Chapter 65
"I have no valid reason to send you away." Sakumo stated to the almost fourteen year old before him. Said teen groaned and scrubbed her face.
"Please! October is only days away now. My team rarely goes out on missions together anymore. With Kakashi on his solo mission, Ryouta is on a jounin tracking team, and Boar and Usagi have been helping with some of the other newbies, I've been stuck taking B and A-ranks with Chuunin!"
Minashi felt when Sakumo dismissed his guards and activated Kitsune's seals. The Hokage then rested his chin on a fist.
"Have you seen Inoichi or Inojiro like I've ordered?"
Minashi groaned. "Yes~" she answered petulantly. "But my issues aren't going to go away in a few months. Not this one. Please Sakumo, even Inoichi said that it may help."
The Hatake raised a brow and just stared at her. "Or it may not. Do not twist his words."
The blonde sighed. "Please. You've even kept Kitsune only running from Suna to Konoha, training with the ANBU, or stuck in your Advisor and Council meetings."
Sakumo moved his fist to rub his eyes with his fingers instead. "You cannot always run from your problems Minashi. This is the last time I'm allowing this. You will leave a Blood Clone here as yourself. I do have a mission I need taken to Iwa. I know I can trust you as an extension of myself to act as ambassador and then a guard to Iwa's ambassador as they come to finalize the last of the peace and treaty talks."
Minashi perked up, blood humming.
"Kitsune will leave in two days. Minashi will report to the academy."
Minashi's face drained of blood.
"Minashi will then spend the next month as an assistant Taijutsu teacher as we are working on a new rotating teacher program. It seems like your name has just been chosen to assist this upcoming month." The Hokage grinned at her.
Minashi bit her tongue to keep her retort back. It would be her Blood Clone's problem, she would be free otherwise.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." She bowed and disappeared shortly after the seals were released.
Geared up, Kitsune felt it down to her bones, the excitement, the utter relief that she wouldn't be here when Naruto's birthday was missed. Kushina wasn't due until the beginning of November.
So in a standard Jounin outfit and only a cloth mask covering the lower half of her face, the Ravenette took off from Konoha and right for Iwa. Mission scroll in her pouch along with the scrolls of everything she'd need for the upcoming week of political hell.
Instead of using her hirashin to get to the borders in a split second, she spent the day taking her time jumping every few dozen kilometers. So it was two almost three days after leaving Konoha that she arrived at the first patrol of Iwa. Flashing her identification and mission scroll, she was reluctantly allowed past. Within an hour she was at the gates and practically being accosted by the guards that didn't want to let the S-ranked threat through their walls.
Well, until the Head Guard got slapped on the back of the head by a familiar figure.
"Hello Vixen." Takeshi smirked and at the same time handed over a bundle of yellow chrysanthemums. The Ravenette fumbled a bit even as her sharp eyes caught the number of flowers. Thirteen, Secret admirer.
Kitsune snorted as she shot the Man a look. He just smirked, fully into their game- one sided as it was.
"The answer is still no Takeshi-kun."
"I told you before I'm still gonna spoil you."
Blue eyes rolled "Where am I staying and if you say with you i'll go make camp outside."
"Now, now, no need for dramatics." He held out an elbow. "Tsuchikage-sama had a suite suited for Konoha's ambassador prepared."
"Ah, so a lovely Cardboard box in an alley." She teased and the brunette chuckled as they continued their way through the village. Their stone-based homes, nothing truly new, but still amazing to Kitsune. Iwa definitely had their architectural finesse going for them.
The duo continued to trade easy small talk as they ignored the glares sent Kitsune's way, when they weren't looks of fear or awe - mostly of the continued to slip in flirting but Kitsune wouldn't encourage him…too much. Sue her, she missed being doted on romantically.
Much like how the past three months went for Kitsune, the time spent in Iwa flew past. Especially with Takeshi keeping her company after her scheduled meetings with the Iwa Council. Unfortunately, her meetings also ended a day and a half earlier than expected since Kitsune did not have to deal directly with Oonoki often. Only his main Council and Takeshi, with the first and final meetings being with the Aged Kage.
Before Kitsune knew it it was her and Takeshi running for Konoha this time. Thankfully Kitsune was able to keep the speed up at a pace that Takeshi had to focus on instead of flirting with her. As much as she didn't like how it would also get her home quicker too.
Kitsune unfortunately had to pull them to a stop shortly after reaching Konoha's borders. Takeshi was panting, sweating and completely exhausted.
"Damn woman." he groaned, flopping onto the ground. "Did you get faster?"
Kitsune smirked even as she set up a smokeless fire. "Well, My apprentice kept getting faster, I needed to make sure she couldn't catch me."
The Jounin snorted and pulled out supplies to cook with. They chatted about how Konoha's council would react to some of the demands Iwa's council had made and Kitsune had adjusted. They had just this last trip to Konoha and the treaty would be set….well until someone was stupid and broke it. Takeshi was really hoping this stretch of peace could be longer. Gray eyes watched Kitsune as she rested on a bedroll.
With her leading the peace movement, he could see the peace lasting. Just as the sun rose, he woke his companion and noticed immediately that she wasn't in a good mood.
"Everything okay?" He asked as they started their trip again in a slower lope than the day before.
"Today is the anniversary of my brother's death." She whispered. "I'd hoped….the meeting would go longer so i wouldn't have to see him everywhere i went in Konoha."
Takeshi winced. "You know, someone once told me that it eases the ache when you talk about them."
Kitsune chuckled and those blue eyes were softer, even if he couldn't see her smile past the mask. He could still see it in the crinkling of her eyes.
"Thanks Takeshi." She looked forward and huffed. "He was a knucklehead. Ingenious too. He was the one that pushed me into furthering my sealing. He always came up with the most outrageous ideas and had this blind faith that i'd made it all come true. When we were teens he had this crazy-" Kitsune cut herself off and came to a sudden halt on a branch. Takeshi landed beside her concerned.
"Kitsune-" He grunted when she tackled him. He watched the branch explode where they'd just been standing. The fire engulfed the massive branch and they went flipping down to a lower one to find a figure standing across from them.
"Kitsune of Konoha, Fox Sage." The Baritone, muffled voice said behind the black cloak with red clouds. "Bounty 5 Million Ryo. Kuramochi Takeshi, Jounin of Iwa. Bounty 4 Million Ryo. What a plentiful day this is turning into. Kitsune is needed alive. Kuramochi's head is needed for the bounty, so keep it intact."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Fuck off." Kitsune's head whipped around to where Hidan stepped out from behind a tree, mad grin upon his face. Red scythe in hand. "You will make a wonderful sacrifice to jashin-sama!" He rushed Takeshi, but Kitsune was there blocking his blades with her own. Her blue eyes as cold as death.
"No." She stated like it was set in stone.
"Oh ho?" Hidan's mad grin grew wide. "You will suffice."
"We need her Alive!" Kakuzu growled.
"So I'll only stab her a little bit!" Hidan cackled and retracted to try another angle, but Kitsune knew that Hidan had no real form. Just experience at swinging his three bladed scythe like a madman.
Kitsune leapt back to rest against Takeshi's own back.
"Kakuzu of Taki. S-rank missing-nin. Holder of the Jiongu Kinjutsu." Kitsune informed her comrade. "You need to kill all five of his hearts to kill him."
"Oh, lovely." Takeshi quipped sarcastically. "Like Killing an S-ranked nin with one heart wasn't hard enough."
"The Masks can become their own elemental monsters outside of his body."
"And it just keeps getting better." Takeshi grunted as he threw up an earth wall to stop a fire attack. The clang of metal sounded behind him.
"Hidan of Yuga. S-rank Missing-nin. Primary technique is a curse jutsu, Shiji hyoketsu. Do, not, let, Him, Cut you. A drop of blood and the immortal fucker will activate the curse and sacrifice you to his god to keep his immortality."
"Oh ho?" Hidan grinned manically at her. "You know your stuff ya bitch."
"I have reliable sources." She deadpanned and deflected his swings once more, getting in many cuts of her own on his body, but like herself, he healed rapidly.
"HA! I'll make sure to sacrifice them to Jashin-sama then!" Hidan cackled as he came at her harder and faster. Kitsune didn't hesitate to yank on Nature Energy from one step to another. Cerulean eyes turned violet and Hidan's grin grew wider.
Metal clanging rang through the air as Kitsune took on the Target she knew could be one of the deadlier of the two. She knew Takeshi was strong. He could hang on until she could get a clone off, or blow Hidan to pieces.
Using her freehand to lay a few unstable explosive seals on the immortal, she jumped back and turned when the seals activated. Hidan screamed frustrated as half his limbs were blown off. Kitsune didn't hesitate to shunshin to Takeshi and yank him away from the trendles trying to sneak up on him. Calling up three Shadow clones, they headed for the masks that had just slipped off Kakuzu's back and for the main body.
"You take Suiton and I'll take Raiton?"
"Done." Takeshi smirked and they launched at their chosen masks. It was the work of a few moments later that Kitsune's two clones popped and she allowed the remaining to walk to her hand and aid in calling chakra to her hand.
Kakuzu was glaring at them as he activated his kinjutsu to the max. Well, until the ball of chakra formed in Kitsune's hand.
"A little present from a couple of blondes i know." Kitsune grinned as Wind was poured into the technique and it started whistling at a high pitch.
Kakuzu's instincts screamed that the technique would kill him. He molded his chakra and decided to live another day.
Kitsune threw the technique for the running man. Kakuzu dodged, but didn't expect the jutsu to expand. He screamed as his right side exploded into pain. He fell to the ground clutching at his unresponsive side.
Takeshi eyed his companion with a slight twitch in his eye. "Namikaze taught you that blasted jutsu too?"
Kitsune shrugged innocently. "What can I say? I got curious when my little apprentice tried to add Fuuton to it. So I helped her. Thus, I got to learn it." She grinned. Kitsune jerked her thumb to Kakuzu. "We should finish him off and collect his head and body. Taki will pay a hefty sum for their kinjutsu returned. Konoha wouldn't mind splitting the reward."
"And the other one?" Takeshi called even as he headed to end Kakuzu with a stab to the remaining heart.
Kitsune paused when she realized she hadn't heard Hidan's profanities for a few minutes. Snapping around she saw where he'd exploded, empty.
KI flickered on her senses just before Hidan rose up out of the shadows of a tree, half his body held together by Zetsu. The creature's murky greenish gold eyes on her even as he swung for Takeshi.
The scream was choked in her throat. Acting on instincts to protect a precious person, Kitsune activated the seal she knew Takeshi still carried to this day. She'd lied to him about it though. She could activate it whenever she wanted.
In a blink she was across the field and pushing Takeshi out of the way of the blade. A blade that slammed into her torso with ease, practically bisecting her chest, if not for her hand grabbing the weapon to stop it.
Blood exploded down her mouth as Hidan and Zetsu grinned at her.
Thump….bu-thump….thump-thump….
"Well Done Hidan." Zetsu hissed as the blackness of the creature crawled down the Immortal's arm. "Hold her still." The trendle slipped down the blade and into Kitsune. Kitsune could only hear her heartbeat trying to work around the fact that there was a scythe currently bisecting it in half.
Kitsune didn't even hear Kurama's roar as the chakra he had around her heart, keeping it beating despite being impaled, was stolen away.
"Ahhhhh" Zetsu grinned darkly. "My suspicions were correct then. Your seals may have kept me from hearing all your little talks, kitsune-chan. But I still have my ways to learn what I need to. So, I'll be taking your half of the Kyuubi now."
Kitsune couldn't even scream as Kurama was torn away from her. Her vision was dimming, her mind too in shock, her ears clogged with the sound of her own stuttering heartbeat.
"With the fox in hand, He'll be such a good distraction to get that wonderful little host Madara-sama needs to complete our plans." Zetsu grinned.
Hidan only cackled as the red chakra burned against his skin as zetsu used him as a temporary medium.
"Best of all. You will finally be done interfering with our plans since you'll be dead. Your little apprentice will be unable to hold the rest, and there are no Uzumaki children available to hold the rest of the fox!" Zetsu hissed pleased as Kurama forcefully cut off his chakra and slammed the seal shut.
Hidan and Zetsu shared grins before their grip changed and they yanked the scythe out of Kitsune's weakened grip. She crumpled down even as Zetsu/Hidan walked to Kakuzu.
"Goodbye, annoying human." Zetsu hissed through cackles before the three disappeared into the ground.
Takeshi was already scrambling to Kitsune, ripping through his own scrolls and pack for things to pack her wound with.
"Hang on, hang on, just hang on." Takeshi muttered the mantra, partially in shock, eyes burning with tears, and hands covered in hot blood.
"K-k-k-k" Kitsune tried to get out, her mind trying so very hard to talk to her companion, but her throat was clogged with blood. "Kura…kurama" She gurgled.
"Shhhhh." Takeshi stuttered as he saw that the blood wasn't stopping! He flared his chakra in panic. Someone…someone had to be close. They were in Fire territory. They had Sages. Surely, surely, someone would feel his distress's calls and come help…surely….surely the amazing woman bleeding out under his hands wouldn't actually die. Not after everything she's worked so hard for.
Takeshi finally looked away from the wound, cutting through Kitsune's chest from one side to the other internally. Blood leaking out of both holes. He didn't know how she was still conscious. His Gray eyes looked into Blue he so dearly loved, even if he knew she'd never love him back, her heart being too broken.
"Take-" She choked out. "Kono-...Kon-"
"Shhhh…" He whispered, leaning closer to hear her. "Konoha."
"Warn…warn….Sak…Sakumo…." She gurgled. "Zet-ze-tsu has…has ha-ha-ha-half Kur-kuram-a."
Takeshi nodded. "That thing was called Zetsu?" A slow blink and tiny nod. "Okay, okay, I'll tell the Hokage…Zetsu has Kurama."
"H-h-half." Kitsune clarified even as darkness encompassed her vision. Kurama's shouts in her head were weaker than before as he tried to heal her with half his chakra gone, her own system panicked with the forceful extraction. She was so tired…so very cold….
"Half of Kurama." Takeshi swallowed. "Okay."
"H-home." Kitsune whispered, tears falling.
Takeshi let his own fall as he gripped her hand tightly with his own bloodied ones. "I'll get you home. I promise." He whispered, bringing her hand to his lips and leaving a kiss. Ever so carefully he pulled out his spare cloak and covered the dying woman up before lifting her up into his arms. Blood pooled down his forearm, but Takeshi felt his mind shutting down as he went deeper into shock. Instead he took to the trees and raced for Konoha. He…He had a promise to keep.
The Iwa jounin was only minutes away from their ambush sight when he no longer felt the heartbeat or heard the wheezing gurgles of kitsune inhales. At the same time as the woman he loved died in his arms, her body changed. No longer the young woman he knew. Instead a teenager with long golden blonde hair, whisker marks, and clothes that were a size too big, was in his arms. Takeshi didn't even pause as he realized….Kitsune and Namikaze Minashi were the same person.
His mind numb, Takeshi only pulled the hood of the cloak up to cover kitsune's hair and pulled her facemask back up to cover her whiskers. He didn't understand, but did it really matter right then?
Her village was in danger and he had a promise to keep. Kicking up his speed, Takeshi raced for Konoha. They needed to be warned. They needed to know….He could only pray the Yellow flash would give him a quick death for failing to save his baby sister. Even after said sister had sacrificed herself to save him.
~~**~~Below Chose not to post. Continue to Chpt 66~~**~~
Takeshi still gets involved with the fight as kitsune can't fight the Akatsuki duo alone. So she does her best to warn the man to not get cut or Hidan will then torture him. It's part of the jashin ritual. He understands and she has more confidence in him taking on the immortal.
So she focuses on Kakuzu and it's harder fighting him and his four puppets since they keep trying to use Takeshi's back as a target. But calling up shadow clones, she gets ahead of him, killing one heart at a time until it's just down to him. Then he flees before she can kill him off. Running away with the cursing Hidan.
Takeshi is relieved they were gone as the immortal fucker was hard to dodge. Kitsune senses the Intent just before the spike is to pierce Takeshi. She pushes him out of the way, and the black spike explodes from her chest. Takeshi's pale face looks up at hers.
Kitsune feels how her heart was pierced. Kurama's yang healing chakra roared up to heal her even as she turned and looked at the fucker behind her.
A Red spiral mask with the eyehole in the left of the Uchiha's face. The presence of Zetsu on that left side with it's spike of an arm holding her in place.
"You dropped your guard, Pest." Zetsu chuckled Darkly, and Kitsune screamed as she felt him twist and then yank on Kurama's yang chakra that had been sent to her heart. "I learned your little secret. Your connection to the bijuu. Now, you will aid in my plan instead of ALWAYS getting in the way." Zetsu snarled, twisting again to destroy what Kurama was trying to heal despite more and more of his chakra being rapidly stolen.
Takeshi finally move from his shock and tried to attack, but another black trendle shot out and kept him at bay.
Kitsune could do nothing as the fight was lost more and more and she knew…she was going to die.
Takeshi finally slips past the black holding him away and swipes down at the arm protruding from kitsune. It's yanked away and kitsune falls.
Zetsu and the body he was possessing just chuckled as he observed the red chakra finishing soaking into him.
"I got the other half. Such a good trick you played on everyone in Konoha." Zetsu snickered. "Using that whiskered brat as a decoy for part of the kyuubi's chakra, hoarding the rest for yourself. Then again," he said even as Kitsune felt consciousness and her control over her clones and seals wavering. She needed to keep her clone active though.
Black hair bled blonde.
"You'd trust none other than your own flesh and blood to hold the fox." Zetsu grinned. "I wonder, isn't she too old now to hold the rest?"
"N-n-n-no." Kitsune gurgled around the blood in her throat. Takeshi's hold on her tightening.
"With no Bijuu, you're dead within the hour." Zetsu cackled as he began to swirl away in a Portal. "Too bad Konoha will be destroyed by the kyuubi before you could even return."
A blink later and Zetsu was gone.
Kitsune felt tears of failure and frustration slip from her eyes even as Kurama's chakra went to work on her shredded heart.
She felt the trembling and shaking hand packing her wound, the fear in his scent, the confusion, terror, and pain in Takeshi's chakra. His mantra of she'd be okay, repeating on his lips as he tried desperately to save her.
Kitsune knew though, that it seems her friend would learn now why he'd never have her.
Her bloody hands gripped his wrists. Gray panicked eyes met hers.
"Stop." She whispered.
"No. you can't give up!" He shouted.
Kitsune sent him a weak grin. "I'm not." She reached up and gently pushed away some of his bangs. "Back up…and for what it's worth, I'm sorry Takeshi."
Takeshi frowned but stood and did as told.
Kitsune sighed and closed her eyes. She opened them to see Kurama snarling even as he moved to sit in a lotus position, ribs showing off how much he'd lost with that pest stealing his chakra.
"You ready old friend?"
Let's go squash a pest. Kurama snapped. I'll gather nature energy and control rebalancing your chakra once more. Your wound is just about healed. Get that fucker and seal him away.
"Until then i can use yours?" She confirmed stretching and preparing for the pain of only the Yin Chakra.
Of course. And a moment later the chakra burned through her coils like an old friend.
Takeshi jumped when Kitsune was suddenly covered in a red bubblings cloak. He didn't understand how she was blonde, if this was her actual look, or not (he was guessing it was). What he did know is that she had been telling nothing but truth. That thing had been unnatural.
Now, his now known jinchuriki friend was using bijuu chakra the thing thought it had taken. He watched steam rise from kitsune's chest and blonde hair bleed black once more. She met his gaze.
"I won't hurt you." She stated.
"I know." He stood and moved closer to try to touch the cloak, and found that it didn't hurt. Touching her arm, the cloak moved over to him, and all his pains disappeared and his chakra was revitalized. He stared at the woman amazed. "That is amazing…" he whispered.
Kitsune hummed. "No time for pleasantries, Zetsu has made off with Half the Kyuubi. He's setting it off on Konoha. Hold tight."
Takeshi took her offered hand and they disappeared into space and time to arrive on the top of the Hokage mountain of konoha.
Kitsune cursed as her cloak left her and instead blue eyes turned violet even as she held a hand to her chest. Her heart still bruised from the rapid healing.
Before Takeshi could ask about her health, a teen brat from their bingo books arrived in a shunshin.
"Kitsune!" The teen exclaimed. "I felt-"
"Kurama was stolen. Warn Sakumo, get the evacuation-" a massive cloud of summoning smoke appeared dead center of Konoha.
"GO!" She snapped and the teen left, leaping off the mountain and summoning an army of Shadow CLones.
Takeshi supported Kitsune as she kneeled and summoned her own Foxes. Asako, Tamotsu, Masumi, and a full sized Riku appeared, sending Kitsune to her hands and knees, Takeshi supporting her.
The foxes didn't have to ask. They could see it. The four leapt off the mountain and tackled the much larger (not by much with it only being half) Fox out of konoha.
Kitsune's fists balled as she fought tears. This wasn't supposed to happen! Konoha was supposed to be safe since she held the kyuubi, since kushina didn't, since obito was safe and not a rage puppet.
She let out a shout as she slammed her fists down, body trembling with anger and sadness.
"I tried so…so damn HARD!" She snarled. "Naruto's being born Late! Kushina isn't the jinchuriki anymore! Minato isn't the Hokage! This….this wasn't supposed to happen still!" She ground out as her mind caught up and started to panic. Someone was going to die because she couldn't take Kurama back. Her body was too old for it. Her coils too rigid now. Even adjusting to the stolen half was going to be chore and a half.
A steady hand was upon her back, and kitsune tensed.
"Get up." Takeshi said firmly. "This is your village. These are your people. They need you now. Not just your summons. I'm not sure what all is going on, but lean on your friends, lean on your hokage. Just as you made me promise to try for peace, it is now your turn to try to make this right."
Kitsune slowly uncurled and her violet eyes found the five foxes still battling but slowing losing to the kyuubi no kitsune. The edges of konoha still getting damaged by their fight.
"Never again." She whispered as everything she bottled up from the war came forward. "Never again will i watch my village burn." She snarled and kurama sent her more Nature energy that she turned into Sage Chakra. Kitsune went through the summoning ritual again and in a massive flare of chakra, called upon every trained and able fox she knew.
She stood up with Takeshi's assistance to address the foxes. She called up Shadow clones while she was at it and they stepped forward to announce their duties.
"Large Foxes with me. We will focus on using you as transport to get civilians to safety."
"Battle foxes, defend the wall, aid Asako-sama in keeping the Kyuubi from Konoha."
"Everyone else will spread out and act as search and rescue. Aid any shinobi with what ever they need."
The three clones looked at Kitsune then after the foxes fell off the mountains like waterfalls.
"Boss?"
"Senju brood. Uchiha Obito. Kushina." She ordered the clones for their own tasks. She looked at takeshi. "Take me to the Hokage."
Pulling her arm over his shoulder, they joined the three clones in leaping off, but headed for the intact building.