Chapter 87
The Fires From Hell: Attack of the Sound Four!
The necrosis afflicting Orochimaru's arms was growing exponentially worse.
Barely a minute in the day elapsed without excruciating agony. It left him in sweats. Screaming bloody murder. Cursing the late Hiruzen Sarutobi for his final deed.
Kabuto had attempted every treatment he could; he crafted medicines to dull pain, explored his vast knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu for a cure—anything that could possibly heal or minimize his master's suffering. Nothing worked. Nothing he was capable of, at least.
No medical shinobi was infallible. Not even one of his genius and extraordinary skill. He possessed blindspots, weaknesses. But he concealed them behind illusions, and spent many waking hours researching textbooks and experimenting on test subjects, all to rid himself of those weaknesses and any possible blindspots.
Had Lady Tsunade taken their offer, perhaps things would be exceedingly different now. Perhaps she could have healed his master. But she didn't. She chose to hang her hat on the Leaf's ridiculous Will of Fire, on Naruto Uzumaki of all people.
I guess this is why they say you shouldn't meet your idols, he mused darkly. You always end up disappointed.
All of their carefully crafted plans fell apart after the Invasion. Meticulous timetables rendered worthless, all because of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
How unfortunate. How unfortunate indeed.
This situation progressed far out of Kabuto's reach. The jutsu the Third Hokage used seemed all but irreversible—Forbidden Jutsu tended to lean towards such high costs more often than not. And despite his immeasurable talents, he was nowhere near as powerful as his master or as talented as Lady Tsunade herself. Not yet, anyway.
He could no more heal his master than he could reverse the failing health of the original vessel he desired.
Poor Kimimaro, he thought with little heart behind it. You were such a willing vessel. Fully prepared to give yourself to Lord Orochimaru.
Then an unknown sickness rendered the vessel useless to Orochimaru. Even after all these years, prolonging his life with medicine to learn the cause, hopeful he may cure the disease in time for his master's desires, the mysterious disease remained unknown. Incurable. Unavoidably fatal.
It was too bad, really. Kimimaro would have been the perfect vessel for his master—no one could have stopped him.
Oh well. Nothing could be done about it now. Kimimaro's disease left him useless. He was more of an interesting research project for Kabuto to run new tests on while he still clung to life.
Orochimaru changed his sights to a new vessel: Sasuke Uchiha. And it was in Sasuke's narrow-minded hands that his master's salvation rested.
Time was running out, however. The necrosis withered his master's patience, and the vessel he currently occupied was at its limit. If he didn't switch vessels soon, Orochimaru's existence, his intelligence, his charisma and strength, would be snuffed out—permanently.
Waiting any longer was no longer possible. Sasuke required a forceful shove to finally submit to his craving for revenge and power. He needed to be reminded of his true goal: Killing Itachi, even if it cost his soul.
However, there was a massive complication. A complication by the name of Amaririsu Yūhi.
A complication Kabuto failed to remove.
Her very existence obstructed their goal. She was a powerful Barrier Ninjutsu, thwarting Orochimaru's attempts to infiltrate and poison Sasuke's mind, burning him when he reached to close to the sun.
Amaririsu Yūhi kept Sasuke chained to the Leaf, playing their little kids game of shinobi. Eliminate her and you eliminate the problem.
Or…
Kabuto smiled maliciously in the candle light of his room.
Or drag her into darkness. Twist her with an ace-in-the-hole and watch as Sasuke followed after her like a loyal pup following his master. Why settle for one vessel when you could also gain a new pawn?
They had everything they needed to bring the two Uchiha's straight to them. The perfect bait. The perfect trap.
The time to strike was now. Soon four of Lord Orochimaru's top agents would descend upon the Leaf and return with the new vessel and perfect pawn. Amaririsu would make for a fine addition to their ranks; an intellectual of her prodigious talents, with the ties she made in the Leaf—oh yes, they would use her to destroy the people and the Village she loved.
When they were done with her, she would hate them all. Hate them with every ounce of her burning Uchiha hatred. And in that hatred she would destroy every last Leaf shinobi, even her Mother Bear.
Kabuto buzzed with enthusiasm for Amaririsu's arrival. Both of them understood the same pain, the same betrayal. And the way she attached herself to others, he could already see them becoming like siblings; he would become the caring older brother and she'd be his smart little sister.
Only if the Sound Four don't screw it up.
If they did, well, he could…persuade a particular agent to go accomplish the mission entrusted to them. And they would not like that. Not one bit.
Failing their master at this key moment meant an unpleasant death.
They better act quickly.
Kabuto smiled vindictively.
For their own sake.
"Hehe! Looks like I win this one, Sasuke," Amari panted, body hunched forward as she braced herself on her knees.
Sasuke sat in the grass in front of her, leaning back on his hands, struggling to catch his breath. He exhaled a short, uneven chuckle. "Guess so."
Sharingan met Sharingan. Sasuke's faded for cool onyx. Amari's followed.
"Your perception is growing," she said. "Your eyes are beginning to keep track of me, even when I Body Flicker at my top speed. You saw through every single afterimage I created, and your reaction time has improved significantly." She inhaled a deep breath. "One more spar like this and I'm positive your Sharingan will advance to three tomoes."
Sasuke nodded. "It'll be nice not to be the one sitting in the grass one of these days."
Amari smirked. "Who said you wouldn't still be sitting in the grass?"
"Hmph," he snorted, the slightest curl of a smile tugging at his lips.
Maturing his Sharingan to three tomoes wouldn't make him invincible. The Sharingan was a single tool in their arsenal and needed to be treated as such; otherwise they'd rely too heavily on their eyes, expecting it to win them every battle when any intelligent opponent could find ways to counter it.
Amari wanted to remind her clan-brother of that but lacked the energy for a lecture. Besides, Sasuke learned the limitations of the Sharingan through his first spar against Lee, and through subsequent spars against her.
Eyes alone didn't win a battle. Even if he could see her, what mattered more was the ability to react quick enough to counter. Without that, he'd lose.
Like he just did.
In the same vein, she could not solely rely on speed to win her the battle. Physical speed alone was not enough. Amari recognized she was not the fastest shinobi—not yet! Rock Lee, for instance, using his Inner Gates would make her appear like an old turtle.
And with Lady Tsunade successfully completing his surgery, I have to be even more prepared for our inevitable duel.
Last time they met, his power and speed outmatched her. One excited mistake saved her from defeat—a mistake she knew Lee would never make again. That wasn't his style.
Being his eternal rival is going to be a drag, she sighed.
One day she'd get Kakashi back for that. Somehow. When she figured out the appropriate punishment.
Amari settled down on the grass. She exhaled a small cloud of condensation and savored the light chill of the breeze against her warm, lightly flushed face. It felt good, how it elegantly entangled into her damp wild mane of blue hair, how it made the beads of sweat trickling down her skin, tickling the nerve-endings, feel colder. The cool blades of grass tickled her palms as she ran her fingers through them.
The afternoon rays of light that had illuminated and warmed the training ground when they first began sparring were mellowing out into an evening glow.
Alone, the two Uchiha sat together—Naruto and Sakura were busy on missions inside the Leaf or taking a breather after a long day. Not them, though.
Despite their apologies and the missions since, an awkward air remained between the two Uchiha. It didn't conflict with their daily interactions, yet when they were alone together there was a certain…tension lingering beneath the surface.
Amari wondered if this was how volatile breakups felt when the two individuals still worked together. They spat their venom, insulted each other and walked away…but the next day they were back at the same job, stuck in a professional environment like a piece of paper cut in half and then awkwardly taped together. And on that paper were the venomous insults written so neither could forget.
This awkwardness between them needed to be sorted out. Amari could barely stand it anymore. She held no grudge against Sasuke, nor did she hold onto the insults he hurled her way. So what was the problem? Why did things feel so different?
The best way to figure it out, to Amari's mind, was a communication of fists. If they went all-out in a spar then neither of them could hide their thoughts or feelings behind an illusion. They couldn't brush it off by saying they were fine.
She was right. The spar did the trick. Already the awkward air lost its clutch over them, and with the Intel she sought acquired, Amari formulated a plan to eliminate it for good.
"You're holding back."
Sasuke cast a confused look her way. "No I wasn't."
Amari shook her head. "Not in the spar. You have questions you want to ask me, but you're holding back, likely because you're afraid it'll devolve into what happened last time."
"Can you blame me?" he sighed. "Last time, the things I said—"
"Things we said," she corrected. "We won't repeat our mistakes, I promise. Whatever is on your mind, whatever you feel, we need to talk about it. None of this is going away soon. We can't ignore it. I can't ignore it. My parents, Shisui," Itachi and Aimi, too, "they sacrificed everything so I could be here. So I could live. So I could carry on their Wills and finish what others started."
Again she shook her head. "But I can't do it alone. That's why…" Amari reached her pointer finger and middle finger forward in the Seal of Reconciliation. "We have to do this together. We have to be honest with each other. Speak openly. Truthfully. Lies and half-truths have shielded our enemies, divided us and obscured our paths."
"Shisui realized his mistake. His attempt to take the burden of the Clan's fate alone cost him his life. But given the chance to continue to hide truths from you, he chose the opposite. He placed his trust and his Will in you; he brought you in instead of pushing you away.
"I've only ever pushed Sasuke away, out of hope I could protect him from darkness through lies and half-truths. But if I had been honest with him from the start, if I only brought him in instead of pushing him away, I wonder what could have been different."
So much could have been different. If Shisui hadn't taken the burden on his shoulders alone, if Itachi had been honest with Sasuke, if the Foundation never existed…how different life would be. How different the world would be.
Honesty—that's where she could start with Sasuke. Itachi tried to protect him through lies; she would empower him with truth, equip him with the necessary tools to lift himself from the shadows into the light. Together they could battle the darkness of the Curse of Hatred and eliminate the threats to the future.
"We'll burn the shadows away. Together."
Sasuke completed the Seal of Reconciliation. "Yeah."
He took a moment to gather his thoughts. She crossed her legs and waited. The Nara could see the gears in his head turning, how the memories she shared left Sasuke unsure of himself.
Like Shisui and Itachi did with her, Amari peeled back the black veil shrouding the truth in lies and ignorance. He lived on the lie. He devoted his waking and sleeping hours to it, only to learn the path he followed was purposefully leading him farther and farther away from reality.
Of course he lashed out. Wouldn't she? Wouldn't anyone? He may as well have found out the tragedy in his life was simple entertainment for a studio audience to delight in, accompanied by a laugh track as he discovered the truth.
What else was a lie then? What other lies were they controlled by? How did they distinguish lies from truth in this world where deceit and subterfuge ruled?
"In your memories," he began slowly, uncertain, nervous, "I saw the night Itachi casted the genjutsu on your mind. His tears, and…and I remembered something from that night. I unlocked my Sharingan and chased Itachi through the district, overcome by my rage and adrenaline. I knocked his headband off before I began to lose consciousness."
Sasuke shut his eyes, jaw tightening. "And right before I passed out Itachi looked at me…not as the murderer, but as my big brother. He looked at me with all of his suffering and regret, and…"
Amari's eye widened. "Itachi's walls crumbled," she realized.
Sasuke nodded his head once, eyes squeezed shut tightly.
"He contained all of his suffering behind a mask of indifference, portrayed himself as a heartless murderer to make you hate him, but…he couldn't maintain it. Not after seeing how much pain he caused you."
"How did I forget that?" he asked rhetorically. "He didn't use a genjutsu to lock away my memories like he did to you. I chose to forget it. I twisted myself into the exact person he wanted me to become!"
Silence fell over them.
"He manipulated me." Betrayal and heartbreak she didn't expect slipped into Sasuke's voice. "Why? To protect this Foundation or Masked Man Shisui told you about? So I would follow a path he could control?"
None of Amari's plans prepared her for Sasuke's own memories to betray the illusion he'd lived for so long.
"…Itachi isn't infallible, Sasuke," she began gently. "He made mistakes. Being a genius or a prodigy doesn't mean you're perfect; it just means people hold you to a higher standard, and when you screw up it's that much greater of a sin. Because a genius isn't supposed to fail.
"However, although I disagree with decisions he made, I wasn't the one stuck in that situation. I don't know how heavy the burden was or the anxiety he felt or if there was a better option available. There are variables and nuances I haven't discovered yet.
"But Itachi wasn't trying to protect the Foundation or the Masked Man. He hoped his actions would protect you."
"By lying to me? By spinning half-truths so I'd never see beyond his version of reality?" Sasuke pressed.
"Was his version of reality so bad?" she countered calmly.
Defeat overcame Sasuke's features.
"I'm not asking you to forgive him or Aimi for their decisions and actions, but don't doubt for a moment that our safety and our lives were always at the center of them."
"…Why us and not our parents?"
The question stole her breath.
Amari shut her eye and exhaled. "You'll destroy yourself with questions like that," she replied quietly. "We can't change what happened or who we lost. We can only move forward—for them. Live for them. Hold the memories in your heart but don't let the memories hold you back."
Neither said a word for an elongated silence.
"This Foundation, what is it really? Where is it? Why does it even exist?" Sasuke asked at length.
"No one has given me concrete answers—Atsuko has kept tight lipped about it. I have theories, though." Sasuke nodded once for her to continue. "I think it's a Black Ops operation. More Black Ops than the Anbu, as in it doesn't exist."
"Not to the regular forces or every day person at least," he followed along.
"Precisely," she nodded. "Kakashi-sensei recognized the name instantly, but the way it struck him…I think it was meant to be disbanded. Maybe before the Massacre. Maybe after."
"So it's in the Leaf then," her clan-brother frowned.
"Wouldn't make sense for it to be a foreign organization," she said with a shake of her head. "Shisui and Kakashi-sensei knew them too intimately. Shisui said the leader believes the only path to peace is through forceful means. Called him an old warmonger, and said he would sacrifice countless lives to reach his ends."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened. He finally reached the conclusion she hit.
"He's behind the Massacre of our Clan, isn't he? Did he order it?"
"Even if he didn't order it, he is still responsible," Amari claimed. "By stealing Shisui's eye he set in motion the events that took place. However…Sasuke, I don't think the Uchiha Clan is completely innocent either."
"What do you mean?"
"As I said last time, Atsuko and Shisui both said the Uchiha lost their way. According to Shisui, they gave into the Curse of Hatred, and when I first talked with Atsuko she said it was not without reason that they lost their way. But their reasons did not excuse the darkness many of them embraced."
"We can all paint ourselves as gallant knights of our own stories, and how easy it is to paint outsiders as atrocious villains who mean to sabotage you, but it takes greater courage to accept your failings and admit to the wrongs you have committed. Remember that, Young Haya."
"Few Uchiha were equally loyal to the Leaf as they were to the Clan, that's what Atsuko told me. Itachi, Aimi, my family, plus some others, were a minority group who sought a peaceful solution to steer the Uchiha Clan from self-destruction."
How much farther did she go? How much of her theory did she tell Sasuke? He was listening intently, but what she believed…what if it spurred another argument? What if it divided them again?
Could Sasuke handle this?
"I…I think the Uchiha Clan were planning…"
Say it. Say it! You're the one who said we have to be truthful with each other. So say it.
"A coup d'état?" Sasuke finished for her. She could only nod. "Why would they?"
Not total disbelief, but not total belief either.
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "It's only a theory, yet it's the only thing that makes sense to me based on what I've learned." She pursed her lips in a frown. "Shisui had a plan to stop it, but then the Foundation leader stole his eye. I still don't get why—"
"Kotoamatsukami is a mind-controlling genjutsu, so subtle you don't even realize you're under its influence."
Realization struck her like a punch from Mimi.
"Shisui planned to use his Mangekyō Sharingan on the leader of the coup," she whispered. "To subtly influence the leader to guide his followers towards peace, either permanently ending all plans or to buy time for a new plan."
Ingenious. The Kotoamatsukami's power only required the person to be in his field of view, and if its power was greater than the Tsukuyomi, then it was likely the ultimate genjutsu.
"He didn't trust what I was going to do. They'll probably come after my left eye, too. Before that happens I want you to have it, Itachi."
Her mind was racing. "But the Foundation leader stole his eye before he could, to gain the power for himself and because he didn't trust Shisui's plan would work." Anger sparked in her heart. "But it would have! The Kotoamatsukami could have stopped everything! The Massacre never would have happened. My parents, Shisui, they'd still be alive if he didn't steal his eye and poison him!"
Tears stung at her eyes. None of this had to happen. None of it! Which could only mean the bastard knew what his actions would cause. He knew the escalation would continue. He planned it, maybe even used Shisui's eye to influence others to follow through with pressuring Itachi and Aimi onto the paths they were on.
Damn him! Damn the entire Foundation!
Sasuke rested a hand on her knee. Her furious and teary eye snapped to his calm onyx eyes.
"Then we'll burn the Foundation to the ground," he stated simply.
She nodded. "Yes, we will."
For the family stolen from her. For the protection of the future. The Foundation would burn.
"And this Masked Man," she added. "This person claiming to be Madara Uchiha, he tried to kill Shisui once to steal his eyes, and swore he would destroy the Uchiha Clan too."
"He missed two of us," Sasuke said dryly.
"That he did," Amari chuckled. She then exhaled a breath. "But this is bigger than us and vengeance, Sasuke. I want to destroy them, I don't deny that. But the Foundation, the Akatsuki, the Masked Man and Orochimaru all pose serious threats to the shinobi world. We can't lose ourselves to the Curse of Hatred; that's the easy path to follow."
"Do you really think this Masked Man is the real Madara Uchiha?"
"Maybe?" She shrugged. "It's not impossible. If there's an immortality Forbidden Jutsu then it could be the real Madara."
"But you don't believe it is."
The kunoichi shook her head. "No. I don't. He's definitely an Uchiha; Shisui said he wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan masterfully. This Masked Man may even be related to the real Madara—could be a grandson around Lady Tsunade's age, or even a great grandchild. Depending on how long they waited to have children could easily change the age of this man to be anywhere between our parents ages and ours."
But that was operating on the assumption he was actually related to Madara. Again, not an impossibility, yet she had nothing to confirm the theory. No DNA test. No side by side picture to compare facial structure. No way to simply ask a man of lies for honest truth.
"Best case scenario," she continued, "he's a rogue Uchiha using the name of Madara Uchiha to instill fear in those who learn it."
"A name won't protect them from us," Sasuke said.
"I can't argue there," Amari giggled.
Talking about this with him was…comforting. The burden of knowing, of carrying these theories and fears and truths without ever sharing them beyond a small circle of trust made her feel separated from everyone. Like she and she alone walked in reality while everyone around her was stuck in an illusion.
Perhaps it wasn't just Sasuke holding back. The secrets she carried made her pull back, too. Afraid he may see her as an enemy. Concerned no one would ever believe her.
To speak about it freely with him, and have Sasuke begin to see the bigger picture, it eased the burden a little. The future was still in danger, of course. Speaking about the threats to an open ear didn't end them, nor did it make them any easier to eliminate.
But at least I'm not alone in this.
Sharing the burden, it wasn't easy. Honestly, Amari empathized with Shisui's attempt to bear it on his own and Itachi's desire to keep Sasuke protected from the truth.
The more people she brought into her circle of trust, the more people she broke the illusion of peace on. She was showing them the darkness encroaching on their borders and within their walls, destroying the sense that the Leaf and the Uchiha Clan—their home and their Clan—could do no wrong and that they would always be safe here.
They weren't safe, though, and the Leaf and Uchiha's weren't without darkness.
Reality was harsh. It pandered to no one. That's why she wished she could do this on her own. If she could change the world on her own, if she could eliminate these threats and protect everyone without anyone ever knowing they existed Amari would. In a heartbeat. Without even thinking about it. But she couldn't. Shisui couldn't. Her parents couldn't. Itachi and Aimi couldn't.
I can't afford to repeat that mistake. I have to build a circle of trust to share this burden and empower my peers and comrades with truth so we can prepare for the battles ahead.
That was her path. And somewhere along the line she'd seek out her dream to be a Jōnin Sensei then eventually settle down to find her peace. All they had to do first was save the future from these substantial threats.
No problem. No sweat. It was only the shinobi world at stake. What could possibly go wrong?
Amari snorted and shook her head.
"Uh-oh. What's that look about?" Sasuke asked humorously.
"Just my troublesome sense of humor," she waved him off. "Let's—"
An unnatural shadow formed over them. Amari's and Sasuke's heads shot up. Floating above them was a large person, their bulging gut betraying the powerful arms they swung back for a strike. And around their waist was a purple rope belt—a mirror of Orochimaru's.
"Rrgghhh!" the man bellowed as he shot towards them.
The ground exploded on impact. Slabs and shards of shattered earth flew through the air. Dirt and dust coated the training field around the area of destruction, obscuring the man within. Amari and Sasuke landed safely in the grass away from the attack, dōjutsu eyes activated, searching for the next strike.
"It was only a matter of time before he sent goons, I suppose," Amari muttered under her breath.
"Yeah," Sasuke agreed with a short nod.
The timing couldn't be worse. Although their talk gave their bodies and chakra time to recover, neither Uchiha was near peak strength after their all-out spar.
The dust settled. The man stared at them with a neutral and disinterested look from within a giant crater his attack cause, the likes of which Amari hadn't ever seen from any average shinobi.
She cast her Byakugan eye around. Three more shinobi, each wearing similar garbs—beige, grey or brown tunics with the large purple rope belts their master wore. It's like they thought it was stylish. Only one wore a Sound shinobi forehead protector, but neither Uchiha needed that to know who they worked for.
Through her dōjutsu she noticed a troubling development.
"Careful, Sasuke. They've all got Curse Marks," she informed for only him to hear.
The designs were different, but the corrupting chakra and its incredible power was practically the same.
He hummed in acknowledgement.
Communication was imperative. If these shinobi were anything like Zaku, Kin and Dosu then they'd be arrogant and attempt to earn Orochimaru's praise by winning on their own. Though worn out, if they kept their teamwork fluid and passed on Intel to one another about their enemies' skill-sets then this battle could become a lot easier.
Easier. Not simple. Not mundane. Less impossible.
Challenging was an appropriate description.
The battlefield was quiet despite the six individuals standing on it. No one uttered a word. Three crimson eyes and one lavender watched the four Sound shinobi intently, looking for the slightest tensing muscle that would signal the next attack, sizing them up on appearance alone for any clues on what their specialty might be.
No tools gave them away like Dosu and Zaku. Did that mean they wouldn't use sound-based attacks? Not necessarily, but Amari had her doubts.
Of the group of four, one definitely had body modifications Amari never believed to be possible. The dark-skinned boy with shaggy black hair tied back in a ponytail had six arms. Six. How was that even possible? He watched the duo with a cocky grin.
Great. Arrogant minions of Orochimaru attacking after a day of training. What a total drag.
Another of the four, who either had body modifications done or a conjoined twin sticking out his back, rested a hand on his hip; the conceited smirk on his face irritated her and increased her desire to punch him in the face. Maybe both faces. His light blue-grey hair was shoulder length, the bangs covering his right eye. He wore green lipstick and a dark-red beaded necklace.
That left the giant who first attacked them. With exception of the Curse Mark he appeared as a normal person, orange eyes with three orange tufts of hair stylized in mohawks. A necklace comprised off red circular pieces separating into long, metallic pieces hung from his neck.
Finally was the fourth member, a fair-skinned kunoichi with a slender build. She was the shortest of the group, however still taller than Sasuke and Amari.
One day she wouldn't be the shortest shinobi on the battlefield…hopefully.
The Sound kunoichi stared at them with impassive brown eyes. Her long, untamed dark-red hair draped down her back, the long bangs separated to frame her face while a third group fell between her eyes. On her head she wore a black hat with pipe like stripes—no doubt the hat was meant to keep her hair in place.
Their appearances alone didn't help Amari glean enough information about their enemies. Who were they? What made them "valuable" to Orochimaru? If he planted Curse Marks on them then there had to be something that interested the sadistic freak.
"So," she began slowly, eyes actively watching her enemies, "you're Lord Orochi-jackasses new playthings."
Sasuke snorted at the insult. The taunt stirred a growl and a sneer from the six-armed shinobi and the conjoined twin shinobi. The towering man and the kunoichi showed no emotion.
Little details about personalities. Two of the four were easily provoked by insults. Massive egos were usually the most fragile, after all.
"Before we get down to business, I'd like to know the names of his new playthings. Or has he just started numbering you? Numbers are better for replaceable pawns."
"Hmph, is she your sister or something, Tayuya? She's got your mouth," the six-armed shinobi said, eyes flicking over to the kunoichi.
That was one name. Three more to go.
Tayuya scoffed. "The trash isn't wrong. A number would be better for a disgusting insect like you."
The six-armed man could have incinerated her with his glare.
"Jeez, do you always have to insult others, Tayuya? It's no wonder you've never had a boyfrie—"
"Shut up, fatso!" Tayuya cut the Tower off.
Amari and Sasuke listened in amused bemusement.
"Team dinners must be fun with these guys," he whispered dryly.
"Fun isn't the word I'd use," she chuckled.
Tayuya, despite Amari's original dissection, seemed to have one of the larger egos of this group, which was saying something. Even the largest of mountains would seem like small hills compared to the egos that towered over these four shinobi.
And if the responses and subsequent silence of the Spider and Tower was anything to go by, this was a norm for the kunoichi. Dominant. Arrogant. Abrasive. Those were traits to exploit in battle. If she fought how she acted then she was bound to make an overconfident mistake.
Especially if she believed the two Uchiha's were trash.
"While listening to you bicker amongst yourselves is nothing short of stimulating," Amari's voice dripped with sarcasm, "I have plenty of other things to do. So who the hell are you?"
"I am Jirōbō of the South Gate," the Tower answered stoically.
"I am Kidōmaru of the West Gate," the Spider followed.
Tayuya huffed impatiently. "Tayuya of the North Gate."
"And I am Sakon of the East Gate. We are the Sound Four," the conjoined Twin said, his smirk back on his lips.
"Never heard of you," Sasuke replied dryly.
Well…that was easier than I thought. I expected a snarky remark about how their names wouldn't matter since we'd be dead in a moment. Her eye narrowed. I figured they'd be here to take Sasuke to Orochimaru.
She wanted to call these four fools to their faces. Ask them if they really thought they infiltrated the Leaf without the Crows knowing they were here. That they weren't gathering forces to battle them off. But to flaunt that information to their faces when they appeared so confident would only help their enemies.
Attacking them out in the open like this? While the sun hadn't even set?
They must believe they're on Itachi's, Aimi's and Kisame's level to attack us so brazenly.
Atsuko or her agents were watching this unfold right now. Of course they could attack these pawns before anything happened but then they'd learn nothing of their abilities. What if one or more escaped the carnage? Knowing the strength and skills of their enemies would help them prepare countermeasures for future battles.
It was up to her and Sasuke to decipher their enemy's techniques or defeat these four outright. Like the battle against the Akatsuki, they had to hold these four here long enough to win or for reinforcements to arrive to eliminate the threat.
Sasuke, she believed, realized this fact too. Their all-out spar put them at a distinct disadvantage against these four. Victory wasn't impossible—entering any battle with a defeatist mindset would lose the battle before it even began. And the battling personalities and egos could work in their favor.
However, looking at this objectively, four of Orochimaru's henchmen powered by Curse Marks could and would make short work of them if they weren't careful.
I'm counting on you and your Crows to find us any reinforcements you can, Atsuko, she thought. We'll hold these four here until then.
"Sasuke, you ready for this?" Amari asked.
"Ready when you are."
"Heh," Sakon chuckled, "don't tell me you two really believe you can take us on."
"There's not a doubt in my mind."
Amari felt the hilt of a kunai press into the palm of her hand, sourced by Sasuke. She smirked and gripped the blade. So that's the move you want to open up with, huh?
"Trash always talks big before their inevitable fall."
"Funny. I was thinking the same thing about you four." Reaching into her pouch, she mirrored her clan-brothers action. Quietly, with sleight of hand these four couldn't see, she slipped a kunai into his hand.
"Couldn't make it in the big leagues on your own power so you have to rely on Orochimaru's," the kunoichi taunted with every bit of Uchiha arrogance she possessed.
Nerves were stabbed. In some way the four reacted, whether it was Tayuya and Jirōbō's brows furrowing in irritation or nasty snarls and clenched fists from Sakon and Kidōmaru.
She found a weakness. Now to exploit it.
"For a split-second Orochimaru thought you four might be worthwhile. Whatever unique traits you possessed intrigued him enough to keep you around. But, like a spoiled child who is given everything he wants, he lost interest in all of you. You weren't new and special anymore, which meant he needed to find the next new thing to hold his interest.
"Now look at you four. Measly puppets sent to retrieve the newest toy, because that's all you're good for. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, meet the Sound Four! Disposed tools of the all-powerful Orochimaru!"
Sasuke's body shook with a laugh. Amari grinned sadistically.
"You introduced yourselves as the Sound Four, like that name even means anything. Like you mean anything. When this is all over no one will even remember you existed."
Sakon growled. "I've had just about enough of your mouth."
"Oh?" she taunted, raising her blade. "Sounds like I've hit a nerve. I'm going to enjoy destroying your superiority complex."
"Do you want to know the first thing I'd do if I joined Orochimaru?" Sasuke asked the group. They didn't reply. He twirled his kunai around on his finger then gripped it so the blade faced the earth. "I'd kill all of you."
"Let's see you try," Kidōmaru replied.
Sakon and Kidōmaru were the first to move physically, but they were already behind by one move. Kidōmaru charged Sasuke, bolting in within two blinks. Sakon was faster, a lot faster. Although farther away from Amari than Kidōmaru was from Sasuke, he still closed the distance between them and moved to strike before his teammate could.
The two Uchiha's didn't spare a word to each other. They reacted. Amari spun on her toes, weaving out of the way of the punch and gripping the arm at the elbow with her free hand. Sasuke jumped and planted his hands on Kidōmaru's back, vaulting over him, kicking Jirōbō in the face as he tried to join in.
Releasing the chakra from her feet, the kunoichi pulled Sakon's arm up with her as she corkscrewed over his head. Simultaneously she spun the kunai around his arm. As soon as she landed she Body Flickered once around the Sound shinobi. In the meantime Sasuke slid between Kidōmaru's legs, quickly moving into a backflip to dodge a heavy strike from Jirōbō.
"Amari!" Sasuke called, throwing his kunai towards her.
She mimicked the action. They caught each other's blade. A single look traded between them signaled their next move: Pulling their arms back.
Sakon and Kidōmaru realized too late what unfolded. Their eyes widened. Light glinted off of the ninja wire loosely surrounding their bodies—one end attached to the hilt of the Uchiha's blades and the other held in their free hands. The tug tightened the sharp wire around their bodies, pinning their arms and legs to their body.
The Nara shot her shadow along the thin shadow created by the wire, ensnaring both enemies in a paralysis they couldn't escape.
"Sasuke, now!" she called, clenching the end of the ninja wire between her teeth. She began weaving another set of handseals, forcing their enemies to do the same.
Sasuke's hands were already in Tiger, the end of the ninja wire held between his teeth.
Fire erupted along the wire, chasing towards Kidōmaru.
Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!
A second trail of fire shot towards Sakon.
"Tayuya, Jirōbō!" Sakon called irritably.
The kunoichi of the team had yet to move.
"Tch!" she hissed out a breath and did nothing. Jirōbō threw two kunai at the Nara.
Lacking any good alternative—because being impaled wasn't an option—Amari released her Shadow, the ninja wire and canceled her Fire Ball Jutsu to dodge back and out of the way.
Tayuya crossed her arms, stubbornly holding her position. At the same time, while Amari slid back on the grass, Jirōbō charged after the Leaf kunoichi. His two male teammates used Substitution Jutsus to escape the ninja wire.
I can't let them separate us. And it doesn't seem like Tayuya's interested in fighting us. Probably thinks it's beneath her.
One giant, muscular arm came slamming towards Amari's center. She threw herself into a back-bend to dodge. Wind whipped over her body, the restrained power of this towering man enough to make her narrow her eye.
You're strength is like an Akimichi's, and by your size I can assume my regular strikes won't cut it. It'd be like punching a wall that punches back.
She braced her weight onto her hands, lifted her legs and kicked him in his gut, releasing chakra from her feet as she did. Jirōbō grunted in what sounded like annoyance instead of pain. He stumbled back.
Progress!
Amari used the momentum to twist herself back onto her feet.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two clones bolted out of their clouds with the original right on their tail. The first clone flew in feet first, kicking Jirōbō again in his bulging gut, causing him to bend over at his waist like a bent sword. The real Amari leapfrogged her sister and used her enemy's head as a springboard.
"You little pest!" her enemy rumbled, turning around to face his true enemy.
"Don't ignore us, you giant freak!" the two clone's said in unison.
The second clone's foot landed a blow to his jaw. Jirōbō swung upright and howled in pain as the first impaled a kunai into his shoulder.
They'll keep him busy, at least for a little while.
Sasuke was caught in the midst of fighting Kidōmaru, the latter of which had a few new minor burns singing his clothes and marking his skin. Tayuya hadn't moved. If anything she looked annoyed at her allies for this fight still going on.
I'll need to keep an eye on her, Amari thought, dashing through the grass towards her teammate. She could be their trump card.
Before the Nara could reach her clansman she was forced to hit the brakes—Sakon cut her off. A sadistic and cocky smirk formed on his lips.
"Going somewhere, Leaf trash?"
"Yeah. Right through you."
He glanced to his kunoichi teammate. "What's wrong, Tayuya? You don't want to join the fun?"
"What? Can't take me on your own?" Amari prodded his ego. "For someone who likes to boast so much it's embarrassing that you have to ask your teammate for help."
"Hmph," Tayuya huffed in…agreement? Didn't matter. In the end she'd meet the same fate.
Sakon growled. "I'll wring your neck."
Amari smirked, locking her red eye with his. "And how do you plan to do that…"
Demonic Dragon: Darkness Flames!
The earth trembled beneath Sakon's feet. A looming shadow fell over him as the cold claws of her demonic dragon clutched his body, digging their sharp talons into his flesh.
"When you're burning alive."
Black flames ignited at his feet. Sakon wiggled around, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as fear crept into his eyes. The black flames suddenly, violently, engulfed him. He began screaming awfully.
The Uchiha left Sakon behind, wailing in an illusion he'd need a comrade to break him out of.
Tayuya seemed even more annoyed. Also darkly amused. No smile betrayed her impassive features, but the glint in her eyes told a different story.
You don't care about your comrades lives, do you?
It shouldn't have surprised her.
The wails of Sakon distracted Kidōmaru for the briefest moment—a moment which Sasuke used to catch his enemy with a stiff kick to the face.
At that moment, Amari sensed a sudden shift in Sakon's chakra. The genjutsu, it had been released. She began to pivot on her toe to face him again.
How did he—
She never finished her thought. Sakon was already on her, fist slamming into her vulnerable and open side. Not just one strike, but three within a single second. Amari grimaced and threw a counter-punch in an opening. Somehow, despite his hands never moving to block it, her blow never landed.
Her body was too open and her footing barely stable. Seizing the opportunity, her enemy struck, fists raining blows in triplets to her center mass, losing none of their strength despite their nearly imperceptible speed.
Sakon jumped up and slammed his foot into her chest, the power of the blow tumbling her across the field of grass like a ball down the side of a steep mountain. A body caught her and jumped. Even without her eyes or sensory abilities she knew it was Sasuke—too gentle to be an enemy.
"How's it going on your side?" Sasuke asked as they landed.
"Careful of Sakon. He has a second person inside him," she warned through deep breaths, wincing.
"What?"
"It was hard to see, even with my eyes, but that body sticking out of his back isn't just a sleeping conjoined twin. I don't know if it's a kekkei genkai or more of Orochimaru's messed up experiments, but that second person broke Sakon out of one of my genjutsu's and blocked a punch that would have sent Sakon flying."
Amari inhaled another breath. Winced again. Then continued to speak.
"During those attacks he landed on me I was able to see two other arms joining his punches. So either I'm seeing triple, or his twin is attacking from within Sakon's body."
"Thanks for the warning. Do you have any good news?"
"We're alive?" she asked with a forced laugh.
"Heh," Sasuke chuckled.
They didn't get another moment's breath of respite. Kidōmaru, Sakon and Jirōbō—who finally finished off her two clones—charged them again.
Round two had officially begun, and of the group only Sasuke and Amari were showing signs of deterioration. Slower movements left them more open for strikes; tired strikes weren't backed up by their usual force, barely leaving bruise; jutsus they may have used to even the odds weren't as readily available because of their low chakra.
An indisputable victory was no longer an option. Survival and teamwork were all that mattered. They stuck together, covering tired openings, working in synchronicity to keep these powerful enemies at bay as long as they could.
The Sound Four may be tools of Orochimaru but Sakon, Jirōbō and Kidōmaru were without a doubt Jōnin leveled. Their arrogance and sadism kept them from putting the two Uchiha down in their weaker states. These fools provided opportunities a true shinobi never would have given their enemy, regardless of age or skill level.
It'd be their ultimate undoing one day. Maybe not in this battle. Maybe not against her and Sasuke. But someday their egos and desire to toy with their enemies would get them killed.
"You're beginning to slow down," Kidōmaru taunted Amari. "Look at you. You can barely catch your breath."
He and Sakon switched on me, Amari thought, frustrated. Sakon realized my eyes were acclimatizing to his speed and twin's strikes. She glanced in her Byakugan to Sasuke. And Sasuke's eyes can't keep up.
This battle was falling out of her control. Sasuke was holding his own well enough, but every blow Sakon and his twin landed slowed him down. Just a little longer. We just have to hold them here a little longer.
"Don't flatter yourself," Amari panted, kunais held in her hands. Her arms ached. Her legs were filled with lead. "Despite our spar depriving us of most of our energy, you and your buddies haven't been able to put us down yet. That says more about your weaknesses than it does about us."
Kidōmaru's nostrils flared. Then he smiled. "Fine. We'll finish this now!"
Jirōbō launched at her first. Although she was slowing down, she hadn't become slow enough to be caught by the brute. Amari hopped back out of range of his strike, skipping back on the grass, planting her feet and sending chakra throughout her body.
The Uchiha Body Flickered, sliding between the giants legs and cutting his ankles. Jirōbō grunted and tried not to topple over. Springing onto her feet, she jumped and impaled both kunais into the giant's back.
The scene of a small girl hanging onto a roaring giant's back could have been amusing in a different circumstance.
Amari pressed her feet into his lower back and catapulted off of him, towards Kidōmaru, pulling the bloodied kunai knives with her. She landed in a roll on the grass, moving smoothly and swiftly back onto her feet as she prepared to Body Flicker at her second enemy. Kidōmaru's neck was extended back, as if preparing to spit. Which he did.
His spit, however, didn't come out. Instead a spiders web flew from his lips—web her dōjutsu eyes noticed had chakra running throughout it.
The body of Amari burst into Crows, flying up into the sky out of range of the attack where she began to reform. Kidōmaru looked up at her with a vindictive smile.
"Game over, trash."
Jirōbō's massive frame and chakra appeared behind her. Amari didn't react fast enough. A giant fist slammed into her body, shooting her down into the earth in an explosion of destroyed earth.
The giant landed on top of her. Blood flew out of her mouth with a final cry of agony before everything went black.
"Kimimaro would have made a better vessel than you," Sakon scorned Sasuke.
Sasuke, dazed, head throbbing, could only listen as he was pinned chest first to the ground by the Sound shinobi.
"You haven't even tried to use Lord Orochimaru's gift on us. You think you'll ever gain the strength necessary to destroy Itachi if you stay in this mediocre Village playing shinobi?"
"I…don't…need his power," he ground out
He'd fight Itachi with his own strength, with his own power, with his own convictions. He didn't need Orochimaru's so-called gift. He wouldn't let anyone else obscure his path in lies and darkness ever again!
"Have you forgotten your purpose so easily? It's that annoying little pest over there, isn't it? She's distracted you from what really matters. She's made you believe the Leaf and these worthless people that inhabit it are good people. That they never committed any sins. Yet you've never questioned if they knew what Itachi was going to do."
No, he hadn't. But he knew now. He knew the leader of the Foundation was responsible for the massacre of his Clan, and he and Amari resolved to burn it to the ground. And Amari hadn't distracted him from what really mattered. Unlike his brother, Aimi and even his father, Amari didn't hide truth from him. She didn't try to obscure his path and twist him.
Amari presented him with truth. She opened his eyes. She was the one to reach out to him and pull him away from the path he'd been manipulated into following.
Something this idiot would never understand. So why waste his breath arguing when he could let him believe he was getting in his head?
"What would you know about it, huh?" he shot back.
His onyx eyes gazed out to Amari, worry threaded into his heart as he tried to squirm free. That giant freak was still sitting on her. Tayuya was crouched next to her inert form. Was she getting the same boring speech?
Good luck convincing her, he thought cheekily.
"Lord Orochimaru knows more than you realize. He even has a little present for her, and once she learns what is waiting for her she'll come join us without second thought. It's inevitable."
Sasuke didn't like the sound of that. That wasn't just the usual arrogance. There was unnerving certainty in his voice.
"And I'd advise you to join her when she does, because this Curse Mark Lord Orochimaru has gifted with you is incomplete. Imagine all of its power without the painful drawbacks of the first stage. You would be on an entirely different level than you are now."
"All for the cost of my soul, right?" Sasuke spat.
"What's one soul to the avenged souls of your entire Clan? All great power costs something. If you linger in this Village you'll be a mediocre shinobi at best. But if you join Lord Orochimaru—"
"You fat idiot!" Tayuya screamed. "You killed her!"
Sasuke's heart jumped into his throat. Tayuya looked absolutely beside herself with fury.
It's a trick, his heart told him. They're just trying to trick you.
"I didn't mean to," Jirōbō replied, stepping off of Amari. "I was just trying to keep her down."
Sakon hissed. "Kidōmaru, is this some kind of joke?"
Kidōmaru, who crouched next to Amari's body, shook his head. "No. Tayuya checked her pulse—she's done."
Sasuke could see Amari. She wasn't moving. Her hands laid limply on the ground, the blades she once held settled at an askew angle as they balanced on her palms and the dirt.
No…
Sasuke squirmed harder, reaching out with his one free hand to try to crawl forward. Towards his clan-sister. Towards Amari.
"This gluttonous idiot crushed the life out of her!" Tayuya seethed. "Do you know what Lord Orochimaru is going to do when he finds out you killed her?!"
"Our orders were clear, Jirōbō," Sakon stated. "You've jeopardized the entire plan!"
No…
Sasuke felt his breathing grow erratic. It couldn't be. She couldn't be dead. Any moment now she'd spring up or reveal her Substitution Jutsu…
…Only she didn't. Every painfully long second that ticked by proved the body in the crater was the real Amari.
Not like this, Sasuke begged, fingers curling into the dirt as he tried in futility to crawl from underneath Sakon's grip. Please. Amari. Just get up! Breathe! Come on!
Nothing changed. No matter how much he mentally begged. No matter how hard he tried to will her to live, nothing changed.
Tears stung at Sasuke's eyes. "Amari…"
Her bright smile, her giggle, her warmth, all of it extinguished by these bastards. He could already feel himself growing cold. Feeling empty.
Don't leave me behind like this.
He couldn't save her.
He couldn't protect her.
…I'm sorry…
"Argh! Just take her eyes then," Sakon seethed. "We don't have time to lug around her body."
Sasuke stiffened.
…No…
Fire ignited in his heart.
No. No. No. No.
He wouldn't watch them desecrate his clan-sister's body! He wouldn't let them steal her eyes!
No. No. No. NO!
Blades began to stab at Sasuke's eyes. His breathing grew more erratic by the second.
This was not how this ended. This was not how Amari was going to die. Not to these nobody scumbags. Not when she still had dreams to attain.
He failed to protect her one time too many. This time…This time he wouldn't fail!
"Get…" the word was ground out through a trembling voice.
"Stop squirming you little pest," Sakon chastised.
He couldn't stop. Blades cut and clawed at his eyes, it made his entire body tremble as warm tears cascaded over.
Amari…I won't let you die like this. I won't lose you too! For everyone who cares about you, for your family…for everything you've given me…
Every last scrap of chakra he possessed pooled into his eyes.
I will save you!
The blades plunged through his eyes, forcing them to widen.
Crimson pinwheels took shape.
"Get the hell away from her!" he roared.
He locked his gaze on Jirōbō first. The one who stole her life so callously. The one reaching down to take Amari's eyes.
Chakra pooled unconsciously into his left eye.
Amaterasu!
Black flames from the darkest pits of hell erupted to life on Jirōbō's left arm—the arm reaching for her face. The giant stumbled back and away from Amari, wailing horrifically in agony, screaming bloody murder. Wanting to pat the flames out, but somehow knowing, instinctively feeling that if he touched them with his other hand, it'd be consumed by this hellish flame, too.
His flesh began to disintegrate, to melt and peel away within mere milliseconds of the flame coming into contact with his arm.
Subconsciously Sasuke recognized the black flames from their encounter with Itachi, the same flames that burnt straight through the stomach of the Mountain Toad.
Kidōmaru was quick to sever the burning limb above the elbow. The burning appendage began to burn the grass, too. No blood poured from his stub—the flames of the Amaterasu cauterized the wound.
The crimson fire in his left eye faded for onyx once more, but the right continued to burn.
"Touch another hair on her head and I'll kill you all!"
Sasuke acted on his own instinct, with the strange evolutionary gut feeling that somehow knew how to attack with the flame that had disintegrated the severed arm. He locked his right eye on it, felt the profound power surging into the organ, persevered through the blades cutting at it.
He knew what to do, and with it the name of the attack jumped from that evolutionary gut feeling into something tangible.
Inferno Style: Flame Control!
The black flames shot out across the grass, controlled by the Uchiha, chasing the three Sound shinobi away from his clan-sister. A halo of black fire encircled protectively around her body.
None would pass it, he promised himself. He'd burn them all away.
Panting heavily, he maintained his view on the flames of the Amaterasu, forcing the power in his left eye to stay active. Something warm, not a tear, but another liquid poured from the eye.
He could control it. He could use these flames to set them all ablaze and make them suffer.
Sakon stiffened above him. Against his will his body was forcefully tugged off of the Uchiha, by a different jutsu.
A Nara Clan jutsu.
"Atsuko, take 'Risu to the hospital immediately. I'll take care of Sasuke," Shikaku Nara's voice entered the battlefield.
The Uchiha caught the sight of Atsuko diving down into the ring of fire, landing on Amari and bursting into Crows. The flock dispersed into the sky faster than he'd ever seen them move before.
She's safe…
As the crimson right eye faded for onyx, and consciousness began to leave his grasp, the flames of the Amaterasu died.
Amari…I'm sorry.
The last thing Sasuke felt was someone picking him up, and then all faded to black.
Shikaku hefted Sasuke's unconscious body onto his shoulder and cast a glance to his wife, currently binding the blue-grey-haired Sound shinobi in the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu.
It'd been years since he'd seen her don a shinobi uniform, since he'd seen her with that fierce expression she wore in battle, but Yoshino hadn't lost her edge at all.
"Ninja Art: Shadow Stitching Jutsu!"
Sharp tendrils of Yoshino's Shadow speared and threaded themselves through the flesh and limbs of their enemy, then attached themselves to the earth. The enemy shinobi grunted in pain but couldn't move.
His wife hadn't lost her talent for sewing, either.
Not that he expected her to lose either her edge or her talent. Once an individual lived life as a shinobi, that edge, that ability to switch from a relaxed state to combat ready never truly left you.
Shikaku glanced to the departing Crows.
'Risu…
Something gnawed at his gut. A seasoned shinobi's bad premonition, if you will. But 'Risu was in Atsuko's care, being flown far away from danger. Atsuko will ensure 'Risu is taken care of. It's up to us to protect Sasuke and eliminate these shinobi, or drive them out of the Leaf.
The veteran drew his eyes to the uncaptured three, sizing them up, eyeing their position on the battlefield and formulating several strategies to combat them.
Of the trio, only the kunoichi appeared on the verge of bursting several blood vessels in frustration. She glared at her teammates, each with varying levels of intensity, to pin varying amounts of blame for their failure, he assumed. If he were to guess on her fiery glares alone, the Tower and the captured shinobi were most responsible.
The Spider, ignorantly, eyed them with intense exhilaration, eager to fight him and his wife—a battle which would end his life, if he misjudged them to be weaklings or fools.
The Tower was resilient, he'd give the stranger that. To still be standing despite losing an arm took strength of will. Though he barely seemed aware of his surroundings—shock, no doubt.
Looks like we made it just in time.
'Risu and Sasuke did well to hold them here as long as they managed, definitely after what was likely an intense afternoon of sparring. It hinted at one of two possibilities: Either these pawns of Orochimaru were weak, or they decided to toy with the two Uchiha's, ignorantly operating under the assumption no Leaf shinobi could possibly stop them.
For the Nara to believe the former was too dangerous. By the reports from the Invasion, these four were the shinobi to encase Lord Third and Orochimaru in a Barrier Ninjutsu; their appearances matched the description Raidō Namiashi—one member of the Hokage Guard—and the Anbu provided.
That made the second possibility all the more likely. The fools, no wonder their kunoichi teammate kept shooting her teammates quite the nasty glares. They wasted precious time on pointlessly playing with their food, when they should have wolfed it down while no one was looking.
It was good fortune he and his wife were in the midst of discussing the latest news on the Hidden Stone's movements with Atsuko when her agent arrived, informing them of the Sound shinobi infiltration and the Uchiha's deteriorating conditions.
Shikamaru asked to join them, but the elder Nara had a feeling they'd be needing his son's new promotion after they settled this battle. Another seasoned shinobi's gut feeling.
"Rest while you can, Shikamaru. You'll be needed soon," he told him before departing with Yoshino to the battlefield.
There's spider web on the ground over there, he analyzed then flicked his eye to the six-armed shinobi. You're jutsu, no doubt, if the additional arms are anything to judge by. The crater belonged to the Tower, which left the shinobi Yoshino captured and the kunoichi. Unknowns, for now.
"Orochimaru grew impatient, I see," Shikaku said out loud. "The necrosis of the Reaper Death Seal must be terrible."
No sympathy for the traitor. Just facts.
"Sasuke will be his salvation," the blue-grey-haired shinobi stated.
"And what is Amaririsu to him? Another pawn?" Yoshino demanded.
"An unfortunate casualty," the Spider replied.
Shikaku's gut twisted, but he ignored it. First he had to deal with these shinobi. Then he'd worry about his niece.
"Kidōmaru, Tayuya, Jirōbō, let's retreat," the captured shinobi said. "We'll deal with Jirōbō's arm and wait for Sasuke to come to us. If he hasn't arrived by midnight we'll just start killing the Leaf's hopeless citizens until they give him up themselves."
So, he was the leader of this group. And he only said his plan out loud so they'd know what the consequences would be if Sasuke did not leave the Leaf. An interesting tactic.
Flame-colored marks began to spread over the leader from behind his parted hair.
A Curse Mark?
Shikaku Body Flickered to his wife and prepared his Shadow to attack. The power of the Curse Mark snapped the Shadow Stitching Jutsu and Paralysis off within seconds. Yoshino grunted as her Shadow slunk back to her.
The leader, free of the jutsu, vanished with his four teammates.
"Yoshino, are you all right?"
"Yes. The power of his Curse Mark cannot be underestimated in the next battle. I haven't felt intense power like that in many years."
"We'll make sure it isn't. It's too bad they escaped, but we've gained some Intel. No doubt Sasuke and 'Risu have more to tell us. That'll help."
"…Shikaku…do you think they—"
"No," he stated firmly for both of them. "Come on, let's get Sasuke to the hospital and check on 'Risu."
He had a feeling everyone's day was about to get more troublesome.
Review Response to Guest: Yep, she went to the My Hero Academia world. I doubt I'll have her or anyone interact with any Canon universe, instead have them or her go to possible alternate universes or reality later on.
I won't write a separate fiction for when she travels to different universes, mainly because they'll all end up in this story. The My Hero Academia visit was initially going to be written chronologically before the events of this arc, as it happened in the story, but I decided to save it for after this big arc as a sort of decompression from the upcoming events.
Yep, Kakashi has Naruto and Sakura learning their Nature's now. But Rasenshuriken isn't going to happen pre time-skip, mostly because he used a lot more Clones to learn it as fast as he did in Shippuden. He has Naruto only using five Clones instead of ten or more because he knew he would be leaving soon, which meant he wouldn't be able to monitor Naruto personally, and without Tenzo/Yamato there to use Wood Style to restrain him if he did lose control of the Nine-Tails, Kakashi chose to be cautious.
I haven't made a concrete decision on Sage mode yet.
Thank you for the review!