The Savior's Grace
"Gaze now upon what the Usurper sought so hard to erase. Gaze now upon the Saviors wrath, his fury…his majesty. Witness the power of the Sage of the Endless Path!" With the reverence that can only be affected by a true believer, Loew placed the circlet upon his head. He closed his eyes and breathed deep. Naruto's hands shook as he sensed what was coming. Hinata forgot how to breath as she watched Loew prepare himself. A shiver ran up Kurenai's spine as dread fell over the entire group. Sounds seemed to dull, light seemed to fade, colors lost their hue. Eyes as black as the deepest ocean depths, as clear as a cloudless night, and as cold as an arctic winter opened.
"Servants, Slaves of a false prophet, a false ideal! Dare you face the truth!?"
"Behold, the power of a god!" Black chakra exploded from Loews skin and whirled around him in a swirling maelstrom. The Herald stepped from the twisting darkness and looked down upon the assembled shinobi. "You there, child. You have tasted of this power, no? But those are parlor tricks compared to the true wrath of the Savior." Loew gathered the swirling black mist around him and leapt into the air. Naruto substituted with a rock as Loew slammed into spot he had been standing in. "Look at this, my greatest creation," Loew said gesturing to the fallen metal golem lying broken on the ground. "I spent years making her. I poured in my love, my sweat, my blood, even my very soul into her construction. Yet, so frail are the works of man. And before the power of he who would've, nay should've, become a god, a decade of my life means nothing. Simple dust."
Loew ran his hand along the metal golems carapace, where he touched the metal seemed to age and rust, crumbling into dust. The rust spread like a disease, corroding the entire twenty-foot behemoth. Orange-red powder fell from through Loew's fingers making a small pile on the floor. Empty, black eyes looked up sending chills through every spine in the room. "And now you too, shall become dust." Loew raised his arms and released a wave of black chakra that ate the ground as it made its way towards the Konoha-nin.
"Everyone move!" Kurenai shouted. Though her order was given in vain. The genin were either exhausted, or frozen in place by fear. Even Kurenai's arm was shaking at Loew's newfound power. That left it to her and Asuma to stop the wave of death heading their way. A blur shot past her as Naruto interposed himself between the black chakra and his teammates. "Naruto!?"
"I don't know what's going on but we can't let them keep that thing. If he releases another attack like this use Shino's bugs."
"Naruto get out of there!" Kurenai shouted moving towards her student.
"Stop them no matter what." Too late the wave engulfed him.
"NARUTO!" Hinata shouted as Kurenai readied herself to meet the black chakra. Before it reached her, though, it began receding back and condensing. Glimpsed through brief holes in the midnight black the group saw Naruto sweat pouring from his face his teeth clenched with the effort of absorbing the foreign chakra.
"Yaaaah!" Naruto shouted throwing his arms out wide sending the wave back at Loew. The Shrouded Heralds lightless eyes widened in surprise as his attack was reflected back at him.
He held his arms out as the chakra slammed into him. He asserted his will and parted the chakra, dispersing it. "Though your powers are a parlor trick, you are quite skilled at performing them."
"Just…w-wait for my…encore…" Naruto panted out as he tried to raise his sword. His eyes were glassy, his clothes were tattered, and his skin looked pallid. As he spoke blood ran from his mouth. His sword fell from unresponsive hands and clattered to the ground. Naruto tried to find chakra in his body, tried to stand upright. Nothing. He had nothing left to give. Even that dammed fox was quiet. Naruto's strength left him as he collapsed to the ground and fell into sweet oblivion.
"Your champion has fallen. Though he is an affront to the Sage of the Endless Path he has still earned my respect. But enough, you die now!" Loew raised his palms towards the still stunned shinobi and called again upon the crowns power. He felt the power fill his body and flow through his arm. But then his muscles seized up and he fell to his knees. Wracking pain filled his very being.
"Loew!?" And then Satori, sweet Satori, was at his side, concern in her eyes.
"I am but a mortal trying to glimpse the might of a god. I just need time." Loew hissed in pain, grinding his teeth
"Then time you shall have." Satori unfolded her bladed-battle fans and moved to unleash the force of the wind but was intercepted by Asuma who had moved around the black chakra. He pressed his advantage, attacking and feinting with his single trench knife, keeping in close to Satori to prevent her from using her wind ninjutsu. While the two wind users were occupied Kurenai ran to Naruto's side and rolled him face up to get a look at him. He was breathing, thank whatever god was listening for that. She felt along his neck and looking for a pulse. It was slow, but steady.
"Hinata, see to Naruto. Shino, I need you to prepare your Kikaichῡ. I don't know how they'll help but if Naruto says they will, then we'll need them." Kurenai reached into one of Naruto's pockets and withdrew a scroll. "They're paper bombs. Attach them to your kunai. Asuma and I will try to distract Loew. When we do, use these to try and kill him," Kurenai said handing the bombs to Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. "Stay back, and stay hidden. Come out only when you have an opening." Having given her orders Kurenai moved to help Asuma in his battle.
Asuma feinted with his knife before throwing a left hook. Satori had seen through the ploy and back flipped out of his range, getting her fans ready to blow him away. Asuma was one step ahead and had already completed the hand signs for his own wind technique. "Wind Style: Dust Cloud Technique!" Asuma brought his hands to his mouth and inhaled. Satori swept her fans down creating a wall of wind to intercept Asuma's technique. Smirking to himself Asuma pivoted and blew a stream of wind-powered dust particles at Loew.
The cloud of dust engulfed Loew, who still had trouble moving properly, sanding the stone floor smooth. More black chakra exploded from his location and the ninjutsu died. Loew stood where he had been flexing his hand experimentally before turning his vacant eyes to look at Asuma. "Does your arrogance know no bounds, puppet?" Black mist shrouded his arm as he held it up in the air, awe in his eyes as he regarded it. "I may have overstepped myself before. But now I have control." He rushed forward and brought his black encased hand down. Asuma sidestepped the blow as Loew's arm buried itself into the ground. Believing the Herald to be stuck Asuma moved to cut his throat with his trench knife. Loew swept his arm through the ground like it was water as Asuma had to scramble away from the black chakra. If it could turn a twenty-foot steel monstrosity to dust, he didn't want to know what it did to humans.
Loew stopped and turned to face Kurenai who had been trying to approach from stealth. "Your illusions will not help you here, woman. I have ascended to a point where your petty tricks have no effect on me." Kurenai grimaced, she had been trying to put Loew under a genjutsu, seemed it didn't work. Rethinking her strategy Kurenai hurled a handful of shuriken to buy time. Satori knocked them out of the air with a swipe of her fans and sent a wave of gale force winds at the genjutsu user. Kurenai hid behind a fallen column as the wind scoured its exposed surface.
Loew wound his hand back sent a right hook at Asuma. He avoided the attack as Loew overbalanced and gave Asuma the opening he needed. Punching him in the ribs with his free hand to keep the Herald off balance Asuma lashed out with his knife trying to slit the man's jugular. Moving faster than he had before Loew whipped around and caught the blade with his blackened hand. Asuma had cut bone, stone, and even metal with his chakra infused blades; and yet it didn't seem to be effecting Loew's hand at all. And was it just Asuma or were Loew's tattoos getting darker. Thinking quickly Asuma jumped into the air and kicked Loew in the chest with both feet.
Loew tumbled back the black chakra surrounding his arm extinguished as he came to a stop. Asuma looked down at his knife and noticed that it had become pitted and was covered in rust. It couldn't handle encountering the black chakra again. Loew man began pulling himself when he coughed and dark crimson stained the ground before him. Asuma cocked his head, he hadn't kicked him that hard. After regaining his feet Loew wiped the blood from his mouth and stood tall. That was when Asuma realized that Loew's tattoos weren't getting darker, his flesh was becoming paler. "Doesn't seem like that power as great as you think it is," Asuma taunted.
"Silence, blasphemer. You speak of things you could never understand! All things have their price, and I gladly pay it." Before he could gather his power, kunai flew at him from three different directions. One even lodged itself in his thigh. The tags attached to them began glowing before Loew was consumed by the ensuing explosions.
"D-did we get him?" Shikamaru asked as the three genin moved to Asuma's side.
"No," Asuma said swallowing hard. "Get ready." The smoke in the area was blasted away by surging black chakra that raged around Loew like a terrible, angry hurricane.
"WHY WON'T YOU ALL JUST DIE!?" Loew shouted. Asuma was sure this time, his tattoos were definitely getting darker. The tattooed eye on his forehead became filled in by blackness, becoming a bottomless pit like his two actual eyes. "BE PURGED FROM THIS WORLD UNCLEAN SLAVES OF A FALSE PROPHET! BEGONE!" Black chakra surged from Loew like a tidal wave.
"Get down!" Shino shouted stepping up behind the group. Kikaichῡ poured from his coat, creating a writhing dome of chitin.
The wave passed over the dome. Shino continued releasing more and more of his comrades to reinforce the dome, but they died as soon as he could add them. The black wave passed over them as Shino lowered his arms, his swarms decimated. But they had done what Naruto had said they would. The area that had been inside the insectoid dome was untouched. Outside though, the hard stone had turned to sand, creating a small platform on which the Konoha-nin stood.
Drawing in a rattling breath, Loew wiped the blood from his mouth. "The child is knowledgeable, in his ways. But the power of the Savior is infinite. And yours is so very finite."
"But how infinite is your body?" Asuma asked.
"A meaningless sacrifice. I simply need time to master myself. And I will have all the time in the world. You, on the other hand, have very little time." He raised his arm up into the air and called forth the black chakra surrounding him. "Now you will-"
"LOEW!"
Kurenai hid behind the fallen pillar as gale force winds wore the stone down. Satori brought her fan down sending another wave of wind. Kurenai ran out from cover and sent a hail of shuriken flying at her. She blocked them with one fan while slamming a wall of wind into Kurenai's chest with the other. The genjutsu broke as Satori turned and sent a blade of wind behind her. "Think I'll fall for the same trick twice!?" She shouted as the wind blade sliced through Kurenai. The fire clone exploded as Satori flipped back out of the blast range.
"I have all sorts of tricks," Kurenai said grabbing Satori and flipping her onto the ground.
Satori stabbed a collapsed battle-fan into the ground. Anchoring it with chakra Satori pivoted, bringing her legs around and swept Kurenai from her feet. The genjutsu user rolled with her fall and jumped back up, kunai in hand. She used it to block Satori's sharpened battle-fans. She spun and swung a kick at the wind-users head. Satori blocked it with her forearm and opened her other fan, ready to blast Kurenai away.
As she brought her hand up, Kurenai grabbed her arm before she could use her jutsu. Satori's eyes widened as the Kurenai she had blocked faded away. Kurenai twisted Satori's wrist until her hand opened. The battle-fan clattered to the floor and Kurenai kicked it away. Satori pushed Kurenai way and moved to stab her with her other fan. Kurenai grabbed Satori's arm and held her back, the blade a mere inch or two from her chest.
The two stood there, locked in a battle of wills and brawn. With her two hands against one, Kurenai managed to disarm Satori completely. Smirking Satori drew Asuma's old trench knife and swung at Kurenai. Kurenai threw herself back, she managed to dodge the knife, but not the wind chakra extending from the blade. It scored a deep cut across her chest and right arm. Blood dripped to the ground as Kurenai turned to move away.
"I purge you from this world." Satori filled the knife with wind chakra and threw it with the precision of a well-crafted kunai. It pierced her back as Kurenai spat out blood from her mouth. Satori smiled as she saw the knife continue through her body. Only for Kurenai to begin disintegrating. The walls of the tomb began melting and shifting as reality started to reassert itself. Satori's eyes widened and her smile dropped as she saw her knife's new trajectory. "LOEW!"
Loew turned at the sound of his name. Time seemed to slow as every eye followed the progress of the trench knife across the room. Loew tried ducking out of the way, but he was too slow. The chakra laced blade collided with the impossibly black metal sitting at the center of the Wiseman's Crown with a soft metallic ting.
*WHUMP*
The shockwave shook the entire spire as the Konoha-nin were thrown back. Dust and debris were kicked up, shrouding the entire room. Hinata pushed herself up slowly as rocks and dust fell from her back. She had thrown herself over Naruto when the explosion hit. She was relatively unhurt, being the farthest away from the epicenter of the blast. She quickly checked Naruto over and was relieved to see he wasn't hurt either, or more hurt as the case may be.
"Choji? Choji!?" Ino shouted shaking the boy. The Akamichi had used his body manipulation techniques to shield Ino, Shikamaru, and Shino from the worst of the blast. He paid dearly and was now unconscious and bleeding.
"Y-you got bandages…right?" Shikamaru asked. Seeing his best friend laying on the ground bleeding shook the normally indifferent boy.
"Ino, snap out of it." Ino turned to see Shino picking himself off the ground. "You did exceptionally well in Lady Tsunade's class. What would she do first?"
"S-she would…staunch the bleeding"
"Then do it. Shikamaru, we have other things to worry about right now." Shikamaru looked up where Shino was pointing and felt his stomach drop. In the middle of the blast zone stood Loew. He seemed unharmed from the blast, but stared off into space in a daze. Bits and pieces of copper crumbled from his head. The mysterious black artifact was nowhere to be seen and his eyes had resumed their natural coloring. Loew started looking around, though his eyes remained glassy.
"Over here," Shino said digging through the rubble. "My comrades have found Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru went to Shino's side and began removing rubble. A groan escaped Asuma's lips as the two boys pulled him from the dirt.
"I-is everyone alright?" Asuma asked as he stood with the help of Shikamaru.
"Naruto and Hinata are fine," Shino said communicating with his insects. "Kurenai-sensei is alive, but I don't know her condition. Loew seems dazed, but otherwise unharmed. Satori, like Kurenai-sensei, is alive, but I am unsure of her condition."
"We need to get…ready for Loew's next attack," Asuma hissed holding his side
"I used all my soldiers protecting us, and do not have enough chakra for ninjutsu. But I can still fight."
"I can too," Shikamaru said drawing a kunai.
"Okay, while he's still dazed. Let's go!"
Her ears rang and her sight was blurred. Satori pushed something heavy from on top of her and rose to her hands and knees. Trying to gather her bearing, she felt along the ground for a hand hold to pull herself up. Her hand brushed something sharp when she heard a deep, insidious whisper. Her eyes had cleared enough to discern colors. And against the dusty dun colored stone, a patch of absolute blackness stood out. Reaching out she gently, reverently, picked up the artifact. She heard the whisper, no, not a whisper. It was a song. So glorious. It was so clear, so obvious. The song spoke of such power, such clarity. She could drown in its terrible promise.
A sound to her right brought her out of her reverie. Trying in vain to free herself, Kurenai had a leg trapped under a fallen boulder. That's right. They were fighting. She threw her knife. Loew! Where was Loew? She found him standing in the center of a crater gormlessly looking around at nothing. The missing-nin saw movement out of the corner of her eye and noticed some of the Konoha-nin getting ready to attack. "Loew!"
The Shrouded Herald blinked as he came to his senses. He looked up to Satori, and she was relieved to see his eyes looking clear again. His gaze lingered on her face before zeroing in on the black lump in her hand. "The artifact?" He stepped forward, but fell to his knee when the joint buckled.
"Loew!"
"Stop." Satori came up short when Loew held his hand out. Slowly he got to his feet and looked behind him at the approaching shinobi. "I can't leave, my legs can barely hold me up. Get the artifact to Father, Satori. That's all that matters."
"But Loew-"
"But nothing! The song deafened me, and I lost sight of what was truly important. No more. Go Satori, I'll buy you time to get away."
"L-Loew," Satori whispered. He turned to face Asuma and the genin trailing after him.
"I'll be traveling along the Path sooner than you. I'm sorry. Now go! Bring forth the utopia the Savior promised us," Loew ordered as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"I'll see you on the other side, Loew." Satori turned and began moving towards the tombs exit.
"No you don't!" Asuma shouted launching his last trench knife at her back. Black chakra burst from Loew's body and knocked the blade from the air. It rusted and crumbled to dust as it tumbled to the ground.
Loew's eyes opened, as black as the deepest ocean depth, as clear as a cloudless night, and as cold as an arctic winter. "Though I lost the artifact, I hear its song still. It whispers its secrets to me. How I can bring about the salvation promised us. I grew haughty, selfish. Now I once more give myself to the cause." Loew raised his arms and called the Savior's Grace to him.
"Feel the wrath of those who've been forced to hide in the shadows! To bide their time for the moment to strike! To watch the world crumb-hurk," Loew coughed and blood spurted from his mouth as he continued coughing. He fell to his knees blood now leaking from his nose and normal, white eyes. Drawing every last ounce of willpower Loew rose to his feet. "No. Not yet. I am strong. I am strong!" His eyes became black again as chakra surged around him. He held his arm out as he tried to channel the black chakra through it.
Loew's entire body shook as he tried to contain his power. "I-is he aging?" Shikamaru asked. Asuma wanted to say that was ridiculous, but his eyes weren't lying. Wrinkles had appeared on his face, and liver spots sprouted on his arms. Blood dribbled from his nose and eyes as a steady stream of the dark liquid poured from his mouth.
"I-I can't st-stop it. It's…It's too much." Loew whispered out his final prayer. "Dear Savior, let...my final...act...see Satori...to safety, " Loew threw his head back as midnight black chakra exploded from his mouth and eyes rising into the air and piercing the ceiling.
Without the mysterious ebony object, Loew could not control the black chakra. His body whither and crumbled in on itself. His fingers curled and became arthritic. His skin turned pallid and lifeless. The black mist slowed, became a trickle, then finally stopped altogether. Loew collapsed to the ground a lifeless, empty husk. "What was that?" Shino asked in dumb amazement.
"I don't know, but we need to hurry after Satori. She can't have g-" The ground shook and a rock fell from the ceiling. "Dammit! The tomb's collapsing. Shikamaru, help Ino get Choji out of here. Shino, help Hinata with Naruto. I'll get Kurenai." Nodding the two genin rushed to help their fallen comrades. Asuma ran as fast as he could across the destroyed room. Dust had begun trickling from the ceiling as the ground seemed to grow unstable. The battle had taken its toll on the ancient structure, and it seemed that final blast of black chakra from Loew was the last straw.
Asuma found Kurenai with a leg stuck under a fallen rock. "Kurenai!"
"Asuma!" Kurenai shouted turning to look at him. "I can't get out." Asuma put his shoulder to the rock and lifted with all his might. Working together they lifted the stone high enough for Kurenai to wiggle free. Despite that her leg was a mess and she wouldn't be walking under her own power for a while. Asuma was too exhausted to lift and carry her, so he propped her up on his shoulder and the two hobbled their way to the exit.
"What happened?" Kurenai asked.
"Satori got the artifact and escaped. Loew lost control and is bringing the tomb down on our heads. We need to get out now."
"What about the others?"
"They should be fine. We'll be the ones catching up."
"N-not to sound alarmist, but we need to move faster." Another boulder fell from the ceiling landing far too close for comfort. They hobbled faster across the uneven ground, but their pace was still too slow. A crack rent the air as a piece of the ceiling detached and fell towards them. Even if they dodged, it would still block the exit. Multiple small thunks sounded followed by an explosion that ripped the rock apart sending dust and pebbles raining on the two jonin.
"Move faster!" Pushing their abused muscles even further the two dived past the opening to the burial chamber as the rest of the ceiling collapsed. Asuma and Kurenai panted heavily as Shino helped them up. "We don't know how long the rest of the tomb will last, we need to leave," Shino said helping the two walk out.
The sun beat down mercilessly on the ruins that had been the Archaeological dig. The Konoha shinobi sat under the shade of an awning as the sound of mourning filled the air. A few of the locals had managed to escape from the attack and ran back to their village. A few brave men had come to check the situation, and when they saw it was safe ran back to the village for help.
They were currently out among the dead, sorting the fallen, and tending to the wounded. They had also made it crystal clear that the outsiders help wasn't needed. Just as well, they had their own wounded to tend to. Choji was stable, his chakra enhanced body had prevented any internal bleeding. Kurenai's leg had to be splinted, her hand was coated in green chakra as she ran it over the damage. Naruto's condition was still up in the air, mostly because nobody knew what was wrong with him.
Now that they didn't have anyone trying to kill them Hinata could more closely examine him. He was breathing and his heartbeat was steady. His skin was still pale and he remained unresponsive. His chakra was dangerously low. But most worryingly of all were a series of small necrotic lesions that had appeared on his skin. They had formed on his body just above his chakra points. Hinata needed to cut off the dead flesh, but didn't trust that she was skilled enough. Not to mention that a windswept desert wasn't exactly the best place for amateur surgery. She would need to keep the wounds clean, and hope they didn't get worse before they found a real doctor.
Hinata looked up at the rest of her country-men. They sat on the ground despondent, staring at nothing. Satori had gotten away with the mysterious black piece of metal. Asuma had thought about going after her, she was just as wounded as he was. He quickly discarded the notion when he remembered that she had been born and raised on the sands. He would be at a disadvantage, not to mention he was down two trench knives. No getting around it, they had lost
Hinata sat back once she came to the conclusion she couldn't do anymore for her best friend. She took his hand and held it tight, more for her comfort than his. "H-Hin…ata?" The girl's heat leapt into her throat as she leaned over Naruto's form. His eyes flickered open as he blearily looked up at her. "D-did we…w-win?" Hinata shook her head, working to stop the tears threatening to spill.
"L-loew's dead, but Satori g-got away with th-the ar-artifact."
"O-oh." Naruto's eyes grew heavy and he once more fell into unconsciousness.
"It's a mess…isn't it?" The shinobi turned as Professor Harada hobbled over to them.
"Are the university workers alright?" Asuma asked.
"Those that are alive." She looked out over the wreckage as a woman lay over a dead body, tears pouring from her eyes. "I only wanted to learn about our past. How did it end up like this?"
"Because of Satori," Asuma said.
"Who?" Harada asked. "One of the attackers. I've dealt with her before. She was responsible for this."
"Was she the one controlling those statues?"
"No, that was her companion. What I meant was that an attractive woman shows up at the Daimyo's court, interested in archaeology just as you're about to submit a new proposal for this dig. Coincidences only go so far. Loew, the statues controller, must have tried digging this place up before. He failed and buried some of his golems, the statues. Satori then infiltrated the Daimyo's court and convinced him to give you funding."
"My academic dream, turned to such ends." Tears fell from Harada's eyes. "All this because of me. I-I'm sorry…I'I need to go send some messages…and…and…"
"It's nobody's fault but the murderers," Kurenai said positioning her leg gingerly on the ground. "If you want to blame someone, blame the people killing others. That's what I intend to do, and I intend to stop them. If you want to get even with them, tell your idiot of a Daimyo that it was the Shrouded Heralds who are responsible for what happened. Crying's not going to bring these people back, nor is it going to stop those responsible."
Harada stared at Kurenai for a moment before wiping her eyes. "You're right. I envy the mettle of shinobi. Aside from coming here to pity myself, I had wanted to thank you. I can't imagine what would've happened had you not been here. I must attend to my workers. Heal well."
Once Harada walked away Kurenai stood up on one leg and turned to the rest of the group. "That goes for the rest of you too. Look, I get it. People died. People we were supposed to protect. We failed. No arguing that, no making excuses. So, we can sit here and mope, or we can learn from this and get stronger. I, for one, am going to take the latter option."
"Kurenai's right everybody," Asuma said standing next to the woman. "You won't always succeed on your missions. Your teammates will probably die. That is the life of the shinobi. You can either be consumed by it, or overcome it."
"Right," Kurenai said definitively. "We need to make preparations to return to Konoha. They need to know what's happened here. Hinata, Ino you two make sure we'll have everything we'll need for Choji and Naruto. Shikamaru, Shino you two make sure we have enough provisions. Asuma and I will see if we can get a cart to transport our wounded. You have your orders, get to it." Now that they had a goal, something they could achieve, the genin went to obey their orders filled with new determination.
"What?" Kurenai asked when she saw Asuma looking at her sideways.
"Nothing, nothing," Asuma said grinning. "Let's find a cart to get us home."
Ziren surveyed the Konoha base camp. More shinobi had trickled in over the past few days as they prepared to assault the lab. They were still a few teams short, and were awaiting their arrival over the next couple of days. With more people, they had implemented around the clock surveillance on the lab's entrance. So far little more than basic layout had been seen. Kō still had trouble peering past the lab's first floor, the reasons remained unclear.
Ziren moved to the back of the cave were their temporary command post had been set up. People were setting up radio equipment for the assault, but it wouldn't be turned on till the attack began. Less chance of being discovered. Standing over a table with a hand-drawn layout of the area, Shikaku planned their method of attack. "Commander Nara, sir, a moment of your time?"
"Yes, what is it Adair?"
"Not far from here is the city of Sakusei. It's an industrial town that contains two of the continents foremost producers of laboratory materials."
"I'm aware, it's one of the reasons you thought this area could be home to a hidden laboratory."
"Right. I have some contacts in both companies. I wanted permission to go there and meet with them in hopes of perhaps finding record of transactions in the area. If we're lucky we can find evidence that they've been dealing with Orochimaru."
"And you can't do this after the mission because?"
"The assault is likely to draw somebody's attention. If there is proof of dealings with a traitor then it'll be infinitely harder to obtain after the mission is complete. Besides, there is little more that I could help with here."
"So, you want leave to go to Sakusei alone, in the middle of a mission?"
"Not alone, sir. I wish to have Anko accompany me."
"Anko?"
"One of the men I'm going to meet with…well…he can be charitably referred to as a pig. Having an attractive woman with me will make getting information from him child's play."
Shikaku tapped his chin as he considered Ziren's request. "Very well, you can take Anko to Sakusei. But you need to be back in two days, or we'll assault the laboratory without you. I want a complete report on all activities there."
"Yes, sir, thank you sir." Ziren bowed and went to go find Anko, they had to hurry.
"Are you going to tell me what we're supposed to be doing here?" Anko asked as the pair walked through Sakusei's streets. Ziren had surprised her with new orders from Commander Nara, and the next thing she knew they were running full pelt away from the lab. Now they were winding their way through the unfamiliar roads going…somewhere. "First of all, where are we going?"
"My safehouse…ah, here we are." Ziren turned into an alley. He went half way down before descending a flight of steps. "Come on!" Ziren shouted. Anko followed him down the steps and into a small one room apartment. It was dusty, but otherwise clean.
"Why do you have a safehouse?"
"I used to do business with some less than reputable types. It's always good to have somewhere to hide. Here, I have some extra clothing to change into," Ziren said rummaging through a closet.
"What's wrong with our clothes?" Anko asked. Ziren looked at Anko before rolling his eyes.
"What's wrong is that we look like shinobi."
"We are shinobi."
"Yes, but people don't like doing business with shinobi."
"Plenty of companies do business with Konoha," Anko said as she caught a change of clothes thrown at her by Ziren.
"I didn't say people don't do business, I said they don't like doing business with shinobi. Besides, I'm trying to keep the fact that I'm part of Konoha a secret." Sighing, Anko took a closer look at her new clothes.
"Can I at least keep my meshing?"
"Of course. In fact, I'd recommend it. I'll keep us on the safer streets, but you never know."
Anko removed her headband, and began changing. "Remind me again why we're here?"
"Because we want to stop Orochimaru."
"And how is wasting time here in Sakusei going to stop him?"
"What do you know about laboratory equipment?"
"Enough to be able to mix poisons and anti-venom."
"Well, most laboratory equipment is expensive, hard to make, and very fragile."
"I've seen the invoices for some of the stuff the T&I Department uses. I can't believe glass can be that expensive."
"Right. So, quick question. Where does Orochimaru, an infamous criminal, get enough to stock not just one, but multiple laboratories?"
"So, you think one of these companies is supplying him?"
"Most likely. If I can find some sort of evidence of a connection, then we'll be one step closer to stopping him."
"Why bother? That lab is as good as destroyed. No point in cutting off supplies."
"Because it's not enough to simply destroy his labs, Anko. It's not even enough to simply kill him. His labs are designed to operate independently without his supervision. Killing Orochimaru won't stop his experiments. We need to stop the people helping him. We stop the companies bankrolling him. If this supply line dies we force him to use riskier methods, we force him to make mistakes, we force him to expose himself. And then, when everything he has built is burning around him, when everything he has spent his life making has been torn down, then we can beat him."
"You're surprisingly ruthless Ziren, I approve. Just remember, I will be the one to rip his throat out," Anko said flexing her hand. She reached up and undid her hair letting it fall to her shoulders before cinching her shirt to be just a little tighter. "Let's go steal intel from a pervert."
"I am going to kill that man," Anko said a shudder running up her spine at the thought of the man they just finished talking to. "There's seduction. Then there's fending off a salivating horn dog. How does he get away with that crap?"
"Well…the industry has been making strides to become more diverse. But for the most part it's still a boy's club."
"I need a shower. Did we get anything good at least?"
"I hope so. I was even able to get some of the more restricted files when you did that bending over thing. Very impressive."
"I feel like my skills were wasted on him. Let me look," Anko said holding out her hand for the files. Ziren handed it over while looking up at the descending sun.
"If I'm being perfectly honest Anko, your skills kind of were."
"What do you mean?"
"You saw him, he was an idiot. I could've gotten him to give up the clothes on his back, even without your help. Though it did make my job easier."
"Then…if my skills weren't needed, why did you bring me?"
"Because I couldn't have come if I didn't have you with me." Ziren stopped and turned to face Anko.
"If this info is as important as you claimed it is, why wouldn't Commander Nara have let you go?"
"You trust me Anko, and I appreciate that. Think about it this way. I have only recently joined Konoha. We are on this mission thanks to intel I provided the village. Have you wondered how I got that information? Shikaku Nara has, I'm sure. He doesn't trust that I'm not somehow working for Orochimaru on this. Heck, I wasn't even convinced that we were going to attack the lab until he showed up."
"Then why would the Lord Third have sent us if not to prepare for an attack?"
"To get us out of the way. The suspicious informer and the emotionally involved solider with a personal history. The assignment Hiruzen gave us was just a little too convenient. Easy way to make sure we couldn't gather intel on the real mission. Hiruzen hands us a few breadcrumbs and we eat it up like-"
"Enough." Anko's tone brought Ziren up short. "Say what you will about Konoha all you like. But do not, DO NOT, insult Hiruzen Sarutobi. He does not treat the people under him like that, and I won't stand for someone speaking of him in such a way."
"S-sorry, Anko. I didn't know you felt that strongly." Anko turned from Ziren as her hand went to the curse mark on her neck.
"After what Orochimaru did to me, everyone wanted to lock me up. They treated me like I had betrayed the village somehow. It was Hiruzen who vouched for me, it was he who stood by me. He wouldn't lie to the people who trust him like that." Rolling her shoulders and taking a deep breath, she turned back towards Ziren. "So, if I'm a liability to this mission apparently, why did you need to bring me?"
"Because Shikaku knows that if I did anything that could potentially aid Orochimaru, you would not hesitate to kill me."
"True. So, are we going to meet that other guy. If he drools, I am going to strangle him."
"You don't have to worry about him. He's still madly in love with his wife after forty years of marriage. It's the cutest thing ever. Besides," Ziren once more looked up at the sun. "We need to leave at sun up tomorrow. We don't have time to meet him. His company is too small to be able to provide supplies to Orochimaru without suspicions being raised anyway."
"What are you talking about, we still have time. Don't tell me you're against burning the midnight oil?"
"If I'm going to continue the trend of being honest with you…I wanted to make a third stop. This stop is more important than the others."
"And what exactly is this third stop."
"Anko, listen. What I am about to show you must remain secret. I want you to swear that you will not tell anyone about what I will reveal to you."
"If I refuse?"
"Then we meet with my other contact, get some useless intel, and head back to Shikaku."
"And if I agree, you want me to lie to Shikaku if asked?"
"No, I want you to lie to Hiruzen if asked. What I could learn from this contact could make the difference between how the assault ends. Whether or not we learn it is up to you."
"And this won't cause me to betray the village, will it?"
"I chose you because I knew that if it did you would strike me down without hesitation."
"If it will help us fight Orochimaru, then I swear to keep it a secret." Ziren stared into Anko's eyes before nodding, satisfied with what he found.
"Follow me." Ziren walked down the street at a brisk pace, Anko close behind. He turned down alleys and side streets seemingly at random. He would occasionally turn around and walk the opposite direction he had been heading. Anko was pretty sure they had walked down one specific alley three times. The result was that she was completely lost when the pair turned into a dead-ended dirty alley.
Trash littered the ground, Sakusei wasn't the cleanest city in the elemental nations by a long-shot, but this was bad even by its standards. The only way to even get into this alley was off another alley. Anko hadn't even seen the entrance until they had been right up on it. Ziren expanded his senses, making sure they were alone. "We're here. The switch should be right…around…here." Ziren channeled chakra through hand into the wall before stepping back.
Anko waited, but when nothing happened looked at Ziren. "This is the part where the secret door opens, isn't it?"
"That would be a terrible security design. The switch is more of a doorbell."
"How long will we have to wait?"
"Depends on what he was doi-"
*Click*
"-that long." The door swung open and Ziren ushered Anko into the opening quickly. Once inside Anko found herself on a flight of stairs leading down into darkness. She heard a click as the door closed behind her. She turned to see who they were meeting when she froze. Standing before the door throwing the lock stood an old man with balding grey hair. His face was unkempt and a pair of bifocals were perched on his crooked nose with a purple birthmark taking up most of the left side of his face.
A memory, unbidden, came to Anko's mind. She had just woken up in a strange room. She couldn't move, her body had been strapped to the table on which she lay. Even her head was held immobile. Into her narrow view stepped her beloved teacher, Orochimaru. She tried to ask what was going on, but something was covering her mouth, it smelled of antiseptic and rubber. Orochimaru said something, then across from the Sannin came an older man with a large purple birthmark covering the left side of his face. He replied to Orochimaru before reaching towards Anko's face. She flinched as he reached past her and turned a valve. Her consciousness faded as she felt the mask covering her face fill with gas.
"Anko! ANKO!" Ziren shouted snapping her from her reverie. She had drawn a kunai, and the blade was a scant few centimeters from splitting the old man's throat. The only thing stopping it was Ziren, who had interposed himself between the two and was struggling to hold Anko's arm back. "Anko, calm down!"
"WHAT IS HE DOING HERE!? YOU ARE WOR-"
"Anko…Anko Mitarashi?" The man whispered as a tear ran down his cheek. "I…I'm so…sorry. I'm so sorry," He sobbed as tears now poured freely from his eyes. Stunned by the sudden waterworks, Anko stepped back giving all three some room. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," The man repeated over and over as he fell to his knees.
"You…uh…know each other?"
Anko's hand snapped up placing the kunai's edge at Ziren's throat. "What the hell is going on here?"
"I-I can explain," Ziren stuttered keeping his empty hands up.
"You're in contact with one of Orochimaru's followers, give me one reason not to kill you right now?"
"P-please, Anko-"
"Don't you dare call me that!" The man recoiled at the anger in Anko's voice.
"Ms. Mitarashi, please, don't hurt him. If you want to kill me…you have the right. What I did to you…but please, Ziren had nothing to do with what happened. He hates Orochimaru too, he wouldn't help that monster. Please."
Anko looked between the two men, before slowly lowering her kunai. "What is going on here? Why is this slime here? You have a lot to explain, Adair. Down the stairs, slowly." Anko kept the kunai at the ready as she watched the two men, hands still raised, as they walked down the stairs. The trio walked through the doorway at the foot of the stairs. Anko twitched when she saw that they were in a small laboratory. More memories Anko had repressed came to the surface as she became angrier and angrier.
They made their way to a cluttered table and Anko motioned for Ziren and the man to sit. "So…uh…how do you two know each other?" Ziren asked tentatively.
"He gave me this!" Anko hissed moving her hair to show her curse mark.
"You worked on the Heavenly Seal Project?"
When the man nodded Ziren covered his face and groaned. "I would've completely rethought this plan had I known that."
"Quiet!" Anko barked, silencing Ziren. "How do you two know each other? What's going on here?" Anko asked gesturing to the lab.
"Ziren saved my life and set me up in here."
"There's more to that story, I promise," Ziren said when Anko trained her glare on him.
"Please, let us explain. There's more going on here than you might think. Just hear us out." Anko looked between the two men thinking through the most effective means of killing them. No. If Hiruzen could look past what had happened and give her a chance, then she could at least hear them out. She would keep an eye out for foul play, just in case.
"Flem Hawādo. You will die for what you've done. But I will listen to your story. Test me, even slightly, and I will kill you."
"Well…now that we're talking we c-"
"I haven't given you permission to speak, Adair. Hawādo speaks first." Anko motioned for Flem to speak before taking her own seat.
"My story is somewhat long, if you'll allow. Whilst working in the Land of Fire's University I specialized in the study of chakra and its effects on the human body. I had just been reprimanded by the dean for some…questionable ethics. At that time Orochimaru appeared. Understand, Orochimaru was still respected by the scientific community at the time. He said all the right things, confirmed all my closely held beliefs. He played me like a fiddle. He offered me the chance to work for him without, what I considered, restrictive ethics.
"I was enamored with the idea that I could be unlocking secrets that my old colleagues could only dream of. To plumb the deepest secrets nature has. To go further without worrying about pointless morality, to follow Orochimaru's morality. It was so easy to ignore the warning signs, blinded as I was. Orochimaru's methods became more and more extreme as time went on. His experiments grew more heartless, as did mine. Many other prominent researchers couldn't handle it and left his services. I thought them to be weak, to be held back by their ignorance to what we could achieve. It may be hard to understand, but I worshiped Orochimaru."
"I do understand what that's like."
"I suppose you would, more than even I. Eventually, I became one of the few renowned researchers who remained with him. He gave me so much respect, made me like his right hand. I finally got what I had wanted for so long, I was inducted to his inner-most circle and put in charge of his more top-secret endeavors. I performed…performed…"
"Horrors. You conducted unspeakable horrors on innocent people. Yet you continued, knowing full well what you were doing. How?"
"Never underestimate a person's ability to justify their actions to themselves. Even when committing atrocities beyond description, they can believe they're doing the right thing. The road to hell is paved with good intention, as they say. I truly believed that the ends justified the means. That no matter what terrible things I did, the knowledge unlocked would all be worth it. But I was not as heartless as Orochimaru, and my actions did begin to weigh on me eventually."
"Is that when you decided you had to get out? Do you think a sob story will stay my hand?"
"No, of course not. Death is the kindest thing that a monster like me deserves. To answer your first question, no, that's when I decided to start drinking. It helped…for a time. Then Orochimaru had me focus on his most ambitious project yet; The Heavenly Seal Project. The things I did to see Orochimaru's dream come to fruition…I have an eidetic memory, Ms. Mitarashi. I remember everything. Every whimper of pain…every plea for mercy…every prayer to an absent god. I can still hear them all. And then I met you. Orochimaru brought you to the lab, and told me he had found the perfect Guinea pig. You and nine others. You were the first person the seal took to. Orochimaru was ecstatic, we finally had our breakthrough.
"I saw what had become of the others. I had convinced myself that we were doing something for the greater good. But after what I saw, I knew I couldn't let Orochimaru complete that cursed seal."
"Complete it? What do you mean, 'complete it'?"
"The seal influences the psyche of the recipient. It wasn't meant to do that."
"It wasn't?"
"No. It was meant to completely dominate the person it was inflicted upon. That was the part of the project that I oversaw."
"How could you possibly think a mind-control jutsu in Orochimaru's hands could be a good idea!?"
"I didn't, not truly. But I was so far down the rabbit hole. Besides, at that point my conscience was drowning in a stream of hard liquor. But that experiment finally broke the spell. I knew I had to get out. Not for me, I was already lost. I sabotaged the lab. Destroyed what I could, freed who I could, and then…left. I left. I walked out the door, and just kept walking. I don't know how long, or how far. All I know is that I found myself on top of a large bridge, the water far below me at the bottom of a crevasse.
"It looked so inviting. All the regret, all the whispers, the knowledge of how much of a failure I was. What a monster I was. I could end it so quickly, so quietly. I climbed up on the guard rail and had accepted my fate."
"And I believe this is where I come in," Ziren said walking up to the pair with a tea tray. Anko had been so absorbed in Flem's story she hadn't even noticed him leaving the table. "I was wondering around the countryside when I found a disheveled old-man ready to jump off a bridge. I pulled him back. What? Don't look at me like that. I didn't know who he was. I wasn't about to let him commit suicide."
"Yes, Ziren pulled me back and asked me what I was doing. It was like a dam broke, and I confessed. Everything. Who I was, what I had done, who I had worked for, everything. It felt so liberating. Then I asked him to stand aside so I could atone for my crimes."
"You obviously didn't step aside. So, what did you do?" Anko asked Ziren.
"I called him a coward. Told him that if he wanted to make up for that he has done, he needs to work to save people. I told him that killing himself would help no one, fix none of his crimes. He spent so much of his time inflicting pain, he needed to apply himself to easing it."
"And that's what I would do. I would put all my time, intelligence, and skill towards helping others."
"Unfortunately, there was a bit of a hiccup in this plan," Ziren said filling his tea cup.
"It was around this time that Orochimaru's crimes became public. Seems some of the people I helped escape went to the authorities. He, and everyone associated with him, were declared traitors and hunted. It's not like I could go to a hospital to help out after that."
"And that led to this?" Anko asked gesturing to the small lab next to them.
"Yes, I decided to dedicate the rest of my life developing medicines and vaccines."
"How can you help the world when you're stuck in here? I would have heard if you had done anything remotely public."
"I have a few shell identities that I use to publish anything he comes up with." Ziren answered "I know people, I have connections. How do you think I know so many people in the biotech industry?"
"And you used your impressive connections to help a traitor to Konoha and a madman scientist!?" Anko shouted surging to her feet.
"Look, Anko. This was before I joined Konoha. I didn't owe it any loyalty. I figured he could do some good, so I set him up here."
"Why not turn yourself in then?" Anko asked turning to Flem. "You wanted to face justice for your actions, then let justice decide your fate."
"Come now Anko, you're not that naive," Ziren said.
"I do not fear death, Ms. Mitarashi," Flem said. "In fact, I welcome it. But no Hidden Village will kill me, I am far too useful. And I will not use my talents to such ends again. But I have spoken about myself enough. You two came here for a reason. What do you need, Ziren?"
"Konoha is assaulting the Lab closest to here, wanted to know if there's anything you can tell us about it," Ziren said.
"That is top secret information, Adair!"
"Really, Anko? How do you think I knew where that lab was? Flem here was the one who told me, meaning he was the one who told Konoha. The assault's only happening thanks to him. Besides, who's he going to tell? I don't think he's left this lab in over a decade. So Flem, what can you tell us?"
Flem stood up and moved over to a giant bookcase dominating an entire wall. "Though I rarely forget anything, I find it useful to write my thoughts and memories down." Flem took down a faux-leather bound journal and brought it back to the table. "What do you want to know?"
"What are they studying?" Anko asked.
"That I unfortunately don't know, but I can tell you what they were studying. They began switching projects when Orochimaru put me on the Heavenly Seal Project. Before, they were studying the Byakugan. A branch member of the clan defected and agreed to allow Orochimaru to study him in exchange for creating a method of removing the Caged-Bird Seal. During an experiment, they accidentally activated the seal and killed him. They had to switch tracks after that."
"Did they make any progress?" Ziren asked.
"Some yes. They created a seal that can interfere with the Byakugan."
"That explains why Kō's been having such trouble," Ziren said.
"Anything else?" Anko asked.
"Yes, watch out for explosive tags. They came up with an altered seal that, while not making it invisible, makes it very difficult for the Byakugan to see. Here, I have what I remember of the lab's layout." Flem moved next to Ziren and began going over his hand-drawn diagrams.
Anko looked over at the bookcase, she looked back at the two men before rising to her feet and moving towards the cabinet. Every book was the same, a faux-leather journal. None of them had any markings denoting what was in them. She reached towards one of the book when Flem cleared his throat behind her. "The case is booby trapped so that if anyone other than myself removes a book the whole thing goes up in flames."
"Are these all your notes from when you were working for Orochimaru?"
"Some of them, yes. Others I wrote down after I left, just in case."
"Does that include the Heavenly Seal Project?" Flem looked sideways at Anko before removing a book from the shelf.
"Yes here," He said holding the journal out to Anko. "Everything I ever knew about that wretched thing on your neck. It also contains information about the other nine initial test subjects."
"W-wha-"
"It's yours. Perhaps it'll provide some closure, or maybe a way to remove the curse." With shaking hands Anko took the book and began leafing through it. Seeing Anko absorbed in his notes, Flem moved back to Ziren. "We need to talk, your chakra's changed. The seal outside didn't react properly, that's why the door didn't open. You set off every alarm in this place.
"I thought something like that would happen. Wanted to keep you on your toes."
"This is not a joking matter, Ziren. How many Steps have you taken?"
"Just one."
"One? That much change after just one?"
"I knew the risks when I decided to join Konoha."
"I knew this was a terrible idea, ever since you took on your apprentice."
"It was my choice to make, Flem."
"Even so," Flem shook his head in defeat. "How long till you reach the point of no return?"
"Four."
"Four what?" Anko asked rejoining the two men, the journal clutched tightly in her hand.
"Four hypotheses I've put forward on the side project I have Flem working on." Ziren lied smoothly.
"Look, Ziren, from the information you gave me it's impossible, simply impossible."
"What's impossible?" Anko asked joining them at the table.
"Done reading already?" Ziren asked Anko, trying to further distract her.
"I need to focus on my current mission. I'll read it after…when I have time. But you didn't answer my question."
"My apprentice had recently fought someone with an unusual type of ninjutsu. Flem here knows more about chakra than anyone else I know. So, I asked him."
"Giving him more of Konoha's intel?"
"I will help Konoha to the best of my ability, but this man showed a particular interest in my apprentice. And Naruto is, and will always be, my first priority. Impossible or not, what do you have?"
"It sounds like the Light Element kekkei genkai. An elemental kekkei genkai that is formed by combining fire chakra, and lightning chakra. But like I said, it's impossible for him to have it."
"I have eye-witness testimony from a jonin and three genin that he did have the Light Element. Why is it impossible?"
"Because the clan that possessed the genetic trait allowing the combination died out thirty years ago. The man is too young to have been born with it. Besides he doesn't possess the phenotypic traits associated with the ability."
"Phenotypic?"
"Flem, act like we don't all have PhD's, please."
"What I mean is that anybody who can use the light element has a certain physical appearance. Blond hair and yellow eyes, he possessed neither. The trait allowing the light element was incredibly recessive. It's appearance, even among the clan, was rare. That's what led the clan to its extinction, inbreeding. There is no way he could have that particular kekkei genkai."
"Impossible or not, he had it. There must be some answer. I'll keep digging. Let me know if you figure anything else out. Come on Anko, we need to get rest and head out first thing tomorrow morning."
"No. There is still one more matter to deal with," Anko said turning to Flem. Reaching into a pocket she drew a kunai and held it loosely in her hand.
"It is the least I owe for the crimes I have committed. I do not fear death, I will not stop you." Anko looked at Ziren, gauging his reaction.
"I stopped him from ending his life once. If this is what the both of you want, I won't stop you," Ziren said stepping back.
Anko rose the knife up to Flem's neck. One quick swipe and she could watch the life drain from the man who had inflicted so much pain on her. She looked at her hand and realized it was her hand and hardening her resolve Anko readied herself. She pressed the blade deeper, drawing blood. Flem flinched, but otherwise remained unmoving. Her hand began shaking again as a small dribble of blood ran down the old man's neck. Snarling Anko pulled her blade back and punched the aged man as hard as she could in the nose. He fell back, upending the table, scattering paper and tea.
"I won't kill you today, Hawādo," Anko said throwing the kunai to embed itself in the floor next to Flem's head. "You are going to continue developing medicines. You will continue to save as many lives as you are able. And you will help us kill Orochimaru in every way you can. Only after that vile monster has breathed his last, then, and only then, will I kill you. Until that time, keep that kunai. Let it remind you of all the people you've hurt in your life. And that I will return for it someday. Let's go Ziren, we're done here."
Anko turned, and stormed back towards the entrance. "Well, thanks for everything Flem. You may want to check your nose and clean up," Ziren said following after Anko. "I'll stay in touch," He shouted over his shoulder.
Anko slammed the door open as she burst into the dirty alley in which it hid. She breathed deeply, trying to still her trembling body. Ziren walked through the entryway much more calmly and sealed the door behind him. Chakra ran along the edges hiding the door from sight. "Why?"
"Hmm?" Ziren asked turning to face Anko once he was sure the door was truly hidden.
"I still don't get it. Why? Why go to such lengths for such a man? Why risk so much to help someone so irredeemable?"
"Is he truly irredeemable? Is anyone truly beyond redemption? We all have pasts, Anko. We all have done things we regret, things we can't take back, things we would give anything to fix. When I pulled Flem back from that edge, when he confessed to me. I saw a man who regretted every action he ever made. I couldn't not help him."
Anko looked at Ziren a good long while. "He is a criminal who has been a part of countless murders and tortures. But you're not wrong. Thanks to him we're one step closer to getting Orochimaru. I don't like it, but I'll keep him a secret. Let's get back to your safehouse, we need to get some rest." Anko walked down the alley before stopping at its mouth and turning to back around. "How do we get there?"
"Follow me," Ziren said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "And thank you."
"Sir, Mitarashi and Adair have returned." Shikaku looked up as one of his lieutenants stepped next to him.
"See if Adair's brought any good intel. Oh, and have Mitarashi report to me."
"Sir." The shinobi turned and walked away as Shikaku went back to his plans. A minute later Anko approached.
"You wanted to see me, sir." Shikaku stood and placed his arms behind his back, affecting a commanding aura.
"You know that Ziren Adair is new to the village, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"I advised Lord Hokage against sending him on this mission. Though he has been helpful."
"Did you also advise against my involvement?" Shikaku turned at the question.
"Yes. But it was Lord Third's decision ultimately. And he was right. We have much to do, so I'll ask one question. What all did Ziren Adair do while in Sakusei?"
Anko thought about how to answer. She had given her word, and despite how she felt about Flem Hawādo she intended to keep it. "Ziren Adair used his contacts to further our efforts to find and destroy Orochimaru."
Shikaku stroked his beard as he mulled over Anko's answer. There was more she wasn't saying, but her loyalty was impugnable. "Very well. Find Adair. You and your team will receive final orders before we assault the lab.
Looking to and fro, the lab guard propped open the door to the complex below him. Pulling out a cigarette, he lit it as he leaned against a rocky wall. He took a long drag when his limbs locked in place. An oily shadow snaked its way up his body. It wrapped around his throat choking him into unconsciousness as he saw an army of shinobi descending upon him.
