Part 3.5: Death in the Cold
The Raikage continued on with the great history of Thunder Country with Tsunade only half-listening. 'He's stalling,' she thought, 'but for what?' The thought of Hiketsu still permeated in her mind, but she decided it would not be wise to discuss in now.
A rapping was suddenly heard on the door. "Raikage-sama," came a voice from behind it, "they are coming."
The Raikage smiled broadly, "Thank you," he said. He then turned back to Tsunade, "I'd like you to introduce you properly to the nin you met yesterday."
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Julius and Set slowly made their way towards the Raikage's inner sanctum, their boots echoing throughout the hallway on the Jade floor. "What the hell does he want anyway," asked Set, "I was in the middle of creating a future masterpiece."
"I'm not sure," replied Julius, his tone melancholy and cold, "but he requested our presence about twenty minutes ago. It would be best not to keep him waiting."
Set snorted indignantly, "Always keeping us down, badgering us constantly with his whims and desires," said Set, the anger rising in his voice again, "He thinks he has us so well leashed doesn't he? That bastard will pay someday for this insult."
"Calm yourself brother," said Julius. They walked onward, farther into the inner sanctum. It was very bright today, and the light shined off every part of the jade palace. The green light turned red as it reflected off of Set's bodysuit, and even his eyes, which mirrored the green light, turning it to the pattern of his own eyes. Set admired the effect, smiling slightly.
"He believes he has absolute control over us," continued Set's griping, "that we dare not breathe without his permission. Someday, someday, I will be free of that arrogant man's grip, and when that day comes, I will be admiring his head over my mantle." They came closer to the Raikage's sanctum, the gigantic double-doors beckoning them forward. A group of three, leaf ninjas were standing next to a pillar, but Set paid them little heed. They were very close to the double doors now, and Set wondered slightly what the Raikage had in store for them. "Still, this Chuunin examination should provide some means of distraction until that day, eh Julius?" Set looked to his right, but realized his brother's footsteps had stopped. "Julius?" he asked.
He looked behind him. Julius had stopped quite a few meters from the Leaf nins they had passed. One was leaning against a pillar, his eyes lazily closed in a type of mock-meditation. The other two were eyeing Julius oddly.
Julius was breathing heavily now, his air coming through clenched teeth. His fists were made into balls; Set could see the muscles tensing in his legs and arms, forming striations against the loose, white cloth around them. His eyes were screwed with fury, as a fire seemed to burn within the pale, green pupils. He was shaking horribly, as his breathing became louder and his lips curled up in a deep snarl. Set eyed his brother curiously; he had never seen Julius in such a rage. Set's eyes widened suddenly, 'The Hyuuga,' he thought. Set chuckled to himself, 'what a hypocrite you are brother.'
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'What the hell,' thought Neji as he eyed the odd Thunder nin dressed in white. He was shaking horribly, but had his back turned to them so that they could only hear what sounded like deep, hard breathing. Hinata looked very apprehensive, but Neji eyed the stranger calmly, readying himself for whatever might happening, already sending chakra to his eyes, preparing the Byakugan.
The stranger turned on his heel, his face aghast with raw fury. His arms were held ready at his sides, in what Neji believed to be a battle stance. His knees were bent heavily, placing all the weight of his body on the balls of his feet; Neji could see the muscles of his legs press against the back of the loose cloth around them, forming heavy striations in the fabric. His arms came quickly into a position straight out in front of him, away from his body, one arm out farther than the other. His fingers were spread out and open, the palms facing towards them. Neji went into a stance of his own; the stranger was in his field of divination, and if 64 strikes were necessary, he was prepared to deliver it. A hand came hard across Neji's front shoulder, halting any advance he might make. Hiashi had come out of meditation and was eyeing the stranger as well. "Who are you," asked Hiashi.
The stranger did not respond, but continued to glare at them, still in a stance for battle. His eyes betrayed any emotions he was holding back, and raw fury seemed to consume him like a wild fire now. His face was contorted in a heated fix, but he remained silent.
Hiashi had activated his Byakugan now, ready to deliver a killing blow to the stranger. "What do you want," he asked, the phrase more of a threat than an actual question.
"I want your blood," replied the stranger, his voice shaking with rage, "and I want your souls. And I want them both, RIGHT NOW!!"
Hiashi released Neji and reared his left hand to strike into the stranger's chest, readying to kill him instantly. Hiashi was about to approach when the taller man in red grabbed the first stranger from behind, locking him in a tight hold. "Take some of your own advice brother," he said, his voice ripe with amusement. His attention then turned to Hiashi, still holding the stranger who was now beginning to calm himself slowly, the fury leaving his eyes again. "You'll have to forgive my brother's zeal," said the red stranger, smiling widely now, "he's not used to seeing so much trash in one place."
Neji watched as any fury Hiashi had built in him was released in a single instant, as he charged forward, quickly cutting down the many meters between them, ready to strike both of the brothers down. Suddenly, the gigantic double-doors behind them burst wide, and a huge wind erupted from them, forcing Neji to close his eyes as the wind burned and teared them. When he opened them again, he was taken aback. The Raikage was standing like a mountain between Hiashi and the two strangers, his hand grasped tightly around Hiashi's outstretched arm. Neji was taken aback in amazement, 'What speed is this?' he thought, looking up at the gigantic man before him. His robes still billowed in the wind he created, and his hat had been lost in the flight, revealing a young face that was scarred horribly, showing signs of battles past. Twin scars traveled down the right side of his face, along with a single down the left. His long, braided, black hair came to a rest on his back, down to his waist.
His face bore no sign of malice as Hiashi pulled his arm from his grasp. The Hokage was right behind them, her face wide with shock at the scene before her. Neji was slowly coming to terms with the events, but Hinata was still wide-eyed with both apprehension and fear. The Raikage glared at Hiashi for a moment, but his attention quickly turned to his own ninjas. "Julius, Set," he said, his eyes darting from the white nin to the red nin, his voice harsh and cold, "wait in my sanctum now." The one called Set released Julius, who seemed to have regained some semblance of composure but was still breathing heavily. His pale green eyes gleamed with hatred, casting a very dark shadow over himself. He quickly turned on his heel and stormed in the other direction, towards the Raikage's inner sanctum. Set watched him go, and then returned his attention to the Raikage. He gave him a mocking curtsey before following his brother. The Raikage tried to hide a scowl on his scarred face, but amidst the scar tissue, cuts, and abrasions, it was hard to tell his facial emotions. Hiashi had deactivated his Byakugan and was now staring transfixed at the Raikage.
"I apologize for their brash behavior," said the Raikage with a bow resembling that of a gracious host, "they are merely overly excited about the upcoming exams. I hope they didn't trouble you."
Neji looked up at Hiashi, who was still feeling the aftereffects of a very emotional confrontation, the chakra and blood pumping wildly through his body. However, Hiashi remained resolute, "They threatened my family and myself," he said, his voice cold and controlled, "I would have killed them both had you not arrived."
The Raikage said nothing at first, but Neji could have sworn he saw a slight grin pass over the Raikage's face, almost a taunting gesture. "I'm sure you would have," he said, his voice still gracious, but said almost like a dare. "However," he continued, "I must not allow either of our sides to come to blows with the other; that is simply not prudent." His gaze shifted over to Tsunade, who was repressing some frustrated anger of her own. "I shall reprimand them myself, and ensure that nothing of this sort precedes the Chuunin exam again."
Hiashi simply stared at the Raikage. He then jerked his head towards the exit of the Jade Palace and walked towards it quickly, Neji and Hinata following suit. Neji still bore an odd feeling about the whole scene, like something was amiss with the whole thing. He looked back one final time to see the Raikage and Tsunade entering back in the chamber, along with the two brothers. Julius still had his eyes transfixed on the Hyuuga, and Neji returned his malicious stare before the gigantic double doors cut them from his sight.
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"I see what you mean about control," said Tsunade, the sarcasm melting off her words.
The Raikage said nothing but took himself back to his seat, his face once again hidden in the darkness under the triangular hat. "There's no need to be rude," he lectured Tsunade, who found it utterly annoying, "I at least will ensure that such a thing does not happen 'twice,' adding much emphasis on the last word. "Now," he continued, ignoring Tsunade's glares, "you say that the one in red here, Izou Set, accosted one of your students in the hotel area?"
Tsunade nodded at the Raikage's statement, her gaze shifting to the pair of tall nins that stood before her. 'Is everyone in this country so tall?' she thought to herself, studying the nins slightly, Set more so than Julius.
"I don't give a damn what you think woman," he shouted, "wake him back up and prepare him for battle, NOW!!"
Her gaze drifted towards his shoulder, under which she knew a seal or marking of some sort lay. Her attention came to Set's face, as the nin was giving her a very wicked half-smile now that chilled her slightly.
"Set," came the Raikage's voice again, "I want you to make a formal apology to the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf for your overly brash actions.
Set looked like he had just been slapped in the face, as he jerked his head quickly over to the Raikage, his eyes surprised and furious. 'Seems like there's a lot of that going around anymore,' she thought.
"Do it Set," demanded the Raikage, his voice growing very powerful and authoritative. Set's eyes drifted over to Julius, but the other nin did not make a single movement, his eyes drifting towards the floor, the anger still welling in them. Set then looked straight at Tsunade. Ever since she had first seen him, Tsunade had disliked this boy, but those eyes seemed to intensify everything she felt. They looked almost like they were searching the very depths of her soul, and they appeared so twisted and evil, much like Orochimaru's except red, with two perpendicular lines across the pupil rather than a single slit. They were like no eyes she had ever seen on a human or animal, but she knew that this ninja was trouble, and the sooner these exams were over, the better.
"I..." began Set, his voice trailing slightly; his eyes darting from Tsunade to the Raikage over and over again. "I...am sorry for my...brash...actions...Hokage-sama," the last part of the phrase said through clenched teeth with an enraged expression on his face. Tsunade got a vindictive pleasure from watching his pride take a huge blow and smiled inwardly.
"You are forgiven," she said slowly, allowing Set to take in every word. She could almost see a physical manifestation of the frustration built inside him. However, Tsunade simply gave a soft smile to Set, who turned away quickly.
"Thank you Set," replied the Raikage, "As you can see Tsunade, I have the utmost control over my nin, these two especially. Whether Set started the fight or not is irrelevant compared to how the situation is dealt with. Set will be reprimanded for his participation in the fight, as I believe you nin should be as well."
"I can handle my own students without your help Raikage-sama," she said very politely, despite the annoyance she was feeling.
"Of course," said the Raikage, "although your actions show otherwise. Nevertheless, if there is nothing further than I think our meeting is concluded. Do you have anything left to ask?"
Tsunade searched her mind, but found nothing. Just when she was about to stand and leave, the word reappeared in her mind.
"Raikage-sama," she asked very politely, as it may be a gambit asking the question, "have you ever heard the word Hiketsu?"
The Raikage said nothing at first, his face expressionless, stony, seemingly not wishing to reveal any emotions or other misgivings. "No," he replied in his usual cold voice, "I am not familiar with that word. Why?"
"Just something I've been asking around," replied Tsunade, "Thank you for your time Raikage-sama," she bowed courteously, "but I must return to my dwelling and prepare for the Chuunin examination." She rose from her seat to leave.
"Wait Tsuande-sama," said the Raikage quickly, "there is one other matter I wish to deal with."
Tsunade remained standing but her attention was back on the Raikage. She didn't like having her back exposed to the boys behind her, but she did not regard them as much of a threat.
"In the recent days," said the Raikage, "there have been many attacks on outlying villages. One especially was called, Daibuken, and only a single girl survived the attack. I hear that your encampment was climbing the mountain on the same day this attack happened, and so I was curious, where about were you yesterday, in the very early morning?"
Tsunade could hardly believe what she was hearing. "Are you accusing the Leaf of attacking this village?" she asked, trying hard to maintain her voice level.
"I am accusing no one," replied the Raikage very coolly, "but I have my suspicions Tsunade. Villages don't slaughter themselves, and your encampment was seen by my ANBU on the mountain. I'm sure a whole patrol of ninjas would have no trouble slaughtering a village devoid of any, and two nins that are were unidentified were seen leaving the area, heading into the southern bluffs, an area close to where your encampment was scaling the mountain. Not only that, but the hospital the little girl was housed in was slaughtered mercilessly as well; thankfully she somehow survived. Now this could just be speculation, but it seems the closer you nin get to my country, the more people just seem to die out of thin air. "
Tsunade paused, furious at the Raikage's accusation. "The Leaf would never engage in such an open act of war," she replied, "We respect this land as yours and would never harm your citizens."
The Raikage crossed his arms on his chest, "I'm sure you wouldn't," he said, his voice still cool, "but old hatreds run deep Tsunade. And the other clans here are even wearier of the Leaf than I. I'm just saying that you should remember that you are not in your own land anymore." He rose to his complete height, staring down at Tsunade, "This is my territory," he replied, his voice threatening slightly, "and I have eyes everywhere." He then sat himself back down and waved Tsunade out.
Tsunade did not bother to bow but threw the double-doors aside enough so that they reverberated against the walls and closed shut again. Her heels clicked quick and angrily against the jade floor. 'How dare he,' she thought, 'how can he suspect us of something like that? The Leaf would never..." An image hit her mind, disrupting her train of thought, but she quickly pushed it aside and left out the massive gates of the Jade Palace.
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The double doors closed on their own, cutting off the green light that cascaded around the entrance and could be seen in a sliver under the door itself. The Raikage watched the close and waited for the sound of Tsunade's shoes hitting the floor to die away before continuing on. His face was suddenly contorted in a mixture of rage and satisfaction. "Well played," said Set as the Raikage stood to approach them.
The Raikage only nodded slightly; too much of what Tsunade had said was bothering him, especially Hiketsu. 'What does she know,' he thought to himself, 'or think she knows.' His attention turned back to Julius and Set. "I'm surprised at you Julius," he said, "I had always figured you for the one with some restraint, but I guess I can understand how you feel."
Julius' anger was rising to the surface again, "Impure mongrels," he said, his voice harsh but soft, "decadent, worthless roaches, all of them. They should be purged from this world completely, the arrogant white-eyed freaks of nature."
"Well," said Set, chuckling slightly, "I think you're going to have to hold off your holy crusade for at least a day or two before diving into the fray. Remember what I said about drawing these things out?"
Julius did not respond; he seemed lost in his fury now. Set laughed openly. The Raikage only stared at the spot where Tsunade had been only a few moments ago. 'Hiketsu,' he thought, 'could she...no, that's impossible. I'm the only one who knows about...and the connection with...' His eyes drifted over to Julius and Set, who were paying him little heed. 'This situation has gotten to be more delicate than I had anticipated. I may have to take more drastic measures during this examination. Maybe even...' "You may leave you two; I have no further use for you," the Raikage said.
Set and Julius did not wait any further, and left through the double doors themselves. The Raikage waited until they were a good distance away before barring the door himself. He returned slowly to his own seat on the table, and turned it so that it faced the wall farthest from the door. He sat down, staring at the candles on the dark, bare, wall, his fingers crossed in front of his face. He slowly reached out and grabbed one of the candles, pulling hard. The candle gave way, but quickly returned to its position. A large section of the wall in front of him gave way and turned over, revealing a multitude of different TV screens, all in black and white. He watched them anxiously, and saw Tsunade at the front of the Jade Palace. She was conversing with a white haired ninja who had one eye covered with a leaf forehead protector. The Raiakage's e eyes squinted slightly, more an act of anger than anything else. His eyes drifted over to Julius and Set who were returning to their quarters in the Jade Palace. 'I don't know where she got such information,' he thought, 'but if anyone gets to close, the same fate will await them.'
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"So," said Kakashi, "how did your meeting go?" Kakashi had waited outside the Jade Palace, anxious for Tsunade's return, calmly reading Flirting Paradise as Tsunade approached him.
Tsunade sighed, "Nothing got accomplished," she said, her voice solemn, "in fact I think it only worsened relations between the Cloud and Leaf. He's blaming us for the attacks on his village, and even one in a hospital recently."
Kakashi remained silent for a while, "Something isn't right here," he said, Tsunade nodding in agreement, "things have happened too close in unison for this to be mere coincidence. What about Hiketsu? Did you ask him?"
Tsunade nodded, "Yeah, I asked," she said, "but it didn't look like he knew what I was talking about. That or he's an excellent liar."
"I'm betting on the latter," replied Kakashi, "things just don't add up here."
"Kakashi," said Tsunade, her voice very firm again, "what are we getting into here? What is this Hiketsu thing anyway?"
"Not right now," replied Kakashi, turning on his heel and walking away "it would only-"
Tsunade grabbed Kakashi's shoulder hard and spun him around so that they were on eye level with each other, "Look Kakashi," she said, her voice having an intense rage in it, "people die because of secrets kept and information hidden. What you don't tell me now could place us all in a serious predicament later on. I don't understand, what is this Hiketsu thing about, and why won't you tell me?"
Kakashi looked lazily at her, only hinting slightly to fear that seemed to twinge his voice slightly, "Tsunade," he said, "you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Only when we all truly grasp this situation will you need to know, and believe me, this encompasses far beyond just the Chuunin exams, the Hidden Cloud, and even the countries. Gai and I are the only ones who know about it, and if need be, it will stay that way. Just trust me here Tsunade, because whether you believe me or not, nothing good can come of it now."
Tsunade's emotions seemed to spin in her head; the anger of being kept in the dark was overwhelming her, but Kakashi had never betrayed them before. Tsunade scowled but released Kakashi from her grasp, allowing him to straighten himself out again with a slight groan. "Alright," she said, "but you can't keep this thing from me forever. Just keep in mind, the day you want to divulge such information may be the day its too late to do anything about it." She then walked off, leaving Kakashi by himself in front of the Jade Palace.
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Kakashi watched her leave back towards the center of the city, her steps and stance reeking of anger. Kakashi sighed, blowing the warm air out his mouth only for it to cool in front of him. He looked down at the snow, staring at the tracks it made in it...
Kakashi looked ahead in horror; the corpses of his fallen comrades lay next to him. It was raining heavily on a snowed ground, leaving the area slushy and moist, and the bodies sank slowly in the earth, as the soft dirt welcomed them to their eternal resting place. Kakashi' breath came out in front of him and cooled in the cold air, fast and hard. He had never felt this terrified in his entire life, the coldness of the air not even comparing to the chilling sensation that was shooting through his body faster than he could comprehend. Every one of the Leaf nins had fallen, their bodies bloody and battered. It had only been nearly twenty minutes ago when they had all been laughing and frolicking in the snow, when they had celebrated for the end of the war, and for a successful mission. When he had told Tiara he loved her, and that he would be with her always; where the warm sensations of love shot through his body like hot water, giving him euphoria he had never felt before. Where Gai and he had been going through challenge after challenge, footraces, mock battles, janken games, while his best friend Obito laughed at their rivalry from the side. It had been the perfect day, nothing could change that.
And now, hell had come to their camp. The sound of snapping bone, gurgled screams, wet cracks and slices, and terrified cries for help filled the air. Gai lay a few feet from him, dead or unconscious he wasn't sure, but blood was slowly trickling from his mouth. Obito was attempting to resuscitate a fallen nin a few feet from Kakashi, keeping cool amidst the piles of dead that surrounded them. And in the middle of it all, stood a single figure. The figure's back was turned to him, a long, black caped billowed in the wind, revealing a heavy blacken, mesh armor that clung to his figure, showing the muscles that contorted and twisted underneath it. A bright, silver ponytail wrapped in a single, red ribbon swayed in the wind, as the thick, spiky, silvery hair, glistened and moved in the rain. The water did not even seem to touch him, like he did not exist in this world, but was merely passing through to the next. His skin was frightfully pale, giving him an almost sickly look. His long, muscular arms cradled a corpse in his hands, Tiara's corpse. She looked at him, her eyes unmoving, sunken, and cold. Her mouth was open trailing blood that trickled down to the brown, snow beneath them, staining it eternally in his mind. Her body had been shredded, but was still identifiable; he had left her in tact.
The figure slowly turned on his heel, the heavy, black boots making a dull splash in the snow, and faced Kakashi, his face still within the darkness, only his lucent eyes showed in the shadows. They were had no pupil, no color, nothing that seemed even remotely human. They were merely white globes placed in his head to fill the empty spot where eyes should be. Kakashi could see Tiara's lifeless body limp in his hands, his long fingernails leaving indentations on her still, soft skin. Kakashi felt the bile rise in his throat, but choked it down. Still, the fear did not leave him, but continued shooting through his body. The anger and hatred for the death of his love and friends seemed irrelevant now, only a cold fear consumed him.
"Kakashi!" came Obito's voice, panicked but maintaining a semblance of strength, "What are you doing, come to your senses dammit! Let's save who we can and get the hell out of here!" Kakashi still did not move, but only watched the stranger, his eyes wide, his body shaking.
The figure began mumbling something, a short phrase that Kakashi could not decipher. He bent his neck over Tiara's lifeless body and moved his pale lips to her mouth, embracing it tightly. Suddenly, Tiara's body grew rigid again as the figure let her down on her battered feet. Kakashi could not believe his eyes as his love began to walk slowly towards him. She seemed to be in a trance, her eyes wide, her mouth still slowly dribbling blood down from her chin onto the snow below. Her steps were slow, plodding, barely able to maintain her balance.
"Tiara," his shaky voice said, "you're okay? What happened?"
Tiara continued to walk towards him in a trance like state, her arms now outstretched in an expectant embrace. Kakashi laughed; he didn't know why, but his mind seemed to have snapped at this point. Even Obito looked on in horror as Tiara walked closer to Kakashi. Kakashi's nervous laughter continued, but quietly so. He held out his arms, ready to embrace his fallen love.
Suddenly, Tiara's pale skin turned grey and thin, her eyes became a pupiless red, and her lips curled back to have an unearthly wale emit from them. She charged at Kakashi now, her hands turning into claws ready to rip him apart. Still, Kakashi did not move, but merely stood in shock, awaiting his love's claws to send him to the other world.
"Fire Element, Red Dragon's Fire Jutsu," came Obito's voice as white-hot flames came to meet Tiara, burning her completely, her wailing continuing as she danced amidst the giant flames. The sharp whistling of her skin burning under the pressure pierced through the air, the brightness of the flame blinding Kakashi...
Kakashi was shaking again, his eyes wide with fear, though only one was visible. He was on his knees, breathing hard as the memory flooded his senses again. He quickly regained his composure and stood straight up, his face stoic again. He looked up at the sky, the sun still burning bright in it, resembling Obito's jutsu.
'Never again,' he thought, 'Please. We survived the wrath of hell once, lets not go through it again.' He began to slowly make his way back to the hotel, his mind distraught with the feelings he was receiving.
A/N: I decided to write Jutsu names in mostly English rather than try to play off like I know any Japanese. Also the reason why a lot of characters names don't sound completely Japanese, I'm just not that fluent or edumactated. : )
Also, I don't do any shounen-ai, or yaoi, if that's the right word for it. Basically, I don't do same sex pairings. Got nothing against it, it's just not my cup of tea. Hope I didn't disappoint any of you. But anyways, thanks for reviewing. I write this story because I like to write myself, but getting it reviewed helps immensely. So thanks to everyone who took time out to review it in the past or future as this story is still nowhere near full completion. It's going to be a long one, hope you enjoy.