Twelve

They stood atop a hill. The sun sets a deep red against a background of cool grays with a touch of breeze. Hidden Sound Village was a far cry in comparison to Hidden Leaf, there lacks a sense of life, of people making out their livelihood and of children running about. It was a town of quiet existence, dull atmosphere with blood traces in the air. Darken wooden architecture mesh together with sullen footpaths meandering through the village, of a neglected settlement and population welfare.

It was a worst sight even when compared to military-ruled Black Dragons headquarters, thought a certain raven-haired one.

He remembered it to be a place of quiet disposition, but the irony lay in the fact that it wasn't a place overcast in shadows. The headquarters was situated in the mountainous regions along the Land of Earth, Rain and Grass. Such central locality gives the organization added advantage in term of logistics and abundant resources. The head was no fool when he was setting up the Black Dragons, everything was planned for maximum efficiency. The place was nested in the valley where a forgotten culture once existed, a place of flourishing nature with a security tight fortress and abundant landscape to train all new recruits.

So how could a village such as this one have fallen to such extent?

The carefully camouflaged figures retreated into the safety of a nearby canvas of greens, for they needed a plan. Also, certain ground rules needed to be laid out for the safety of individuals.

"Before we discuss about the infiltration of the target building, we must first make clear once again the objective of the mission." Ishida said, it was a loaded warning for mainly themselves

Kei nodded. She knew that she had to control herself; otherwise the mission would be jeopardized. Ishida needed to remind himself to put past grudge and blood lust away for the moment.

"The mission to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke alive is laden with much danger and priority for his safety must be asserted at all times. Kakashi-san, have you com up with a course of action?"

"We can start off with surveillance watch to at least locate the target. Individual work is to be done and reported every three hours. Once confirmation of target's location and layout of the building is ascertained, we will proceed for capture and flight."

"Sounds good. We should be able to commence operation raven retrieval in 48 hours. Each of us can cover a third of the space with more emphasis on the heavily guarded areas. Report to be held in sheltered nest as requested."

Clocks were synchronized. And the figures took off into stealth flight.

Many hours passed, much surveillance work had to be done. Figures slipped through the village existence to locate the target. Energy was expanded to maximize search and observation of entry and exit in the various buildings. Uchiha Sasuke was the first name on their minds, but unconsciously two had another name at the back of their name.

Orochimaru.


It was late into the night. Ken had found a way in and so they could rest and recuperate and commence the operation tomorrow night under the cover of night.

A warm fire was all that kept the spirits alive amidst the damp ground. Three were gathered and took turns to keep watch. Right now, it was Kakashi who was guarding.

He sat there watching the other two sleep. Eyes fall upon the female figure; they haven't spoken to each other ever since morning breakfast and even then she was too embarrassed to speak to him proper.

The embers from the flames flicker across her face and they danced to somehow cast a spell of wonderment upon him.

Sigh. I'm in trouble.

Why so?

And who are you?

Your ill-neglected conscience, you baka!

Bugger off. You're not needed.

Touché. And all I'm doing is offer some counseling.

I'm fine. Leave me, I need to concentrate on the watch.

Still the prideful boy I see, you know, you're capable of things more than just being a jounin sensei and a loyal subject of the village.

Urusai!

What an ungrateful brat. I'll leave when I have my say.

……………

What say you to a normal life? Your own family with a certain individual whom you haven't stop staring for a while?

I say that you can leave now. Go!

All right. I'll leave, for now.

…………

"Troublesome."

"What is?"

His head shot up and saw Ken awake.

"What is troublesome?"

Kakashi merely smiled.

"I used to train Sasuke, but I failed to liberate his hate which therefore led things to such a state. I mean we are troubling you guys to do a favor for Konoha. Though, would you mind me asking a question?"

Ken merely yawn and stretched. Shaking his head, he said "No, go ahead."

"Why are you are doing this? Staying in Konoha?"

"You know what? I've knew that you were going to ask this some day." He laughed, and checked to see if he woke the one sleeping.

"The Hokage is one shrewd woman. She knew that we were renegades that have no more ties with our former employer and offered us a place to live and a chance at living a normal life. In return, she could utilize our abilities for Konoha's benefit. I really have to hand it to that thirty year old."

"She's fifty."

"Oh. Ha-ha. What an amazing jutsu she's using."

"Indeed."

"I'm digressing. We are aware as strangers we are not going to be accepted anywhere and on top of that, how long can we honestly run? We needed a long term solution and your Hokage kindly offered one. We can stay and plan a way to survive. No fool will refuse a roof over his head, three meals and warm bed at night. It beats sleeping out in nature any time."

He looked at Kei again, who was oblivious to the conversation.

"In a way, we just need a chance to prove that we are human. And we will not force upon anyone to trust us that easily. Your Hokage just happens to be really generous. Besides, if we run now, we'll have both Black Dragons and Konoha's Anbu squad on our trails and that's just plain troublesome."

Kakashi understood.

"She sleeps rather well tonight." He commented, the sleeping form barely stirred so far.

"Hmm? You mean she's had her nightmares again?"

The silver-haired one nodded.

"Sigh. And I thought she would have left that all behind."

"Would it be too much to ask what happened?"

"Sigh. She's never slept well all these years in Black Dragon. But I will guess the catalyst behind those dreams at night would be that incident 9 years ago."

He checked again to make sure she wasn't awake before continuing.

"9 years ago, we got ambushed. The bastards were looking for a scroll which they thought we were carrying and started slaughtering the lot of us when they couldn't find any."

"They wouldn't happen to be Akatsuki, would they?"

The raven haired one nodded. The atmosphere has gotten solemn.

"The one leading the expedition was Orochimaru and incidentally, we both got injured. We survived only because a friend sacrificed his life for us."

Just like Obito.

The jounin grew despondent but continued to listen.

"I suffered from internal injuries and broken ribs. Kei, on the other hand was carried in half dead by the time we were back at the headquarters. Kunais rendered her limbs useless and one particular punctured wound was causing her to hemorrhage to death. We were just 15 and were on our first mission after being promoted to elite ranks, inexperience did us in."


FLASHBACK

The girl lay there pale and barely breathing. Life was slipping into nothingness. Hyata-sama had her wheeled into a separate room of sterile settings, away from the chaotic emergency area on the other side of the building. A laboratory of sinister experimentations and even worse minds, it was also a place where history was about to be made.

A team of 12 was assembled with all sorts of equipments, against a background of fluorescent lights and bubbling chemistry, work begun. The head chooses to watch from above.

They had her clothing stripped before flipping the body over with her back exposed. Anesthesia was administrated to maintain sedated state, while oxygen was steadily pumped into the lungs. A long spell was recited while a slender knife of ancient heritage was being drowsed with chemicals and even more spells. The leader then proceeds to cut into the flesh.

Fresh blood spilt forth.

The knife continues its job and drags about the flesh.

A set pattern was forming.

The master was at work.

He was carving a pattern into her back. A dragon motif of that stretches from the waist up, its body curved up with one claw that wraps itself onto the nape where the shoulder and neck meets. A bloody art piece immortalized upon a paled-skinned canvas.

Heartbeat slows down to a dangerous pace.

Breathing was staggered and weak.

Another white one moves forward carrying forth an ancient box, whose antique seal has been tampered with. The others continued chanting, the pace was increasing as the time drew near. An elaborate interface web design surfaces as chakra is been used to border off the dimensions around the body.

The moment arrived. The head stood up in anticipation.

The box opened to glaring flames. It balled up and was directed into the web of infinite designs. One that has took years to prepare and cultivate. The flare flew wildly at being given freedom, it refused to obey.

It flew around a bit before it went straight for the body.

It burned.

Chakra sparked.

Pain entailed as a struggle took place.

Rejection again? The masterminds wondered.

Many moments later, the chaos died down. Chakra in place of blood flowed through the intricate design on her back. The flames sealed the wounds closed and monitors showed normal progress.

Everyone yelled in gee. The head nodded in approval.

The operation was a success. The ancient power was now harnessed for the organization's use. Nothing else mattered. Their mind was only on alcohol and celebration.

FLASHBACK


"Soka." The silver-haired said, disgusted that such an operation was even thought up in the first. He felt a pain of sympathy for his roommate, and maybe something more.

"And that's the story. I really wish she could move on, but perhaps, as she said,

"How do you live a life where you practically can't die? Having this thing inside me, what chance at normality do I have? I defied fate when greed intervened, living when I should be dead. Now, all I can do is to take one day per day and just wait for the day it ends."

They turned to watch the figure toss over and snuggle deeper into the blankets for warmth.

Blessed are those times when sleep prevails.


Author's Note:

The Tsunami incident is one that has left much lasting impact in the lives of everyone. Relief efforts are on-going but I do hope that everyone can help the victims and the volunteer workers either through donations or even a prayer.

On a lighter note, I have decided to post two chapters to commemorate the start of a new year and hope that everyonewil enjoy them. Wishing all a better year in 2005.

Cheers,

Arte

Fallen Fantasist: Thank you so much! I personally enjoyed writing that chaper as well, it was fun.Do hope to hear more from you! :)