Chapter 16.

Evening.

Kakuzu had sensed only a single chakra signature returning to continue their chase and this inspired an idea for a new plan. If one of his hearts can take out three of their men, then one more may just end this and the rogue won't have to follow through with his lunatic scheme of infiltrating the city. He should do it; he can easily live off of three hearts until he can find the time to hunt for more. Yet he couldn't make himself send it. It's asinine, but Kakuzu just can't. The goosebumps that once tingled his skin now feel like an infestation of insects burrowing within his muscle. He can't set loose another heart, not when his instincts are going haywire. Kakuzu checked the girl in his arms and almost wished he hadn't. Hazel is deathly pale with a greenish hue; her body is beginning to shiver-

'-No… no that isn't shivering. AH DAMN IT! - 'She's convulsing, Hazel is having a seizure. Kakuzu landed on the ground and laid the girl down.

"Hazel? Hazel?!" Hazel is still thrashing and unconscious. The child is bound to hurt herself if Kakuzu doesn't act fast.

"-Stop this NOW. Hazel?!" He held her shoulders down to contain her.

"Wake up! Wake up now you brat!" Feeling erratic, he struck her face but she didn't wake. He didn't believe she would either, but Kakuzu had to try something.

"Get up! Stop this! Hazel!" Foam is leaking from her mouth. Her eyelids opened up but her pupils are rolled back into her skull. He's going to have to suck it up and send the heart to buy them time. Still, even with options scarce, he hesitated.

'Get it together. I must send it. I can't move her like this. Just let go -' He forced the stitches in his back to loosen. The lightning mask was just starting to disconnect from Kakuzu's back until his senses detected Hazel's weakening chakra. The child's chakra… it's flowing out of her body. Kakuzu is beyond himself. Her system is cleaning itself out. She was just arguing with him by the fire last night. How… HOW?!

'What is her chakra DOING?' A single moment. In one. single. second. her depleting chakra crashes. Like a flame meeting water, it's snuffed out. Hazel is drained of her life force. There is no signature to speak of. It's all gone. The shock of it left Kakuzu reeling. He searched her body to see if he could find what was taking her chakra but this is out of his league. His cash cow is dying in his arms and he is powerless. Kakuzu can't stop whatever is killing her. He is far from a medical ninja

"No, no, NO! I need to get my money!" He placed his ear against Hazel's chest to search for her vitals. He is preparing to give her CPR, but his ears picked up something… unnerving.

"…what?" Kakuzu's eyes are wide and twitching. His masked mouth is agape. The shinobi sensed her chakra dispel for himself and even now the girl has no signature. Hazel should be taking her last breath-

So why is her heart still pumping?

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Elsewhere

Ram is seeing red. Their target's attack was well coordinated and effective. Though he hates the unintended compliment, truth is truth-

"They're good, REAL good." Owl and Hyena nodded.

"Captain, if I may? I believe we should stop pursuing them-" Hyena responded. "-They may be out of our league. That thing back there was only a jutsu. We haven't faced them and yet we are already down half of our squad. It's wiser to collect the info from this encounter and return to the village. If we die on this mission, I doubt anything will come from our sacrifices. We'll only cripple our village's ranks further." Ram hates how right Hyena is and again perturbed by how calm of an Inuzuka his teammate is. It's like a dumb Nara, it never happens. Nonetheless-

"Shit but they're right THERE! The four of us are the strongest in this squad. We have a chance! They killed so many of our people and injured our own teammates! If we stop here, could we face the victim's families ever again?! Could we speak to our squad members if we were to give up now? They were almost killed themselves! All for the sake of this mission! Our own comrades… they risked everything to get us to this point!" His subordinates couldn't form a response because their captain is also right. The situation is yet another ambiguous dilemma with no clear, 'correct' answer. Do they call it and go back to the Leaf with their tails between their legs but with info on a possible threat? Or face the targets and risk dying in vain and leaving the Village's forces without even more shinobi? All for the chance to enact revenge for their people. Captain Ram stared evenly at the two humans and dog with him.

"Let's put this to a vote. Keep it simple… Sana, you too but please vote the way you wish to. Don't just pair up with Hyena because you are buddies. I'm positive he'd want your honest answer." Hyena whispered his agreeance and Ram continued.

"-If we tie, it's my call. 'Kay, what say you three?" Hyena and his dog answered at the same time.

"Leave with our lives and intel." Ram figured this would happen. They do think alike regardless of their partnership.

"Heard. I wish to continue with the pursuit." Ram notified Owl. It's down to Owl's vote. If she ties this, then they will go with Ram's call. If she aligns with Hyena and Sana, they will abandon the mission. She hates the pressure but she doesn't complain. Instead, she mulls over her options.

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Kakuzu continues to listen to her heart. He can hear her lungs as well. The girl is breathing quickly but still strong. She's alive. Is this the illness? Is it keeping her alive?

'No, an illness that sucks a body dry of chakra should have killed her. It isn't the illness keeping her alive- she is. She is fighting against it.' Does this mean Hazel can live without chakra in her system? It's the only theory he can muster. Sure, it's unheard of. This should be impossible, but Kakuzu is beginning to wonder if they should review everything that's ever been considered 'impossible.' Hazel has been a walking anomaly since he's met her. With that in mind, he waited another moment to check that he wasn't hearing things. He also took her wrist to feel for her pulse. She's very much alive. Alive and well (sort of).

'Then, is it possible her people can survive without chakra? Or is it just her?' It's astounding. Kakuzu can hear the rustling sound of money being counted.

'…Hazel, you better get over this illness.' He scooped her up and took off into the trees yet again.

'- She really is the biggest cash cow I've herded. As if her value couldn't get any higher. She can live without chakra! What if this really is an ability of her people? A village will give millions of ryo for the chance to 'recruit' future shinobi with such a trait!' This fate for her and her people would be sure to be riddled with suffering and pain. A village will want to mass produce such a trait… by any means. He is positive whoever buys her will kidnap the land's children and newborns to try to find more like Hazel. It's a classic tactic of the Cloud village.

"- It isn't safe to bargain with the Cloud Village directly, but I can use the black market as a middleman to sell her. I could take her there within a week and cash her in. All that money will soon be in my hands- No. Hold it. I am getting ahead of myself again.' The riches are bountiful as is, but Kakuzu forced himself to remember why he's kept her in the first place.

'I can do that after I interrogate her. If I am to get every ryo from this mission I can't leave any stone left unturn. I still need to find her people. I shouldn't sell her until I do. What if I'm missing another detail that could skyrocket her value even further? I could have missed this strange quirk of hers and lost all of that ryo because I wasn't thorough. I mean, what if she has another secret? One even more valuable than this. Maybe another ability-? '

In a cloud of embers, the two evaporated into thin air.

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…

…

…

eLsEwHeRe?...

Pain flooded his body. So quick yet so intense. Between the pain and strange turning in Kakuzu's stomach, he could have sworn the two of them were sucked up into a tornado. The wind, it must be a wind jutsu. He was a fool; the rogue didn't watch out for the ANBU. Kakuzu's greed, it had distracted him. He didn't have time to open his eyes before the flash of pain dissipated. His still turning stomach told him he was thrown into the air so Kakuzu cradled Hazel in his arms to protect her as his body crashed back down onto the earth. His back hit first and it's moments like these he regrets the masks stitched into his body. They drove into his spine and rattled his ribs.

'They snuck up on us. How stupid of me, I need to get back up and counter.' Kakuzu opened his eyes but was soon distracted once more.

"…S-snow?" Every branch, every stone- the entire landscape around is covered in a blanket of white. White with the vivid green of pine trees sprinkled throughout the land. It is the beginning of fall and they weren't supposed to be far enough north for such weather. Amongst the light sprinkling of snowflakes Kakuzu's eyes picked something else. Floating around them are still burning flakes of ash.

'A jutsu!?' He shot up and prepared for battle. Yet after scanning the area, he found no one is near them.

"Then where is this from?" Kakuzu quickly checked to make sure he isn't under a genjutsu. The mercenary formed his hands under the child's back so he wouldn't drop her as he charged his chakra.

"-KAI," Nothing changed. He tried one more time to double check.

"-KAI." Still the same. This is reality. Kakuzu shook his head and went to check Hazel to see if she made it. She is fine- better than fine. He can sense a tad bit of her chakra recollecting within her. Hazel's color is coming back as well and her heart rate is calming. She's downright peaceful. In her sleep the girl nestled her red cheek into his chest and tucked her knees into Kakuzu to keep warm.

'What…happened…" Kakuzu mumbled. He didn't have time to think much more of it before the ping of chakra caught his attention once more.

Exactly three detectable signatures are in the area. The chase isn't over.

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Earlier.

"I wish to follow through with the mission. I know personal details are not allowed- but you should know my cousin was one of the members in the missing squad. I want revenge for her." Owl waited for her teammates to say something. Hyena must be angry yet he's staying quiet. The first to speak was Sana.

"So, keep with the pursuit?" Their captain responded finally.

"…Yes. Full speed, no more precaution. If we follow a false trail then so be it because if we give those two a chance to muster up another attack LIKE THAT we will lose them for sure. At least this way there is a chance. It's now or never." The three shinobi and dog sprinted as commanded and disregard their earlier caution. As Captain Ram stated, it's now or never.

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Hyena's partner perked up, judging by the trail they are getting close but this isn't normal. The dog can tell by the concentration of a scent when they were about to approach a target. Usually there is a long, gradual buildup of potency but the scent is becoming stronger way quicker than it should. Only one thing can explain it.

"Uh, I don't know why but I believe they might've stopped. We'll be approaching them shortly." Captain Ram knew what to do.

"They might be making a stand. Conceal your signatures everyone. We are going to attempt an ambush using Formation Five." Hyena groaned.

"Why even bother giving that 'strategy' a name? It's just 'everyone sneaks around and try to find an opening.' There isn't any 'formation'."

"Oh, pardon me Hyena. I didn't realize they made YOU the captain. My bad." Ram retorted. Hyena didn't respond and that was enough for their captain.

"…As I said. Formation Five…" The four split into three 'teams' once they felt close enough that Ram and Owl wouldn't get lost. Hyena wished he could send off Sana, but it would be more dangerous to do so at this point. So, the pair had stayed together instead. As they encircled the target the ANBU took shelter so they could better gauge the situation. They finally met their targets and the situation is nothing like they expected. None of them could recognize the man but judging by his exposed physique he is certainly a shinobi. What threw them for a loop was the child laying unconscious on the ground. The male is pressing his ear to her chest listening for a heartbeat and appears troubled by what he's hearing. The ANBU didn't know how to proceed- they weren't expecting one of the targets to already be down. This created a whole new opportunity for the ANBU.

'Take out man, girl lives.' Ram signaled. Who knows what secrets she could have and if they don't have to take her down, they might as well capture her and bring her back to the village for questioning. With new directions the ANBU readied themselves. Just when Owl was about to strike, the male target abruptly snatched the girl up and leapt to resume his escape all over again. The ANBU couldn't help but notice he seemed…elated? Why would he get excited at a time like this? Before they could even think another thought the scenery vanished. Searing pain fried the ANBU. Each and every one of them shut their eyes despite their training and froze. Just when they thought they couldn't be more startled. They woke up in the middle of an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FOREST than the one they were just in before.

Snow. How is there snow? All of them had lost their sight of the targets and landed scattered across the land. Ram ended up hanging on a tree branch by the collar of his shirt. Hyena had hit the icy dirt and was fairly fine until Sana landed on his stomach. He is still fine, but he did almost lose his breakfast. Owl was the only one with a semi graceful landing. She fell into a snow drift on her backside. It's cold but she couldn't stop staring at the tops of the pine trees. She forgot what they were doing and addressed her comrades aloud.

"-Is…is this a genjutsu." They checked and sure enough it isn't. Their captain dislodged himself from the tree and leapt to the ground to help Owl. Hyena pushed Sana off him and stood up. Knocking off the snow from his pants. Sana also knocked the snow off himself by shaking his body.

"No, it seems it isn't. Just like you all I've got a lot of questions but let's focus on what's top priority. Sana?" Captain Ram sighed. Hyena and Owl also looked to Sana to get a feel for where they ended up. Sana has been all over the world and knows each area by its scent. They can never get lost with him. It's usually pretty easy for Sana to get his bearings but the dog is taking longer than usual.

"Sana? What's up? Where are we?" The dog shook his head.

"I-I don't know." All three humans froze. This isn't possible.

"…You're probably just a tad jostled, Sana. There isn't a single CITY you haven't been to. Try again" Hyena commanded. Sana sniffed again. Then circled the area sniffing every plant, rock, or piece of debris. Even tried to catch the scent of the animals. Nothing is matching up correctly. A few things smell similar, like the squirrels and birds but even those scents aren't quite right.

"…It's…I don't KNOW. I don't know where we are I'm sorry." Hyena shook his head in disbelief. This is Sana's only specialty and he's GOOD. REAL good. So, if he says they are somewhere new than he believes his friend.

"Don't worry about it, Sana. You tried." His human companion's kindness made the canine feel worse. Captain Ram and Owl are also understanding and didn't push the issue. Instead, Ram continued to lead his team.

"Then we are… somewhere new… somehow…? Everyone we need to clear the area and make sure there isn't any danger. There are enemy shinobi that may be lurking and we need to secure ourselves before we can figure out what's next. I get that it's hard to stay calm, but we need to do this before we try to figure this shit out. Stay together and use formation 'Spiral.'"

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Author's notes.

Thank you so much to the guest reviewer K!

And Littleham- Idk where the next chapter went IT'S MISSING OMG…! Lol sorry I am really getting irregular with my updates but if it makes you or anyone else feel more secure with this fanfic- I have the entire script written out for the whole story! It's just a matter of writing it out and making sure I do my best! Thank you!