Author's Note: The responses to the events of the last chapter were a joy to read. I loved seeing all the reactions to the twists I threw at you!
From Shizune to Sasuke to Sasori, pretty much everyone had something interesting or insightful to say. I'll answer your questions and comments about it, as always, down below.
Leave a review to share your thoughts, or if you would like a question answered at the end of the next chapter!
Thanks!
"Flashback Sequence"
Chapter 36: Divergence
True to their word, Sasuke and Sasori continuously butchered the massive snake as it attempted to strike out at them in clear desperation. It was hard to keep time in the heat of battle, but it felt like they had been hacking away at the creature for several minutes. Each time they thought it was finally over, Orochimaru got back up and continued his relentless assault. Pain did not matter. Bloodshed and injuries did not faze him; the Sannin was fueled purely by his unmatched ambition and desire to become perfect.
It had started to feel like the Snake truly was immortal, but neither the Scorpion nor Hawk allowed that thought to enter their minds.
No matter the mindset, the struggle had started to take its toll on the raven-haired teen. The Curse Mark's second state took a massive toll on the boy's body when used for prolonged periods, and those effects were gradually becoming more noticeable. His heavy breathing was apparent to both the Snake and Puppeteer, which only seemed to reinvigorate the opportunistic Sannin. They couldn't afford to drag this fight out any longer; every second that ticked by only decreased their chances of winning. With Sasori in a weakened state without his entire puppet arsenal, they were finished if Sasuke went down. There was always the chance that Naruto arrives and swoop in to assist, but there were no guarantees.
They had to finish this now!
It had taken a bit of getting used to, but the redhead had finally acclimated to the Mother and Father puppets. Granny Chiyo's surprise alterations came in handy as the new chakra shields emerged from their arms and rushed the serpent. Sasori used the first pieces of art he ever crafted as battering rams and slammed them into the massive white snake. The force was what you would expect from a wall of chakra as his foe was launched high into the air.
Sasuke's bloodred eyes flashed dangerously; he quickly recognized what his partner had set up for him. The Uchiha jumped up with finality and ran his lightning-charged blade through his mentor once more with a streak of malicious intent. His katana ripped through the serpent's neck and separated it from the rest of the body. The White Snake, detached from itself, finally collapsed onto the ground in a bloody heap.
Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan and allowed his Curse Mark to fully recede back into him. They had clearly taken a toll on his reserves, which were already running low. With a huff of breath, a feeling of freedom washed over him.
It was over. They had won.
Sasori appeared to be in much better condition than his partner in crime. His stamina was abnormally high, and his fighting style didn't revolve around the expenditure of large amounts of chakra. With his move set based on his puppet body and the liberal use of chakra threads, a low-cost Jutsu, the redhead could fight all day and still have plenty of reserves left. As for the battle, every slash he landed against his enemy made him feel alive; that was something he hadn't felt in a long time. But…
Would it last?
He walked closer to the carcass to further bask in his victory. It was in his nature to savor this kind of moment, especially against an enemy he despised. However, upon closer inspection of the corpse, he frowned. "Uchiha, stay back." Commanded the Puppet Master, as he watched mysterious steam excrete from the open wounds of the creature.
Sasuke, laborious in his movements, noticed the duress in the stoic man's voice and obliged wordlessly. "What is that?" He asked, dropping down to one knee from the mounting exhaustion a safe distance away.
"From the look of it, it appears to be some form of poisonous gas." Sasori took one of the swords his puppets had wielded and drove it through the skull of the Sannin before the beast could rise once more. Right before the blow struck true, the former Sand Shinobi could see the fear light up in those reptilian eyes. He would savor that moment for a very long time. "I would advise against getting too close. We're outside, so it should disperse rather quickly. At this distance, you should be safe from any effects it might have."
"If the steam is as dangerous as you say, then how the hell are you able to resist it?"
"I'm what you would call… a special case."
The Puppet Master turned to face him, and for the first time, Sasuke was able to get a good look at the man's body. It was clear that the chaos had attracted most of his attention; because the answer to his question was staring right back at him. The former Akatsuki criminal's body was heavily augmented and modified, similar to the puppets he was famous for wielding.
Sasori of the Red Sand was clearly no longer a regular human.
"I understand." Said the teen.
"Do you have enough chakra for a Fire Jutsu strong enough to incinerate the remains?" The former Sand Shinobi asked. "I want to make sure that this is really over."
"That won't be necessary." With the poisonous steam gone, Sasuke stood back up and walked toward what was left of his twisted Sensei. "I have other plans." Was his vague response.
Sasori eyed the boy carefully as he approached. "And what plans would that be?"
"Is that really any of your business?" The Uchiha answered coolly with a question of his own. "Our alliance stopped when we won."
"No, but I am curious."
"You're an Akatsuki member who was paired up with Itachi Uchiha. We had a common enemy, but I wouldn't be foolish enough to trust you for even a second. Anyone who associates themselves with scum as low as that deserves the same fate as Orochimaru." The rogue Uchiha knew that he didn't have the strength to follow through on that, but he wasn't going to say it out loud.
"I'm no longer associated with the Akatsuki. Sure, we worked together, but we did not share mutual goals or aspirations. I used them to further my own ambitions while they did the same with me. I'm merely curious about what you have planned."
The massacre survivor gave the redhead a hard stare. "And what of my brother? What could he possibly gain working with an organization like that? What is he playing at?"
Sasori smirked slightly at the boy's attempts to prod him, the runner of an intelligence-gathering network, for information. "Itachi was never really much of a talker; though, neither am I. I suppose that's why I started to not mind his presence towards the end of our partnership. As for why he joined the organization, I really can't say. He never spoke about it with me."
There was a tense silence between the two. Sasori watched as the boy tried to analyze his body language. It was evident that the child wanted to know more about his murderous sibling, and the Puppeteer was not fond of the idea of fighting anyone again, even if he were confident that he would win the exchange.
"Tell me about Itachi and the Akatsuki, and I will have no reason to fight you." The child asked in a half-threatening manner.
"I'll tell you about them if you tell me about your goals." Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, but Chiyo's grandson wasn't done. "But…"
"You'll have to wait on that, Sasuke." A voice came from above them. It was Naruto, who seconds later landed on a tree branch above them. He looked to the Puppeteer. "What the hell took you guys so long? I figured the two of you would have been able to take him down easily."
"He was still a Sannin." The Puppet Master commented, annoyed that he was being taken lightly by a Hidden Leaf brat. "And I'm not exactly at my strongest, especially after the fight I had with you, but never mind that. It isn't important. Where is Kabuto?"
"I left him back with the guy I came with. He's tied up, so he shouldn't be going anywhere."
"What did you say?" Sasuke questioned his former teammate with a harsh tone. He was clearly referring to what the Chunin had said when he first arrived. "Stay out of this, Naruto. This is none of your business."
"Actually, it is. We have to get back to the village right now." The blond dropped down to them, his features showing no outward concern from the other teen's hostility. "There's absolutely no time to waste. Sasori is coming with me."
"I don't care about what's going on in the Leaf." Scoffed the Uchiha. "I have my own goals, which I told you not to interfere with. He's going to tell me about Itachi. Don't get in my way." There was an evident edge in the voice of the onyx-haired youth.
"Well, I do care about it. The Leaf Village is my home, and I'm pretty sure a lot happened while I was gone." The Uzumaki said in a low voice as he traded a quick glance with the third person present. "We came here to kill Orochimaru, I don't care what you do now, but we're leaving."
Sasuke scowled and reached for the hilt of his sword, but stopped in his tracks when the Puppet Master chuckled and shook his head.
"What's so funny?" The raven-haired boy challenged defensively.
"You have no chance against him. At least, not at your current chakra levels." The oldest of the group explained. "You should be fully aware of that."
"I'm not trying to fight you again, Sasuke." The Jinchuriki added in with a firm tone. Though, the trained eye could pick up the slight tenses in his body. Neither party wanted any problems with the other, but both were ready, nonetheless. "There are just things that I need to protect. Like you, I'll do whatever is necessary to ensure it."
"Hmph." The teen dropped his hand back down to his side. Much to his annoyance, Sasori was right. The blond appeared confident and fresh after only having to deal with Kabuto, while he was more than a little fatigued from the use of the second state. Sasuke turned his attention back to the redhead, who had not argued with anything the blond had said. "You had the opportunity to get away just now, and you chose not to. Why go back to the Hidden Leaf with Naruto?"
"The kid isn't as dumb as he looks." To explain further, Sasori removed the core from his chest and pointed to a marking on the side. "He inscribed a seal into the part of me that allows me to use chakra. I noticed it when he handed it back to me at the bridge. With this in my chest, I'm a walking bomb. I can't run away." Despite accusing the Jinchuriki of such a ruthless tactic, the human puppet didn't seem upset about it.
"Oh, so you saw that when I gave it to you? I figured as much." Naruto commented with an uneasy laugh. "In case you somehow managed to get your hands on the core, I had to be sure that I could handle you again. As much as I… enjoyed our first fight, I don't think I would want to go through that again.
Sasori didn't say anything, instead willingly handing over his chakra core back to his handler. The ease of the situation made the Chunin a bit cautious at the man's motives, but he still accepted the hunk of flesh, quickly sealing it away in the same scroll he had stored it in.
"If you want to hear what Sasori has to say, then you're going to have to come back with us to the village." Naruto turned his attention back towards his old friend. "The Akatsuki think that Sasori is dead, so I have to seal him in a scroll until we're back home to avoid detection. It'd be bad for everyone involved if it were discovered that he's still alive. The Akatsuki would surely try to eliminate him or try and take him back. Besides, he owes us some similar information. It'd make more sense to tell everyone at the same time."
Sasuke couldn't help but scowl at his disadvantageous position.
His former best friend noticed this and matched his expression. "Look, I'm not trying to trick you into coming back to the village. I honestly don't care either way what you do. I'm trying to meet you halfway, but if you don't want to cooperate, then I don't know what to tell you. As always, you seem to only want things done your way. Well, those times are over; take my offer, or don't. We can fight it out right here if that's what you want."
"How is that meeting halfway?" Was Sasuke's dubiously asked question.
"I'm allowing you to come with us. You're a rogue ninja, not a Leaf Shinobi. I could get in a lot of trouble for bringing you inside the walls without prior authorization. Hell, I'm going to have to vouch for you, so they don't try and take you into custody. Just because you're allowed to roam free with no rules doesn't mean I can do the same." Naruto, already growing tired of the conversation with the stubborn Uchiha, turned his attention to his 'hostage.' "Ready?"
Sasori sighed unconvincingly. "Sure, why not? Take your time getting back; the feeling of being sealed away is the closest I'll ever get to the sensation of sleep again. It's grown on me."
"Heh, I'd be tempted to leave you in there forever if we didn't need your help."
"It'd be preferable to having to listen to you run your mouth." The Puppet Master shot back with very little animosity.
Naruto couldn't help but grin. "But, uh, thanks for the help today. Things might have gone pretty south if you hadn't shown up."
Those genuine words would have caught lesser men off guard, but Sasori remained as stoic as always.
"Hmph. Whatever, just seal me already." He spat with a deflective tone. "Besides… you shouldn't thank me yet…" Were the last words he said before the Chunin sealed him away safely into one of the many scrolls he carried on his person.
The Uzumaki took in a deep breath. While fairly confident that Sasori hadn't harmed anyone in the village, the tone used in those parting words still worried him. It told the teen that something terrible was awaiting him upon his return.
Naruto turned in time to witness Sasuke place his hand on Orochimaru's remains and absorb them into himself. A grimace of disgust broke past his stoic features. "You'll go to such lengths to defeat him? Orochimaru's power isn't something you should take lightly. I bet it has more risks than the Curse Mark."
"I'm not taking anything lightly." The Uchiha said firmly. "But I will do anything to achieve my reality; this is a small price to pay for that."
"You know, I meant it. You don't have to come home. Knowing you, I'd expect you to have no interest in returning."
"Just like Orochimaru's power, the information he has might be the difference in defeating my brother. If I'm willing to go this far, then that is nothing."
"Yeah, but I thought we were going to team up? At least, that was what I felt when I hit your Chidori with my Rasengan." The Fourth's son explained. "You can go get the rest of the team, and I'll meet up with you once I have the information."
It was apparent that some sort of unspoken agreement was made between the two during their clash on the bridge. With a team, Naruto and Sasuke would combine their strengths to deal a massive blow to the Akatsuki. It had less to do with their friendship and more to do with their overlapping agendas. While the familiarity was still there to a slight degree, neither were the same as they once were as members of Team 7. As it stood right now, they were just as much strangers as friends.
"And how can I trust you? You've clearly changed a lot, to think you would make that guy a living bomb. That isn't like the Naruto I know." What Sasuke didn't say was that it could be a good thing. The old Naruto would just slow him down, not due to ability, but from his personality and ideology.
Naruto's face fell slightly. "Well, if you knew half of the things he did, you'd be wondering why I even left him alive. You don't have to trust me, but you should know from our clash that my goal is to eliminate the Akatsuki. While you take on Itachi, I'll kill his partner; whoever that happens to be now. We both gain something from this. If you already didn't know that, then you wouldn't have betrayed Orochimaru."
After seeing him fight, the truth was the blond's strength, and capabilities would be invaluable editions to his team. So important, in fact, that he already adjusted his team composition to take advantage of it. It was a blessing in disguise, too, as Naruto would fill in that intended role while also being a much easier personality to deal with than the original candidate.
"I was always planning on killing him eventually. Your arrival just so happened to open up a convenient opportunity; that's all."
"Well, regardless, this is the best course of action." The blond stated. "Do you want my word that I won't betray your trust?" He asked jokingly. "I don't really know what else I can say to make you trust me, just that I have no reason to lie. The Akatsuki are out to kill me, and they are a threat to my home. They need to be eliminated."
"Fine." The raven-haired teen finally agreed. "I'll go retrieve the other two members of our group; regroup with us in the abandoned Sky District city in two weeks from today at noon. It's in a wasteland northeast of the Hidden Leaf while still being within the Land of Fire's borders. Don't be late."
"Would you mind telling me who they're going to be?"
"Don't worry about it. I met them during my time with Orochimaru, so it's not like you're going to know who I'm talking about. You'll meet them soon enough and they, you."
"Fine, can't wait." Naruto's tone was dry, clearly annoyed at how distant the Uchiha was, not that he expected any different from the guy. Some things never change. "I'll see you in a couple weeks."
Sasuke gave his new ally no indication that he had heard a single word that he said. Without so much as a goodbye, the stoic teen left to compile the rest of his squad.
"Why do I even bother?" The Chunin asked himself with a shake of the head. "Nobody knows how to have conversations anymore."
…
"Maybe I should unseal Sasori. He doesn't mind talking to me…"
"I say there's no time to waste, and what do I do?" The Uzumaki asked himself angrily. "Waste time, that's what. How could something like this happen."
Back at the Tenchi Bridge, Naruto had hoped to find Sai patiently watching over a still unconscious Kabuto. Then, they'd escort their high-profile captive back home for interrogation. In a perfect world, this would be the most ideal outcome. Well, news flash, the world was far from an ideal or perfect place. Things, both good and bad, happened whether you wanted them to or not.
This was one of those times, unfortunately.
Sai was unconscious, and Kabuto was nowhere to be found. A lump on the side of the Root agent's head told the blond that he was blindsided by someone. Whether that was Kabuto or one of his allies lurking in the shadows, he did not know.
'He's still breathing, and there's no blood at the impact point. That's strange…'
With an audible sigh, Naruto leaned down and lightly shook the pale teen's shoulder. "Wake up, Sai. Are you alright? What happened?"
The gentle rippling behind closed eyelids told the Chunin that the boy would be up soon. Based on the wound and deepness of unconsciousness, the knockout strike was either lacking in power and caught him completely off guard, or it happened just shortly after he left to join Sasuke and Sasori.
Sai's dark and hazy eyes slowly opened, then shut once again when they made contact with the light from the sun; he let out an immediate groan in response to the throbbing lump on his head. The pain made him reach up and gently tap and feel around his scalp for the source of the discomfort.
"What happened? Where is Kabuto?" The blond asked again.
"Ahh." Sai responded, the cobwebs still not cleared. "I'm… not really sure." He noticed that his partner had outstretched his hand. Unlike last time, he gratefully grabbed it and was pulled to his feet. "It's hard to remember what happened after you left.
"I wasn't gone for too long. Did someone else come along and break him out?"
After a moment to recollect his thoughts, the emotionless boy continued. "I think Kabuto played possum and was able to break free from his bindings while I had my back to him. I don't remember anything else."
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why did you have your back to the enemy?" He asked carefully. That didn't sound like a mistake someone from the ANBU Black Ops would make, especially those under the direct command of Danzo.
"After you left, the fight had started to get loud. I heard a particularly unsettling explosion, and when I took my eyes off of him for a split second, he must have taken advantage of my error. How foolish of me… Lord Danzo will not be happy with this debacle. I will take full responsibility for this failure, I assure you."
"Well, it wasn't a total failure. They were able to kill that damned snake once and for all." While still suspicious of Sai's strange behavior, confronting him about it would do little to aid the situation. This was something to discuss later with the Hokage. "We completed our mission. Kabuto's escape is not good news by any means, but it could have been worse. If it ever came down to it, he shouldn't be that much trouble to deal with later on down the line." If their brief scuffle told the blond boy anything, the Sound Medic was weak compared to the monsters he tried to surround himself with; a little fish trying to swim in the big pond.
"I see." The ANBU operative said with an even tone, his shoulders dropping slightly. "I suppose that you are right." Though, upon realizing something, he frowned. "Where are the other two?"
If either of them were a skilled tracker, it might be worth it to try and hunt the medic down. It was just that, with their skills, it seemed like a waste of time that would likely yield no results. Even so, one would think a highly skilled ANBU Operative would at least humor the idea if the target were a potential threat to national security…
Jiraiya's student couldn't shake that something about this whole situation was off. "I sealed Sasori back up. We'll be returning to the Leaf with him. As for Sasuke, well, he got away. He must have fled the scene before I managed to get there. I have no idea where he is."
"Well, this mission has been a complete disaster, hasn't it? Seems to me that we're both incompetent." The fake smile once again reared its ugly head. "So, are we to head back to the Leaf and report to our respective leaders about what transpired here? After all, no one has any idea what's happened on the other side."
The Chunin decided it best to take a moment and analyze the situation in his head.
'I know Sai is skilled; skilled enough that there should have been no way he'd be caught off guard by something like that. Kabuto is crafty, but I damaged him heavily in our brief encounter. His healing would have not only expended a considerable amount of chakra, but it would have also been both noticeable and audible to any half-perceptive Shinobi.' He felt himself absentmindedly biting the inside of his cheek as the facts were beginning to dawn on him. 'Could it be possible that he would allow Kabuto to escape? But why? That doesn't make any sense; what could he possibly gain by letting that slimeball go free like that?' That last thought triggered a memory of a conversation he had with Jiraiya shortly after the Wave incident.
"Hey, Sensei." A thirteen-year-old Naruto looked up at his Master with dull blue eyes. Something bugged him, and anything to take his mind off the food in front was a bonus in his book.
"Hm?" The Sage asked after slurping down a particularly large beetle. "What is it, kid? Something on your mind?"
They had only been at Mount Myoboku for a week. While Jiraiya was already accustomed to the food, the same could not be said for the scrappy Genin. That, and, well, after what happened… no one could really blame the child if he didn't have much of an appetite.
"Yeah, I just had a question about the ANBU that showed up after you saved me." His eyes grew even darker from the memory. "Something about them was a little strange. They didn't seem like the ones who were guarding me after you left for the Land of Steam." In particular, it was their words that cut deeply into his mind.
'With all due respect, due to what happened, the boy can no longer be allowed to freely walk outside the walls of the village.' That was what one of the masked men had said to Jiraiya right in front of him.
Those words had hurt so much. Being a Jinchuriki, a military weapon for the Leaf Village, was something that the boy had accepted but tried very hard to ignore. And yet, when his own supposed comrades came out and said it right in front of him and the Sannin… it stung much more than he would like to admit. He couldn't imagine the pain of knowing if one of his own friends thought the same way about him; the mere thought made acidic bile uncomfortably rise in his throat.
Jiraiya stopped chewing altogether and couldn't keep the slight frown from dawning his features. He had a feeling a conversation like this would arise. The pain in Naruto's eyes hurt him; the Sage just wanted to make all of it go away for his Godson.
"Well, it's complicated, Naruto." That was a shitty answer, and the Sage knew it. If he left it at that, it would probably only worsen his student's mood. "Those Shinobi were not actually under the command of Tsunade. If you remember, when I asked them where their orders came from, it was pretty clear it wasn't from her."
"There are ninja in the village not under Granny's command?" The blond's face lifted slightly, both from relief and confusion. He knew that Tsunade wouldn't order to keep him locked up, but the confirmation still felt good. "How is that possible? I thought a Kage had supreme authority over all ninja in their respective village?"
"Thanks to the Third Hokage, the Leaf operates a little differently than the other Great Nations." The Third's student explained. "You see, there is a secret branch of the ANBU Black Ops that is run under the rule of a man named Danzo Shimura."
"Danzo Shimura? I've never heard of him before." If this guy were such a big shot, wouldn't he be known to even someone as clueless as the orange-clad Genin? "Who the heck is he?"
"Yeah, he's someone who's been around for a long time, an old 'friend' of the late Sarutobi-Sensei." His face soured at the mention of the old War Hawk. "He's been a prominent Shinobi in the village since I was a kid."
"If he's a friend of Old Man Third, then why would he want to lock me away? The Old Man would never try and do that to me!" His naivete was showing, as he misread what his Master was trying to say.
"Childhood friends, but political polar opposites; so opposite that their different views of how to run the Leaf resulted in a strained relationship that Sarutobi-Sensei had to take to his grave. Once upon a time, the two competing over the seat for Hokage. You see, the reason you haven't heard of him before is because Danzo operates in the shadows. His ANBU Division, nicknamed Root, trains emotionless human soldiers tasked with protecting the Leaf at any means necessary."
It was all beginning to make sense. "And that includes locking me away so I can't be captured?"
His Godfather nodded sagely. "I'm only telling you this because of the kind of guy Danzo is, as not many within the normal ranks are even aware that such an organization exists. I could never forgive myself if something happened while I wasn't with you." With Serious Jiraiya Mode activated, the Sannin leaned forward slightly towards his protégé. "The organization was supposed to be disbanded a few years ago, but it still continues to operate as a separate and distinct entity from Tsunade's rule. Don't trust anything to do with Danzo. I can't say much because it's highly classified, but the guy might be involved with some shady dealings. He's bad news, don't forget that."
Naruto gulped. "O-Okay, I'll keep that in mind."
"Good! Hey, are you gonna finish that larva soup?"
That's what that was?! No wonder it looked so gross! "Ah… no, you can have it. I'm not that hungry…"
"Well, don't just sit there, hand it over!"
The blond did as asked of him and watched with morbid curiosity as his mentor inhaled the concerningly colorful bug soup with unmatched gusto.
At the time, the Jinchuriki hadn't really understood what his teacher had meant by all of that. To him, it just seemed like Danzo was a mean old guy who disagreed a lot with the Third Hokage. Besides, no one from the Leaf Village could be a bad guy; the notion seemed silly to even consider. They were supposed to be the good guys.
…
Right?
Wrong.
The existence of Orochimaru, Itachi, and even Mizuki, to a lesser extent, should have made it clear that anyone, no matter the nationality, could become twisted and evil. Just because the Snake Sannin happened to go rogue doesn't mean that bad Shinobi can't be masquerading as comrades within his home.
'There's no proof that this Danzo guy is an enemy.' The level-headed blond thought to himself. 'Still, this seems awfully fishy. Would Danzo, for whatever reason, not want Kabuto to return to the Leaf? If so, allowing him to escape makes the most sense; killing him right here would arouse a lot of suspicions, while this just looks like an accident. Damn, I need more information before I start jumping to any conclusions…'
"Yeah." The Chunin answered Sai after what felt like a long pause. "I think that it would be best to get back as fast as possible."
Sasuke stood with his hands loosely crossed just below his chest, gazing at the view from atop the overhang of a cliff. Below him was a decent-sized plot of land in the center of a forest that held a litany of houses and other structures. A bright blue stream of water ran right through the town center and into the ocean off to his left. The sun's warm orange glow reflected dazzlingly off the water and forced him to squint due to the brightness. A beautiful view to the average observer was nothing more than a nuisance to him. There were five grave plots to his right, which was odd because only two were familiar.
His prodigious eyes lingered on the three new patches of dirt, two of which appeared to be freshly dug, for longer than he would like to admit. Straight lips curving downward slightly. What the hell had happened here?
He looked over his shoulder and watched with passive eyes from afar as his newly acquired teammate spoke to someone. The pair had hit a bit of a roadblock in their quest, but he was surprisingly okay with it. The events that occurred at the Tenchi Bridge accelerated the timeline he had worked out in his head for the last two and a half years. They now had a comfortable amount of time to get things just right. He wouldn't rush in foolishly like the last time; a sudden pulse of phantom pains in his wrist reminded him of his past foolishness.
No, it would go nothing like the last time.
While the Uchiha would never say this to anyone, the smell of the salty sea air took him back to his Genin days. That first C-Rank mission, as chaotic as it was, was a fond memory he could not let go of. He suppressed a smirk just as his partner concluded his conversation and walked back over to him.
"Well, I just received a very interesting piece of information." The newcomer said in a silky smooth tone.
It was a young man of average height, straight white hair with a light-blue tint to it. He had almond-shaped purple eyes and pointed teeth. His attire consisted of a purple, sleeveless shirt with blue pants, sandals, and a belt around his waist with a couple of water bottles attached.
"What did you find, Suigetsu?" The onyx-eyed teen responded in a tone that suggested he wasn't actively invested in what was going on.
"You know, I had to ask around to get this intel so you could at least act like you cared a little." The one named Suigetsu smiled in a way that showed off his razor-sharp teeth and then unclipped a water bottle from his belt. "Besides, I think even you'll be surprised by what I found out." He added in between taking small sips of the cool and refreshing water. "It has to do with you, after all."
"Just spit it out already." Itachi's brother said with a hint of annoyance. Just because they had time didn't mean he wanted to waste all of it.
"Okay, okay. You know, you should really work on your attitude, Sasuke." The white-haired teen said in an unapologetic, joking manner. A death glare made the water lover smirk. "No one I asked had the full story about what happened to the Executioner's Blade, but they did help me piece together what happened to it."
"And?"
"An old lady from town I spoke with apparently comes down here every few days to tend to the graves. I guess to make sure that they're clean and have fresh flowers on them, or whatever. These graves must belong to important people from around here." The playful teen haphazardly waved around his bottle as he spoke. "Well, when she came back a few days ago, there were two new graves dug up next to the others, and the Executioner's Blade that rested over Master Zabuza's plot was gone."
"Did she see anything?" His voice was just as reserved as ever, but he wondered how any of this information would prove to interest him.
"No, but someone else did." Suigetsu answered with a headshake. "The day before she visited the graves, another person saw a pair of people walk through the village in this direction and then leave without doing anything else."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"Naruto Uzumaki." Was the Hozuki boy's simple answer.
Sasuke's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't say anything.
"I immediately recognized that first name. It's the same as that bridge we walked over to get here, but I don't have to remind you of that." Suigetsu clipped his water bottle back to his hip as he let out a light chuckle. "From what I just heard, this guy Naruto is famous around these parts as the person who saved the Land of Waves from Master Zabuza and someone named Gato. Weren't you also on that team, Sasuke?" The teen asked with a toothy grin. "Funny how that works out."
"Hmph." Sasuke smirked slightly. "I suppose so."
"Sorry to say Sasuke, but, even if he is your old teammate, if he has my Executioner's Blade, he's my target." He didn't look or sound sorry. "I don't expect you to come along now; I just thought I would let you know about it."
"If you try and fight him, you're only going to get yourself killed." Sasuke finally uncrossed his arms, his tone now with a little more weight to it. "If that's what you really want to do, I'm not going to stop you. Go knock yourself out."
"How do you know that?" The aspiring swordsmen asked with an inquisitive gaze. "You've been following Orochimaru around for the last three years like a good little pet. You don't know how strong either of us is."
"I already told you what I think; I don't have to offer up an explanation." The Uchiha shot back coolly. "Naruto is in the Hidden Leaf Village right now. Have fun; I'm going to go collect the rest of my team. Since you're going to die, I'll need to find a new member to take your place." With that, he started to head for the path that led back to the village down below.
"H-Hey, wait a sec!" Zabuza's potential successor yelled as he chased after his retreating form. "I need to get ahold of that sword if I'm going to revive the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The least you could do is help me out a little; some advice at least." The swordsman wasn't one to be easily scared, but the Uchiha's warnings had instilled some doubt in his mind.
Sasuke stopped walking and glanced to his side. "Are you in?" He asked cryptically.
Suigetsu grimaced slightly at the loaded question. There was something that the brunette wasn't telling him, and the only way to find out is if he accepted the cryptic question. With a heavy sigh, he decided to bite his tongue for once. "Fine, I'm in."
"Good, then let's go." Orochimaru's former student said as he resumed pace down the path that they came from.
"Where are we going? To the Hidden Leaf?" The former Mist Shinobi asked hopefully.
"No, we're going to the Southern Hideout to get Karin. She's going to be the next member of our team."
"What?!" The Water User blurted out. "How is that going to help get my sword?! And why Karin?! I can't stand that woman!" The mere mention of their potential future teammate caused the teen to get unusually irritable.
"That's the rule." Sasuke said authoritatively. "After we get Karin, then we'll make our way to the Hidden Leaf; not before. Got it?"
"Fine." He grumbled in response. "As long as I can raise some hell when we get to your old home."
"No, that isn't why we're going. We aren't going to fight anyone."
"Huh? Then how am I supposed to get the blade? It's a legendary weapon from the Hidden Mist; I doubt they're going to hand it to me just like that. Why would we go if not for the sword?"
A smirk once again tugged at the genius's lips. "To get the fourth and final member of Team Hebi."
"Who?" The Hozuki asked through squinted and confused eyes.
"…Naruto, of course."
The trip back was uneventful and quiet, just what the two of them needed after that chaotic series of events. The Leaf Village's massive gates were just beginning to come into view, and the pair slowed their pace to a brisk walk. Naruto glanced to his side, unsurprised to see his partner staring directly at him with another one of his creepy smiles.
"You really need to work on that, man." The blond moved a few steps over. "You're kinda making me uncomfortable."
"I will practice using the tips that you gave me." Despite the comment, the pale teen maintained his forced facial expression. "The next time we meet, I will be an expert smiler."
Naruto grimaced and took another step farther away from the pale teen. "Instead of trying to fake a smile, why not try to find a reason to smile for real? Have you ever actually smiled genuinely? You couldn't have always been like this; what was the Sai before Root like?"
The faux expression fell and, which was replaced by something that almost looked somber. "I have been under Danzo's command for as long as I can remember. I used to be able to smile, but that was a very long time ago. Truth be told, I no longer remember what it feels like."
That little display pretty much confirmed the horror stories about Root ANBU that Jiraiya had told him about. The blond wanted to reach out and place a hand teen's shoulder, but the comforting gesture would probably be lost on the emotionless boy. It wasn't this kid's fault he turned out this way; Sai was a victim of the environment he was raised in. If anyone were to blame, it would have to be Danzo and his faulty ideology on how Shinobu should act; a state of mind that seems to be a recurring theme with those from the older generation, save for Old Man Third.
In a way, the ANBU teen wasn't much different from another person Naruto had recently met. The only difference between Sai and Sasori is that the Puppeteer took it further and became a murdering sociopath. It shows that two individuals can have similar experiences and still turn out completely different; he and Gaara were another example of that.
If the number of children subjected to horrible lives was anything to go off of… this world wasn't fair; that much was clear.
Naruto frowned. "How about this, one of these days, I'm going to teach you how to smile and mean it."
To his credit, Sai's confusion showed clearly on his face. "…Why would you bother with something like that? What's in it for you?"
"Everyone should be able to smile." The knucklehead responded with a bright one of his own. "I know it's how you were taught, but I don't think Root's system of producing Shinobi is the right way. I've seen how that can change a person. It creates monsters, and you seem like a good person who got dealt a bad hand in life."
Before anything else could be said, a blank-masked trio descended from the trees above them. Their allegiance was evident as they turned their attention to the dark-haired boy.
"Sai, there you are. We've been awaiting your return for days. Lord Danzo wishes to see you. Now." The one in front said in a deep, stern voice. It was evident that the big man was not happy about the lack of communication from his underling. "Come with us."
"Oh,… right." The still slightly shaken boy in question said slowly. "Of course." He traded one last look with his blond acquaintance and followed his peers beyond the walls.
'He should be alright.' Naruto thought as he made his way to the check-in desk. 'At least, I hope so.'
'You care about someone who is clearly trying to deceive you.' A voice in his head said with palpable disdain. 'I thought we got past all of this. And what about Sasori? You don't actually forgive him after all that he's done, right? I refuse to believe that we're this stupid.'
"Ah!" The blond grabbed his head as it started to thump in pain. The experience was jarring, but it didn't take him long to figure out what was going on.
'Stay out of this, Yami; this is none of your business.' He thought inward to himself.
'Everything that you do is my business. I AM you.' His inner shout back in protest.
'They weren't always bad people. If the world makes a person bad, can I really blame them if that's all they know? I don't have to forgive anyone to realize that much.'
'If that's really true, then there are no bad people in the world. No one should be punished for anything.' It was evident in his tone that his Yin manifestation was being sarcastic. 'We should just forgive them and frolic through a field of flowers together. Forget fighting; let's try and make friends with everyone left in the Akatsuki.'
'No, that isn't what I-' The Jinchuriki wasn't able to get out his entire thought before he was cut off.
'It doesn't matter what you meant. Bad people do bad things and should be held accountable for their actions. You've gotten lucky so far, but that naivete will get you killed if you keep pulling shit like this.' Yami sounded angry. After all, the only thing he could do was watch for the inside. Without Hikari there to mellow him out, he was beginning to get irritable with his successor. 'You can't change everyone, not even close. One of these days, we're going to lose everything because of your childish ideals.'
The teen seemed to have enough of the conversation and severed the mental link. He didn't want to hear that right now, mainly because Yami's words made far too much sense for his liking.
"Stop." Came a stern voice.
Naruto refocused his attention on the physical space around him. After a quick shake of the head, he quickly noticed that another ANBU group was standing between him and the village's entrance. Despite his proud showing of his headband that born the Leaf's insignia, they appeared guarded and wary.
'What are the Black Ops doing on gate duty?'
The one wearing a mask depicting a tiger stepped forward. "I'll say it again; verify your identity before we deem you a threat." Based on their voice and build, Tiger was clearly a man; and his tone betrayed that he was dead serious about the threat.
Naruto's confusion was betrayed by a slight tilt in the angle of his head. "It's me, Naruto Uzumaki. I'm back from a mission and need to go see Granny Tsunade right away."
"I said verify your identity." Tiger repeated. "I understand that you were out on a mission for a considerable amount of time, but there's been a massive breach in security since you left. We must be absolutely sure of your identity before you are allowed within the walls."
"A security breach?" The Chunin replied dumbly.
"That's right." Another of the ANBU, this one with a wolf mask, interjected. "And, if memory serves, the Hokage has been anxiously awaiting your return. She had even sent out a team of Black Ops to find you not too long ago."
'This must be what Sasori was talking about. Something happened.' The Chunin thought to himself as a creeping sense of dread inched its way up his spine. However, that would have to come later. He had to prove that he was not the enemy before doing anything else. "I am Naruto Uzumaki, Chunin of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I am the student of the Legendary Sannin, Master Jiraiya, and the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox."
The cloaked ninja relaxed slightly, but that didn't appear to be enough to fully convince them.
"Hm, what about this!?" In his palm, a spinning vortex of blue chakra spiraled to life. "The Rasengan! A Jutsu created by the Fourth Hokage and taught to me by my Master. A fake wouldn't be able to do this technique!"
"The enemy can copy chakra, which means a person's Jutsu isn't off the table. Got anything else?"
His signature move faded slowly, and a drop of sweat rolled down his face, which was all accompanied by a sheepish smile. They weren't going to get anywhere like this.
"Okay, I got something." The Jinchuriki outstretched his hand expectantly at Tiger. "Bump fists with me." The man stood there awkwardly and stole a glance at his squad. "C'mon, don't be scared."
The elite Shinobi begrudgingly stepped forward and pressed his fist against the potential imposter's. They stood eerily still like that for a few seconds. It was long enough that the other two Black Ops looked on curiously from behind their masks, even exchanging a look with one another.
Suddenly, Naruto retracted his hand, waved his farewell, and strolled down the main road towards the Hokage's office. Strangely enough, while all of this happened, Tiger did not budge from his spot; arm still raised in front of his body.
"Tiger, is everything alright?" Asked Boar. "Were you able to confirm his identity?"
"Y-Yeah, he's cleared." At the mention of his title, the man shakily looked over his shoulder at the retreating form of the Jinchuriki. "I don't think you can fake a four-hundred-foot tall demon fox living inside of you."
"Oh… I guess not."
…
The halls within the Hokage Tower were eerily empty. On typical days, it wasn't uncommon to see ninja of all ranks scurrying around the building with stacks of papers or scrolls in hand. Where was all the life? The walk from the gate was also oddly quiet, only adding to his sense of uneasiness. All that was present were the shadowy figures of the Black Ops Division, who seemed to be scouting out the area for some unknown reason.
"Man… who died?" Naruto muttered the dark joke under his breath but soon wish that he hadn't. The gravity of Sasori's words rang loudly in his ears, his frown curving downward into a deep frown.
There was a good chance that someone had died during his absence.
A pit formed in the bottom of his stomach while his thoughts drifted to all of his friends. There were many people in the Leaf Village, so the statistical likelihood of the casualty being someone he knew was relatively low. However…
His status as the Jinchuriki and his relationship with the Hokage exponentially raised the chances of Zetsu targeting someone close to them
The desk occupied by the Hokage's secretary came into view as he rounded another windy hallway. It was positioned right outside Tsunade's door for obvious reasons. From Naruto's viewpoint, only the top of her head could be seen; it was heavily obscured by several stacks of paperwork that covered the surface area of the table. She had her head down, and it hid her features, but it was clear that hard work was being done.
Though, this was a strange sight. When was the secretary ever assigned paperwork like this?
"Excuse me." The blond said to get the girl's attention, his voice as chirpy as he could make it. The woman, who Naruto believed was named Kae, was startled by the sudden noise and looked up; her eyes were frantic and bloodshot. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you!" The Chunin apologized profusely. It was evident that she was working intently and on not much sleep.
Kae was a young, slender brunette with fair skin, long hair tied up into a tight ponytail, and brown eyes. She wore sleek rectangular glasses, a white top with long sleeves, and a tight-fitted black dress that went down to her knees. Her usually pressed clothes were wrinkled and disheveled; even her headband, usually sitting neatly atop her head, was hastily strapped around her upper left arm.
In other words, it appeared to be a rough day at the office.
"N-No." The young brunette said slowly. She spoke slow, and her voice was tensed. "There's no need to apologize. I just didn't expect to see anyone while we were on lockdown."
"Lockdown?" The blond asked before Kae could say anything else. The eyebrow above his left eye arched up, and he cocked his head slightly to the side. "Why are we on lockdown? What happened?"
"Oh!" At that moment, Tsunade's assistant seemed to realize who it was she was talking to; the blond hair and whisker marks were obvious to anyone half-paying attention. "You are Naruto Uzumaki, correct?" To which the teen nodded. Kae, now noticeably engaged in the conversation, pushed the pages she was working on aside, and continued talking. "Lady Tsunade has been awaiting your return for several days."
"I know. I came to see her; I just got back." The Uzumaki's voice made him appear much more confident than he actually was. In truth, he was anxious about how Tsunade would react to finding out about everything. She had trusted him, and he knowingly took advantage of that trust. The outcome of it all may have been very favorable, but that didn't excuse his actions in the least. Not only that, but something strange was going on around here, which only made things worse for him. "There's a lot of stuff I need to discuss with her."
"Of course." The secretary nodded as she took out a small notebook from a desk drawer and flipped through the pages, all while Naruto was staring at her with an unreadable expression. "How about tomorrow at noon?"
The boy blinked. "What, I can't see her right now? She can't be that busy." He watched in real-time as Kae's expression soured, a noticeable wince crossed her face. "Some of the information I have is extremely important, so I really think I should see her right now." He stepped towards the door but stopped the woman's voice made her stop.
"Ah, but…" She looked away, unable to meet the teen's intense gaze. "The Hokage ordered me to not let anyone see her. She's… very busy, you see. The only reason I even scheduled it for tomorrow was because of the important nature of the visit. I'm sure whatever you have can wait until then. Or, if you wish, I could arrange an audience with Shikaku Nara to hear what you have to say. Would that suffice?"
'The ANBU at the gates and many more skulking around the village, a lockdown with no one on the streets, and now this? What the hell is going on?!' The blond knucklehead thought to himself. This was more than idle curiosity; this was about the village's safety; it wasn't going to wait until tomorrow! With an apologetic shake of the head, Naruto turned and began walking toward the office door. "Sorry, but this can't wait. I'm going in to see her now."
"No, wait! Please don't go in!" Kae tried to get up and do something to mend the situation, but it was too late. Naruto's hand was already twisting the knob to open the door. By the time she got to him, he was already inside the room.
His sense of smell was immediately assaulted by the smell of strong alcohol. It was so bad that his eyes were already watering from the offending substance in the air. He waved a hand in front of his nose to try and remedy the situation, his free hand trying to rub the sting out of his eyes so he could see.
When he finally managed to take in his surroundings, he was appalled at what he saw. The room was an utter mess; the papers and garbage strewn about were the first things that caught his eye. There was a small pile of empty sake bottles on the floor at the back of the room, with a few more on the desk itself. One, in particular, was on its side teetering over the edge off of the flat surface; a few stray drops dripped from its lip and onto the carpeted floor at the foot of the desk.
Because of the state the room was in, Naruto almost missed the slumped over form of Tsunade. She sat in her usual chair but was clearly unconscious with her head face down. Her forehead rested on her right arm, which was bent at the elbow, and her left hand was still aggressively clutching a half-empty bottle of booze.
Despite the uncomfortable position, the Sannin was lightly snoring the day away. Yes, day; you heard that right. The Hokage was passed out from a day of binge drinking while the village was in complete disarray. While Naruto felt anger bubble up inside of him, he pushed it down as best he could. Getting mad wasn't going to help anyone, especially since he had no idea what was going on. The scene in front of him just further added to all the oddities he had observed since stepping foot in the village just a few minutes prior.
"I told you it wasn't a good idea to see her…" He heard the nervous girl say behind him in a shaky tone.
The blond ignored her weak protests and stepped further into the room. As he got closer, he noticed a small pool of drool next to where Tsunade was laying
'She's been out for a while.' The Jinchuriki noted, now just a couple feet away from her. "Granny, wake up!" He raised his voice enough to make her stir slightly. "What the hell are you doing sleeping on the job?!"
"Uh… wha-" The woman in question muttered to herself as her eyes started to flutter open; they were glassy, and her lips chapped and dry. Definite signs of excessive drinking and a possible hangover. "Wh's ere?" Was her barely coherent response as she began to pick herself up into a sitting position.
Naruto turned around to see Kae still peering nervously in the doorway. "Can you go get her some water?" He asked politely. "She's going to need it in a minute."
"Y-Yes!" The young woman, startled by the sudden question, nodded quickly and disappeared behind the frame of the door.
"Where is Shizune during all of this?" The boy couldn't help but mutter to himself. "She's the perfect person to have in a time like this."
"Sh's ead."
Naruto turned his gaze back into the room. Tsunade was sitting up now and already had the lips of the sake bottle pressed firmly against her own with her head titled back slightly. Now that he could see the Sannin's entire face, there were a few more things he noticed about her unusual appearance.
Her cheeks were flushed, but that wasn't a surprise; with the amount she had been drinking, it would be more surprising if her face weren't pink. No, it was her eyes, devoid of the usual life he was accustomed to seeing in them. It was even worse than the time they first met before she was the Hokage. While that was bitter pain and sorrow, this seemed to be something much more intense; for lack of a better word, it appeared fresh. Jiraiya's student couldn't stop the chill that rumbled up his spine, the slurred words of the woman finally being processed by his slow brain.
"What did you say?" He asked, hoping against hope that he had somehow misinterpreted the broken words. Yeah, there had to be a communication issue between the two; it was the only explanation.
She was still downing the bottle with masochistic intent, so an answer to the question wasn't immediate. Her sips were slow and deliberate, proven by the methodical shifting of her throat with each gulp. After what seemed like too long, she lifted the bottle further above her head and allowed the remaining drops from the empty glass container to drip onto her tongue. Once the minuscule orbs of life juice slowed to a pace she was unhappy with, Lady Fifth angrily threw the bottle off to her left and didn't even flinch when it shattered harshly against the wall.
Naruto watched the entire display silently, a persistent frown on his face.
"I said that she's dead." Those words, and the robotic tone that they were said with, confirmed the blond's worst fears. "And it's all my fault."
The Jinchuriki felt a searing pain rip through his gut as time seemed to slow down around him. A wave of nausea washed over him, and he had to fight back the bile that rose up in his throat. As much as he wished it not to be true, he hadn't misheard. No, this was reality.
"Shizune… died?"
Author's Note: To clarify, Sasuke and Naruto had an unspoken conversation as 'High-Level Shinobi' when their Jutsu clashed in the last chapter. Sasuke told him at the Valley of the End that two Shinobi of great skill can see each other's thoughts through an exchange of fists.
On other notes, Sai is acting fishy, and Yami Naruto is angry (what else is new).
Perhaps most importantly, the ramifications of the Zetsu infiltration are beginning to become known. How much more damage will come of this, and will Tsunade be alright?
Leave a review with your guesses and any questions/comments you may have!
See you next time with Chapter 37: Convergence!
Suigetsu Hozuki: Former Mist Shinobi (Rank Unknown)
Age: 16
Ninjutsu – 4, Taijutsu – 4, Genjutsu – 3, Intelligence – 3, Strength – 4, Speed – 4, Stamina – 4, Hand seals – 4
Total – 30
Rank – High B to Low A
Profile: A former Mist Shinobi in line to become a member of the vaunted Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Suigetsu wields a strong affinity for Water Style Jutsu and is heir to the body-altering abilities of the Hozuki Clan. His ability to enlarge and strengthen parts of his body (similar to the Akimichi clan) and wholly liquefying his body makes him a difficult opponent to face. It's near impossible to land a clean hit on him while being on the receiving end of a similar blow by him spells doom for his opponents.
Battle Type: Combat
Ky111 – Nice job!A couple people called Shizune back then.
Hadaran – So happy you enjoyed it!You got a small taste of how Tsunade feels at the end of this chapter. Thoughts?
Yamajiji – I'm just happy that I caught a bunch of people off guard. As always, thanks for the review!
Spenge – You win my favorite review of the chapter. Thanks for the laugh.
KuroArashi94 – Your second theory was on the money. Naruto and Sasuke plan to team up to fight Itachi and the Akatsuki.
Phazer12, Sinvaas – In the manga,Jiraiya says Kabuto is "On the same level as Kakashi" when telling Naruto not to join in the fight. To me, it sounds like he's talking about strength.
IAmN0tDead – Agreed. I love Grammarly; it saves a ton of time when editing these chapters.
Juan Esteban Reyes Bautista – No, Naruto Will not learn Hiraishin.
As for the databook stats, there are definitely better systems out there. I chose to use the canon metrics solely because I'm familiar and comfortable with them. My stats aren't meant to be taken super seriously, just a fun way to gauge character progression.
NaruCrazy – No plot armor here.
vyoom – Kabuto 'escaped.' Wonder how he managed that?
papavil450 – Why favorite the story if it's cringe?
Link0011 – I'm glad I was able to turn you over to Team Sasori. I wouldn't say he's changed sides yet, though. He's sitting on the fence in the middle, Ōnoki style.
lovleydragonfly – You are forgiven. This time. Lol.
Despite the sadness, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ThelittleKing – Yes, Shizune is dead. It'll undoubtedly affect things going forward for Tsunade and others.
Also, you're the only one who mentioned the seal on Sasori's heart. It was only slightly alluded to, so nice catch!
Sasuke recognizes the value Naruto would bring him. Whether he has any interest in being a Leaf Ninja again remains to be seen.
TrenchcoatMan – Your last guess about Sasuke was the closest, I'd say. Thoughts on what happened in this chapter regarding that?
SentinalSlice – You got your wish; the Snake's apprentice managed to slither away this time.
SuperSonic2654 – Imma be real with you; I totally forgot Gaara existed when I wrote that. He's never seen a woman with red hair.