Chapter 93
Reunions: Friendship, Brotherhood and Hatred
When consciousness returned to Sasuke, he felt it.
Power. Darkness. Malice. Insanity.
The Curse Mark's evolution, forced upon him by the Sound Four, had finally reached completion. He hovered somewhere between life and death, suspended in a man-made purgatory, wholly oblivious to the battles waged on his behalf.
He remembered feeling cold. Alone. Isolated.
There was only a void of darkness. A void of nothingness. Nothing except the venomous power coursing through his veins. Nothing except the inescapable darkness.
The malicious insanity sewed itself into his flesh, branded him much like the black mark at the base of his neck. He called out into void, yelled out for anyone who may hear his voice and pull him from this darkness. But only the whispers called back.
He'd finally collected the power he once sought, they cooed menacingly to him. This power could destroy Itachi one day. With it, he could avenge his Clan as he always planned to do.
What was his soul when compared to the righteous retribution his Clan deserved?
Orochimaru could grant him his greatest desires. Why stay in the Leaf, playing by their rules, as nothing more than a good little pawn to their schemes, distracted by unnecessary connections and pointless missions when he could be so much more.
More. The thirst for more, more, more! Sasuke sensed the foreign nature of the desire; it did not belong to him. Whoever it belonged to, it was an obsessive hunger—insatiable. Nothing would ever satisfy its gluttonous appetite. Nothing. How could it be satisfied when there was so much more to acquire.
He was subjected to the whispering voices for what could have easily been decades. He felt their blatant attempts to influence his heart, to erase and reform his image in the likeness of a viper; the obscure promises sought weaknesses to corrupt, planting seeds of doubt they hoped might twist his mind and heart against him.
Eventually, inevitably, it reached a breaking point. A loud one. Sasuke's eyes shot open in the darkness and, with a mildly insane roar, he unleashed the power that made every inch of his body itch.
An explosion rippled outwards, bright and ear piercing. But the darkness he'd been imprisoned in broke beneath afternoon sunlight.
Sasuke tilted his head to the sky and shut his eyes. Crisp air danced over his warm skin, rustled his hair; hair that had become longer, he noticed, brushing along the middle of his back rather than his shoulders.
He stood as a statue in a field of grass. The power of the mark, it irradiated through every molecule in his body. From head to toe he felt different. Stronger. That annoyed him. Before recent events, how he attained power wouldn't have bothered him, so long as it allowed him to complete his goal. He would've done anything, even at the cost of his soul.
However, this power did not belong to him. This power wasn't his. He hadn't earned this power on his own, the way his brother had earned his. This was Orochimaru's power, his "gift" and Sasuke's curse. Tainted power he had been infected with, his choice stolen by a man obsessed—addicted—with the power of his Clan and his family.
At the same time, in his mild insanity, Sasuke felt himself grin at the sky. Because no matter how tainted this power was, no matter the source, it still felt…good!
Sasuke opened his eyes and looked down at his hands. Even the complexion of his skin had changed, mirroring graphite.
So, this was the second stage Curse Mark transformation those annoying little pawns boasted about. They were so enamored by it, and themselves, it was almost sickening.
How pathetic of them to need to rely so heavily on a power that wasn't their own. But him, he could use this Mark as just another tool in his arsenal to boost his power and ascend to heights no Uchiha had risen to. He only needed to follow this Mark to its owner and he would become a shinobi unlike any other!
"Hey, Sasuke! Finally done taking a nap while we do all the work!"
Sasuke inhaled sharply. Naruto…
"Of course I care! We all do! You're our friend, our comrade! And this Orochimaru guy, argh! That sick freak just wants to wear you or Amari like a new pair of shoes! And I just have to sit back while you put yourself at risk!"
Ignore him, the Mark demanded. He didn't matter. More pointless connections. Just a useless distraction holding him back.
"I can't stand the thought of just sitting home while you're in the most danger."
Bonds, connections, a true shinobi didn't need them. An Uchiha didn't need them. Killing Itachi was all that mattered. Had he so easily forgotten that night? Had he forgotten the corpses of his parents, their bodies lying on top of each other, blood pooling beneath them? Had he forgotten the torture of the Tsukuyomi?
"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."
Sasuke's breath halted, eyes closing. Amari…
He envisioned himself on the edge of a cliff. Ahead, an endless horizon of darkness. No distinguishable shapes. No tiny embers or flickers of light. An empty void with an allure he could not entirely deny the draw of.
Slimy, cold tendrils of darkness wrapped around his entire body, embraced him; they pulled him closer and closer to the edge. They covered him from his neck down, inescapable, and in the darkness he could see those snake eyes he could never forget.
You only want to turn me into your pawn, he thought. You're envious of the Sharingan and the strength of the Uchiha, and because you lacked the power to steal my brother's body, you targeted me instead. Because you believed I was weaker willed.
The shadows hissed at him.
You try to twist me with your lies and half-truths. I admit, before I met her I would've eaten it right out of the palm of your hand. I would've sacrificed my soul to complete my old objective. But I have a new objective now.
He could feel the slimy tendrils of darkness climbing up his face. Sasuke maintained his cool. He did not move or twitch a single muscle, nor did he try to tear the tendrils off in a fit of panic.
And you've underestimated me for the last time. I don't need you for my new objective. I've never needed your power.
Sasuke heard the screech of disbelief echo from within the void as he halted against the pull of darkness. His heels dug into the earth. An ethereal scarred hand rested on his shoulder, and the slime began to writhe and screech in rage and agony.
"We'll burn the shadows away. Together." Amari's voice was like a tender whisper in his consciousness.
Glowing red eyes opened and glared into the abyss.
Starting with you, he thought menacingly.
Flames, tall as Hokage Mountain, ignited within the mindscape; heat rushed over his cold body, the wildfire he controlled illuminated the space around him, incinerating the shadows and chasing the slime back into the ravine they tried to pull him into.
They cursed him, Amari and Itachi the whole way.
Sasuke turned around to see Amari, Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi all behind him, smiling, grinning or nodding to him. He nodded once back in gratitude.
Thank you.
As he shut his eyes to the mindscape, he opened them back to the real world. The graphite color was receding away, his hair shortening, all returning to their natural states as he regained control of himself.
"Sasuke? Are you okay?" Naruto called, less sure of himself.
Sasuke clenched his hands into fists. "Never better."
He half-turned to examine the situation. There was a man, tall and athletically built, bearing a death-like pallor and shoulder-length white hair. Two scarlet dots marked his forehead, along with similarly colored markings following the lines of his eyes on the underside of his eyelids. What gave Sasuke only the slightest pause was his vivid green eyes—eyes that reminded him of Gaara's hatred bound purpose.
The stranger wore a light lavender, loose-fitting, zip-up shirt with long sleeves and black pants cut off at his mid-calf. Around his waist he wore the purple robe-like belt that all of Orochimaru's goons and the man himself seemed to enjoy wearing. On his chest, at the base of his throat, a strange fūinjutsu marked him, shaped in a circular pattern of three curved lines.
He wielded a sword which appeared to be made of purely bone.
A quick glance around proved none of the Sound shinobi he and Amari encountered were here—wherever here was.
"Huh, who the hell are you? And where's those other four?"
He had a promise to keep to them.
"Cross me again and I'll kill you all."
"I am Kimimaro. As for the others, they don't matter," the stranger replied, his voice mellow and almost musical. "It's time for you to go. Lord Orochimaru is waiting for you."
Sasuke said nothing. At first. He stood in the crisp air, silent and still as a graveyard. Then his lips curled into a smile. A nasty one. Hints of the mild insanity slipped into it.
"Like I care."
"Huh?"
Sasuke leapt into a back-flip, landing gracefully beside his teammate. The Uchiha grinned fiendishly at the bewildered expression on Kimimaro's face.
"What? You thought I'd be a puppet like you? A good little pawn who fawns over Lord Orochimaru?"
Sasuke knew he should've felt disgusted, annoyed, insulted. Instead a breathy chuckle morphed into manic laughter.
"Lord Orochimaru is waiting for me, hahaha! Hahahaha!" He swiped his arm through the air, grinning. "He can rot for all I care!"
Kimimaro narrowed his eyes but otherwise maintained a stoic air.
"That is unacceptable, as is your mockery of Lord Orochimaru's ailment. Fate has chosen you to become Lord Orochimaru's new vessel; it is a privilege you should be grateful for. Your body and soul will be embraced by my Lord—forever. I envy you. If only I wasn't such a failure, if only this body of mine had not failed Lord Orochimaru, then it would be my soul in his heart forever."
This time Sasuke was disgusted. Naruto, however, spoke before he could.
"Do you even hear yourself? Embraced by Orochimaru? Your soul being in his heart forever? Orochimaru doesn't have a heart! He doesn't care about anyone but himself!" Naruto snarled. "He's twisted you into a willing tool. Just a puppet he can manipulate by messing with your heart."
"Quiet, fool." Kimimaro didn't hiss or shout. His voice kept it's smooth, musical cadence. "Although I will not be Lord Orochimaru's vessel, I know I will always be in his heart. He cares for me. But enough of that." He shut his eyes as he shook his head.
"Sasuke Uchiha," the green eyes landed on him again, "you have been given a very important purpose. Please, do not hang onto this childish rebellion.
"As I said before, you should be grateful. Those of us who know their purposes, we are the ones who are truly free. Your essence will live within Lord Orochimaru's heart; you will be his salvation. So I say again: It's time for you to go. Go. Save Lord Orochimaru so that his ambitions and his heart may live on."
"My purpose, huh?" Sasuke repeated dryly. "Let me be perfectly clear: I don't care about Orochimaru's ambitions. Grateful? Try disgusted. He's an obsessive maniac who's brainwashed you exceptionally well. Save him? Heh!" He shook his head. "No. I don't think so. One of these days I'll go to him, but it won't be to become his salvation. I'll go…" He activated his Sharingan. "To finish off that withering old fool.
"This so-called 'gift' he's given me has been nothing more than a nuisance. It may provide power, but it comes at the cost of something I'm not willing to give up. Not anymore."
"And yet you stand there in a partial transformation, given to you by his blessing."
Huh, that explained the slight madness he felt. Rather than admit his ignorance, he chuckled.
"Unlike those other idiots, I haven't used this power as my crutch. It annoys me to use it, but since this brain-dead idiot couldn't beat you on his own, I figure this is a onetime occasion."
"It's a double-edged sword," Shisui's voice, sourced by the memory Amari imparted on him, came to mind. "That's why I want you to remember not to use this power as a crutch. The Mangekyō isn't meant to be abused or flaunted recklessly—it's a trump card meant to be used as a last resort. Only use it when your skill alone isn't enough to defend what you hold precious."
This power wasn't the Mangekyō Sharingan. No, it was a different beast entirely—something darker.
"While your ability to regain control of the Mark is impressive, we've got to Seal it away fast. It'll continue to deteriorate your willpower if given more time."
He hadn't forgotten the warning, or Kakashi's lesson about the Seal he placed to contain it. The fūinjutsu meant to contain the Curse Mark was only as strong as his willpower. For all he knew, the second stage severed Kakashi's fūinjutsu completely.
I'm probably fighting this with only my own willpower now, he analyzed.
Dangerous. The fact it could still influence his personality concerned him. They needed to deal with this guy and get back home so Kakashi or someone else could put another Seal on it.
However, even with the foreign entity pushing its madness onto him, he could tell this Kimimaro guy was tougher than the other Sound shinobi he faced. Much stronger. In conviction and power.
They might need this accursed power to survive.
I'll try not to use it at all, but if it comes to it… Sasuke felt the Mark begin to recede fully. If my strength alone isn't enough, I'll use the Curse Mark to protect us.
"Naruto, what have you learned about this guy's fighting style?" he asked beneath his breath.
"He uses his own bones to attack."
"And I thought a guy with six arms and a conjoined twin would be the strangest enemy's I fought this week," he muttered.
"Yeah, well, don't take him lightly. Before you woke up, he singlehandedly took down fifty of my clones. We didn't even get a single decent blow on him. This guy, he has Amari's agility, focus and gracefulness, with greater experience in taijutsu and an unreal kekkei genkai."
"Meaning he doesn't waste a single move," Sasuke nodded. "I had a feeling."
"Yeah. Just looking into his eyes…"
Sasuke hummed in agreement.
"I don't think retreating is an option," Naruto continued. "He's too quick. That's how he got you so close to the border. If we turn our backs for even a second, he'll cut us down. Or, me, anyway. He'll drag you to Orochimaru."
"None of that's going to happen," Sasuke stated resolutely. "We've faced worse odds then this and come out on top, Loser. We'll do the same here."
"Loser?" Naruto sniffed. "I'm not the one who ended up in a jar."
Sasuke snorted but didn't bother a retort. The Loser had a point, unfortunately.
"So, you've chosen to rebel against your purpose then?" Kimimaro asked calmly.
"I'm the only one who gets to decide what my purpose is. That's real freedom. You're just a slave to Orochimaru's whim, easily discarded when he loses interest in you. You think he'll mourn you? That he'll shed a tear or remember you months from now? You mean nothing to him. He's a parasite and you're his victim.
"I should despise you. I should hate you for everything Orochimaru has done to the Leaf, and what those four did to Amari. But I pity you. I pity your naïve obsession and infatuation with that parasite. You must've been so alone to think so highly of him."
Kimimaro's green eyes narrowed dangerously.
"And whether it's me or you who dies first, when you're breathing your final breaths you'll remember my pity. You'll remember how I looked at you as just a sad little boy who was brainwashed and you'll realize my pity is more painful to endure than my hatred. Then you'll die."
Kimimaro lifted his bone sword and pointed it at the pair of Leaf shinobi.
"We shall see. My new purpose is to ensure you are delivered to Lord Orochimaru, and I will not fail him again!"
Sasuke inhaled sharply as the Sound shinobi made his move.
"Naruto, duck!"
Sasuke grabbed his teammate and pushed his head down as he, too, ducked. White bone swiped over their heads; the whistle of air was the whisper of the Shinigami. The Uchiha released chakra from his feet and sprang at Kimimaro, who gracefully evaded his sudden retaliation, sidestepping, dancing on his toes into position to cut him down.
Pivoting his body, the blade narrowly missed Sasuke's flesh, tearing through the fabric of his blue shirt.
I can…
Another twist. Another advancing graceful dance. Sasuke's crimson eyes sharpened. He dodged his head left, then right, ducking low and spinning on his toes as he closed in, out of range of the blade. His fists connected with Kimimaro's abdomen, the strikes weak but enough to make the superior opponent dance back, blade at the ready to prevent being followed.
I can see his movements.
His vision, the Sharingan's ability to decipher movements, it had advanced. How? When? When he and Amari last trained, his eyes had begun adjusting to her top speed, true, but his vision wasn't this clear. Could it be unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan advanced his Sharingan's visual prowess, even if he couldn't access the power now?
If only he could access the Mangekyō. He'd incinerate this guy with those black flames, the Amaterasu, and save himself and Naruto the trouble.
"Those eyes of yours," Kimimaro spoke calmly, his blade at the ready, "they grant you enhanced visual prowess, don't they? You're able to read my movements, unlike the fool. Interesting. Yes, Kabuto-sensei. I, too, wonder which of us is stronger."
"Thanks for the save," Naruto said as he regrouped with Sasuke. "I barely even saw him move."
"Another trait he shares with Amari, huh?"
"Yeah. But I won't let him get the better of me again. Your Sharingan and better reflexes are better suited to fight him head-on. I'll support with Shadow Clones and help create an opening for you. Honestly, I think Chidori and Rasengan are the only jutsus we have that might actually hurt him. He pulled that bone out of his own body, but the sharpness and density of it don't seem normal. We'll have to be careful."
"Yeah," Sasuke nodded. He then shot a smirk at his teammate. "Since when were you able to strategize?"
"Like you've ever been a tactical genius, you jerk!" Naruto fired back harmlessly.
Sasuke snorted. The sight of movement shot his eyes over to Kimimaro; their enemy was dashing in again, this time tracing a half-circle over the field of grass directly for them both. Communication, numbers and teamwork, that's what they had on their side now. Against an opponent of superior skill and a stronger kekkei genkai it would have to be enough.
"All right. Naruto, let's go!"
Sasuke dashed after Kimimaro, cutting off his frontal assault. Spinning a kunai into his hand, he blocked and evaded the precise and graceful strikes of his opponent. He wished he could move with such agility and flexibility, such deftness, but that was always Amari's strength over his physical power. She could move in ways that strained his muscles just thinking about it.
Kimimaro had a similar yet more advanced skill set, in addition to his physical superiority.
Blade and bone met in consecutive strikes. Block, strike, duck and block; the Uchiha guided the bone sword away and scrambled back, crimson eyes perceiving the slightest of movements, the smallest ripple of muscles his enemy couldn't hide from the Sharingan.
Where was the opening? Where was he vulnerable?
His eyes and body moved in synch, perceiving and reacting simultaneously; he processed the movements and adapted in the heat of the battle. The Sound shinobi darted in with an upwards slash, which his enemy evaded with a small jump back. Kimimaro advanced, closing space with two quick steps, slashing downwards, horizontal from left to right then finishing the combo with a thrust.
At the last moment, Sasuke evaded with a pirouette he learned from training with Amari—a technique she picked up from Hisashi in her preliminary fight. He struck with his kunai as he exited the pirouette, but his enemy countered with an agile evasion of his own, leaning his upper body out of range of the blade.
Maintaining his spin, Sasuke lowered his body and attempted to sweep the legs out from beneath the Sound shinobi. His attack failed. Kimimaro jumped above the strike and drew his sword back at the seemingly vulnerable Uchiha. The sword bounded towards flesh. Sasuke threw himself into a side roll, narrowly evading the attack. He lunged at the back of his enemy, kunai driving towards his spine.
With regal flourish, the Sound shinobi twirled away, dancing on his toes out of range of the first attack and blocking every follow-up his opponent charged after him with. All it took was one expert parry for Sasuke to find himself on defense again.
Kimimaro was good. In the short time they dueled, it became clear this man was one of the most formidable and dangerous enemies he had ever faced.
Stumbling back from a well-placed kick, Sasuke brought up his guard to block an incoming stabbing strike. The bone suddenly changed direction; rather than meeting his block, Kimimaro moved his blade beneath it to slash for his abdomen.
Damn!
The Uchiha's eyes could see it clearly, but his body's reaction time wasn't quick enough. At that moment, a sudden blur of orange barreled into him, shoving him out of range before it was severed in half by the blade. Smoke plumed as the Clone popped. Two more dashed in a pincer attack, kunais in hand. They struck simultaneously, yet the Sound shinobi dodged and blocked the repeated assault perfectly, the tranquil expression on his face never leaving him.
Sasuke handspringed back twice, throwing his kunai into the air during the first and coating his foot with chakra as he entered the second on one hand. As the soles of his feet pointed towards the sky, he caught and connected the kunai to the sole of his sandal; he reached into his pouch for shuriken with his free hand.
As he flipped back onto his feet, he flung the kunai with enhanced speed off his foot directly for Kimimaro, whose vision of him was impeded by the smoke. Swirling shurikens raced after it, their sharpened blades whirling rapidly through the air. Hands free of weapons, Sasuke sped through handseals.
Kimimaro dispatched the two Clones with ease; the kunai and shuriken whistled past him as he evaded with minimal effort.
I'm counting on you, Naruto. Don't screw this up.
Sasuke's chest expanded as he inhaled a large breath.
Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!
The stream of fire raced along the grass. Their enemy showed no concern, leaping into the air to evade the attack. Sasuke smirked and cut off the flames.
Kimimaro's eyes widened. He sensed the sudden surge of powerful chakra, not from the one his Lord desired, but the fool attacking him from behind.
"Someone like you shouldn't let an opponent get behind him!" the Naruto's taunted as they flew at his back.
Sasuke's feet crushed blades of grass, dashing, charging into range to aid this finishing blow. Kimimaro spun around. His sword severed the first Naruto's head from his shoulder as the second narrowly ducked below the slice, Rasengan glowing in his palm. The Sound shinobi wouldn't be able to make another cut in time. Yet he didn't have to.
He lifted his free hand and aimed the palm at the Uzumaki. White bone began to lunge out of the flesh, a sharpened bone aimed straight for his enemy's skull. Cerulean eyes widened. That bone wound pierce straight through his skull, Naruto knew. And he had no ability to evade or change course now.
Then it happened. Ninja wire wrapped around Kimimaro's body, pulling his arms to his sides and the bone away from Naruto's face. It instead impaled into the leg of the Sound shinobi, who grimaced in annoyance rather than pain.
Sasuke smirked. He held the wire tightly in his hands and shut his eyes, focusing on the flow of his chakra.
"Chidori is without a doubt a powerful tool," he recalled Kakashi's lesson, "but as you learned during your battles with Aoi in the Land of Tea, relying on one single tool is not enough to call yourself powerful or an elite shinobi. And Chidori isn't without its weaknesses. Itachi showed you that."
Sasuke nodded reluctantly. "Against someone like him, or Aimi, or you, or even someone like Amari, it's pretty much useless. You all have better reflexes than I do, and your Sharingan's are keener than mine at the moment. There's little chance I could ever hit any of you with it at my current level."
"While true, in time you will gain visual prowess I'll never achieve," said Kakashi. "You and Amari are true inheritors of the Sharingan; only you two can surpass Itachi and Aimi's visual prowess. However, Sharingan isn't what I want you to think about right now.
"You're right. At your current level, a shinobi with better reflexes will evade a direct hit from the Chidori. But you're thinking too one-dimensionally about this jutsu, Sasuke."
"What do you mean?"
"You learned Chidori within a month, specifically to defend you and your comrades against an enemy like Gaara. It wasn't just Chidori you learned in that month, though. You learned to use Lightning Nature ninjutsu. Think of it like your Fire Style; you can create a stream of fire, a fireball, multiple fireballs or even a flame that appears as a dragon. Amari can channel a stream of fire into her tantō. So, imagine what is possible with Lightning Nature."
Admittedly, he hadn't thought about that often. When he thought of Chidori, he thought of it as its own entity. A singular weapon, not an entire Nature of possibilities.
I haven't perfected the power or control of this jutsu yet, but…
Lightning crackled around his hands.
It's now or never. Focus. Focus. Imagine a stream of Lightning, and…
Intense blue lightning shrouded his hands. Sharingan eyes snapped onto Kimimaro.
Direct it straight at your target!
Chidori Stream!
The lightning dashed along the wire in an instant, directly into Kimimaro's body. It coated his body and stiffened his muscles into a shocking paralysis. Simultaneously, the lightning recoiled over Sasuke's own arms. He grit his teeth as he, too, felt the paralysis begin to constrict his muscles.
Hurry…Naruto!
Naruto drove the Rasengan into Kimimaro's stomach with a cry. Like a bolt of lightning striking the earth, the Sound shinobi was driven into the ground with enough force to form a crater. His teammate was flung the opposite way, tumbling head over foot. Sasuke ended his stream of lightning. Numbness overwhelmed his arms; he collapsed to a knee, features scrunching as he inhaled mildly labored breaths
The entire battlefield settled in silence. Regardless of the pain, Naruto's direct hit was worth it. He'd seen that jutsu destroy Dotō's Chakra Armor and kill the man. No matter how tough Kimimaro was, there was no doubting the power of the—
"An impressive combination."
Sasuke's eyes shot open.
No. It couldn't be. He couldn't still be—
"Had I not grown a membrane of bone beneath my skin, that attack may have been my end. My organs would've been too weak to handle such a powerful jutsu."
Kimimaro stood up inside the crater, the lavender long sleeve falling from his body.
"However, as you both can see, my kekkei genkai is far stronger than your jutsus."
My arms, I can't move them yet. How is he even able to stand?
"He's like some sort of monster," he hissed.
"He withstood Sasuke's Lightning Style and my Rasengan?" Naruto looked shaken.
"Now then, allow me to finish this!" Kimimaro, with his bone sword in hand, dashed after Naruto.
Sasuke jolted to his feet, numb arms hanging uselessly at his sides.
Damn it! I won't make it in time!
"Naruto! Move!"
Everything happened so quickly. Kimimaro appeared behind Naruto, bone sword drawn back and nothing except the cold purpose in his green eyes. Naruto, still in the process of getting on his feet, looked over his shoulder in fear, knowing he couldn't evade in time. Then the Sound shinobi was bashed away from him, the force of the taijutsu attack knocking him away from Naruto before he could swing his weapon.
Their enemy landed on his feet and slid along the grass, eyes drawn to his attacker.
"Who's this?" he asked curiously.
The newcomer kept himself in a defensive position. He tucked one arm behind his back, positioned his legs in a wide stance and held his bandaged hand out, palm up.
"It is I, the rejuvenated Leaf Village's Handsome Devil: Rock Lee!"
Sasuke couldn't shake the bewildered look on his face. What was Lee of all people doing here? He should be fresh out of surgery, not on this battlefield.
Whatever the reason, Sasuke took up a position behind him, next to Naruto, we're lucky he showed up when he did.
"Bushy Brows!" Naruto exclaimed. "Am I glad to see you!"
"I am glad to see the two of you as well," Lee replied. "He must be a considerable opponent if you two were unable to defeat him."
"You could say that again," Naruto exhaled. "But what are you doing here? I thought your surgery…"
"I am quite all right, though I am here without permission," he admitted bashfully. "When no news from Shikamaru's team came in, I grew worried for all of you. Mimi was meant to lead a squad to rescue all of you, but she hadn't arrived before I left, and I knew we could not waste a single moment if we were to retrieve Sasuke and bring our friends home. That is why I am here now!"
"We appreciate it," Sasuke nodded in gratitude to his back.
"I will hold him here, then," Lee stated. "Their objective is you, Sasuke. And Naruto, you must have expended a lot of energy these last two days. You go and protect Sasuke."
The two Team Seven members shared a look. In a normal battle, under normal circumstances, his strategy would be best. After all, Sasuke was the prize Orochimaru—and Kimimaro by extension—was after. Any battlefield commander would make that call, knowing the best option was to ensure the objective was not captured.
However, they both witnessed Kimimaro's power. And even if his body is recovered, he hasn't fought a single battle since the preliminary rounds.
Instincts drilled in by Might Guy were undoubtedly still there, but that amount of time almost entirely immobilized would take a toll on any shinobi's strength and stamina.
Naruto and Sasuke nodded to each other.
"Not a chance, Bushy Brows," he said as he stood up.
"But Naruto—"
"We're not doubting you," Naruto interrupted. "Out of the three of us, your taijutsu is without a doubt the strongest, and you're more skilled in close-quarters combat. But this guy's kekkei genkai is something else. He uses his own bones to attack, and just now, before you arrived, he grew an extra membrane of bone beneath his skin to protect him from Sasuke's Lightning Style and my Rasengan."
"A membrane…of bone?" Lee repeated.
"If any one of us tries to stand our ground and fight him alone, that person will die," Sasuke said. He could move his fingers a little. "He'll pick us off one by one if Naruto and I retreat. Our best chance at survival is working together. No jutsu or kekkei genkai is without limitations."
"Which means we'll just have to keep wearing him down until we find his weakness," Naruto said.
Lee remained silent for a beat. Then nodded. "Yes, you are both right. We currently have the advantage of numbers against this superior foe. Let us use it overcome this challenge."
"What a pathetic plan."
The newcomer's voice came from behind them. Sasuke and Naruto spun around. Lee kept Kimimaro in his sights—the latter narrowed his eyes at the newcomer.
"Working together. Fighting together. Teamwork. Brotherhood! Ha!" The person hidden in the shadows of the trees scoffed spitefully. "Only the weak rely on others. But the Leaf's Will of Fire teaches you that you're all one big happy family. It teaches weakness. There's no power in your bonds. True power means you can change or eliminate what you don't like with your bare hands."
"What are you doing here?" Kimimaro demanded of the stranger.
"Me? I was bored."
The stranger walked out of the shadows into the sun. He appeared around their age, dressed in a pristine white mid-thigh length haori, printed with a black dragon eating its own tail on the back. Around his neck and over his shoulders he wore a black and white scarf; on his forehead he wore a Sound Village headband. A simple black shirt beneath his haori, dark blue shinobi pants and black sandals completed his ensemble of darkness.
"With all the excitement in the air," he continued as if discussing the weather, "I decided to take a walk and see who good old Snake Skin was so obsessed by. Doesn't look like you or your former comrades have completed the mission assigned to you. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Snake Skin won't like that. I see only one Uchiha, and he doesn't seem keen to go be eaten alive. But where's the other? After all…"
Sasuke's eyes widened as he looked into the mismatched eyes of their enemy. Then they sharpened. Their new enemy's left eye was green. The other…
"I haven't seen Amari since I killed Ryu."
The other was the lavender of the Byakugan.
"No way," Naruto hissed under his breath. "It's him!"
Kasai grinned maliciously. "Ah, so you two know about me. Did Amari cry into your shoulders, telling you how I killed her little friend?" he mocked. "She shouldn't point the finger at me. She had the chance to save him, but instead she wailed and cried and begged, like the pathetic little weakling she's always been.
"So, you three Leaf losers, where is she? I've come a far way for this reunion. Ah, don't growl and look at me like that. What? You're not going to tell me? Oh well, I guess I'll just have to play with you until she does show up."
"Sasuke, Naruto, I will leave him to you two," Lee said under his breath. "Mimi's team can't be too far behind me. We'll hold them here for reinforcements then crush them with a combined assault."
Naruto and Sasuke planned to crush Kasai long before that.
"Kasai." Naruto spoke the name, but it didn't sound like Naruto. The feral, guttural growl came from someone else. "For all the pain you've caused Amari, I won't let you walk away from here alive!"
Kasai sneered. "You should be thanking me. If I hadn't killed Ryu and left her for dead, none of you would even know she existed. She'd still be some unknown little orphan, afraid of her own shadow. What does she call herself now? Amaririsu Yūhi? Well, without me Amaririsu Yūhi doesn't exist. You and the Leaf owe me for giving her a little backbone."
Sasuke glowered at the well-aimed jab. This bastard…
Next to him, cerulean eyes turned to red. "You…"
"Me," Kasai grinned nastily. "Did I touch a nerve? Because you know I'm right. I created Amaririsu Yūhi. I gave you a friend, Nine-Tailed Fox. I gave Kurenai Yūhi a daughter. Me! It's because of me Amaririsu Yūhi exists! And today, I'll be the reason Amaririsu Yūhi of the Leaf dies!"
Sasuke and Naruto both launched at Kasai. Lee launched after Kimimaro.
The battle raged on.
Amari and her team were not at the designated meeting point.
By Mimi's estimations, they should've beaten her squad back here. Even if their battle against Tayuya lasted minutes longer than the battle against Sakon and Ukon, tending to Ino's self-inflicted stab wounds left the other squad time to spare.
They should've been here. But they weren't.
Looking away from the dense trees where the scents of her comrades led, Mimi directed her attention back to Kiba, Amari and Ino. Her cousin cradled the exhausted form of Akamaru in his arms. Ino rested in Amari's arms, head lying limply against the clone's chest; her eyes were shut, the residue of blood stained her purple clothing while she slept with a peaceful expression on her paler than normal features. But she was still breathing. Still alive.
"You three take Ino back to the Leaf," Mimi ordered. "And make sure you get yours and Akamaru's injuries looked at, Kiba."
"All right. Take care of yourself, Mimi."
"Keep your senses sharp," she said to her teammates.
They both nodded and departed towards Konoha. After a quiet moment, Mimi turned to her other companion.
"Sticking around, Sand shinobi?"
The black garbed boy, Kankurō, shrugged and grinned.
"What's with the attitude, Leaf shinobi? We're allies now. Me, Temari, Gaara and Hikari came all this way because the Fifth Hokage asked for our help. You could at least pretend to be grateful."
Mimi scoffed. "I'm grateful that Hikari's here. Not so sure about the rest of you."
Kankurō rid himself of his grin for a serious look. "Hey, come on. The Leaf and the Sand are allies now. I get that you're still upset about the Invasion—"
"Upset?" Mimi hissed. "No. I'm not upset about the Invasion. I get upset when it rains while I'm training. I get upset when I hear a friend of mine incurs a non-life threatening injury on a mission."
Razor sharp sapphire eyes locked onto Kankurō. The boy flinched and took a step back.
"Do not assume you understand my feelings, Sand shinobi. While you and your sister were fleeing with Gaara, Clones of mine and Amari's were on the frontlines of the Invasion. I saw and heard innocent men, women and children, who weren't even shinobi, callously slain by your comrades. I eased the pain of fatally wounded shinobi your people are responsible for killing.
"So no, I'm not upset about the Invasion. I'm furious! I'm devastated for the lives I couldn't save! And every day I wake up I see the destruction your people and the Sound inflicted onto my home!"
Mimi dug her nails into her gloved palms, snarling. Every instinct in her body demanded her to throttle this bastard. This Sand shinobi who took part in the suffering her home endured that day, who sought to destroy everything she loved. Her heart burned with the desire for righteous retribution.
Instead, she held her fists back and glared with all of her fury and grief on display.
"Orochimaru may have tricked you all, you may have only been following orders, but would you forgive me so easily if I slaughtered your people and destroyed your home for those same reasons?"
Kankurō said nothing. His eyes lowered away from hers.
"Didn't think so." Mimi turned away and took a breath. "Regardless, you're still here. You, your siblings and Hikari came all this way to help us save our comrades. I'm grateful for that, even if you arrived too late to help us kill Sakon and Ukon."
"I'm still not sure why the Fifth Hokage sent for us if you guys could handle them," Kankurō pondered out loud, without malice.
"These Sound shinobi took down three of our elite Jōnin. Without the medic they had in their squad, and the emergency surgery they received afterwards, they'd be dead," Mimi explained. "Before that, they killed Amari."
"That's…That's impossible!" Kankurō sputtered. "Hikari sensed her chakra. And her Clone was just right here."
"The Fifth Hokage revived her," the Inuzuka rolled her eyes.
"Oh."
Mimi waved for him to follow. "Enough standing around. I'm going to check in on the other squad. You can either come with us or head back. I don't care."
"I don't see much point in going, but— hey! Wait up! I was just saying Temari, Hikari and Gaara will probably have the situation under control," Kankurō said as he chased after her.
Mimi maintained her pace. "As the squad leader and the medic, my job isn't over until everyone is home safe," she called back. "Doesn't matter if the situation is under control. Someone could have a minor, mild or severe injury that needs my attention. I assumed that since two of them are your own siblings that you'd want to make sure they're all right."
"Well, yeah," he admitted. "But Temari can handle herself. And I can't imagine Orochimaru has anyone who could actually hurt Gaara and Hikari."
"That's a fatal mistake," Mimi shook her head. "By masquerading as your Kazekage he learned Gaara's and Hikari's weaknesses; Orochimaru won't waste that."
Kankurō fell into a thoughtful silence.
It didn't take them long to reach Shikamaru's team, noticeably absent of Amari, Hinata, Naruto and Sasuke. Temari stood with Shikamaru of the group, dressed in a slightly different outfit. She wore a long-sleeved purple blouse beneath a grey top, a dark blue skirt and a long red sash tied around her waist.
Her calculating eyes didn't seem any different to Mimi. Nor did the air of arrogance around her.
"Shikamaru and Tenten each have a single broken finger," Aoko diagnosed on their arrival. "But Sakura's right arm will require the most attention. I sense muscle tears throughout her entire arm. I smell blood on her, too." Her ninken sniffed the air. "There are puncture wounds on her abdomen. However, Tayuya is dead. Her neck has been snapped. I don't sense any bruising from a chain or a physical blow; Shikamaru is likely responsible for her death."
Ten points for the Slacker.
Sakura cradled her injured arm gently, a painful knot between her brows as she sat with her back against the trunk of a tree. Tenten and Shikamaru were both standing; they winced through their broken fingers, but otherwise maintained a watchful eye on the area.
"What I'd tell you. They're all fine," Kankurō said confidently.
Mimi didn't bother to point out the missing people. She hopped over to Sakura first, who smiled painfully in greeting.
"Mimi. You're here."
"As if there was ever any doubt," she offered a grin. She gently took the limb into her own hands. Sakura winced and instinctively tried to tug it away. "Easy. I know it hurts. Talk me through what happened."
A green hue formed around her hands as Sakura explained the battle and the circumstances of her injuries. The arm injury reminded Mimi of the damage the Eight Gates inflicted. It wasn't that Sakura released the chakra incorrectly; she had released it at the correct moment. However, although Amari's and Kakashi's training had strengthened her body, it wasn't yet ready to handle the backlash of such enormous power.
Mimi made a mental note to never drop her guard if she ever sparred with Sakura.
"You have a minor stress fracture in your hand," Mimi examined. "Probably from when you decided to punch Tayuya again with it. I seriously need to talk to Amari. First Ino, now you. You two picked up on one of her best and worst traits—inflicting self-harm to defeat an enemy."
"Is Ino okay? What about Kiba and Akamaru?" Sakura's emerald eyes were wide with concern.
"They're all fine. Kiba and Akamaru were pretty banged up, but nothing compared to… Well, anyway. They didn't need any immediate medical treatment from me. Ino risked her life to give me an opening to finish off Sakon and his brother, but she's gonna pull through. She's a tough kunoichi."
"Tough and stubborn," Sakura agreed with a light smile. Then she sighed. "At least they're all okay."
"You'll be fixed up soon, too. Injuries like these are a normal day for Team Guy."
"I bet," Sakura giggled.
It took her a few more minutes to heal Sakura's arm and her abdomen. Afterwards she made her way to Tenten and took on her broken finger.
"You're late," her teammate teased.
"Just wanted to make you miss me more," she replied without blinking.
"I believe we were successful," Aoko rumbled playfully.
"We were definitely successful, Aoko."
"Successful at making me worry more."
Mimi opened her mouth to reply with a joke about how no flunky of Orochimaru's could ever take her down, but stopped short when she thought of Neji and Chōji. It didn't feel right. The words tasted foul in her mouth. Worse than biting a chunk out of Sakon.
"Sorry," she apologized sincerely. "Sakon and Ukon were as tough as we were told. Had to heal Ino afterwards."
"I wasn't trying to guilt an apology out of you," Tenten quickly reassured. "I mean, I was worried about you and Aoko and the others, but I only meant to tease you. It's what we do."
Mimi nodded. "I know. Had a joke in my head ready to tease you, but it soured pretty damn quick when I considered the situation."
"You'll just have to make it up to me then," declared Tenten, smiling at her teammate.
"Healing your finger doesn't count?" Mimi asked, eyebrow cocked up.
"Nope! For now, though, our priority is finishing our mission. You can make it up to me once we're back home."
"Deal."
"You two are quite adorable together."
Mimi pretended not to hear her.
The medic-nin straightened Tenten's finger and put it in a makeshift splint then met with Shikamaru, joined by the two Sand shinobi and the other two Leaf kunoichi. She greeted her fellow Chūnin with a light punch to the head.
Shikamaru grabbed at his head and groaned. "Hey! What was that for?"
"For breaking Tenten's finger, you Slacker. Now give me your damn finger so I can fix it. Unless you like having your finger constantly pointing the wrong way."
"It's not like I wanted to," the Nara whined beneath his breath.
"Stop whining. Anyway, I've gotten a good grasp of the situation from Sakura. As soon as I'm done with your finger I say we head after Amari's team and finish off this fifth member."
"I agree," Shikamaru nodded.
"I'm not sure why you're so adamant about this," Temari countered casually. "Whoever they are, they're against Gaara and Hikari. I don't know any shinobi who could match their powers when they fight together. That's why they're considered the Sand's greatest weapons."
The Nara shook his head. "Not so. According to 'Risu when they worked on that joint-op with Gaara, Hikari and their two subordinates, a squad of Anbu conspirators from the Sand were able to immobilize them both. Against Hikari they used a Sound Village gadget; against Gaara they used water. We have no idea what abilities this fifth member possesses.
"It's true Hikari and Gaara possess great power. They're strength is ranged combat, from what I gather. But that also means they're weak in close-quarters combat. Furthermore, that fifth member I saw… You both saw the look in your brother's eyes before Naruto defeated him. This guy has that same look in his eyes." Shikamaru's brow furrowed. "The same look I see in 'Risu's when she refuses to fail or die."
Mimi stiffened at the comparison. Someone like Gaara and Amari…
"Then we better go check on them." Kankurō was the one to speak. Temari cast a suspicious glance her brother's way. "It'd be a pretty stupid move to just abandon our allies and our own shinobi, even if they can handle themselves. Why risk a close call when we can crush the enemy? This'll strengthen our Alliance, and if there ever comes a time when we need the Leaf, they can repay the favor."
"If you're worried about Gaara—"
"I am," Kankurō cut off his sister in a serious voice. "We owe Naruto Uzumaki and Amaririsu Yūhi both for what they did. They saved Gaara and Hikari. You've said it yourself—"
"I know what I said!" Temari snapped. Mimi noticed an embarrassed and angry flush on her cheeks.
"Women," Shikamaru muttered under his breath. Then howled in agony.
"Oops. Sorry about that," Mimi played innocent in voice, but glared at the Nara. "Wanna repeat that, Slacker?" she hissed so only he could hear her.
"You're sort of proving my poin— gah! All right! All right! Geez. I'm sorry. Damn your enhanced hearing."
After Mimi finished putting another makeshift splint on Shikamaru's finger, the team of Leaf and Sand shinobi departed in hopes of aiding their comrades.
Mimi wished she could shake the uncomfortable feeling in her gut.
The battlefield of Leaf and Sand combating Sound had split into two very different battles.
On one side, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Rock Lee battled ferociously against the perpetrator of their friend and rival's suffering—Kasai. One bubbled with red chakra in his belly, another with a curling, cutting, swirling darkness slowly unhinging itself and the last with hot-blooded spirit. However, their enemy refused to fight their battle. Through a combination of Fire and Earth Style ninjutsu, in addition to evasion techniques, he defended against the three on one assault, toying with the Leaf shinobi, irritating them with barbed taunts as he waited for his true target.
On the other side, the grassy field had turned into a sea of sand. Rock Lee, while undoubtedly proficient and powerful in taijutsu, was outmatched by the kekkei genkai of Kimimaro.
No matter how powerful his kekkei genkai was, or how great his skill in taijutsu, the enemy found no room to close in and attack Gaara or Hikari. Together their powers kept him at bay—wounded him. And now his end neared.
"We'll imprison you in a Molten Sand Coffin." Gaara's voice was ice. "The heat of Hikari's lava will melt the skin from your bones, and with every feeble breath you take as I crush the life out of you, the super-heated air will enter your lungs and destroy the cells and tissues from within. You'll suffocate."
Hikari sensed Gaara's Sand Prison beginning to take shape around their enemy. "'Tis a shame you've chosen this path." She shook her head as she stood atop her floating rock, unable to shake the feeling of remorse in her heart. "I cannot imagine how terrible this world has treated you to impair your vision beyond reason. But Orochimaru has brainwashed you too well. You worship him, unable to see his flaws, his evil, or the suffering you spread through his will. 'Tis not you to blame. You were alone. Suffering. Fearing a life without purpose."
Just as we have.
"However, your fanaticism makes coexistence impossible." Hikari began to weave her handseals. "I will not allow you to harm Amaririsu Yūhi or her friends."
With her hands in Bird, the Suna kunoichi expelled a molten ball of Lava onto the Sand Coffin imprisoning Kimimaro. The viscous liquid splashed and speckled the hardened sand, slowly spreading down the cocoon like honey.
Both Gaara and Hikari lifted a single hand out in front of them.
"Sand Burial!" Gaara squeezed his hand shut. The cocoon of sand suddenly, violently, crushed the captured shinobi within. But he did not die; Hikari sensed the flickers of life refusing to die out.
"To survive the pressure of your Sand Burial…"
"It's that annoying kekkei genkai," her friend murmured. "He must have increased the density of the bone grown beneath his skin."
"Yes," she nodded. "But dense bones will not protect him from my Lava."
Gaara hummed in agreement.
At that moment, immense chakra flared from within the Molten Sand Coffin. Dark chakra, similar and yet different from the malicious darkness she sensed from Sasuke Uchiha. Hikari heard Gaara's sharp intake of breath as the hand of their enemy burst through his hardened sand.
Even as lava covered the limb and his body, he continued to pull himself free.
Hikari closed her hand into a tight fist. "Lava Petrification!"
Just as Kimimaro seemed free, the lava covering his body hardened instantaneously, encasing him in hardened, warm stone. On this sandy field of battle he would remain forever, petrified in his last act of defiance.
"It's over," Gaara stated with finality. "Now, let's finish off this other pawn of Orochimaru."
Two things happened as Hikari prepared to voice her agreement. First she sensed Amaririsu's chakra within moments of reaching the battlefield; 'twas a pleasant surprise that made her heart flutter.
Then she heard stone crack.
Another crack.
And again.
"Impossible," Hikari exhaled.
Stone shattered explosively.
Hikari could not see the monster Kimimaro had become, but she could sense the explosive chakra irradiating off of him. Hear the desperate gasps for air. Feel Gaara's shock.
"This is not over yet. Until I fulfill the purpose Lord Orochimaru has entrusted to me, I will not die!"
"He's a monster," said Gaara coldly.
Yes, but a monster could be slain. What could not be so easily slain…
"Kasai!" the ferocious roar of Amaririsu cut through the battlefield. The clash of blades rang sharply in her ears.
"Amari, you've finally shown up!" Kasai sounded gleeful. She could hear his vile grin from across the battlefield. "Looks like I'll get to finish what I started!"
"I'll kill you, you bastard! Today you pay for your crimes!"
"Such the righteous warrior you've become, old friend! But if I have to pay for Ryu's death then so do you! We both killed him! You through your inaction! Me with the finishing blow! Hahaha!"
"You're not telling me anything I haven't already told myself," she snarled. The blades clashed again. "I pay for my failure every day. Every time I look in the mirror I remember what my inaction caused. I remember the precious life I failed to protect because I couldn't see the power hungry monster you always were! But I swore to Ryu that I'd stop you. Today I'll finally fulfill that promise. Today you will die by my hand!"
What could not be so easily slain was the hatred darkening Amaririsu's light.
Review Response to ChillinInKonoha: I wouldn't say that the others don't know about the darkness or pain in the world. Sakura and Shikamaru have been witnesses or heard about events in Amari's life, and Sakura witnessed the choice and after effects the Land of Waves has had on Amari. Tenten has seen it or heard of it through Mimi's personal experiences. Plus Sakura and Tenten were there for the battle against Gaara and the battle for Hikari's fate, which wasn't exactly black and white given Gaara's circumstances. And Amari's attempt to reach out to Tayuya, as well as the little glimpse she gave into her personal feelings, is something that will have an effect going forward.
Amari's battle with the Curse of Hatred is far from over. Especially with their current predicament. We'll see how it all plays out in the coming chapters.
Thank you for the review!
Review Response to Guest: Yep, Tayuya is dead. She died via the Shadow Strangle Jutsu, which Shikamaru used to snap her neck. Amari does know the Shadow Strangle Jutsu, though she hasn't exactly used it. She relies more on her Shadow Dragons, which incorporates aspects of the Shadow Strangle and the Shadow Stitching Jutsu. But she can use the Shadow Strangle. She just hasn't had the moment for it yet.
I'm happy you enjoyed that part. Shikamaru was mostly caught off guard by the suddenness of the information being dropped in his lap at that precise moment. It isn't that he doesn't understand what she means or how it connects, he just wasn't ready for a new puzzle after his near death experience. I hope that clears that part up. It's not a set in stone thing for lazy Nara's to be smarter than active ones, or for the active ones to be innovators among their Clan, but it is common. And in this circumstance, Amari has a stronger tie to her Spiritual Energy than Shikamaru and is more innovative with her techniques, while Shikamaru has the higher IQ. They're both still geniuses, he's just slightly smarter and more of a tactician than her, if that makes sense. That's why she hasn't beaten him in shogi.
No, Amari doesn't know Danzo by name or appearance. She only knows that the Foundation exists and its leader is an old warmonger. As for the other two Councilors, more will come to light on where they stand in the near future.
Amari's opinion of the Third Hokage is unchanged at this point because she doesn't know he allowed the Foundation to exist. She thinks its a rogue black op that was meant to be disbanded, but isn't. Though I don't think the Third Hokage gave Itachi the order in canon. I remember him telling Itachi that he didn't authorize the mission to slay his entire Clan, or something of that effect.
At this moment, my thought on Tobirama is having him close to how he was in canon, but I haven't had to do much with him or his history at this point so I haven't made a concrete decision on where he stands on the spectrum between the Third Hokage's and Danzo's ideals.
I'm not sure yet what Amari will do with Obito and Nagato. At least nothing I can say without spoilers anyway.
Yep, everyone heard what Tayuya said. Sasuke's reaction wouldn't have been too different from Amari's, since during their talk right before the Sound Four attacked them she told him the Foundation was a Leaf organization and lead by an old warmonger inside the Leaf. Though he likely wouldn't have tried to reach out to Tayuya as Amari did. He likely would have only killed her.
I believe the Will of Fire is related to Asura, though my memory may be wrong.
Shikamaru was trying to communicate a strategy to Tenten and figured out her elf-doubt, so he was leading her to the conclusion she needed to bolster the morale and heart of a soldier under his command.
Sasuke is officially out of the barrel and the Sound Four are all out of commission. Now it's Kimimaro and Kasai.
Hikari's relationship with Gaara's siblings is amicable. Not super close, but there isn't any animosity between them. Hikari doesn't hate them. They personally never wronged her. But their relationship is only now really forming, since Kankuro and Temari haven't really been around Hikari since before the Invasion. They care about Hikari because they know what she means to Gaara, and they're happy he has a friend like her. We'll see more on how the Sand Siblings and Hikari interact in the future.
Gaara is growing closer to his siblings. I'd say he prefers Hikari's company at the moment, but that is because of the bond they once shared and have now reformed. They understand each other and their upbringings and pain. But Gaara doesn't see it as a choice between his siblings and Hikari. He wants and strives to have a strong bond with both.
I wouldn't count Kimimaro out just yet. He has a Will to never give up not at all unlike Amari's.
A lot of your questions on where this is all going and how it will all go down will be answered in the next few chapters.
Itachi and Aimi are currently Curse of Hatred free, similarly to how Itachi was Curse of Hatred free during canon. They don't hate Lord Third because he didn't order them to slay their Clan. And Lord Third in canon and in my story blames himself completely for his failure to save the Uchiha Clan and for allowing Danzo to act as he did, despite his attempts at assassination. Itachi and Aimi aren't consumed by the Curse of Hatred for a few reasons. First, because there Will of Fires are strong. They still love the Leaf. Love Sasuke and Amari. They still want to protect them and the Leaf. It is their overall goal, which they are laser focused on, to stop the threats of the Akatsuki, the Foundation and the Masked Man. Second, they have each other. Their love for one another keeps them grounded, keeps the coldness away. Just being together in spare moments, some of which Kisame lets them have, allow them to decompress from the constant stress they are under. Shisui asked them to stick together, to stay by each other's side and carry on his Will, which they hold onto in the darkest of times.
Hope that makes sense.
Thank you for the review!