"You work for Danzo, don't you?"
His eyes narrowed and reflected a sharp coldness coupled with burning anger. "You must die now."
So he is Root, then.
He rushed at her with his Tantō raised and she shifted forms as she moved to avoid his blades. He continued to press forward, forcing her to continue in her intangible state to avoid being hit. She kept her Ninjato raised defensively as a precaution and she clenched its handle tighter.
Darn! He's completely got the advantage close-quarter like this. I don't even have time to do any Jutsu or strike back.
She continued to dodge as he continued to relentlessly barrage her with attacks that brushed through her sword and arm.
Even worse, is he's already figured out the weaknesses for this and he's not giving me any time to react.
She jumped quickly out of his reach and shifted to solid as she caught her breath.
How could I be so stupid? I blew the advantage that I had. He didn't even know I was there until I rushed in like that. She bit her lip and glanced over to where Ena was still unconscious. I didn't even think of a plan— I only was panicking because she was in pain.
She clenched her fist and exhaled sharply.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
He leaped at her position to strike at her and she narrowly dodged and shifted form once again. "Running like a rat, are you?"
"I'm not running." Natsumi glared and solidified and swung her blade at him. He twisted to avoid the strike and slashed again, only for his blades to pass through her. I'm just trying to think.
"You are weak to have to rely on this so heavily. It seems the talk of you was exaggerated."
"What talk?!" She put distance between them and she let out a slow breath.
She swung her blade at him and he crossed his Tantō to defend as she pressed forward, striking again and again to maintain distance between them and prevent him from closing the gap. With an expert twist, he forced her Ninjato out of her hand and it clattered onto the ground.
He slowly closed in on her and she scanned the area in her peripherals.
That's it! I can't outmatch him in raw strength, so I'll have to fight smarter.
She rolled to avoid an attack and his knives hit the playground's pole. The boy gritted his teeth as she summoned her Ninjato to her hand and flashed a faint smirk at him.
Catch me if you can.
She swung at him again and again, ducking behind the playground equipment as his Tantō clanged against it. As she dodged and maneuvered around the playground, she tapped her hand on it, counting in her head. After some time, the boy glared and their attacks slowed gradually.
"You're still running."
So you think. Natsumi feigned an attack, pushing him to block, and she struck at face. A scratch appeared on his mask and she jumped up when he retaliated. Landing softly on top of the playground, she placed her palm there and exhaled, allowing for a small smile. We'll see who the real rat is.
He drew closer to attack and the corner of her mouth twitched upward slightly. Natsumi vanished and his eyes widened. She reappeared at another seal and lunged at him to land an attack that grazed his exposed lower back. He grunted and arched his back, twisting and slicing at the empty air.
"Damn it." He growled, gripped his Tantō tighter, and rushed to her newest location, only to be met with empty air once again. Natsumi's attacks landed one-by-one from each of the activated seals. After a few minutes, her breathing was ragged and she recovered her breath in a squat. He clutched at another cut and applied pressure as blood oozed out over his fingers, appearing nearly black in the moonlight. Identical cuts were spread over his exposed skin— his bare midriff and back, with additional wounds on his arms and thighs.
With each breath, Natsumi's body trembled and she bit her lip while watching him.
I've used up a lot of Chakra and can't keep this up for too much longer. I don't want to kill him, but he isn't giving himself up for capture, either.
She straightened and adjusted her Ninjato in her shaky hand.
If I can knock him out with the next attack, then I can bring him to a secure place for questioning.
Natsumi sucked in a breath to rush at him and disappeared, only to reappear from another seal. He remained hunched over and holding his wound, not yet reacting, and she took careful aim.
I'll hit him there and—
He gripped her wrist suddenly and squeezed, simultaneously holding his hand in front of her face. His eyes glowed and his Chakra swelled around his hand. Her body went rigid and she clenched her jaw, grinding her teeth as their eyes met.
I don't understand! How could he be faster than my Jutsu?!
"You're far too predictable." He slowly curled the fingers of his open hand to resemble a claw and a sharp, fiery sensation filled her head. She cried out as the pain surged and pulsed through her body, searing her mind as she struggled to move.
Why can't I move?! What kind of Jutsu is this? I can't even shift into smoke.
"Your other form is impressive, though it was easy for me to see through it. All Jutsu have weaknesses, and that Yin form has a particularly glaring one."
Natsumi cried out a second time and clenched her jaw once again and her vision was overtaken by the bright glow of his eyes, his voicing gradually fading away with the rest of her senses.
"Let's take a look inside your mind now."
A pair of hands grabbed her and pulled her around the corner, and she reached for a Kunai as Hasu's eyes widened.
"It's just me!"
"Hasu..." Natsumi gasped, then sighed. "Don't scare me like that."
"My apologies." Hasu looked around and crossed his arms. "There was something that I wanted to tell you, but I did not want to worry Kanna by speaking of it around her."
"Is it about Ena?"
He nodded. "She said that she did not remember what she did last night, and that she believes that she went to bed early, though I know for a fact that she did not."
Natsumi furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"
"I was awake late yesterday evening, reading, and I saw Ena leave the estate."
Natsumi's eyes widened slightly. "She left the estate? But she doesn't remember it?"
Hasu nodded. "I wouldn't have thought it strange, except for the fact that she was wearing her nightclothes." He paused. "She also seemed as if she was sleepwalking."
"Deeper." The boy's voice echoed in the darkness of her mind, and the memory faded away. Another wave of pain surged through Natsumi's mind and another memory appeared.
"W-What are you doing? Let me go!" Natsumi struggled and Oto brought her hands together for the final sign.
"Ensuring your cooperation." Smoke gathered around Oto's hand and she pointed two fingers toward Natsumi's mouth. The smoke shifted and formed a small, black serpent with a seal on its head, then it lashed out at Natsumi and latched onto her tongue. Natsumi let out a muffled scream as it clamped down, and after a moment, vanished into thin air.
The snakes retracted and released Natsumi, and she fell to the ground, writhing and screaming as a mark burned itself into her tongue. Once the seal was complete, the pain subsided and Natsumi sat up slowly, her body still trembling.
"W-What... did you do...?"
Oto laughed and took a puff from her pipe. "A useful Jutsu that I once taught a man named Danzo." Her lips curved in a smirk. "You're free to go now. You won't be able to breathe a word of this to the Hokage... or to anyone else, for that matter."
Natsumi stood and glared, balling her hands into fists until her knuckles whitened. "You... You won't get away with this."
Oto chuckled and exhaled, releasing smoke from her nostrils. "Oh, child. I already have." She waved her hand, manipulating the smoke to swirl around Natsumi. When it cleared, she was standing outside of the building. Natsumi gritted her teeth and slammed her fists against the door, pressing her nails into her palms.
"I hate you, Oto! Do you understand?! I hate you!"
"Interesting." His voice echoed. "Again."
"Natsumi?" Sena hugged her arms close and turned to watch her go back, following her slightly and peering around the corner.
I am not a coward. I am not a coward.
Natsumi stopped in front of the boy, who looked down at her in surprise and crossed his arms.
"What do you want?"
"I..." She paused and met his eyes. "I'm Natsumi. And you're cute."
He blinked. "W-What?"
I am not a coward.
"I said you're cute." She lifted herself onto her tiptoes, grabbing his collar to pull him closer to press her lips to his.
"Hey—!" His eyes widened as she kissed him, and he leaned in subconsciously.
Natsumi pulled away after a minute, blushing furiously as she turned and ran back to where Sena stood, wide eyed.
"Natsumi!" Sena covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "I said to talk to him."
Natsumi's ears reddened as she glanced over her shoulder at the stunned boy as he stood and stared at her. He moved to take a step toward her, and she started to push Sena forward.
"Time to go." Natsumi tugged her quickly through the passage until they stood just outside the village. She stopped to catch her breath with her heart pounding in her ears.
"Disgusting."
"Fuck." Kiri growled, pulling Natsumi and Sena back and standing in front of them. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
The men eyed the trio with impish smirks and stepped inside, surrounding them easily.
"Well, well, well... what have we here?" One of them chuckled and licked his lips.
"Replacements." Another cackled to himself, pulling two serrated daggers out.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Natsumi tightened her grip on the Ninjato as her hands began to tremble. We're outnumbered. They're blocking the only exit. And we're in a small space...
"Kiri." Natsumi muttered as the woman continued to curse under her breath and cover the younger girls with herself. "Who are they?"
"Did Aito ever tell you about his sister?" Kiri's voice shook with anger as she replied quietly. "Asahi?"
Natsumi nodded slowly. "He said she died on a mission."
"She did." Kiri glared at the men. "She was killed by these assholes. By the Araki brothers."
"What is this?"
Oto chuckled. "Why, it's my private collection. There is a seal on the door that prevents anyone else from entering this area. If they use the ordinary key, it brings them into the official storage of the Records."
"Your private collection?" Natsumi turned in a slow circle as she stepped deeper into the room. Her eyes fell of several glass vials of red liquid stored in a glass case. "Is that... blood?"
"Hm? Oh, yes." Oto bent down to peer at the vials with a smirk. "It's the blood of the original five Kage."
Natsumi's eyes widened more and she swallowed and stepped back. "W-Why do you have their blood?"
"Just in case." Oto smiled, almost too innocently, and held her finger up to her own lips. "Now, on to your first assignment."
"Assignment?" Natsumi followed over to a shelf and watched as she took out a thin, black book. Oto leafed through it, then held out the pages of old, faded writing for Natsumi to see and pointed at the left page.
"Yes. You will retrieve these documents for me."
"Retrieve documents?" Natsumi repeated in a murmur as she squinted to read the barely-visible titles. "I don't understand. I thought you said you were training me? Shouldn't I have training before I do anything like this?"
"Oh, girl." Oto chuckled and exhaled a puff of smoke. "On the contrary, I need these documents as much as you do."
"I need them?" Natsumi met her eyes.
"Yes." Oto nodded. "You will learn the techniques found on those scrolls, after all."
I have to collect my own materials?
"Okay." She nodded after a moment. "Where are they? I can get them."
"Not yet." Oto lifted a scroll from the table and held it out to her. "First, learn this Jutsu. You have twenty-four hours. Your time begins now."
"T-Twenty-four hours?!" Natsumi's mouth gaped. "T-To learn a new Jutsu?! That's not possible!"
"Then make it so." Oto took in a long breath on her pipe and exhaled the smoke as she turned to leave. "You may not leave this room until you've mastered it. Then, and only then, will you be capable of accomplishing your assignment."
"B-But!" Natsumi balled her hands into fists and held them close to her chest. "I have to go to school! What about my brother?! I can't just can't be gone for a whole day!"
"Then, you had better hurry." Oto turned and left the room, locking the door behind her.
Natsumi ran up to the door, tugging on the handle and then banging on the door. "Let me out! You can't keep me here all day! Oto-sama! Oto-sama!"
"Deeper. To the beginning."
"That was a great story, Miss Mikoto!" A young Natsumi rocked back-and-forth where she sat on the grass outside of the orphanage. "Do you know any more good stories?"
The dark-haired woman laughed and shook her head. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, but I'm afraid that I don't have enough time for another story today."
"Aw man." Natsumi sighed heavily and her twin stopped ripping blades of grass out of the ground and looked up at the woman.
"But you haven't even been playing with us long." Naruto complained. "Last time, you played with us for hours."
"Sorry, you two." She reached out to muss each other their hair. "I have to go pick up my little one from preschool soon."
"Hmph." Naruto crossed his arms stubbornly and turned his nose up. "You just don't like us anymore."
"That's not true!" Natsumi crossed her arms and looked from the blond boy to the woman. "Right, Miss Mikoto? You're our friend, right?"
The woman's smile faltered and her eyes watered slightly before she nodded. "Of course. I'm happy to be your friend."
"If you were really our friend, you'd bring us sweets again." Naruto cracked open an eye and peered at her.
"Oh?" Mikoto laughed and reach into the pocket of her dress to take out a handful of caramels. "You mean these?"
The twin's eyes widened and they each quickly grabbed the candies.
"Wow, so many!"
"Thanks, Miss Mikoto!"
Natsumi slowly unwrapped a single candy and put it into her mouth, while naruto unwrapped them all and stuck them into his mouth, smacking his lips together as he chewed.
Mikoto laughed again. "Naruto, eat them carefully! You'll choke."
"Okay." Naruto's reply was muffled by the fullness of his mouth.
The woman's smile softened as she looked between them, and Natsumi swallowed her candy and put her small hand on the woman's.
"Miss Mikoto, can you bring your sons to play with us too, next time? That way, you can stay longer."
Mikoto paused for a moment. "You want to meet my boys?"
Natsumi nodded quickly. "Yes, please!"
"Well, maybe I will bring them by sometime." Mikoto poked the girl's cheek. "You know, my younger son is the same age as you all. It would be great if you could become friends."
Naruto swallowed the mass of candy in his mouth, licking his lips before he stared down at the empty wrappers in his hands and his stomach growled loudly again. "Aw, man..."
Natsumi held out her remaining candies. "Here."
Naruto's eyes widened. "But those are yours, ya know."
Natsumi shook her head. "I want you to have them."
"Really?" Naruto took the candies from her and hugged her tightly. "Natsumi, you're the best sister!"
Mikoto watched them and held her arms close as she did. "You know, Natsumi, you remind me of my oldest son."
Natsumi looked at her. "Really? How?"
"Why don't you see for yourself, if you get to meet him?" Mikoto winked playfully and Natsumi pouted as she stood. "I'll be back another day I'm free to see you again. Behave yourselves in the meantime, alright?"
"Okay..." The twins mumbled sullenly with their gaze downward.
"Wait, Miss Mikoto!" Natsumi tugged on the hem of her dress. "I drew you a picture!"
"Oh?" Mikoto knelt in front of her, and Natsumi carefully took out a folded-up paper from her dress pocket and handed it to the woman. "What's this?"
"It's me, and you and Naruto!" Natsumi beamed and pointed at the figures drawn in crayon. "See, we're all holding hands."
"Aw, how sweet." Mikoto hugged her. "I'll treasure this always."
Natsumi's eyes watered and she held tightly to the woman's hand. "Can't you just bring us with you? The people here are mean, and you're so nice."
The woman's eyes widened and she pressed her lips together and looked away. "I'm sorry, Natsumi. I wish I could."
Natsumi watched the woman leave, her lip quivering as she started to cry, and Naruto stood beside her to squeeze her hand.
"It's okay, Natsumi. I'm here."
Darkness. The light sensation of weightlessness. Silence all but the loud and familiar watery echo of heartbeat. And then, out of the nothingness— an uncomfortable constriction.
Wriggling to escape the feeling, though the dark space only got smaller and smaller. After a moment, the feeling faded. It came again and again, inducing more uncomfortable wriggling as the body was forced smaller and more compact.
In the darkness, muffled cries could be heard, growing louder each time the constriction returned. The wet and the warmth suddenly was gone and the weightlessness was replaced with an unfamiliar heaviness.
Eyes shut tightly at the increasing pressure, and the throbbing of the head as the bone shifted slightly. The sounds were less muffled and sharper, and a flurry of unhappy kicks against their body in the small space.
"Poor, weak, tiny, pathetic girl. I will use you to attain my freedom."
Pain shooting through like a blazing fire and a desperate, feral scraping. The darkness gone and everything now orange and red— too bright. Constriction and pressure, and searing pain as the entity attempted to force itself inside in an agonizing and chaotic fusion. Pain. Pain. Pain. And an internal roar of primal anger and hatred.
"It isn't working! Damn that human for keeping me bound. Perhaps if I attached myself more firmly..."
More pain, ferocious as it filled the small body. Red-orange slowly replaced with an unnatural violet. Pressure mounting until a bright yellowish light was blinding, accompanied by loud, clear cries, and cold.
"Curse that human. I can't break free."
Violet faded, pain faded, and now only surrounded by a harsh cold. Some warmth enveloped and there was a warm embrace, and a feeling of security— finally calm, though the seed of dark, burning fire slept within her belly.
His eyes widened as he blinked, then stared at the girl before held captive by his power. Her body was still paralyzed where she stood and she was screaming in the pain of having such deep memories forcibly explored that her throat was raw and the sound echoed in the night. She was still unconscious in her suspended state— though her appearance had changed; red eyes in place of deep purple, claws in place of nails, fangs in place of ordinary canines, and her body cloaked in an ominous violet chakra- the pressure of it so intense that it crackled the air around them and an unfamiliar feeling clawed in his belly:
Fear.
"What's all that racket?!"
"What's going on?!"
The windows of nearby houses illuminated and half-asleep faces peered out of the windows to look around to find the source of the agonized, roaring scream.
"This is not ideal. I pushed too deeply and now have attracted attention."
He blinked and released her quickly from her state and her body fell to the ground as he stepped cautiously back. She gasped for air as she recovered, only half-conscious and aware of her surroundings.
"More importantly, I've gotten myself into a dangerous situation. This must have been drawn out during the extraction."
He furrowed his brows at the now-quiet feral girl, on her hands and knees with her head down, whose ragged breaths were half-growl. He took another step back, and her head suddenly snapped up to look at him with hatred burning in her eyes.
"Damn it."
She lunged suddenly at him with a vicious snarl and swiped at him with her claws, shredding the front of his cropped shirt and adding new, bloody marks to his body. He winced as he dodged, though she followed him as he attempted to retreat. He dodged another attack, only receiving a fraction of the harm, and caught his breath briefly inside of the playground equipment.
"What's that?!"
More windows illuminated and he clenched his Tantō tighter.
"I've been compromised. Lord Danzo will not be pleased."
She circled the equipment on all fours, growling and panting as she kept her crimson eyes on him. In the same instant he leaped out of hiding to escape, the Chakra swelled around her clawed fingers as they curled into fists and she slammed them down onto the playground.
The ground shook and a crater formed, and the air was filled with a cloud of mulch, earth, and dust. Splintered, melted, and ripped fragments only remained of the slide, tunnels, and swings, and, when her predatory gaze searched the wreckage, there was only the log from a substitution.
She dug her claws into the ground and threw her head back in a long, resounding roar. The earth charred as she paced, and a hooded figure slowly approached her from the trees.
"Oh my. How interesting."
Her head whipped to see the masked figure and swiped at him with a large violet Chakra arm, slamming her hand onto the ground once again. The ground shook a second time and the figure chuckled from behind her.
"Naughty naughty."
Wires appeared around Natsumi, suddenly visible in the moonlight, then snapped and bound her tightly. Chakra flowed through the wires as the masked figure slowly stepped closer to watch with a smirk while she thrashed on the growled and flashed her fangs. He formed a series of handsigns and seals spread to cover the girl's body entirely.
"Secret Sealing Jutsu: Binding Wire Trap."
A small flash of light burst from the seals, followed by a sharp cry of pain, and then silence. Slowly he drew closer and rolled her over with his foot, then nodded at the return of her human features and the absence of the overwhelming Chakra.
"Well, that was fun." He chuckled and snapped his fingers, the wires vanishing from around her as he flickered away.
The boy clutched his wounds as he hurriedly retreated, his breathing harsh.
"I underestimated her... I didn't think..."
He glanced back over his shoulder, and then down as his wounds.
"Lord Danzo is not going to be pleased at all."