PART II VENGEANCE

Rikako's Arrival in Thunder Country

It was difficult leaving Konoha with the expectation never to return. Saying goodbye to her friends and family would have put her over the edge, just disappearing as though she never existed was easier. She didn't have any really close friends, so that wasn't a problem. Some friends and coworkers would miss her at first, but after a month she would have been relegated to long term memory storage. Her parents would miss her, but in her case, absence makes the heart grow fonder. They have always had a strained relationship. What she put them through...they said they understood and forgave her, but saying something and really feeling it, are two different things. The only one who would be truly affected is... She thought about erasing his feelings for her, but she couldn't do it without his permission...and she still harbors the faint hope that he would wait for her once she is free.

In her backpack, Rikako carries a change of clothes plus a pair of shoes suitable for rough terrain, her favorite books and scrolls, some shinobi rations, water, various toiletries, her passport, and the scroll with the special pass from the Raikage. Tied to her pack is a new sleeping bag, at her waist is her staff. Her leg pack is fully stocked with shurikens, senbons, and kunais, her hip holster as well. She is wearing her shinobi vest fully stocked with scrolls, more senbon needles, medicine, etc. Her forehead protector is tied loosely around her neck. All this gear is slowing her progress to Thunder Country, but it's the weight of her heart that's the heaviest.

It takes her 4 days to arrive at the village at the foot of the mountain where Cloud Village is hidden. She spends an extra day at the village mentally preparing herself. There is no need to hurry. Chances are she would be spending the rest of her life there. From the villagers she learns about the new Raikage, the Cloud shinobi, and the regime. What she hears does not alleviate her feelings of anxiety. There is law and order in this land, unlike the Rain and Grass Countries, but strict to the point of oppression. The next morning she repacks her stuff and places her carefully folded Leaf headband away, relegated to the bottom of her pack.

As she approaches the gate to the village, she is stopped by 4 guards who immediately ask her to state her purpose and show some form of identification. She says nothing and just hands them her passport and the scroll from the Raikage.

"Wow, a summons from the Raikage himself, you must be important," says one of the guards. They crowd over the scroll and examine the wax imprint carefully to ensure it's not counterfeit. "Please wait here." One of the guards leaves, while the others look at her appraisingly. Their stares make her uncomfortable and she toys with the idea of sending them blinding headaches and horrific visions. But luckily, the wait is short. The guard returns with an older shinobi in official robes. He bows to her. "Maruyama Rikako-sama, we have been waiting anxiously for your arrival. Welcome home. I am here to escort you directly to the Raikage." He explains his name is Tenma Akio and he is one of the Raikage's advisors and had advised the previous Raikage as well.

The Cursed Seal

In the official receiving room, modestly clad servant girls in simple grey cotton robes, offer her a cup of tea and a tray of sweets. Rikako sips at the tea and ends up draining the cup as she waits. Tenma reappears, "The Raikage will receive you in one of the private sitting rooms," he escorts her downstairs. Rather small room for receiving important visitors, she thinks, and not decorated at all. This room should have much more artwork, scrolls, statues, stuff to impress visitors. She frowns, this isn't a receiving room, but a cell! The door is locked! She tries to start a seal but her chakra is inhibited. Damn it, well I have more than the normal chakra, she tries to concentrate all her chakra energy, but suddenly she feels dizzy and sick to her stomach. The tea...it was drugged, she realizes too late.

She hasn't been using her mind reading powers at full strength, just generally open to catch strong stray thoughts, but the only one who knew the tea was drugged and about the room would be Tenma. The servant girls, did they know about the tea, or do they just serve it? She couldn't read Tenma, he must be preconditioned. He must have been prepared with mind blocks. Not surprisingly since they expected her. But she didn't suspect a trap, after all she is here willingly, at their command. What else do they want from her? In the chakra dampening room, her head starts to spin and she falls asleep.

When she wakes she's in the same room. A metallic collar engraved with symbols has been tightly fitted around her neck. What's going on? Her hands and body are being bound to the chair. She tries to struggle, but there are four large Cloud shinobis holding her down. The person in front of her performs a seal and says "mind suppression chakra control seal!" Pain burns around her neck like a hundred hot senbon needles being inserted at once. She grits her teeth in pain but doesn't yell out. The drug, acting like anesthesia, takes the edge off the excruciating pain. It is over in seconds though it felt infinitely longer. They take the collar off. Around her neck are red welts, imprints of the symbols. She can't see them, but she feels them unnaturally around her neck. Her head and vision are still hazy. Someone new enters the room, someone of importance and regal bearing. She focuses her vision to see the grey robes and golden yellow hat with the black thunder character. The Raikage, standing over her, explains, "This cursed seal around your neck, will keep you under my control. You will not be able to read my mind. Any thoughts of causing me harm will automatically activate it and cause you even greater pain than what you just experienced." The drug is taking effect again and as the pain ebbs away, so does her consciousness.

She wakes up in a bed, was it all just a nightmare? But as she feels the welts around her neck, she knows it is a cruel reality - forced from her home to live as a prisoner in a foreign land. Tears start to form, but she roughly wipes them aside. Even in Konoha there are cursed seals like this - the caged bird seal of the Hyuuga clan, used by the Head family to control the Branch family. There must be a way to overcome it. Then the Raikage will pay for his cruelty.

A New Life

The Raikage did not expect her to be so beautiful, despite the scar running vertically across her left eye. Nor did he expect her to be so strong. She woke up early despite the amount of drug they gave her, and she withstood the pain in silence. He had plans for her, big plans for her and her powers. The next day, the Raikage invites Rikako to a formal lunch in his real private receiving room, ornately decorated with lacquer screens.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, but you understand, we must take precautions." The cursed seal is new, past mind seekers were conditioned at an early age to obey the Raikage, but in her case something had to be developed to control her, a possible Konoha spy.

Rikako reverts to her formal speech. "Of course Raikage-sama," she says bowing low, "a man in your position cannot be too careful. I'm sure you must have many enemies, both imagined and real. Precautions must be taken to preserve your most esteemed self."

"Yes, I'm glad you understand, but that's to be expected from someone of your intelligence. I've heard a lot of good things about you."

"I'm sure the sources have exaggerated my talents. I'm just a simple kunoichi after all."

"You're more than that. You are the daughter of Maruyama Midori, one of the greatest mind seekers ever produced by Thunder Country."

"Mind seekers?"

"Yes, an advanced bloodline with mind reading abilities, but not just mind reading. We'll go into all that later, but for now, I need to test your abilities."

Rikako thinks, so he doesn't know the extent of my abilities, I better play this carefully. "I am at your service Raikage-sama. Whatever inferior abilities I may have, are yours to command."

They give her a battery of tests. Rikako careful takes the same amount of time to answer each question or to perform each task. She purposely does well, but not great, but enough to please the Raikage. I must be useful to him to get close to him... She never completes her thoughts. When her thoughts drift toward vengeance against the Raikage, the cursed seal would start to activate, squeezing her throat, cutting off her air supply. But with her force of will and superior chakra control, she is able to avoid fully activating it. However, if the Raikage suspects...at full activation, her life is forfeit.

"Rikako-chan, I want you to be one of my personal advisors."

"An advisor? At my age? You do me a great honor Raikage-sama, but I must defer to the wisdom of my elders, like Tenma."

"He's been an advisor long enough. We need some fresh ideas and someone with your powers is invaluable."

He must want me to do something underhanded.

"No one knows of your powers, except me, Tenma, and the elder advisors, not even the Daimyo."

I see, he wants me to check out the Feudal Lord's thoughts. What is he planning?

"I am at your service as always. I hope I will be able to meet your expectations despite my unworthy advice and poor talents. Thank you for your belief in me," Rikako says bowing extra low.

"It's too bad you didn't get the mind training when you were young, but it worked out well, here you are and you know all of Konoha's secrets!"

It's been nearly two weeks. Kakashi and her parents are probably worried. The messages she sends are full of pleasantries she does not feel. She doesn't want to worry anyone, there is nothing they can do. Yet resentment builds. If he really loved me, he would have come for me, no matter what, she thinks in her dark moments, though she knows it is better for him to stay away. No, there is nothing he can do, but she, there must be something she can do, she just needs to wait for the opportunity.

The Resurrection

"Rikako-chan, I'd like you to meet another one of my advisors. In fact, I believe you two have already met," the Raikage says with a laugh as he opens the door to admit an older man, about 50 with one penetrating blue eye, one milky white eye and scarred face. "I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. Please resolve your differences, you're both working for me now," he says as he leaves the room and closes the door behind him.

"You!" It was Yashiro, who escaped from the ambush months ago.

"Hello Rikako-chan, it's been a while."

"Not long enough," she says coldly.

"Don't be upset that I brought you here."

"You?"

"Yes, as soon as I realized you were originally from Thunder Country, I started to plan my revenge."

"You already got your revenge against the Rain."

"That was petty revenge. The scars on my face are nothing. This is for two decades of exile."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you know who I am? My real name? Scan my mind. You have my permission."

Rikako reaches out tentatively and touches his mind with hers. Her eyes widen. The sudden realization of who he is and what it means, shocks her into speechlessness.

Flashback to 19 years ago:

Hizashi offered his life in place of his twin brother Hiashi. Hiashi had killed a Cloud shinobi who tried to kidnap his 3 year old daughter, Hinata. The Raikage demanded his death in exchange. The ink on the treaty was barely dry and the Hokage wished for peace. But Hiashi was the head of the Hyuuga clan and Hizashi was just a branch member, not important. But Hizashi was no fool. He didn't want to die. He wanted his freedom. He knew he'd be leaving behind a young son, Neji, but it couldn't be helped. He'll probably never see him again. Maybe one day Neji will be able to find his own path to freedom instead of being under the thumb of the Head family. The Raikage had to be satisfied that a Hyuuga was sacrificed. That was easy enough. His body was shown to the Cloud representative. An eye was given to him to take back to the Raikage as proof. His right eye had been surgically removed for their satisfaction, but rendered so it couldn't be analyzed or reused. His apparent death was easy to fake, the doctor knew a hundred and one ways to fake death, and under the cover of night Hizashi left Konoha forever. Only Dr. Otori who removed his eye and faked his death and Hizashi's most trusted servant knew the truth. Both were men of honor, bound forever by their word never to reveal the truth. Otori had given him another eye, a regular eye which moved and dilated correctly, but was blind. There was no surgical scar as the operation did not involve the intricacies of reconnecting the optic nerve. Instead, his milky white eye was his real eye, an eye of insight.

Twelve years of wandering, working for handouts as a fortuneteller, but at least he had his freedom. He answered to no one but himself. Then in Rain Village, a young country, not so old as the 5 great countries, he came to the attention of the Daimyo's wife, a superstitious woman. He was recommended as someone of great wisdom who could tell you your past, present and future. From then he was hailed as a seer. Riding high for four years, he became an advisor to the Daimyo and Shinobi Leader. But before he knew it, he had lost his freedom. He now answered to these two men of power. As long as he told them what they wanted to hear, he was safe. But in a moment of defiance he spoke the truth about the folly of their plans. The Shinobi Leader in his anger scorched his face before he could defend himself. Hizashi went back to wandering aimlessly until he met Kamui and saw in him the same thirst for vengeance.

He knew as soon as he saw Rikako that she was a Konoha spy sent to infiltrate their gang. He also knew she was smart, in all three aspects - knowledge, intelligence and cleverness. Catching her in a lie would be difficult. Defeating her in a fight would be near impossible. The amount of chakra he saw within her was near phenomenal, never has he seen that much chakra except within the legendary sannins and the kages. When he learned of her past, of her ties to Thunder Country, he hatched a plan for his ultimate revenge for being kept from his family, his home for so long. She was the key he needed to enter the inner chambers of the Raikage.

When Hizashi came to Hidden Cloud Village, after killing the Rain shinobi leader, the old Raikage had just turned over the reigns to his successor, his nephew. He told the two of them about Rikako, all he knew about her, it didn't amount to much, but the old man became very excited. "It's her! She's alive, after all these years...the last of her line. We must get her back! She's the key to the future of this country...if she has her mother's powers..."

"You! You're Neji's father and Hinata's uncle!"

"Do you know them?" he asks excitedly, it has been so long since he had any news.

"Well, we're acquaintances. Hinata joined the shinobi medics. She found helping others preferable. She's really good with the patients. Her healing techniques are excellent. Neji became a jounin a few years before me. I trained with him a couple of times. He's able to see the tenketsu, he's mastered the kaiten and the jyuuken moves, even the 64 hands of hakke..."

"Ah, he will exceed even Hiashi and me."

"Hiashi-sama has adopted him into the Head family, so he's to be head of the Hyuuga clan."

Hizashi's eyes brim with tears. So finally the Head and Branch families are reconciled, he thinks, my sacrifice was worth it after all.

Rikako doesn't tell him what an arrogant prick Neji could be.

Flasback to her chuunin years:

"I don't have sharingan or byakugan powers, but that doesn't mean I can't learn techniques similarly. The sharingan allows the user to copy jutsus and to see and predict the opponent's movements, plus it gives the user extraordinary illusionary powers and defense against illusions. If I train myself to have a near-photographic memory and increase my powers of observation and genjutsu, I can be nearly as powerful in those aspects. Don't you think so Kakashi-sensei?"

"Well, I suppose it's possible to a certain extent. That would take a lot more hard work than just having the sharingan."

"It's not like I can get one of those easily. Where did you get yours anyway?"

Kakashi ducks the question, "Well, the byakugan is even more powerful in a way..."

"Well, it's true it can see the chakra circulatory system and the tenketsu, but if you have a good knowledge of the body and acupuncture, you can pinpoint those holes, too, though maybe not as accurately or completely. The byakugan does not really read minds, but it helps read body language, the tension in the muscles, the increased heartbeat, blood pressure... Several aspects of the sharingan and byakugan powers can similarly be duplicated by observation, psychology, and other means."

"Perhaps," says Kakashi slightly swayed by her argument, "you can try your observational powers against me and my sharingan and I can get Hinata or Neji if you'd like..."

"Hi there Gai, mind if I borrow one of your chuunins?"

"What are you taking about Kakashi?"

"I would like to borrow Neji for an experiment."

"An experiment?"

"Well, Otori Rikako has some theories regarding the Byakugan techniques and I would like Neji to train with her."

"Why don't you get Hinata instead, she's probably more her level."

"Actually, Hinata can't do the techniques we want to test."

"Your little chuunin is a smart cookie but no match for Neji. You should know that."

"Oh, you'd be surprised. The training will well be worth Neji's time, I promise you."

"All right, I'll have a talk with Neji. I'll let you know when. You know, he's testing for jounin this year, he's already completed a couple of A missions. He should pass no problem. How about your other chuunins?"

"Hmm? Were you still talking to me?"

Gai goes on another tirade against Kakashi, "Very clever Kakashi, damn you, you got me again with your passive-aggressive unconventional tendencies..."

Neji: "So you're Otori Rikako. You're much smaller than I expected."

Rikako, with a respectful bow: "It's a great honor to meet a member of the noble Hyuuga House, the finest and oldest lineage of Leaf Village. May our association today evolve into a greater friendship between our houses."

Neji: "Houses? Does your family even qualify as a clan? I hear you want to test me. You who just became a chuunin recently, against me, already a potential jounin. What can you possibly do against me?"

"I was just curious about your heavenly spin defense and your ability to detect chakra holes."

"Be careful what you wish for little miss, experience it firsthand and it might destroy you permanently."

"Sembai, then please be extra gentle with your gentle fist technique." She gives him a deep bow before taking a battle stance.

Kakashi thinks "I'd better keep an eye on Neji, he's pretty ruthless. He'll kill her if he feels he needs to prove himself."

Rikako jumps back while releasing a volley of shurikens and fireballs. Neji performs his kaiten defense and blocks all easily. She attacks with her staff at full extension, but he's fast and strong and easily disarms her. Neji has his byakugan on so she cannot use genjutsu. She jumps back and shoots more fireballs. He uses kaiten again, but now the earth is trembling. Neji jumps out of the way before the earth parts.

"Nice try, but ever since my battle with Naruto, no one can catch me unawares from below!"

Rikako hits him with more fireballs but Neji spins again.

Kakashi thinks "whoever has more chakra will win. Both those attacks and defense use up a lot of chakra."

But this time Rikako jumps up high, right over Neji and lets go another volley of fireballs, dead center to his spinning vortex. A couple hit directly and Neji is knocked back!

Neji gets up saying, "What was that?"

"Your impenetrable 360 defense is only 360 degrees in a two dimensional plane. Your spinning like a top is more of a cylindrical defense rather than a complete spherical defense. You are vulnerable not only from below, but also from above. Thank you for helping me test my theory." Rikako gives him a bow and picks up her staff, truncating it.

"Very good, but we're not done yet!" Neji attacks her quickly before she can withdraw. He uses the 64 hands of hakke - Rikako drops her weapon and doubles over. Neji thinks, "I've just sealed your chakra holes! Let's see what you can do now." Suddenly he feels a searing pain in his side. As he looks down, he sees blood flowing from his left side and a spear tip just peeking through.

Rikako, "Oh no! My aim was off, I was just trying to deal a glancing blow." She quickly does a stasis seal to stop the blood.

Kakashi walks over. "You okay Neji? I think we should stop for today before someone gets seriously hurt."

Rikako, "Sembai, I deeply regret that due to my incompetent handling of the chakra I used to summon my staff, I wounded you to this extent. Please forgive me."

Neji thinks, "I didn't see her do a hand seal and her chakra should have been sealed. Her staff fell into the tunnel she dug before, I didn't see it coming. Did she drop it on purpose? And despite using the 64 hands of hakke, she seems barely affected. Was this all planned?" Then he sees the senbon needles she used on herself when she appeared to be doubled over in pain. "Was she able to reopen her tenketsu with those?"

Later, Kakashi says to Rikako after they check Neji into the hospital, "You're going to get me in trouble with Gai-sensei. Neji is supposed to take the jounin tests soon."

"He'll be all right in a week. I didn't pierce any organs."

"So you did do that on purpose, didn't you? Your chakra control is too good to make a mistake like that." Kakashi thinks "I didn't realize how vengeful she can be. He must have really ticked her off."

Rikako shrugs, "Maybe I did it subconsciously."

Kakashi laughs to himself, she always has an answer to everything.

As Rikako thinks about her past, Hizashi thinks about her. What an irony it is, that the girl before him is the cause of his exile and will be the tool of his revenge. Her mother's death and her abduction led to Hinata's abduction, which led to his sacrifice. He doesn't know the details of why or how she was taken from Thunder Country, but it doesn't matter, his report on her got him in the door. Now if he could just persuade her...

The Proposal

The post of the Raikage is not only determined by who is the strongest and most capable shinobi, but also by inheritance. That is, if a young man (or woman) not of the Raikage's bloodline is chosen to be the next Raikage, he must marry the Raikage's daughter or niece (or son/nephew) or other blood relative. If there is no possibility of marriage, then the Raikage can officially adopt him (or her) as his own son (or daughter). This way, the strongest bloodlines are mixed together and tied to the position of Raikage. Advanced bloodline marriages are arranged, sometimes within a clan, sometimes with another advanced bloodline clan, with the intention to produce stronger shinobi via hybridization or concentration of particular genes. All shinobi marriages have to be approved by the Raikage.

The Raikage is a distinguished looking man of great presence. He looks older than his years due to his furrowed brow, sharp features and beard. He became the fourth Raikage at 15, but it took another decade before the old Raikage finally retired. Clinging to power until the end, the old Raikage finally passed away soon afterwards, and with his passing Raikage Ichijo Sorata became free to do as he pleased. Konoha has increased in power and prosperity at the expense of the countries around it. It is time to balance the power, and with her at his side, with her powers and knowledge of Konoha...but she still has ties to Konoha, still has loyalties. He has to turn her against the country that raised her and find a way to bind her to her rightful country. The power of her bloodline mixed in with the Raikage line...it has been attempted before with minimal success, but that doesn't mean it can't work. But there is a price, one of the reasons she is the last of her line is mind seekers tend to be unstable. Some develop insanity in early childhood, others not until old age. But she can be useful for a long while yet. Would she agree willingly? Unlikely...he could take the long path of courtship or he could convince her it would be in her best interest...

"It seems to me that Konoha gave you up too easily. Wars have been fought for less of a prize."

"It was my choice to return."

"Well, if things were reversed, I would have fought for you."

"My one insignificant life is not worthy of attention from a great personage as yourself."

The Raikage laughs, "I like the way you talk, and the way you think. In fact, I like you very much, and I'm pleased you decided to return to your rightful country. We can be an undefeatable team, you and I, that's why I've decided we're to be married."

"What?!" in her shock, she drops her pose of formality.

"You're very beautiful Rikako-chan, I'm sure you know that. But on top of that, your intelligence and your powers make you even more desirable. With you at my side, Thunder Country can be restored to its former glory as the most powerful of the five great countries. Please consider my proposal seriously." He gives a slightly menacing frown at the end. In reality, he found himself falling for her. The greatest thing that attracts him is the aura of mystery surrounding her. Her speech and reactions are carefully thought out. But what are the genuine thoughts behind them? A proud man like himself can never admit to succumbing under the power of love for a mere woman, no matter how beautiful or intriguing. It is easier to force a betrothal by command rather than give her power over him via his love for her. Many foolish men let their wives and lovers run and ruin their lives all in the name of love. Respect is more important, and he can freely admit he respects her with no damage to his credibility.

"I'm sorry, Raikage-sama, that is too great an honor for someone as unworthy as me..."

"Oh, let's cut the crap. I want you. I want you at my side as a partner and advisor, in my bed as a lover and future mother to my heirs. You know how marriages are arranged here. You can't say no. As your only living relative, your grandfather has agreed."

"My grandfather..." She has not seen her grandfather since her arrival. She pretends she knows nothing of his existence. If the Raikage were to find out about her first trip to Thunder Country and how her grandfather instructed her without informing the former Raikage, he would not be pleased. She has to protect her grandfather, her only family and genuine ally.

"Yes, your grandfather. He'll be staying here with us for a while. I'll introduce you two at dinnertime. I'm sure you'll have a lot to discuss."

"Your proposal...if I say no..."

"Then I'm afraid your grandfather will not be able to witness another wedding."

The Facade

She knew Kakashi would contact her at the chuunin finals. As she waits for his message, she holds herself dispassionately. No one who knows her must know how she feels, her inner rage and turmoil. They mustn't be drawn into her problems and her plots. She knows it will be awkward seeing him after no word for over a month. There was no point in sending any further messages. The truth would just hurt him and he could do nothing about it. Coming up with lies was too painful and difficult. And if her plans do not work out, it is better for him to move on.

Rikako sees the bloody "K" on the bottom of the glass. At least he has the presence of mind to write it as a mirror image so it's easy to read. She casually wipes off the glass with her napkin, finishes her drink and excuses herself to use the ladies room. She sees him still by the concession stand. She calms herself but finds she can barely speak. He looks the same, it really hasn't been that long, but she knows she's changed.

She approaches him slowly, careful to leave a respectable distance between them. Her words hurt him, she had to, on purpose. Chances are she is under surveillance. She must keep up her façade as long as it takes. There is no use thinking of how she wants to be held in his arms or how much she misses him. All that is a waste of energy. What she must do is focus on obtaining her freedom.

She concentrates on the final battles, but keeps her face neutral. Who should she root for? The Cloud has two teams in the finals, quite rare, but her tips have helped. She notices Kakashi's genins. Two have been pitted against the Cloud genins. Should be interesting. I wonder if Kakashi taught them any of the Cloud techniques I showed him. I wonder if he knows I didn't show him everything...

The Wedding Gift

The betrothal is never formally announced.

Back at Hidden Cloud Village a couple of weeks later, there's a message from her grandfather. She arrives to find him in ceremonial robes and a short sword in front of him. Rikako stares in horror, understanding what he plans to do.

"Stop it! You can't..."

"I won't be used as a pawn against you. I've lived my life, you have to live yours. With this...I can transfer my chakra to you, as your mother did. You should be able to break free of the cursed seal."

"Don't...don't leave me alone...you're the only one I have here!"

"Think of it as my wedding gift..." Before she can stop him he impales himself on the sword. He holds her tightly and performs the chakra transfer seal. It is a special high level technique, usable only at the brink of death between blood relatives with their advanced bloodline. It is permanent, but rarely performed because of the side effects – the possible instability of incompatible chakra.

The Raikage changes his mind about their marriage, at least for now. She would be in a better position to help him if she were to marry the Daimyo. He saw how he had his eyes on her since their first meeting. She has been a perfect tool, she'll obey his wishes, if she wants to keep her head. Once he marries the widow of the Daimyo, his reign would have greater legitimacy. Besides, the suicide of her grandfather is bad luck. That will have to be covered up.