Chapter 57
Sacrifice: The Reality of Shinobi
Shikamaru stared intensely at the shogi board in front of him, his mind considering every offensive and defensive maneuver he knew to get out of the sticky situation he found himself in. His father sat opposite of him, leisurely sipping from his cup of jasmine herbal tea, patiently awaiting his son's move.
Nothing was going to spook his old man at this stage. Shikaku had his son right where he wanted him.
Shikamaru hated to admit it, but he was running out of moves. Every defense and advancement he made so far was countered expertly. His fakes fell apart. Any reckless attack would be struck down instantly if he went for it.
What a troublesome situation.
To his left, sitting on the couch, was his mother with some novel in her hand as she too sipped from a warm cup of tea. Every so often she peered up from the intricate dance of words to see the progress of their game.
While by no means official, his mother was on a mission, and though usually she wasn't the most patient woman Shikamaru knew—Kurenai held that title, with 'Risu being a close second—this time was different.
His mother, the troublesome woman, decided for him they would train his Shadow techniques today. It wasn't like he was against training; sure he used to be against any effort required activity, but that was before witnessing 'Risu and Mimi's match.
Before the Invasion.
As of late Shikamaru went out of his way to put forward more effort into his training, whether he was training with his team or training at home.
It was all so troublesome, but he couldn't logically justify slacking off anymore. Couldn't claim he was just a support shinobi who would never see frontlines battle. Couldn't brush it off by explaining how the Five Great Nations weren't warring.
During the Invasion he ended up in a solo battle against nine Sound shinobi regardless of his support role—a battle that would have claimed his life without Asuma's timely arrival.
And war found them at home, the place he once believed they were all safest. If it was only his life at risk, he'd probably be more relaxed about it.
But it isn't, he thought. His teammate's lives may one day depend on his ability to think or act faster. Another enemy may breach through to his support line, and if he wasn't strong enough to combat or capture those shinobi then his weakness could doom the lives of his comrades.
The only problem was he planned today just to be an easygoing day. Asuma kept him and his team active with D-rank missions inside the Leaf, helping wherever they could with the recovery efforts, squeezing training in simultaneously. And his dad had been training him in his off time.
Shikamaru could see the incremental growth from his new training. It wasn't an overnight thing that'd make him all-powerful—not that he wanted to be anyway. Being all-powerful would be a drag.
Still, he hoped to relax today. Hadn't he trained hard enough lately to earn a day off?
By his mother's standards he supposed not, troublesome woman. And of course his father had agreed to his wife's plan, being tied to her apron strings as he was.
The young Nara frowned silently at both his lack of options on the shogi board and at how utterly whipped his father was. Well, there goes my day off. How troublesome.
"You win," Shikamaru sighed.
It was a nice thought while it lasted.
While his statement was intended to let his father know he won the game, it was also a quiet tap out to let his mother know she had won her game too.
Well, he did his best to keep the game going as long as he could. But in the end his defeat had always been inevitable. No sense prolonging it.
At this rate, if he continued to struggle pointlessly he'd only end up suffering a far more catastrophic defeat, and probably end up earning further ire from his mother—neither of which he wanted.
It was far better to admit a small defeat here then be handed a devastating loss and punishment that would leave him unable to walk tomorrow.
"All righ—"
Shattering ceramic cut through the quiet of their peaceful home like a paper bomb.
Shikamaru watched the shattered fragments of the cup and the warm tea it once contained fall, his eyes wide as the empty saucer his father had been placing his tea cup on.
"Shikaku!" Yoshino raised her voice.
His father simply stared at his hand with a bewildered look on his face.
He was barely touching it… A familiar twisting feeling began to build up in Shikamaru's gut as he stared at the shattered ceramic, heart beating a little faster in anxiety.
"Yoshino, I didn—"
Another shatter deafened their ears. Yoshino's destroyed cup fell out of her hand.
The entire Nara household went silent as a graveyard.
One cup would have been an accident, but two within seconds of each other? Shikamaru didn't like it. Something very wrong was going on, and the familiar twist in his stomach gave him an idea of who it revolved around.
"Dad, did you see 'Risu when you were out?" he asked as calmly as he could against his slamming heart.
"No, but I met with Kakashi. He was meaning to speak with her today." His father got his feet under him and stood up. "I'll clean up this mess. Shikamaru, could you put the shogi board away?"
"Yeah."
His dad was formulating some kind of plan, that much Shikamaru could tell. He had the same look in his eyes that his son could feel in his entire body—the look of a man needing to find answers.
Shikamaru didn't consider himself the superstitious type; they were usually old ghost stories created by older men, but this incident was a bad omen.
I've got a really bad feeling about this.
While he made quick work of putting the shogi board away, his father busied himself with cleaning up the mess and helping his mother take care of the cut opened on the back of her hand.
When Shikamaru finally finished a knock on the door disturbed their collective troubled silence.
Shikaku moved to answer with Shikamaru and Yoshino hovering close by, both intending to eavesdrop on what may be said.
"Genma? Asuma? What brings you two here?"
"Shikaku…" By his burdened voice alone Shikamaru could tell his Sensei's news was grave.
"…What happened to 'Risu, Asuma?"
"She was kidnapped."
Those three words felt like 'Risu's final punch against Mimi landed in his gut instead. Every bit of air in his lungs departed his body in an instant, his world suddenly spinning and obscured by a terrible fear turned reality.
He didn't even realize he was moving towards the door to demand answers until a gentle hand settled on his shoulder. Shikamaru halted, stunned awake long enough to see his mother there, eyes gazing intensely at the door, features serious but heartbroken.
His mom had been fond of 'Risu ever since she showed up in their lives. Back then Shikamaru attributed his mother's quick attachment to the shy girl to 'Risu's work ethic. But it had always been more than that, he just never saw it. Or he hadn't tried to see it.
'Risu was family. Blood. That old picture of his dad and another Nara woman, the picture Shikamaru remembered seeing as a child but one day vanished without a trace, she was 'Risu's mom. His aunt.
Pieces of a tragic puzzle had been right in front of his nose but he never even realized it.
Shikamaru had never known 'Risu, or Haya Uchiha he supposed was more accurate. Couldn't recall ever meeting his aunt. But his mom and dad had those memories. They mourned 'Risu. They lost her to the massacre, only for her to one day show up on their doorstep without any idea of who she used to be or who they were.
His mother cried a lot that day. He never asked why. Didn't seem like his business, and he assumed someone they knew died, so he did his best to be supportive. But it hadn't been death to bring her to tears; it was a resurrection, to be dramatic.
Their niece was alive…and now she was kidnapped.
Shikaku's hand tightened around the door knob out of sight of Genma and Asuma as he kept the rest of his body impassive. The harsh and awful emotions exploding within him were palpable in that single gesture.
"Kurenai, Atsuko, Guy, Hana Inuzuka and Mimi Inuzuka are tracking her down right now," Asuma explained.
"They're not the only ones," Genma said. "I was on my way to confirm the news with Asuma when I heard Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno were seen racing out of the Village towards the nearest outpost."
"What about Kakashi and Naruto? And who kidnapped 'Risu? You still haven't told me that," Shikaku stated, still patient and calm but trying to skip inconsequential details for the meat of the issue.
Where was 'Risu and who took her?
"I saw Naruto leave with Master Jiraiya before all of this."
"And Kakashi got taken down by a powerful genjutsu." Asuma exhaled a heavy breath. "And Amari…she was taken by Itachi Uchiha."
It was at that moment Shikamaru felt his heart stop. The grip on his shoulder grew tighter.
"No. Not again," his mother whispered to herself.
His father kept quiet for a single beat. Processing it, maybe. Or just to breathe, like Shikamaru.
Then he spoke again. "I see. So, he was targeting 'Risu then?"
"Not exactly. Amari learned Itachi was in the Leaf after Osamu was attacked by Itachi's Crows. She sent Atsuko to find Guy and disobeyed her orders to stay away from the battle. When she found us, we were already in the middle of battling them.
"Amari tried to stay out of sight, hoping she could gather information or rescue us with Shadow Clones if necessary, but the third member of their team found her. When she learned Amari had information on their real target—"
"She became a valuable target as well," his father finished for Asuma. "But who was Itachi working with? You've mentioned them as a group and team now. Are they all rogue shinobi?"
His father's ability to hold it together impressed Shikamaru. He was still seeking out all the details, trying to put the puzzle picture together before acting.
"Itachi had two partners. Kisame Hoshigaki of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was one of them."
"And the other?" Shikaku pressed.
"Aimi Uchiha."
"What?" Shikaku gasped.
"That's exactly what I said when Asuma told me." Genma released a less than humorous laugh. "Man, what a mess. How did her survival slip past us? Didn't we identify the dead to see if more than Sasuke survived?"
"Aimi used to be in the Anbu, and she's skilled with Medical Ninjutsu. If she wanted to leave a fake body behind to fool our shinobi, she could have done it with ease," his dad told them, voice steady but mind sprinting.
Honestly, to hear another name with Uchiha attached to it caught Shikamaru off guard. The fact there were two Uchiha's with bad intentions out there did not ease his rapidly rising unease.
Yet the chief of all of his worry was the whereabouts of his cousin.
Where was she right now? Was she alive? How did she get taken and how close behind were the groups tailing her kidnappers? Could he catch up to them or would he only arrive when all the fighting was over?
"What kind of condition was 'Risu in?" Shikaku asked. "They obviously meant to capture her alive to learn the whereabouts of Naruto. Don't look so surprised, Asuma. It's the only possible conclusion.
"'Risu isn't a social butterfly, and she's not one of the Leaf's spies. If Itachi and Aimi wanted one of the Crows, they wouldn't have wasted time fighting shinobi. They'd have targeted 'Risu from the start and forced her to summon Atsuko to capture her and all the Intel she carries, and none of us would have ever sensed their presence.
"Genma already said Sasuke and Sakura were seen racing to the outpost, so it's clear Itachi and Aimi weren't interested in Sasuke or 'Risu before she became valuable. Kakashi's incapacitated but alive, Kurenai and Guy are tracking her down, you both are here and all the other Genin teams are safe.
"This leaves only Naruto and Master Jiraiya. But truly it can only be the power Naruto holds they're after. For Kisame Hoshigaki, Itachi Uchiha and Aimi Uchiha to team together means their objective isn't small.
"So I ask again: What condition was 'Risu in? Did he use the genjutsu on her mind to incapacitate her?"
Kami, how could his dad even think straight? How could he coordinate all these thoughts and still be as calm as a tranquil lake?
"Besides a few cuts and bruises, according to Mimi she was nearing a deadly dose of chakra exhaustion."
Another punch to the gut. Another squeeze of his heart.
Part of Shikaku's exterior finally cracked. He braced his free hand on the wall, his posture sagging under the weight of the news.
'Risu…you stubborn girl," his father breathed out shakily.
"It's a lot more complicated than it sounds," Asuma continued. "Amari saved our lives, and she injured Itachi severely in the process."
"She what?"
Genma apparently hadn't heard that news yet either.
The burden didn't lift off his father's shoulders. It seemed heavier than ever. "I see."
"Hey, wait a minute, I know Amari is ahead of her peers in talent, but against Itachi Uchiha she'd be lucky to land a single blow," Genma said, baffled. "And you're telling me she severely injured him? How?"
"Mind if we sit down as I explain? My leg isn't in the best shape right now."
Shikaku nodded then looked back at Shikamaru and Yoshino. His wife gave him a silent nod. He turned back to the pair. "All right. Tell me everything."
"Right."
Without another word the three adults moved to sit out on the front porch.
Yoshino gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "She'll be fine Shikamaru. Come, you still have to train even if your father is busy."
Normally the boy would have groaned in response, but he just nodded mutely, unable to trust his voice or mind to say anything.
'Risu…you better come back safe, you troublesome girl.
"Is this going how you imagined it?"
"Perfectly. I…won't…let you…hurt them."
"I see. Then it is only fitting that I use the jutsu you interfered with against Kakashi against you. You have proven yourself worthy of Shisui's warning. I must commend your efforts, even if they are futile. But this is the end for you."
An attack he used on Kakashi?
Jiraiya only had enough time for that thought to cross his mind. Not even a moment after tears began streaming down Amaririsu's sorrow stricken face.
The Toad Sage's eyes widened in alarmed horror. What the hell is he doing to her? Itachi brought his burnt arm up to her face. No! He's going for her eyes already.
Amaririsu's mouth began to move but he couldn't make out her words. To whatever she said Itachi leaned in and whispered something no one could hear except her.
Whatever it was tore apart Amaririsu's heart, he could see that as clearly as the streams of tears cascading down her crimson painted face.
Itachi then leaned away and spoke for all to hear. "Goodbye, Haya."
In a futile attempt to stop him from finishing her off, she grabbed his arm with a weak and trembling hand.
"Amari…" Naruto's shocked voice met Jiraiya's ears as he was formulating a plan to put an end to the three rogue ninjas once and for all.
He couldn't target them one at a time and hope to accomplish anything. Kisame Hoshigaki had terrifying physical prowess; if he tried to battle him one on one, the rogue Mist shinobi would put up a valiant fight that allowed Itachi and Aimi to escape with Naruto and Amaririsu's eyes.
Conversely, if he targeted Aimi, whose abilities he did not know well, or Itachi, he risked the same problem with Kisame or whichever Uchiha he did not attack stealing away their true target.
In this cramped hallway and in this highly populated outpost, only he would be held accountable for loss of civilian life and destruction, not these rogue shinobi.
So, he couldn't risk attacking one at a time, although singling them out would have been preferable. He had to eliminate them all with one powerful move. It was the only way to protect Naruto, Sasuke and Amaririsu now.
"You're dead, Itachi!" Sasuke, finding renewed strength, jolted onto his feet and charged after his brother.
Naruto was right next to him. "Don't you dare touch her anymore!"
Kisame and Aimi were quick to give chase, the kunoichi of the pair vanishing from her original position to obstruct their path in a blink, snatching both foolish boys by their throats and slamming them back first into the floor.
Jiraiya sped through handseals.
"And what do you two hope to accomplish?" she taunted venomously. "Naruto Uzumaki, you held onto your defiance, you spoke of protecting precious Haya no matter what, and yet you stood in cowardice when given the opportunity to spare her from further sacrifice."
Her grip tightened around Naruto's throat, causing him to choke. "You desire to become Hokage, and yet you fail to understand the greatest trait a Hokage must possess. A trait Haya already possesses."
Jiraiya knew of the trait she spoke of, and he hated to admit she was right.
"And you, Sasuke," she hissed, red eyes searing into his. "How the precious little brother of Itachi Uchiha has fallen. So arrogant. So self-centered." Sasuke choked as she cut off his airway. "Did you forget the sacrifice Haya made so quickly? Did you forget the hopeless situation you were in so soon?"
"We'll see about hopeless," Jiraiya said as finished his final handseal and slammed his hands into the floor. Aimi raised her Sharingan eyes up at him, but he wasn't fool enough to meet her eyes. One look and he'd be in a powerful genjutsu.
In a matter of seconds pink flesh turned the walls, floor and roof into the intestinal tract of the powerful Mountain Toad.
This was the end for these three Akatsuki members.
The sticky flesh attached to the pinned boys, holding them in place so neither could be pulled free by Aimi. Simultaneously his jutsu tried to snatch the kunoichi's hands, forcing her to release the boys and hop back out of range, landing next to Kisame.
"Well, this is quite the disturbing and unsanitary jutsu," she muttered.
All eyes wandered around the new environment surrounding them.
"What happened? Where the hell are we?" Naruto was the first to question.
"Ninja Art: Toad Mouth Trap," Jiraiya said.
He commanded the pink flesh to absorb Amari into the wall, out of Itachi's grasps where he could no longer hurt her. However, the Akatsuki members found that the toad stomach was far less friendly to them, trapping their feet to the floor while they were distracted.
The Toad Sage grinned as he looked at the Akatsuki members. "You three have just been swallowed by the Mountain Toad." He couldn't resist saying his next line. "Welcome, my friends, to the belly of the beast!"
Oh yes, he was shining with awesomeness right now! Bask in the power and glory of the one and only Toad Sage, the gallant Master Jiraiya of the Sannin!
"He has a very sensitive digestive tract, so be careful not to upset him," he taunted. "Not the most glorious way to die, is it? It must be humbling to know you'll be digested by a toad."
"Whoa…I'm not liking this at all," the blond said nervously as he looked around.
Luckily the two boys sat frozen in shock, trying not to move in fear of also being digested. "Naruto, Sasuke, stay still." The two let out wordless sounds of question. "Just stay calm. Trust in my jutsu. I'll finish this."
Itachi looked over his shoulder to his partners. "Kisame, Aimi, come."
A blade slipped into Aimi's hand. With Lightning covering it, she cut herself free of the sticky pink flesh. The former Mist ninja ripped his feet loose of the trap and prepared to run but found his blade still held in the grasps of the stomach.
"Easier said than done, Itachi. I think I'd rather be killed by my Shadow than this place."
He pulled his sword free and took off down the hall with Itachi and Aimi. "It's useless!" Jiraiya warned. "No ninja has been born that can survive this powerful stomach!"
Giant mounds of pink flesh under his command chased after the three shinobi, moving to trap them between a wall and the flesh where he could finish them easier. Either way they were done for.
Certainty filled the Sannin. There was no ninja alive who could escape this jutsu.
His brows shot up in surprise when a loud explosion sounded off down the hall. Jiraiya hastily sprinted down to the T-intersection.
"He- hey! Pervy Sage?!"
Awe overcame Jiraiya as he gazed out at the outside world. How is that possible? Black flames surrounded the hole, but there were no flames capable of burning through the Mountain Toad stomach…or so he thought.
"They got away…" Naruto said as he and Sasuke skidded to a stop behind him.
He did the impossible. He broke through the wall.
Cautiously, he approached the wall with the two boys flanking him.
"What is this stuff? Some kind of black fir—"
"Stay away from it!" he warned them both. If it could punch through the stomach of the Mountain Toad, he didn't want to imagine what it could do to fragile human flesh.
The Toad Sage pulled out an empty sealing scroll of his and knelt down in front of the black flames.
Heat stung his eyes just by being close to it.
How did they do it? What technique did they use to escape? He brought his squinted gaze up to the flames. These black flames… To burn the Stone Toad, who has the ability to spit fire itself, that is strong jutsu indeed.
He bet a Mangekyō Sharingan technique. But had it been Itachi or Aimi to use it?
Rolling the scroll open, the Sannin pulled out a brush and black ink to create the Fire Seal. He moved quickly through it, creating the one thing that would be able to get rid of the flames for good.
Once done he moved through another set of handseals.
"Sealing Jutsu: Fire Seal!" He slammed his palm into the ground right below the edge of the paper then, with his free hand, he lightly guided the two boys back.
Blue chakra like vapors were produced by the seal, moving over the flames to then absorb them into the scroll until not a single black flame remained. He rolled the scroll up and tied it tightly; hopefully he would never need it, but he would keep it close in case he did.
"Well, that takes care of that for now," he said as he stood up and put the scroll in his inner jacket pocket. Jiraiya looked back to the wall where Amaririsu had been. "Now for Amaririsu."
The toad stomach slowly began to release her from its grasps. The sight of their teammate left the two boys rushing over to her side.
"Amari!" both called worriedly as they caught her in their arms, or arm in Sasuke's case.
Did he manage to use that jutsu before I could stop them? Stamping his foot on the pink flesh below him, he summoned the rest of the toad stomach to recede until the hallway was back in its natural state.
Naruto and Sasuke were sitting Amaririsu down when Jiraiya joined them. Her fresh tears were finally starting to dry, for whatever that was worth. Her single visible eye was left open, staring blankly into the ground with none of the life in it as he had seen before.
So…I was too late.
"Sasuke, Naruto, Amari!" From the hole created by the Akatsuki members, the pink-haired member of Team Seven rushed into the hall to her teammates. She slid onto her knees next to them and began examining them all to see what state they were in.
The girl looked as if she had run the entire outpost and then a few miles before that; sweat dampened her pink hair visibly and a sheen of sweat covered her entire body.
As she was finally able to take in the state of her fellow kunoichi her voice fell from previous hope to sorrow. "…We were too late."
A kunai suddenly whizzed right past Jiraiya's head and into the far wall on his left.
"What in the blazes!"
Alert once again, the Sannin spun to face the new threat charging right at him from the same hole.
"Dyyyyynammmic—"
"Guy?" Was the only word Jiraiya got out before a kick landed against his cheek.
"Entry! Hehehe!"
Minutes Before
"Their scent leads off down the river, but Amaririsu's scent isn't with them anymore," Hana informed.
Kurenai hummed in acknowledgement, a flutter of hope in her heart. "Then she must be back on the trail Mimi and Guy followed," she said, glancing slightly back towards the populated outpost from the high ground of a rooftop located on the outskirts.
Hana stood up from her crouch, rubbing the heads of her three ninken in gratitude as she did, her eyes narrowed on the river their enemies used to escape. "Master Jiraiya's presence alone may have sent them running after he rescued Amaririsu. You don't move that fast after fighting one of the Sannin; they should either be dead or leaving behind a trail of their own blood."
But they weren't, unfortunately. At least Amari isn't in their possession anymore, she thought, sighing in relief. She was grateful for that.
Flapping wings caught both of their attention. Kurenai lifted her uninjured arm up for Atsuko, who quickly swooped down and took it as her perch. "I can confirm the three Akatsuki no longer possess Young Amari and did not capture Naruto. They've taken to retreating to the border."
"If they were anyone else I'd say we should chase them down and finish them off." Hana crossed her arms over her belly. "But we're hardly prepared for a battle against them. Let's regroup with Guy and Mimi, check the wounded and get them home."
"Let's go," Kurenai agreed.
Next time they battled, she swore she would be ready.
The two kunoichi and Crow traveled back into the outpost, following the trail left behind by the Akatsuki members to their last location before retreat—a hotel which frightened civilians scurried away from.
As they neared Guy, Mimi and Aoko, they heard the exuberant shinobi declare, "Let's end this right now! Follow my lead!" He jumped through the massive hole blown into the concrete hotel and tossed a kunai down the hall.
"Wait, Guy-sensei!" Mimi panicked, reaching for his jumpsuit. Her hand missed him as he bolted forward. "You didn't let me finish! They're not—" She slapped her hands to the sides of her skull. "Ah crap! He's going to get destroyed by one of the Legendary Sannin. How am I going to explain that to Hana and Kurenai-sensei?!"
"Mimi, what's going on?" Hana asked, mildly amused at her little cousin.
"Guy-sensei totally jumped the gun! He's about to—"
"Dyyyyynammmic Entry! Hehehe!"
Mimi slapped a hand to her forehead. "One of the Legendary Sannin just fell prey to the Dynamic Entry." Aoko rumbled, causing Hana to snort. "Yeah, you said it Aoko. I'd be embarrassed too if I were Master Jiraiya."
"Didn't Amaririsu hit you both with a Double Dynamic Entry?" Hana teased knowingly.
"Tha- that's different!" Mimi sputtered. "We were in the heat of battle! And her clones were transformed into kunai so I wouldn't see it coming! Plus I'm still a Genin. He's one of the Legendary Sannin, which should mean he has tons more experience and better reflexes. Whose side are you on anyway?"
Her argument was slowly dying for a cute pout. Even Aoko was ducking her head to sulk.
"Whichever side allows me to tease you," Hana chuckled. Mimi crossed her arms and pouted further. She ruffled her cousin's untamed hair as she moved past her to enter the hallway. "Stop moping. Come on, there's injured to take care of."
"Right," the younger Inuzuka grumbled.
Down at the opposite end of the hall stood Guy, looking as bashful as Kurenai had ever seen the energetic man as he helped pick Jiraiya up off the wooden floor. A trickle of blood trailed out the Sannin's nose, and even at a distance Kurenai could see a bruise already taking form on his cheek.
Ouch. Guy clearly hadn't held back his attack.
Closer to the group but still several strides away were the members of Team Seven, all sitting or kneeling in front of Amari's seated body.
Kurenai's heart jumped into her throat at the sight of her motionless body. The old wounds had closed, the blood completely dried, and yet new blood dripped off her hands onto the floor.
Her chakra was dangerously low, and yet her still body was the cause of her greatest concern. Had Itachi used the Tsukuyomi on her too?
Little one…
Mimi bolted past her. "Amari!" She pushed her way past the three to crouch down in front of Amari, hands immediately glowing green as she placed them over her skull; the young medic's mind clearly reached the same worrying conclusion Kurenai had.
Control over her body came flooding back. She rushed to join the group with Hana and the Haimaru Brothers trailing close behind, kneeling down next to Mimi as quickly as she could. The other three members of Team Seven stepped back to provide room for them.
Her daughter's eye stared emptily at the floor; no light in them, no fire, no spirit. Just…frighteningly empty.
Kurenai grimaced, eyes lowering as the slightest teary fog obscured her vision. I'm so sorry, little one.
"Oh, Young Amari..."
Mimi grit her teeth together in frustration. "Itachi Uchiha, you better pray I don't ever get my hands on you," she growled under her breath.
"The same as Kakashi?" she asked despite knowing in her heart what the answer was. Amari's condition was as clear as a victory in shogi by a Nara over any opponent.
The sapphire eyed kunoichi nodded solemnly. "…I'll heal what injuries I can… I'm sorry Kurenai-sensei. If I was better I'd—"
She rested her hand on Mimi's shoulder. "You have nothing to apologize for, Mimi," she said, shaking her head once. "You are a great medic for your age. Amari wouldn't want you to believe anything less and neither do I."
Mimi wasn't to blame for this. No one present could be blamed, not rightfully. Itachi was responsible for this. He kidnapped Amari. He used the Tsukuyomi on her.
…And she hadn't been able to stop him. That was her burden to shoulder. Not these children, not Master Jiraiya, Hana, Guy or Asuma.
Kurenai released the Inuzuka's shoulder and looked to her daughter. Save for the small rise and fall of her chest signaling her breathing, there was no other life in her. No strength. Not even the smallest twitch of a muscle in a single finger or toe.
Disheartened, the mother wanted to scoop her daughter up in a hug just to hold her close in false hope the warm embrace could change her condition. That somehow she could transfer her life force or her spirit into her daughter to heal her.
Had she truly died, Kurenai would have used any Forbidden Jutsu to sacrifice her life to revive her right then and there.
She relented against her restrained emotional responses. Mimi needed to heal Amari's wounds first. After that she would hold her daughter tightly.
"All right, anyone besides Sasuke injured?" Hana asked Team Seven. "Cuts? Bruises? Anything?"
Kurenai glanced back to see Hana already in the process of healing Sasuke's broken wrist. She met Sasuke's eyes for the briefest moments, but he quickly looked away. Shame. The conflict of emotions within him still raged on, she could feel it, but shame was the newest addition.
"No. They…didn't really attack me, and Sakura arrived after they left," Naruto answered.
Physically unwounded as they were, the teams appearance revealed their spirits hadn't escaped so unscathed. Shattered or bleeding out, their spirits hovered between life and death, barely holding themselves together after the loss of a friend.
"Tried talking you into trading your life for hers, right?"
"Ye- yeah! How'd you know?"
"They'd only just gotten through fighting three of the Leaf's elite, and I doubt Aimi had enough time to heal Itachi's arm completely. Still had intense burns, right?"
"Yeah."
"Makes the most sense to avoid a fight completely when you hold all the cards." Hana dipped her head to Amari. "They had your best friend hostage and they're all S-rank shinobi. You didn't stand a chance in a straight fight against those three," she stated plainly but not callously. "And you wouldn't want to risk them killing her. They probably figured you'd cave instantly, so good work kid for standing your ground. If you had caved they'd have you both right now."
"You…you think they'd have taken Amari too? Even if I went?"
"No doubt about it. Come on, kid, you think they have a sense of honor? That they'd just leave her behind after they lugged her all the way here because you decided to be the martyr?" The wise Inuzuka shook her head. "They'd have either killed her or dragged her along with you."
Naruto didn't say anything after that. He stood in silence, fists slightly shaking.
"I'm sorry. It was a simple mistake, hehehe," Guy apologized to Jiraiya with a nervous laugh.
"More like simple minded!" Jiraiya growled then let out a sigh. "Never mind that. We've got to get Amari to the Medical Corps at once. She's taken a bad beating, and she was knocked out by whatever jutsu Itachi used on her."
"Pervy Sage, Amari is going to be all right, right?" Naruto asked worriedly.
"Mimi?" the Toad Sage prompted.
Mimi didn't take the time to turn around as her green glowing hands moved to heal every wound she could—her bloody hands, the cut on her arm from a Wind jutsu, bruises, etc.
"I can heal her physical wounds, but the jutsu Itachi used on her did the same thing it did to Kakashi-sensei: Extreme psychological damage. It's out of my league."
There was a clinical detachment to her voice, but her hurt and frustrated eyes betrayed it.
"That's all I'll be able to do for your arm here, Sasuke. Make sure you stop by the hospital and take the necessary time off to let it heal properly," Hana said.
Sasuke didn't reply.
"Kurenai-sensei, can you lean her forward please? I need to check her back for injuries from the first fight."
Kurenai nodded and leaned her daughter's body into her chest, holding her there while the Inuzuka checked over her back. She scooped up her daughter's knotted blue hair to lay it over her shoulder out of the medic's way.
You'll be okay, little one. She placed a kiss on the top of Amari's head, shut her eyes and rested her chin gently on her head. We'll find some way to heal your injuries. I promise.
Jiraiya's eyes wandered to Kurenai, a disappointed frown on his lips and feeling he couldn't quite shake. He hadn't wanted this to happen. He hoped, with quick action, he could prevent further damage to this young girl. But he failed.
Her attempt to help was foolish, of course—that was one thing he could agree with Itachi on—but her bravery to risk everything for her teammates couldn't be ignored.
Amaririsu acted with honor. She put the lives of her comrades before herself, in hope that her life was enough to distract at least Itachi. Her calculation was correct.
In the end, he thought solemnly, her sacrifice spurred Naruto and Sasuke to attack, which distracted Aimi and Kisame away from their real threat—me. Without that distraction, the fight could have gotten real messy in this hallway. Sasuke or Naruto may have been extremely hurt during the fight, or one of the Akatsuki members may have been able to grab Naruto and escape while the other two held me here.
However, this victory came at a great cost.
"Wh- why is it always Amari this happens to? Wha- what the hell did she ever do to deserve this?" the knucklehead asked, his voice shaking with anger.
"Nothing. But I will make Itachi pay for this, I swear." Sasuke did a better job at hiding his emotions, but Jiraiya could see the guilt and rage in his body language.
Heh, what do they think they'll be able to do? He cast a look to the defeated kunoichi. She's the best of their class, and she never stood a chance. These kids are no match for the Akatsuki. Not yet.
In time it would change. It had to change. There was no other option for these kids, not while the Akatsuki sought their evil intentions.
"Okay, Pervy Sage. It's time for a new game plan. I admit it, I let those three scare me a little, but that ends now. No more running. After all, it's me they're after, right?" Naruto met his eyes with sudden fiery determination. "Well okay then, it's time I give them what they want!"
"Not alone you're not. Itachi is my duty to kill, not yours," Sasuke said.
Jiraiya's stern eyes burned into the two boys. These fools. Aimi may have been their enemy, but she wasn't wrong in her analysis of their actions.
From his peripherals he saw Sakura's emerald eyes flicker with fire. "You two…you idiots!" she said before he could. It earned her two sharp glares from Naruto and Sasuke. She didn't back down. "Do you think you're the only ones hurting about Amari right now? Stop being so selfish and open your eyes!"
"Calm down, Sakura," Hana coaxed the last bastion of common sense in Team Seven, placing a gentle and soothing hand on the shoulder. Emerald eyes looked up to the older kunoichi, confused but ready to argue her point.
Hana smiled kindly. "Emotions are running high in everyone, even in you. Hurt. Grief. Guilt. Anger. I know how it feels, trust me. I've been there before. But stay levelheaded, for Amaririsu's sake, all right? She needs you to be the balancing point now."
"Listen to Hana, Sakura," Jiraiya stated. "She's right, and so are you. These two are being hotheaded idiots."
Defiant growls and eyes left Sakura for him. Good. He had plenty to say to these two morons.
"Listen to yourselves," he scoffed, "you two honestly believe you stand a chance against even one of those three? Grow up. If Kakashi and Kurenai couldn't defeat them, what hope do you two have?"
Naruto swiped his arm through the air. "So, what? You just expect us to stand here and do nothing when he hurt Amari! We're not just going to sit around and wait for them to hit us again!"
"We're going to kill them with or without your approval," Sasuke agreed.
The Sannin's features and eyes intensified in fury. "Shut your mouths!" They flinched back and looked away. "What do you think Amari was doing? Did that thought ever cross either of your minds?"
These two children so caught up in their emotions, they couldn't see the reality of the situation in front of them—a reality Sakura understood despite not witnessing the battle. And because of their adolescent emotions they were willing to waste their teammates sacrifice.
That above all else infuriated Jiraiya.
Jiraiya pointed to Amaririsu as he picked Naruto to be the first of the two boys he hit with reality. "Look at her! Do you realize the kind of emotional anguish an Uchiha must go through to unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
He eyed the girl with his peripherals. "He must have used that genjutsu to awaken memories of a family member." He returned his eyes to Naruto. "Why don't you stop thinking about yourself and consider for a moment the heartbreak she went through in the last few hours.
"And despite that pain, despite being heavily beaten, exhausted of her chakra and captured, she still used the last of her strength to save you! To protect you from the Akatsuki!"
Naruto flinched and released a grunt of pain and sadness mixed together. His teary eyes fell away from everyone.
"Aimi was right about one thing: each past Hokage has possessed a single trait above physical strength and intelligence. One single trait that Amaririsu displayed today in spades. And I want you to seriously think about what that trait is and why it's so important, Naruto, because it's the only way you'll ever become Hokage."
Jiraiya wasted no time in turning his gaze to Sasuke. "And when your brother pinned his sights on you, Amaririsu risked losing her eyes and her life so he would ignore you. She sacrificed everything for your safety."
Sasuke grit his teeth and shut his eyes at the reminder.
"Don't shut your eyes, Sasuke." His gaze fell on all of the Genin. "And neither should any of you. Look at Amaririsu. Really look at the state she is in."
They did.
"That is the reality we face as shinobi. Friends, comrades and family sacrificing their lives for the people they care for most." Their eyes remained on the fallen kunoichi in the arms of her mother as he continued to speak. "She risked her life to fight a losing battle all to save her precious people. Whether you like it or not, that is the reality you face."
The Toad Sage glared at Naruto and Sasuke. "Yet you two would dishonor that sacrifice by recklessly throwing yourselves at the very people she protected you from. One of you in some sort of foolish sense of bravery to make up for your past fears. The other in a self-centered attempt at redemption.
"Amaririsu, for all her foolishness, knew exactly what she was sacrificing. And she did it for an honorable cause." The Genins met his eyes again. "Vengeance is not that cause. You would do well to remember that."
Switching gears from scolding to a due apology, he turned his eyes to Kurenai, who sat with her eyes closed. "I'm sorry, Kurenai. Had I reacted faster, I would have been able to prevent this from happening."
"You couldn't have done anything, not against a jutsu that happens in a blink," she spoke quietly. "…Shisui told me Amari understood what she was getting into. That she was stubborn," she laughed weakly. "This was…this was her choice. Her path. That's what Amari said.
"I…I think they both knew this was how it would end," she admitted in a shaky voice.
Kami, it hurt to hear that slight waver. The waver of a mother struggling not to cry for her daughter.
Hana knelt down next to her to place a silent and supportive hand on her free shoulder. Sometimes that was all anyone could do. And sometimes just having that little support was enough. He hoped that would hold true here, but…well, he'd seen friends lose family in the past.
Unfortunately, sometimes even the support of friends wasn't enough in times of tragedy.
"But Shisui was certain she would continue walking on her path. And I believe he's right. No matter how hurt she is, my daughter will recover. We'll find a way to heal her wounds, and I'll help her stand strong against any damage that lingers."
"We both will," Atsuko agreed. "This is not the end of Young Amari, but a new starting point. She will recover, and she will become stronger for it. Can't have Mimi Inuzuka beating her again, now can she?"
Mimi chuckled and sniffed but said nothing.
"This Shisui," Jiraiya began, "Itachi mentioned that name. Said something about Amaririsu proving his warning true. Who is he?"
"Her cousin," Kurenai explained. "Before her family died, Amari's mother created a high level space-time fūinjutsu that would activate when or if she ever unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan. She also sealed a portion of Shisui's chakra into the seal so he could explain a great many things to her, and so they could have some time together."
Jiraiya's eyebrows rose. Incredible! Minato, what else did you teach her?
"He was able to stop Amari from falling into the Curse of Hatred. It's…it's hard to explain, but for what he did for Amari and the things he said, I will believe in him. When I return to the Leaf I will tell Shikaku everything he said. If you would like to hear it…"
"I'll talk to Shikaku when I return, don't worry." It sounded like something he needed to hear about, but now wasn't the time for it. Not while Kurenai held her almost completely lifeless daughter's body in her arms.
"Itachi said Amaririsu interfered with the jutsu he hit Kakashi with," the Sannin glanced to Guy, "is his condition any better?"
There was a lot of missing points hidden in the darkness of his ignorance, but those points would come to light eventually. What was important right now was figuring out the state of Team Seven's sensei and what they were going to do about all of this.
"The same as Amaririsu. We don't know when he'll come out of it."
Mimi finished what she could with Amari and stood up, rejoining her cousin, who ruffled her hair. "Don't mope," she said gently. "Use it as motivation to get better. That's what she'd want. It's what I want from you too."
"I will."
Guy's softened eyes lingered on Amaririsu. "There's nothing worse than watching your students fall in battle. It's like…losing little pieces of your soul. What we need is a supreme medical specialist, a master of healing arts, and soon."
He couldn't agree more. Luckily the person they needed to heal the injured was also the person they needed to take up the mantle as Hokage.
"You're right, and the woman you are speaking of is the one we've come to find."
Everyone except Kurenai froze up and stared at him in wonder. The mother with the Crow on her shoulder remained silent, her eyes closed and arms embracing the unconscious blue-haired ninja.
"The…woman?" Guy asked.
Mimi met Jiraiya's eyes with stars in her sapphire eyes. "You're not talking about—"
He grinned. "Yes, that is exactly who I mean. Another of the Legendary Sannin. The Queen of Slugs and Elixirs." His grin grew. "That gambling fool and mistress of the healing arts, Lady Tsunade!"
A full grin made its way onto Mimi's face as Kurenai looked up at the group with a hope filled smile. "Aw, hell yeah! Now that's what I'm talking!"
"You're such a fangirl," Hana teased playfully, jabbing her cousin in the arm. Aoko and the three Haimaru brothers barked in what appeared to be agreement.
Seems you have a fan, Tsunade, Jiraiya smirked.
"If you can get her to come back to the Leaf she could heal Amari, Kakashi-sensei and Lee with ease. I know it," Mimi said enthusiastically.
"That's my plan."
But it's not going to be easy, he thought. You kids don't know it, but she left the Village for a reason, and Tsunade is one stubborn woman. He cringed internally at the memory of a previous beating she gave him. And her super strength is no joke at all.
"Naruto, you'll be coming with me. We should get moving now. The sooner we can find Tsunade, the sooner Amari, Kakashi and your friend Lee can be healed."
"Right," the boy agreed with a nod.
Sakura and Mimi helped place Amari on Kurenai's back before they all left the hotel behind. When they reached the main road they split into two groups, Naruto with Jiraiya and the rest together.
"Master Jiraiya." He met Guy's gaze. "Find Lady Tsunade and bring her back to us—"
"Don't worry, you can count on us!" Naruto declared. "We'll bring her back to the Village in no time."
"Be careful Naruto. Don't do anything too knuckleheaded," said Sakura. Sasuke nodded in silent agreement to his kunoichi teammate's statement.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." He met Kurenai's eyes. "I swear I'll bring back Lady Tsunade to help, Kurenai-sensei."
Kurenai smiled in gratitude. "Thank you, Naruto. Be safe."
Jiraiya couldn't help but smile, chuckle and ruffle the boy's hair for his enthusiasm. It was that kind of energy that would help to bring Tsunade back home.
Probably.
"Naruto." The boy looked in question to Guy. "Nothing impresses me more than guts. Come here, let me give you something." The bushy-browed ninja reached into his vest. "Lee got stronger with this."
Naruto's eyes lit up in excitement. Caution sewed itself in Jiraiya's being, a single brow cocking up as he waited for the reveal. I've got a bad feeling about this.
"What? What is it?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Guy grinned, sunlight gleaming off his teeth as he pulled out a matching green spandex jumpsuit. All save for Naruto and Guy deadpanned in disgust; even Mimi and Aoko were both trying to signal the blond to not take it by waving their hands and shaking their heads behind their sensei.
Eugh. It's hard enough seeing Guy in that outfit all the time. I don't even want to think of Naruto wearing that outfit, let alone see it. Naruto took it with enthusiasm, soon battling Guy in who could grin the widest while the blond mirrored his gesture of a thumbs up.
If you're going to walk around wearing that you should carry a hand mirror.
Eventually the groups parted ways.
Jiraiya set his sights on the horizon, resolved to accomplish his mission. Whether you like it or not Tsunade, Konoha needs you.
Amari groaned as she grabbed her pounding skull and sat up. "Ugh…my head."
"Greetings, Haya." The Shadow user cast her blurry vision up to see Itachi standing before her in his Anbu gear. "It is time for us to train."
Itachi offered her his index and middle finger for the Seal of Reconciliation. Immediately she took it, curling her fingers around his. He used the small grip to heft her up onto her feet.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
He gave her a small, terrifying smirk. "You'll see." He turned around and walked further away from the giant compounds doors with her merged Clan symbols. "Come, Haya." The older Uchiha paused and glanced over his shoulder at her with a prodding smile. "Unless you do not wish to be as great as Shisui."
Troublesome boy, you just had to challenge me didn't you.
Without hesitation, she followed after Itachi.
Review Response to ChillinInKonoha: Yep, Amari has been given important pieces of truth by Itachi. We'll have to see how that changes her and the world around her. Manipulation is sort of the Foundation leaders game, so he won't be above trying to manipulate Amari as well. Let's hope she can see through it. Amari is definitely stubborn enough to ignore Itachi's wish.
More on the other Villages is coming up in the future. All I'll say about that. We'll have to wait and see who trains Amari in the future.
Can't really comment on her eyes and the future of their power without spoiling anything. The dynamic of Shikamaru and Temari later on with Amari around is sure to be fun.
As for Amari's sexuality, yep, she's bisexual. Not so much happening in the future, it's already a present reality. I appreciate you asking; I've wondered if the hints were too subtle or not, but it's nice to know people are picking up on it.
Thank you for the review and hope you enjoy the new update!