TammyHybrid21: Ah, well, he was shivering pretty bad, and after that, he got pretty sick. I just didn't show it because it was supposed to happen this chapter. Which, it didn't. Yeah, my FEELZ hurt top D: And Kakashi could already being doing something stupid. Ya never know~~
And yeah, Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura have yet to tell. To Minato, Sasuke is just the husband to Sakura and student to Kakashi. He won't learn of Sasuke's Uchiha status until later; he borrows Sakura's surname for a bit. Shit does hit the fan this chapter, actually. Lol. This chapter drops hints as to who the Edo Tensei are. Thanks for your review :3
Woo! Ape Caves! Rocky as FUCK, but that's to be expected. It took friggin forever to get through that damnable cave. There was one point where I had to help these two boys get up a six foot wall. Sigh. But it was fun. Lots and lots of climbing. And I only got 2 hours of sleep. Last time I walk three miles with no sleep like that. :|
Original word count: 4.2k~
Recommended songs: Hurting for a Very Hurtful Pain by VY1 & VY2, and or Monster by Imagine Dragons.
Enjoy my eidolon chapter :p
Chapter 8: Precipitate
Eight years later…
Thoughts. Lies. Hatred. Self-loathe. More hatred. More self-loathe. Guilt. Conflict. Drowning in insecurities. Worrying constantly. Not trusting anybody. Keeping enemies close and friends being a thousand miles away.
Things he hated were popping up. Things he loathed were becoming inevitable daily actions. Things he wanted to forget were repeating in his mind.
Emotions rose to high levels, and on occasion, he lost control of himself; he had to be pinned down by five swords on his limbs along with a needle stuck into his vocal cords to shut him up and to ultimately get him to be deemed reasonable. It happened in front of half of the organization, nonetheless.
Orders were given, scarred into his mind.
Conflict rose.
Unfortunately, conflict was an option not to be presented. He was ordered to never feel conflict; it was either do this or that, no matter what the situation was. Worst part was, he follows it blindly and unwillingly, like how the other orders scarred in.
"Kirai. Are you listening? This is important."
Said man turned his black masked face towards Pain—the overall leader of the Akatsuki. Kirai was the current leader of the frontline section of the Akatsuki, as the organization was divided and expanded.
The two other leaders were sitting across from him. They, too, wore masks; the leader of the healing system wore an Hannya mask that resembled the Shinigami, and it popped out against his dark brown hair. The leader of the intelligence division wore a gas mask with dark tinted goggles, making him look rather intimidating with his black hair to top it off. He, Kirai, wore a black mask that covered the top of his head, a white ring and three tomoe—two acting as eyeholes—circling around a coiling snake in the middle with rectangular wings that expanded out to his temples.
His eyes narrowed, annoyance bubbling up. But it dispersed. He loathed working with his subordinates and superiors, but his black sclera just wouldn't give up. He wanted grey. He wanted to be free.
He nodded, the bottom of his mask stopping him from talking. He didn't understand, really. He was the only person out of the three who was restrained to talking. He usually muttered a few sentences during a conversation, but he often used inside hand signals and morse codes to communicate.
Pain's stare lingered before he nodded stiffly. "Flexibility report."
"Terrible," Kirai grumbled, reluctant to talk loudly. "Kakuzu isn't very good at being paired with non-'immortals', but I've got some ideas as who can partner up with him. But Hidan is still practically his soulmate. The others have adjusted. Collaborations are going better than expected. Hidan is working well with me and Kakuzu, Deidara is finally getting things done with Orochimaru in collaboration. Nothing much else to report, really…" But Deidara would've worked so well with Sasori. And Shisui and Kisame would've been even better…bummer that they're gone.
"Very well," Pain replied, nodding in approval. "I'm trusting you with pairing them up. Atama, is there anything we should know?"
Atama, the head of the intelligence division, shook his head, his deep voice muffled by the gas mask he wore, "Nothing of concern. We've done our jobs, and we're staying up to date."
Pain nodded his approval again, turning his head to the head of the intelligence division—the one who wore the Hannya-like Shinigami mask. "And you, Yū?"
"Little progress here and there, jutsu's are developing," Yū responded. "Within the next two months, Sekiryū no Saisē Jutsu should be completed along with the modified version of Sōzō Saisei. We can only teach it to a select few of Kirai and Atama's division. They would have to have iryō-nin level chakra control for it. Also, In'yu Shōmetsu's modifications have been completed."
The orange haired Rin'negan user nodded once more. He scanned the three men, his eyes narrowed quickly. "…Good to hear progress. We are making a move within this month. We've gained information on all of the jinchūriki, from Shukaku to the Kyūbi. Now we just need to seek them out. Yū, Kirai, Atama, collaborate. Get everybody paired up before next meeting, which will be in a day. One medic, one information gatherer, and one frontline member per team. It is okay to have leftovers. Dismissed."
The three masked men instantly stood, bidding their farewell before walking out of the meeting room. Once they were out of earshot, Kirai growled vehemently. "Last minute work…I hate it. Loathe it."
Yū sighed, shaking his head. "It's a wonder as to why they call you Kirai," he said sarcastically. "Anyways, we have no flexibility whatsoever between our divisions. So we'll have to go by personality or ambitions."
"Best idea you've had all decade," Atama grumbled. He sighed as well, crossing his arms. "Do we know everybody well enough to pair them up?"
"I do," Yū stated.
Kirai simply grunted.
Atama nodded. "Good. This will make things easier."
The rest of the walk was bathed silence.
"We're done," Atama announced, slapping the folder onto the table and folding his arms across his chest. Over half of the Akatsuki were already sitting in their spots, all eyes landing on the gas mask-wearing division leader. "Don't give us last minute work like that. Ever. Do you have any idea how irritating it is to work with Kirai to do shit like this?"
"Well, you go it done," Pain pointed out. "And this is the second to last chunk of desk work you will have to suffer through."
Atama grunted, Yū whooped and had a mini-party while Kirai just stared. Yū then proceeded to frolic. Kirai growled in annoyance, twisting around as Yū frolicked behind him, giving the Hannya-like masked man an upper cut. Said division leader fell backwards onto his butt.
"Prick," he snarled.
Yū slumped over in a bout of depression, mumbling something.
"Shut up."
"Meanie," he grumbled.
"Do not fight in my presence," Pain chided. "Now, sit. The meeting starts in five, and the others will be here within that time span."
The three division leaders sat down in their spots, Kirai closest to Pain and Atama furthest. Soon enough, the rest of the Akatsuki arrived, all sitting in their spots, dressed in their cloaks. The healing division members had gauze wrapped over their palms, the information division had makimono's sewed into their cloaks, and the frontline division had their rings on their fingers. Pain nodded once as greeting. "As you all know, our objective is to capture all of the jinchūriki and absorb the bijū."
Many nodded or stayed silent.
"The jinchūriki are strong," Pain stated. "Stronger than your average jōnin. They can inflict damage worse than thought possible, and thus, we have assigned people to eight teams. Each will have one medic, one information gatherer and one frontline member." He opened the file, and started naming off people and their teams, "Team One: Deidara, Jūgo, Hashimoto. Team Two: Hidan, Takahashi Yūdai, Kurosawa Fubuki. Team Three: Kakuzu, Kimimaro, Satsuki. Team Four: Konan, Samui, Kiseki. Team Five: Myself, Haruno Sasuke, Haruno Saki. Team Six: Oto, Kosuke, Karin. Team Seven: Orochimaru, Suigetsu, Karin. And finally, Team Eight: Kirai, Atama and Yū. Team Eight has a fourth member, but he is incapacitated and missing. If we were to ever find him, he is to be a part of your team."
Kirai scoffed loudly and openly. He absolutely hated Kuro Zetsu and Pain knows it. And yet, here he was, supposed to be on a team with the creature of hell.
"Do not complain," Pain snapped coldly. "You are all dismissed. Get acquainted with one another. All assignments will come in within three days."
Kirai scoffed again, killing intent spilling.
"Somebody owes me inarizushi," Atama seethed in a whisper.
Yū simply sighed hopelessly, the three remaining with Pain as the other twenty members walked away, a few already talking. The Hannya-like masked shinobi glanced at the orange haired Rin'negan user. "So," he started. "Eight teams, nine bijū. Who's going to take who?"
"Who is faster?" Pain questioned, ignoring Yū completely.
"…Probably Kirai," Atama said thoughtfully. "He's got at escaping, and can match the Namikaze brat in a speed race nose to nose. Not to mention his ability to become intangible."
Said masked man winced, his head whipping toward the darkly dressed division leader. Red eyes glowed furiously, the pattern twisting into three-points. His expression, despite being covered by his mask, was obvious to read: "Speak any further and regret it."
Atama's own response was two glowing red eyes of his own, and they stared one another down, not blinking, not moving and sure as hell not turning away.
Yū sighed. "He is quicker," he agreed. "Why?"
Pain simply nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I have a mission for you, Yū, Atama. You two are to protect Kirai until we get to the Kyūbi. Sacrifice your souls if you have to, he must remain as one of the last living members, should see get killed off during the process."
They all turned their heads towards Pain, two pairs of red eyes staring him down. Atama spoke first, "Why should I?"
"Because I say so. And I will tell a certain someone that you have questioned my orders," Pain threatened. "You will obey, Atama. Am I clear?"
Atama silently seethed, nodding only once. He abruptly stood, turning and walking away. Yū sighed, and followed. But Kirai stayed, staring at Pain with a certain sharpness that made Nagato uneasy. "…I can defend myself perfectly fine," he growled through gritted teeth. "Why are you doubting me?"
"I am not," Pain responded easily. "You are aware of the spies, no?"
"I've been aware of the knowledge, but I don't know who they are," he stated smoothly, lying through his teeth.
"The same goes for me," Pain replied. "But it's for that sole reason that I order them to protect you. Those spies will try something when we reach the Kyūbi. Maybe even the Hachibi. And you are assigned to catch the Kyūbi."
Kirai stiffly nodded, swallowing thickly. I have to see…I need to see t—
"You're dismissed."
"Ramen."
"Ramen?"
"Ramen."
"Where, dattebayo?!"
"Idiotic student of mine, there is no ramen."
"What?!" Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto shouted, flinging a kunai towards the direction of Hatake Kakashi, who easily ducked. A cry of alarm and a thunk later, Naruto had a lump on his head—curtesy of Uchiha Sarada, who was dumped on their doorstep seven years ago because of a long-term mission Minato assigned Sakura and Sasuke.
"You idiot!" she shouted, glaring. "Don't through kunai like that!"
The blonde fifteen year old glared back at the thirteen-almost-fourteen year old. "Says who?"
"Says me," Kushina snapped, cracking her knuckles as she stepped into the dining room table where the trio were at. But her snappy mood disappeared. "Ramen. We must have ramen. Where's Mina—I mean, my money at? No, fuck it. Where's Minato at?"
"Yay, 'ttebayo!"
Kakashi simply sighed, but he was smiling behind his newly found Icha Icha book and mask. Lots had happened in the past eight years. One of the most significant was the alliance being created nearly a decade earlier. Minato was informed of the Akatsuki by Sakura and Sasuke. The Yondaime called a meeting, gathering all five Kage, and told them of the organization, bringing in evidence that Sasuke managed to get his hands. The alliance was secretly formed from there, shinobi "defecting", making themselves known, and getting into Akatsuki. Right now, there were three spies: Sakura, Sasuke and Samui. Each would come every year, report and then leave ASAP to avoid suspicion.
Their reports were…interesting.
Akatsuki was divided into three parts with a total of twenty-four members, one being incapacitated. There were three division leaders: Kirai, Yū and Atama. Pain was the ultimate commander, and Konan was his advisor. Kirai was the leader of the frontline division, having a temper and loathed everyone ranging from Yū to the twenty-fourth mystery member. Yū was the division leader of the healing section, and he was the "happy-go-lucky" one. Atama was the leader of the information division, and was the one who grumped and snapped at members like a cranky old man. The frontline division was full of S-class, as expected.
The only differences was Kisame, Sasori and Itachi; all three were replaced by Atama, Yū and Kirai. The healing division had mostly women, but the women were…violent, according the Sakura; one or two had level heads, and one of them was Sakura. The informational division consisted of mostly level headed shinobi with amazing stealth skills, a few of them being Kimimaro, Samui and Sasuke.
"Sensei!" Naruto shouted, snapping Kakashi out of his musing. He grinned. "Ramen?"
"No ramen."
"What!" Naruto gaped. "Wha—where the hell is Kakashi-sensei?! Y'know, the one who never says never to ramen?!"
Kakashi sighed, turning the page. He looked up, giving the blonde an eye smile. "I'm extremely busy today. Like, extremely busy," he stated. A smirk etched across his face as Naruto dramatically stuttered, Kushina sporting an amusing horrified look.
But the red haired Uzumaki snapped out of it, "The least you can do, if you aren't going, is giving us your wallet." She smiled sweetly, inching closer and closer. "Please~?"
The Hatake glanced at her, nearly nose-to-nose. He blinked. "But I'm broke from helping that cat—"
"Give it."
"Okay," he squeaked, pulling out his wallet and handing it over.
Both Uzumaki's cheered and quickly left, leaving a mortified Hatake and an overly-amused Uchiha.
Kirai was quick. He was stealthy, powerful, and was good with any weapon. Swords, gunbai's, poles, shakujō's, kunai's, shuriken of all sorts, and he even knew how to manage Namikaze Minato's customized three-pronged kunai. He was an expert at time-space ninjutsu, and had created a taijutsu style of his own that he only told people of, never taught it. Only a few chosen number would recognize it, and fewer would be able to counter it on the spot.
He had Mokuton, Sharingan and the Mangekyō—he knew his history well, and he knew ideal healing techniques that could be pulled out in the middle of battle. He had knowledge of physiology of many creatures, mainly humans, foxes and cats. He was smart—capable, a cold killing machine, and at the same time, he was an endearing friend to more than a couple of people.
But because Kirai had Mokuton, he was stronger than more than half of his peers; Yū, Pain, Atama, Sasuke and Oto are the few ones that could counter it with their own power. He had advantages when in a nature-surrounded area, and could merge with even more surroundings.
If it wasn't for his expertise in battle tactics, ninjutsu, bukijutsu, dōjutsu and taijutsu, then he most likely would've been in Atama's position as the informational division leader. And he was honestly glad for that; frontline division always has the freedom of being able to go absolutely anywhere they want as long as they don't create trouble.
Because of that, he was creeping through Konoha, heading towards the Hokage's mansion. He was only a few minutes away from it, but two extremely familiar chakra signatures made him stop sharply. He turned his head towards the street, seeing Kushina and Naruto through the wall walking towards Ichiraku's, as he was merged with his surroundings.
They were both grinning and talking more like best friends than and mother and son would, Kushina listening to Naruto's stories of probably something completely stupid—but amusing and probably perverted. The boy always was like that, and he wasn't ashamed of it.
Kirai smiled brightly and nostalgically, a lump forming in his throat and a guilty feeling tugging at his chest as he watched the two walk away. But it quickly faded when he heard somebody speak—a redundant suggestion that made him seethe at the notion. He ignored it, but the voice became louder and louder until it reached the normal voice level of a conversation, his irritation rising with it.
Only moments later did he feel his own chakra spike, albeit it was small and barely unnoticeable. The talisman within his head throbbed and gave him a killer headache. He fisted his cloak, growling like an animal.
Kill everybody. Hate everybody. Spite everybody.
That did it. He sneered, snarling and jumping out of the building's wall. With a shout of something not him, he crashed into a wall of an apartment complex, ignoring the screams and impact of concrete. He didn't hesitate to jump—though he scrambled like a cat on ice more than anything—out of the building, chakra pumping to his fist much like how Sakura does. He used a chakra-enhanced leap, and aimed said punch for somebody. He wasn't sure who it was, but he heard a shout of pain, a crack of bones, saw something something yellow, and then his world turned completely black, his hearing distant and his thoughts dark.
Things were peaceful. Quiet, happy and enjoyable. The sun could actually be something to enjoy being under, and shinobi could relax in hot springs.
It was like that for a long time, but up until a month ago, it felt more like the calm before the storm for Minato. Being Hokage for nearly eighteen years gave him somewhat of a sixth sense regarding that kind of thing. The peace was kept mainly thanks to Sakura and Sasuke—politically, at least. But it was more thanks to Sakura than anything. Sasuke usually stood there and looked like he was going to gut someone rather than be political.
But he always looked like that.
The blonde Yondaime turned his head towards the window, eyeing the streets warily. Ever since the weekend, he felt rather paranoid. He ended up marking nearly every single building over the week, over half of his shinobi having the Hiraishin mark as well. He even went as far as doubling the village patrols, and still, nothing happened. But today was especially bad. He woke up at three in the morning, spoke with Shiro and Guruguru about Obito and then headed to work to get an early start at three forty-five.
It wasn't abnormal. He spoke with the clones a lot about his troubles often. At one point, Kakashi started talking to them and soon enough, they became an odd form of "family therapists". Kushina pitched in, and then Sakura and Sasuke, and even a few other ANBU were talking to them. The more broken ones, at least.
It would've made him smile at the thought of them helping people heal emotionally if it wasn't for the tension he felt.
"He's here."
Minato winced, turning his head up to the ceiling where Guruguru and Shiro Zetsu's heads were hanging from. He narrowed his eyes. "Who is?"
"Kirai," Guruguru stated.
As if a cue, something in the domestic and food district crashed loudly, making the Hokage shoot up from his seat. He turned his head towards the apartment building that was apparently crashed into. He scoffed. "Was that him?"
"Dunno."
It better not be one of the chūnin picking a fight with the jōnin again.
Using Hiraishin, he teleported to the closest marking to the disaster, only to see a masked man with a chakra loaded fist jump up in the air, aiming straight for Kushina. His eyes widened. He reacted quickly, and teleported towards her, shouting painfully when the fist made contact with his upper left arm, breaking his bone and shoulder. He grabbed his wife and Naruto, teleporting away as the mans fist made contact with the ground next, creating a crater.
Ninja quickly started evacuating the civilians, taking no time to spare. Some were being dragged and others were simply being led.
The masked man turned his head towards Minato, a pair of glowing red eyes staring with a vicious but clouded and dead look. The Yondaime blinked, only seeing the red glow of the familiar Sharingan—why does he have it? he wondered absently—before turning his cerulean eyes away to avoid a genjutsu being cast on him. He cringed, his expression becoming grim as he felt the pain of his left arm settling in, his expression becoming steely as he began to try and ignore the stinging pain. Tsunade's chakra signature spike and, within a few seconds, she was already healing him.
Three years ago Minato would've thought her to be crazy returning to Konohagakure willingly. But Naruto went with Jiraiya to find her, and inspired her enough to return to heal up Hiruzen after he was injured badly in the Oto-Suna invasion by Orochimaru, who killed the Yondaime Kazekage and masqueraded as said Kage for nearly two weeks with perfection. And now she was one his advisors, Sarada's master, Naruto's grandmother-figure, and Konoha's strongest kunoichi.
The masked man looked up at Tsunade, dead and frighteningly calm eyes staring her down. He looked at Minato, Kushina, and then Naruto, stiffening in a painfully obvious manner.
Four ANBU jumped down from the building roofs, attacking the Akatsuki member collaboratively. But the attacks went straight through him, clashing in smoke and steam. They all grunted barely a second later when the back of their necks had the butt end of a sword hit them and knock them out cold simultaneously. The four clones then disappeared in a vortex, the Akatsuki member reappearing in the exact same spot as one. This time, his hands and shoulders were shaking, making the four ninja before him stare in tense confusion.
The Akatsuki man's shoulders continued shaking uncontrollably, laughter bubbling in his throat that sounded rather…insane. A vortex appeared right in front of him, a fūma shuriken appearing out of nowhere. He grabbed it, and threw it towards them. The group jumped up and out of the way, avoiding the attack. But Kirai took the chance, "Katon: Gōka Mekkakyu!"
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. He swallowed, landing on a rooftop far enough to avoid the attack.
That's Obito-nii's signature Fire Release technique…
The fire faded, but the buildings were on fire. More Konoha ninja—and some visiting foreign ninja from the alliance—charged towards him, but all stopped abruptly when Minato shouted his order for them to fall back and to protect the civilians. They obeyed, albeit reluctantly, and pulled away from the battle.
Naruto's head whipped towards Kushina, eyes wide as Kirai appeared in a vortex barely even a foot on her left. "Kaa-chan!"
The older Uzumaki turned her head, panic in her eyes. She quickly recovered, yanking out a kunai and slicing the Akatsuki member across the chest with a deep slash that was bound to be fatal. The blow would've assured their victory, but instead of the red liquid they expected, they gained flecks that signified what he was.
Tsunade gaped, brown eyes wide with shock. She knew the technique, it's effects and pros along with one or two cons. "He's an Edo Tensei! Get away from him!"
Both Uzumaki's jumped away, avoiding the chakra infused punch he sent towards them and landing next to Minato and Tsunade. The punch impacted the roof, practically shattering the beams underneath.
"Who are you?" Tsunade questioned, her eyes narrowed dangerously as she spiked her chakra as a warning.
Kirai scoffed. "Hn. Doesn't matter. Wouldn't make a difference," he growled out. His voice was strained, and he was shaking again. But it wasn't from laughter this time—it was pain. The man was starting to pant heavily. Not to mention, his fists were balled up tightly. The Senju medic noticed that; they were signs of severe pain being tolerated. She had seen it once before.
Minato suddenly disappeared from where he crouched a few inches in front of her, reappearing next to the shaking masked man with a Rasengan in hand. He was only a foot away from the mans head when, seemingly out of nowhere, a blue sword that could only be identified as the Susano'o appeared. The sword smashed down on the ground, blocking the Rasengan and throwing Minato back quite a few feet. He jumped off of the roof, landing next to Kushina.
The Susano'o sword moved, pulling itself off of the roof. The bony arm pushed itself up, the upper half of a four-armed, two-headed skeleton of a blue glowing humanoid following. A darkly dressed man with an Akatsuki cloak, long hair and a gas mask was at the base of the Susano'o, another Akatsuki man with long straight hair and a Shinigami-like Hannya mask jumping up next to said Susano'o. Gas Mask put his index and middle finger up, his chakra pulsing before Kirai could move.
Kirai sucked in a deep breath, his chakra quickly being drained to nothing before he completely shut down and knocked out, falling backwards. But Hannya Mask caught him, slipping Kirai onto his back. Gas Mask's red glowing eyes narrowed.
"We, the three division leaders of Akatsuki, declare war on the Shinobi Alliance," he stared gravely and simply. The other four shinobi's eyes widened, but before they could move, the Susano'o moved. It grew until it was a full body humanoid—a perfect Susano'o. It scooped up Kirai and Hannya Mask, jumping away and out of the village before anybody could make any movements to pursue them.
Minato's eyes widened. "War…"
"Kirai": "Hate"; "Loathe"
"Atama": "Intelligent"
"Yū": "Hero"
"Takahashi": "High Bridge"; "Hawk peck"
"Yūdai": "Great Hero"
"Hashimoto": "Bridge Support"
"Kurosawa": "Black swamp"
"Fubuki": "Snowstorm"; "Blizzard"
"Kosuke": "Sunrise"
"Satsuki": "Month Five"; "May"
"Kiseki": "Miracle"
"Oto": "Sound"
"Katon: Gōka Mekkakyu": "Fire Release [Style]: Majestic Flame Destroyer"
"Sekiryū no Saisē Jutsu": "A Lizard's Regeneration Technique"
"Sōzō Saisei": "Creation Rebirth"
"In'yu Shōmetsu": "Yin Healing Wound Destruction"
One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just don't belong. Can you tell which thing is not like the others, by the time I finish my song?
Yeah, one of the OCs isn't an OC. It's a CC. Which is which?
Peace! :3