At the entrance gate of Konohagakure Village
Shiatsu had approached the gates and was easily let in. Curious villagers swarmed around her, asking her about the mission, Kakashi, and her other teammates. She only continued forth to her destination with no reply.
Once she reached Kakashi's apartment, she entered and set Kakashi on his bed. She looked at him in disgust, but reminded herself that the sleeping powder would last a few days.
Shiatsu smiled and thought, No distractions this time.
Shiatsu's Mind
As Itachi and Shiatsu stared at Kakashi, Shiatsu had a look of sadness across her face. Itachi noticed her grief and said, "Fine, fool. Say your good-byes…"
Shiatsu stepped up to the plate, ready to control her body once more while Itachi sat back and watched. Shiatsu turned her head so that she looked at him and asked, "Why? Why are you letting me do this?"
Still keeping a hateful face, Itachi replied, "If I don't, you would only be a sobbing mass of tears who let's her emotions get in the way."
Shiatsu had a "whoa" kind of look on her face, but nodded nevertheless.
Back Outside
Itachi's cold glare melted into a look of softness. Shiatsu's hand smoothly wiped away some blood from Kakashi's face. She kneeled down next to his head and whispered, "Kakashi…if you can hear me…I just want to tell you that…I'm sorry. I didn't want you to get hurt, and you won't anymore…I'll make sure of it. And also…"
Her fingers slowly traced the rim of his face mask before pulling it down. His pale skin was revealed and Shiatsu crept a little closer. She could feel Kakashi's breath on her face and she lightly held his chin in her hand. She bent closer and kissed him softly. The feeling of his lips on hers was almost enchanting.
As she let go of the kiss, she felt relieved.
"I love you," she said. Kakashi's eye twitched as if in reply. Shiatsu replaced his mask and shrunk back into her mind.
Shiatsu's Mind
"Hmph. You done now?"
Shiatsu nodded and added, "I have no regrets."
Itachi stepped up next to her and took a quick glance. Her mood was serious and her eyes were kept forward. Itachi chuckled to himself and thought, She's willing to accept fate…She's cooperating even when nothing is at stake…
Outside
Shiatsu's face had once again turned hateful and she headed toward the exit. Once she opened the door, a young man awaited her. "Hey, Shiatsu, how's Kakashi?"
Shiatsu put on a fake smile and replied, "Oh, he's alright. He just needs to rest a few days."
"Oh good." The young man put a hand to his forehead. "Also, the 5th Hokage requests your presence."
"Thank you, Iruka."
Iruka, having finished his business, left.
((Okay, peeps. I'm gonna do what happens in Shiatsu's mind with the Italic font. Please don't get confused! ))
The real Shiatsu had become confused. How did you know Iruka's name? she asked Itachi.
I took a quick look at your memories while you were with Kakashi.
Shiatsu looked down. Ohh…
Shiatsu quickly shut the door and headed off toward Tsunade's home.
Outside Tsunade's Door
Shiatsu took a gander of all the Hokage's scenery. A large bamboo wall served as a gate, and large hibiscus plants sprouted in a small garden by the bamboo. A small blue fern lay in the center of the garden.
As Itachi guided her eyes along the sight of beauty, Shiatsu said, Wow! It's so pretty! I've never seen anything like it!
Itachi gave a small grunt and directed her body back on course.
Shiatsu approached the large wooden door and gave it a few knocks. It was soon opened by a woman with long blonde hair and appeared quite young for her age. cough cough50cough cough
"Shiatsu, eh? I've been expecting you. Come in."
Itachi questioned Shiatsu, "This old hag is your teacher?" She nodded and said nothing.
Shiatsu followed Tsunade inside and sat on her tatami floor. Tsunade rested her arms on her small tea desk, holding a large bottle of sake in between her hands. Tsunade seemed to have a habit of getting drunk lately. It might be because of stress or it could be that it's sake. "So, Shiatsu…hic She took another sip of sake. "…Tell me about the mission." Yep. It's gotta be the sake.
The real Shiatsu sat against a dark wall in her mind and listened to all the lies Itachi told.
She thought about how he could read her memories and decided that if he could she could. Suddenly, a small, tattered book appeared in front of her and she eagerly grabbed it. As soon as she flipped it open to a random page, a vivid, bloody image appeared.
From Itachi's POV, she could see people lying in pools of blood. Itachi grinned as he gazed at the sight. A small whimper could be heard and Itachi looked to the source. A boy with black hair was on his knees and tears streamed down his face. He looked fearfully at Itachi.
Itachi's look remained serious and he spoke. "Foolish brother…If you ever want to be strong enough, then run away. Despise me, live in spite. Hate everything other than yourself."
"GET OUT OF MY MEMORIES!"
The book Shiatsu was holding disappeared in flames and she returned to reality. She was trembling as sweat dripped down her face. She collapsed onto all fours, panting.
Without looking, Itachi asked, "Remind you of something? Something similar to what you saw?"
She replied in fear, "How…could you?"
Itachi frowned. "I should be asking you that."
"—and that's the whole story," finished Shiatsu.
Tsunade removed her hands from the sake bottle, something you rarely see her do, and began performing katas underneath the table. "That's very nice, Shiatsu, but…"
Shiatsu cocked her head in confusion. "…?...'But' what?"
Now finished with her list, Tsunade replied, "…But I want to hear the story from the real Shiatsu. Kagegakure no Jutsu! Art of the hidden Shadow!"
Itachi, who had been beside Shiatsu, was suddenly flung and chained against a wall. Shiatsu took this opportunity to take control.
Shiatsu's body had entered a death-like trance during the interval. Her face lied on the cool wood of the table and she didn't move.
Slowly, she regained conscience in a couple seconds. "Mmm…hn?"
"So, you've finally come too…here," Tsunade passed her a small cup containing some type of liquid. "Drink."
Shiatsu looked into the cup more thoroughly, swishing it's contents around. With it being Tsunade's doing, it was probably sake. Shiatsu took a sip and cringed. Alas, it was tea.
Tsunade grinned and said, "Yes, it's a little bitter…But, please, tell me who was controlling you all that time?"
The chunin tried to choke out Itachi's name, but was losing control. The tea cup she was holding shook as Shiatsu described the vision of Itachi's memory.
"Blood, death, crying,….brother….."
She paused for a while before saying, "…Itachi..," and collapsing on the tabletop.
Tsunade's eyes widened in horror and she dropped her sake bottle. Sake drooled out of the shattered glass and onto the floor.
"No…not Itachi…"
Shiatsu had been purposely knocked out by a wave of chakra sent by Itachi. He grunted as he broke through one of the four chains pinning him against the wall. Curse that wretched Tsunade…
Tsunade left Shiatsu lying on the table and headed to Kakashi's apartment. I must tell him what has become of Shiatsu! He's the only one she'll listen to!
She barged through the front door and entered his room. Kakashi was lying on his bed, trembling, sweating, and mumbling Shiatsu's name.
"Shiatsu…no, don't…Shiatsu…"
Tsunade edged closer and thought, He's dreaming….about Shiatsu…
The closer she got, the worse Kakashi got. His trembling quickly became uncontrollable spasms and his calls for Shiatsu became louder and desperate. "Shiatsu…Shiatsu! No! Don't, Shiatsu!"
Tsunade reached the edge of his bed and was about to wake him. Suddenly, Kakashi yelled, "ITACHI!"
The fifth Hokage found Kakashi's hand wrapped tightly around her neck as Kakashi sat upright, panting. His visible eye searched her over and he let go.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama…I didn't mean to--"
"Yes, Kakashi. I know," she interrupted. "It seems you already know what has happened to Shiatsu. Am I right?"
Kakashi clenched his hands into fists and replied, "Yes, you're right."
There was a long pause before Kakashi said, "I'll kill him…"
"Yes…but think of how you'll do it. Do you want to risk killing Shiatsu?"
Kakashi thought to himself with no reply. Tsunade frowned and said, "I thought so…"
She gave him a comforting pat on the back. "I know it'll be difficult, having to kill someone close to you…"
Kakashi placed his hands on his face and inhaled deeply. "Take me to him. Take me to Itachi."
Back to Tsunade's
As Tsunade and Kakashi entered the house, they both gasped as they saw that the house was empty. "She's gone!"
"No! Shiatsu!"
"We must locate her immediately, Kakashi!"
"Already on it, ma'am." Kakashi closed his eyes and brought up his hands, but gave a painful grunt. He clutched his right arm and sank to one knee. "Ow…Itachi—he broke my arm."
Tsunade reached into her pouch and pulled out some bandages and a long piece of cloth. "Give me your arm." She wrapped up his arm with the bandages and made a quick sling with the cloth.
She gave him a pat on the back and told him to not move his arm.
Kakashi sighed and said, "Thanks…"
Tsunade followed in suit and also sighed. "Well, it seems that without your arm combined with the power of your sharingan eye, it'll be more difficult to track her down." "So…What do you plan to do, Hokage-sama?" "I'll gather up all the village's elite shinobi, Jounin."
Kakashi hesitated before saying, "I'll start looking."
Tsunade nodded as approval. He must really care about her…but she is his only student left…this jounin exam wasn't expected to turn out so wrong!
Across the village in a small apartment was a teenage boy. He sat in front of a window, deep in thought. The wind gently caressed his black, raven-like hair. His black eyes, expressionless, stared outside. He rested his chin upon his hands as he thought.
Suddenly, he heard someone knock on the door. Without a care, he yelled, "Get lost."
The doorknob jiggled and soon opened.
"Now is that anyway to greet your big brother…Sasuke?"