Chapter 13: Despair and Torture
Ever since the death of his friend and rival Hatake Kakashi, Maito Gai has fallen on hard times. He was once the expert master of taijutsu, he was as respected as Kakashi and taught the legendary jounin Rock Lee the art of taijutsu. However times has changed and Gai is a shell of his former self, he is a pitiful drunk and recluse. Gai has lost the respect of his comrades and is no longer relied upon for missions, he is not even depended upon to teach the genins anymore.
Gai sat at the bar, mumbling to himself. He sat at the corner in the darkness, he tried to avoid the glances of those in the bar, except there were no other people in the bar, it was only noon.
"Bartender, another sake !" yelled Gai, pointing his glass at the bartender halfway across the bar. It was only noon and Gai was completely.
The bartender came over to Gai with a bottle filled with sake. "Gai-san, it is only noon and you are drunk, I have to cut you off."
"You have no right to Jin. More sake." Gai grabbed for the man's collar but missed, he fell face first on the bar.
"Gai, get up and get out you drunk." At that Gai leapt at him and punched him square in the jaw. The bartender fell backwards, holding his now swollen jaw. "Get out or I'll call the cops."
A person who was not noticed in the bar until now spoke, "Gin-san, there is no need for that let me take Gai and you'll not see him until he is sober." Gin turned his head towards the newcomer.
"Naruto, very well he is under your responsibility. Now get out !" Naruto lifted up the drunk Gai on his right shoulder. Gai was just smiling and hic-upping.
"Naruto...hic...it is go...oood to see you," said Gai, as he was carried out of the dark bar into the sunlight. Gai squinted his eyes in pain. The ten years that Naruto were gone did not do Gai any good, Gai gained an immense amount of weight and was a heavy drinker. Naruto put Gai down in a chair at the Ramen Shop down the street from the bar. Naruto ordered himself a cup of noodles and got Gai some water.
"What has happened to you, Gai-san ? You are not the same person that I saw ten years ago," said Naruto. He sat in a chair across from Gai.
"Life for me has changed Naruto. Kakashi died and now I am the lover of his lover. You know, I was tied with Kakashi in terms of our long lasting fight. Yep 60-60," replied Gai, much more sober than before in the bar. Gai drank all of his water.
"Gai, you really let your life go to hell because of Kakashi's death."
"Yes, I can never be Kakashi to Anko. When Kakashi died we found peace with each other, but now she sleeps around the village. Anko is bitter and now I am overweight and a drunk."
"Leave her."
"I can't if I did she might do something stupid." Gai looked down at his hands. "I assume that you are not looking for me, but for someone more important.
"Yes." Naruto finished his ramen. Naruto was looking for Hinata, the girl who once had a crush on him, he heard that she was married to Shikamaru.
"Then go, what you have to do is more important than talking to an alcoholic."
"Gai, I will catch you later." Naruto smiled waved farewell to Gai. Gai smiled and gave him a thumb up. Gai looked down at his hands once more. He heard footsteps, however these footsteps tried to remain silent.
"What do you want," Gai was staring at his hands still.
"Gai-sensei," replied a voice. It was a child.
Gai looked up and saw the face of Dalo Lee, the son of Rock Lee and Ten-Ten. "Yes Dalo ?"
Dalo looked exactly like Rock when he was a boy. "Please Gai-sensei, I heard that when my father was a boy, you trained him. My mother tells me that he could never tap into his chakra."
"Dalo, I am pretty sure that you can tap into your chakra, you are still young. Besides your father can train you, he is more suited for the job, after all he is your father."
"My father is never home, Gai-sensei." The boy was now smiling, it was the same smile that Rock used when Gai said that he would train the boy.
Gai smiled , "Dalo, let me go home and take a shower, meet me at the training grounds." Gai got up and Dalo leapt in joy. Now I will be strong like Father, thought Dalo, no longer will I be ridiculed. "Meet me in thirty minutes."
"I forbid it," said Rock. Rock and his son were in the kitchen, Dalo told his father that Gai would train him. "He is drunken old fool. After Kakashi died he threw his life away drinking. I don't even know if I can trust him with you." Dalo was on the verge of tears.
" Father that is not fair. I can't even tap into my nin-
" Don't give me that crap, you are still young." His thick eyebrows were covered in sweat.
"Father, I respect your opinion but it is only an opinion, I want to be strong like you, so I am going to be trained by Gai-sensei."
"Dalo, you will be strong but I don't you to be trained by that alcoholic fool."
"Father, I will see you at dinner." At those words Dalo left his house and Rock was so enraged that he punched a hole into his wall. That was when Ten-Ten walked in. After ten years, she grew into a beautiful deadly lady. Her hair was long and she was more filled out.
"Rock, he wants to be as strong like you. What is wrong with that ?" She said this as she was rubbing his shoulders.
"I just don't want him trained by Maito Gai, besides it is to early for him to emphasize on taijutsu."
"Master Iruka has said that Dalo lacks the ability to tap into his chakra just like you." She stopped rubbing his shoulders. "You know I just had a thought maybe Naruto should train Dalo."
Lee's eyes grew wide, "Are you crazy, woman ? Naruto may not be the prankster he once was he is still a bad influence."
"I was being serious, but since you don't want Naruto to train him, Gai would be a better choice." Ten-Ten won and Gai knew she did.
"Ten, you win but if gai tries anything then Dalo will not continue his training." Rock went to sit down at the kitchen table. "Why did you have to give me an ultimatum ?"
"He wants to be strong Rock, the other children see him as a coward."
"But he is not a coward, he is just unsure of himself." Ten-Ten joined him at the table.
"Well when Maito Gai finishes with him, he will be the best."
"I just hope that Gai doesn't want to give up on him."
" He won't after all you were his prized pupil." Rock was smiling. "And besides I think Maito Gai wants to show everybody else that he is not useless."
Rock could see what Ten-Ten was trying to do, he just hoped that she was not wrong or Dalo would be end up being in pain. And that would mean that Maito Gai would be in pain.
Naruto walked through the streets looking for the household of Shikamaru and Hinata, but it wasn't as easy as he thought. After all Shikamaru was "The Strategist" and many people wanted him dead so his house was hidden. However after talking to countless people, he felt that he was going to find home of Nara Shikamaru and his family rather quickly.
Naruto walked up to a plain house on a dead end street. It was plain enough, he observed, however it was probably booby-trapped so he would have to be careful. Naruto walked up cautiously to the door and knocked quickly. There was a speaker by the door and it suddenly came to life.
"Who's there," it was female, it was Hinata. She still had that shy voice that he knew when they were teenagers.
"It's Naruto," said the fox-ninja, he pushed the button that accompanied the speaker.
"One second." There were quick steps coming from inside the house. And in moments the door was opened to a crack. Naruto saw the two eyes of Hyuuga Hinata peering out at him. Hinata had the same white eyes that used to watch him when he was ten years younger. She opened the door all the way and Naruto saw Hinata to be a beautiful young woman.
"Come in Naruto," she said softly. Hinata took Naruto the living room and left for the kitchen. Moments later she returned with a pot of tea and two cups.
" It is good to see Hinata, how have these past ten years treated you?" asked Naruto, he took the cup of tea from Hinata.
"Fine, Naruto just fine," she just stared at him with her white eyes. Her white eyes looked so sad to him and then she just stared down at the ground.
"I heard that you have a son, Hinata." Naruto took a gulp of the tea and yelled out in pain, it was way too hot. Hinata seemed to have not noticed this because she just kept drinking the tea.
"Oh yes Kiran, he is as smart as his father, he is at school right now."
"How is the Hyuuga Clan ?"
Hinata did not answer him, she just stared at him.
"Hinata..."
"Oh sorry Naruto, were you saying something. Oh about the clan, I was banished by my father. It was just because I married Shikamaru and the fact that Kiran did not have the eyes of a Hyuuga." Hinata was once more stared at the floor.
"Hinata, I am sorry." And Naruto wasn't lying either.
"Don't be." Hinata looked like she was on the verge of saying something but she stopped herself.
"Hinata if you ever need anything I'll be there." Hinata looked at him and drank her tea with a look of sadness. Naruto took that as if she understood and he drank his tea. He realized something when he told her that and the thing he realized was that Shikamaru was never there for her and it could have to do a lot with his job or perhaps something else.
Yahiko and Kaede woke up late and had there breakfast of fruits and cereals. Ever since they got to the hidden leaf village there lives were so much easier, no more fleeing for their lives, no more problems. However there were problems, Okuni was in the village and if she was here then trouble would not be to far behind. They had a set schedule everyday since entering the village regardless of the fact of Naruto being there or not. Naruto was not there most of the time, instead he was roaming the village looking for old friends while he left Yahiko and Kaede to look for new ones.
This morning was odd because the fifth was usually there to greet them each morning, it probably had to do with the chuunin exams and the kidnaping of Sakura and Sasuke. Ever since they disappeared Naruto was taking it pretty well in fact he truly had nothing to say about the matter, but they both knew Naruto was waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Kaede, what do you want to do today ?" asked Yahiko. He sat at the table finishing up his breakfast.
"Lets go to the ninja academy," replied Kaede she was sitting waiting for Yahiko to finish eating.
"Ok, but lets take showers first."
"Well no duh, ladies first."
"You're not a lady." She scoffed at his remark and left him at the table by himself. Yahiko cleaned up the table and went to sit down in the living room. A few moments later there was a knock at the door, Yahiko got up slowly and proceeded to the door. He opened it slowly to see a huge man. This man had scars all over his face and he wore a big black coat. The man just stood there and Yahiko was scared, but then he began to smile.
"I am so sorry for scaring you, young man," said the huge scarred man, he held out his hand ready to be shaken. Behind him were two men in masks, Yahiko saw similar men like these two in the field. The men in masks were part of the Anbu. Yahiko shooks his hand slowly and carefully at first and then got more firmer with him.
"It is quite alright sir, I am Yahiko."
"And I am Morino Ibiki, class 5 Anbu interrogator and these are my two associates. May we come in I have a few questions for you and whomever else is here."
"Oh yes of course." Yahiko opened the door all the way and allowed them to enter the home of the fifth. Ibiki sat on a fair-sized sofa chair and the other two were standing guard at the main door. One locked the door and the other stood there. They both nodded to each other and began to walk through the house.
"What in kind of questions do you wish to as me ?" Yahiko glanced off to see one of the anbu heading into the bathroom.
"Normal questions, mainly questions about Uzumaki Naruto and what he knows about Akatsuki." Ibiki's eyebrows rose a little when he spoke of Naruto. Yahiko noticed this and took head of this. This man was dangerous.
"Why do you care about what Naruto knows ?"
"The Council are afraid that he committed treason ." And then one of the Anbu came crashing into the room with Kaede.
"I told you to keep her in the back." Ibiki spoke harshly to the man in the mask.
"Sir, she wouldn't calm down," said the anbu, his voice muffled by the mask. Ibiki suddenly threw a kunai at him and it lodged itself in the man's throat. He fell over dead, blood dripping from the kunai. The other Anbu came running in with a kunai in his hand and before he could throw it a Ibiki, Ibiki struck him down, dead.
Kaede stood in the corner crying at the sight of the dead men on the floor.
"Who are you ?" asked Kaede.
"I am an Anbu interrogator, my name is Morino Ibiki." He put his hands in his pockets and took out a cigarette and a lighter.
"Why did you kill them ? Aren't they your men ?"
"They were traitors. Now enough of the pleasantries lets get down to the business." He turned from the crying Kaede in the corner to Yahiko on the couch.
"Where is the fifth," asked Yahiko, he feared the worst.
"She is away on business, she'll be a few hours, and Naruto well he is off at a friend's house." Ibiki let out a smile. He lit the cigarette and inhaled. " Ahh..that is good. Now Yahiko tell me what Naruto knows about Akatsuki."
"Never."
"We can do this the hard way or the easy way."
"Go to hell ugly."
"Well then, I guess it is the hard way." Ibiki took the cigarette out of his mouth. "Yahiko, your hand." Yahiko just sat there. "Your hand, you little bastard !" Ibiki seized Yahiko's hand and dug the fiery end of the cigarette tip into Yahiko's hand. Yahiko just stared at the man.
"That is just the warm-up." He slowly got up and went over to Kaede. "Well what is it ?" Kaede shook her head "no", Yahiko just sat there looking at the man.
"I guess that is my answer." He took the cigarette and placed it on her neck, he dug it into her neck and let it stood there for about ten seconds. He removed it and there was a dark burn neck on her neck. Kaede let out a little yelp.
"Well I guess this is the game." Ibiki opened his dark jacket and Yahiko and Kaede's eyes grew wide in horror. "You like them ?" Inside his jacket were many small but painful instruments of torture. "Well I think I will begin with Yahiko, how does that sound Miss Kaede ?"
He sat Yahiko down in a chair and tied his hands and feet down tightly. He opened Yahiko's shirt to expose his chest. Ibiki began to lay his instruments down on the table while Kaede just sat there in horror.
"Yahiko, how does electrocution sound ?" Yahiko just sat there. Ibii brought out metal piece of wire. "Or what about some good ole bamboo ?" Yahiko once more just sat there. "Okay maybe a bit of both ?" Yahiko once more just sat there. "Okay a bit of both."
"Each time I ask you something and if you don't tell me what I wan to hear you get a small shock and each time the shock will get worse and worse. Now the bamboo will be inserted in between the skin and finger nails at every other shock. If those don't work I will begin breaking some bones and if that doesn't work I'll move on to Miss Kaede. Now let's begin." Ibiki attached one end of the wire to a charged battery and he switched it on. He tested the power of it on himself, but it only gave off a tiny shock. Right by Ibiki were ten pieces of bamboo that were of equal length and width. And each piece was guaranteed to take off a fingernail. Ibiki began by lighting a cigarette for himself and he had a glass of water on hand, the water was a part of the torture.
"When did Naruto first learn of Akatsuki ?"
No answer. Ibiki applied some water to Yahiko's lower abdomen and put the wire to Yahiko's skin. There was nothing but the sound of Yahiko's cooking and crackling skin.
" Who is a part of Orochimaru's inner circle ?"
No answer. This time Ibiki applied the bamboo and a fingernail on Yahiko's right hand popped off. Yahiko grimaced in pain and Kaede was in shock at how far Ibiki would go.
" When did Naruto learn of the traitor in the Akatsuki ?" There is a traitor in Akatsuki, thought Yahiko. No answer. Ibiki put the wire to his skin again.
"Who is the traitor ?" No answer, another shock this time much worse and another fingernail came. Yahiko bit his lip in pain and began to see droplets of blood run down to his chest.
"How long has the traitor been in the organization ?" No answer and this time Yahiko yelled out in pain. It was only the fourth shock and it is this bad, thought Kaede, but Yahiko doesn't know any of this, none of us know about the traitor except for Naruto. Naruto may not even know.
"Is the traitor working for Orochimaru or is the traitor working for Naruto ?" No answer. Naruto , doesn't know anybody in Akatsuki, thought Kaede. There was another shock and Yahiko let out a huge groan, an yet another fingernail went. Three total were gone, two on his right hand and one on his left.
" Are you going to talk, I am getting tired of this crap ?" Ibiki too a drink of the water and inhaled his cigarette. Yahiko just sat there and the torturer smiled, he put out his cigarette on Yahiko's lower abdomen where all the pain was inflicted. Yahiko let out a big groan and said nothing else.
"Very well lets continue." Ibiki broke one of Yahiko's fingers and the tortured samurai cried out in pain. Ibiki turned to Kaede. "Your turn." When Ibiki turned to Kaede, Yahiko grabbed small dagger from off the table and hid it quickly when Ibiki turned back to him.
"Guess what kiddo, you get a break, your friend is up next." Ibiki picked up the battery and a few pieces of bamboo and walked over to Kaede. He grabbed another chair and tied her down to it. Ibiki returned to his torture devices and secured them in his jacket. He turned back to the tied down Kaede and smiled. He left Yahiko and the young samurai slowly began to cut his ropes.