, already approaching." Her eyes crinkle in amusement at the Genin's expressions of awe (her own three students clearly seen this already). Then she explains. "You see, while my eyes can see through walls and distance, Uchiha eyes cannot. While Uchiha eyes can see everything much sharply and cast powerful genjutsu, mine cannot. On this however our abilities align and both I and Sarada-chan can see the approaching tower ahead before all of you can."
Hanabi-sensei…managed to become scarier.
"Ahem." Moegi-sensei pouted. "I knew the watchtower was there. I can tell you the ninja you spotted were Chunin, Jonin, and another Chunin respectively."
Sarada shoots Inojin a fierce stare because how did Moegi-Sensei know that and in such detail?
Shikadai shakes his head, grim under the other's similar stares and Inojin grins as he whispers "She'll skin us alive." And Sarada figures she's not going to learn Moegi-sensei's secrets anytime soon.
Hanabi-sensei waves her off calmly. "It's not the same. We're speaking of sight."
Moegi didn't seem overjoyed at the dismissal, and the group walked on, Genin too tired for too much conversation and too on edge at the long silence from their enemies to allow themselves to be too distracted.
Once past the border, all the teams are instructed to run at full speed through Earth Country without pause. By sundown the scenery changes so drastically it's mind blowing; broken heavy green trees turned to skinny dry ones, grass turned to earth and dry dust, bushes and shrubs to boulders and rocks, and the thickness of the forest turns to open fields and wide barren lands.
It's so hot I can't believe I miss the rain.
But in two days they make it to their destination right outside The Village Hidden in the Rocks without any further attacks by Delta.
Their party sets camps up, eating and resting for all the shinobi while a group of people took the small package as soon as it's arrived and left with it.
"We're to make sure the security is set up without a problem and once target is securely in Iwa hands, we can start heading home." Moegi-sensei announces once they've finished eating. "Now off to bed all of you! You look like stringy noodles!"
There are groans and grim faces as the genin shuffle to their sleeping bags miserably. Like Hanabi-sensei predicted, they haven't stopped for rest the whole way here besides short sleeping shifts, too paranoid to linger after Kara's assault.
The next morning they're woken at 5 am by Hanabi-sensei personally. Sarada knows it's Moegi-sensei's idea and can't deny it's brilliance. Even if Chocho were here she would've gotten up in an instant, wide awake, if she woke up to the sight of the purple eyes of the Hyuga. It's jarring, truth be told.
They all pack up, and stretch slowly, sore muscles after the journey.
She notices that for Namida Shikadai and Inojin it's hard to even get up. Silently she thanks Lee-san for being the crazy boundaries-pushing ninja that he is. Shikadai looks a bit ruffled about that, throwing little calculating glances at her when she keeps up with the more athletic Wasabi and Sumire. Frankly even Sarada can admit she's never been strong physically (unless she used her chakra to help increase her strength). As an Uchiha with perfect chakra control she almost didn't feel like pushing herself in Taijutsu as much as Metal and Wasabi ever did during their academy days.
Good thing I've good all that free time now, she thinks dryly. Still, it's a true perk to allow herself to enjoy Shikadai's expression. She'll remember that next time Lee-san's practice is pure hell and sweat and pain (mostly just for Sarada, Metal seems to really enjoy himself).
She's starting to really see Taijutsu's benefit during long missions; you don't need to exert chakra on speed and stamina. It's nice. She resolves to keep training with Lee-san and Metal.
They all stuff their sleeping bags back into their backpacks and refold the tent tiredly.
"Ready? We're going to meet up with Iwa shinobi to see for ourselves that the object is all set and secure." Moegi announces, and they all strap their bags over their backs and follow, ready to finish this long mission and head home to Konoha.
They head to the facility ahead, that can't only function as a guarding place for one small package, right? The structure is wide and round, as is Rock Country style, and muddy color and Sarada wouldn't be surprised if it was crafted and built by a clever Earth Element Jutsu. There are Iwa shinobi hanging off hooks and perches attached all around the facility, watching the distance and hanging like birds on the roof. Interesting, but they've got to be getting a headache like that, with no shadows to cover them against the hard hot sun. But there also won't be anything at all that could obscure their vision, Sarada concedes.
At the entrance a Jonin they recognize waits for them.
"You're Hero-san, right?" Shikadai asks the man, glancing up at him.
The Jonin grins. "Nice to see you all again! Come on in, I'll be your guide. This place can be a bit of a maze."
"We appreciate it." Moegi says diplomatically, and they walk in. Instantly the sun's heat is gone from their necks and the relief is immense. Sarada sighs, and apparently the other Genin show it in some way, because Hero grins at them kindly.
"Rough terrain at Iwa I'm afraid. But we locals are used to it."
Well Sarada's used to flying through forests without making a single sound, so she supposes it makes sense.
They walk for a bit in silence, and eventually the two Konoha Jonin leg behind, talking amongst themselves. Shikadai (exploiting the moment, Sarada bets) takes the opportunity to nonchalantly comment "All this for some small object. The enemy must've really wanted it, eh? Troublesome…"
"You weren't briefed on what it is? I guess it makes sense, the less who know the less likely the enemy was to find out who's travelling with what."
Shikadai glances at Sarada who nods. Denki's words echo in Sarada's head.
"Can you tell us what our cargo was? Or is that classified?" Inojin asks bluntly but lightly, knowing the ninja is either under a gag order or isn't and they might as well just ask.
Hero doesn't seem to mind and nods. "You kids ever hear of Natural Energy?"
Shikadai shrugs but nods, Inojin looks politely confused. Wasabi shakes her head "Natural what?" beside her Namida is watching the building design with interest. Sumire is walking a part ways away from them at the back with the Jonin, and seems to be debating taking the pills the Iwa sensor gave her with Hanabi-sensei.
"Mm." Sarada makes a non-committal reply. She knows it's a bit different, as Mitsuki in Sage-Mode has it, but he never explained it extensively to team 7, so she won't mind a professional explanation.
"It's a source of energy in the atmosphere. It's very rare for a ninja to be able to gather that energy to themselves. If they combine it with their own chakra, they can use it, and it is very powerful and unique to regular chakra. Let's say, not everybody's systems can withstand it." Hero explains.
Sage-Mode allows you to use Natural Energy…interesting.
"How powerful is it?" Inojin inquires, a blond strand of hair on his cheek, having escaped his low pony tail through the journey.
Hero chuckles but instead says "It's hard for shinobi to gather that energy, and along the years we've come up with ways to try and draw some of it up and use it. Wasn't much effective, so those attempts ceased some time ago, around the Second Great Shinobi War."
They stopped walking, facing a little window showing a containment room. There are no guards, but Sarada can guess why they aren't worried; every inch of space on the walls, ceiling, and floor, is covered in ink; the whole room is a giant seal, stopping anybody from getting the small hovering gem midair at the center.
Namida crowded closer to look at it shyly. "It's pretty." She says in surprise.
"It's shining." Shikadai notes, head cocked to the side.
"It's flying." Wasabi barks, like they're all crazy. "I think that's the first thing to notice."
"It's well protected." Sarada looks at the symbols across the large seal curiously, but she only knows what fuijutsu the academy taught, which is pretty basic stuff.
"It has to be. It's the only product close to success in those tests we got to." Hero agrees, leaning on the glass wall and peering into the room, the only one of them who could, seeing as it's a high long window and they're twelve and he's an adult. "Doesn't really work for a shinobi, but place it at the middle of a good seal on the ground with trees and some earth to connect to, and it'll use up all the Natural Energy it's placed on for you to convert for whatever you need." Hero gives them a significant look. "Let's say we don't want to know what Kara would ever do with such a powerful tool. The Sustainability Stone…" he grunts, leaning back. "Makes the hardest of Rituals an easy thing to perform."
"Damn." Inojin whistles, pale eyes widening. "Has anyone ever tried stealing it before?"
"Snake Sannin. Quite famously." Came the immediate reply. Sarada's eyes fixated from the stone to the Iwa Jonin because what?
"Seriously?" She can't help but ask, and winces when Shikadai and Hero glance at her. Shikadai catching she might know something about the legendry Konoha missing nin (who's not missing at all, ironically. In fact there are Konoha ninja constantly guarding him) and Hero because she's the only one in their group to really realize how bad it'll be for Orochimaruto get that artifact which means somebody knows what he's talking about.
"We read about the Legendary Sannin in class, didn't we Namida?" Wasabi asks, and Inojin hums in agreement. Namida tears her eyes away from the stone to nod.
"Well, Iwa might have lost it to Ame during the third shinobi world war, but we both agreed The Snake Sannin shouldn't have it." Hero explains. "Thought Madara would try and get it, but Ame never reached out during that time."
Shikadai raises a brow. "Could it be because after the fourth war it turned out Amekagure was controlled by two members of Akatsuki?" he asks dryly. Rain Country overtook a famously rigorous makeover under the Allied Forces watchful eye after the fourth war. At least they finally have a stable government.
Hero laughs. "Yeah kid, but we couldn't have dreamed of such a thing at the time. They could've used it anytime they wanted, and likely did since none of us still understand how they knew to wake up the Gedō Mazō the first time 'round."
The Gedo what? What they learned about the 4th shinobi war at the academy was a lot (it was real crazy stuff too) but this was such a frankly honest account she's not sure she's heard of most of what he's saying. Sarada glances at Shikadai, and notices so do Wasabi and Inojin. He doesn't seem to be frowning so maybe it's something somewhere in their old textbooks…and suddenly Sarada feels guilty she didn't pay closer attention to those details. But really history names of things are a hard thing to remember especially when you also need to remember all the famous ninja and their weaknesses (the academy has been adamant about that since the dead resurrected against them during the last war and are unlikely to let up for a while).
"Well, now you know what you helped protect. Pretty worth it, wasn't it?" Hero asks. Sarada isn't sure if he means 'kept it from Kara hands' or 'brought it back to Iwa after we lost it in a war to another country' so she doesn't respond.
Neither does Inojin, who furrows his brows a bit at the foreign Jonin.
"Yeah pretty badass." Wasabi cheers.
"I knew it wasn't a person." Shikadai grins, trying to pretend he's not doing the whole 'I told you so' thing of his that's so annoying but he hasn't dropped entirely since they were kids. It's a challenge not to roll her eyes.
"I'm glad it's safe now." Namida sighs in relief.
"That's tight fuijutsu." Moegi-sensei's voice breaks over as the last three join them. "It's in good hands now, and the mission's quite over. I think we'll take our leave, Hero-san." She grins mildly.
Sumire watches the room with wide eyes, glancing at all the words on the large seal. She nods to herself, clearly impressed.
Hero nods. "We are thankful for the assistance, Moegi-san, Hyuga-san."
Hanabi-sensei nods and gestures to all the Genin to follow before turning and heading to the exit of the building.
"Konoha was happy to pitch in! Come on ducklings!" Moegi-sensei calls, and they bid the Iwa Jonin farewell.
-End Sustainability Stone Arc! Next chapter we're back at the village
Sorry sorry sorry! I posted the puppy from hell fic recently where i mentioned this fic and my other unfinished works are NOT abandoned and I meant it! I've just been going through a rough patch and quarantine with the people I'm currently living with hasn't helped matters. Lately I'm getting out of my funk, and back to writing!
Please leave a review, even if it's small or a correction to spelling you noticed - they keep me motivated to write more and write better