Chapter 17.

Kakuzu bolted. He can feel the shinobi's signatures skirting around the forest seemingly unaware of his presence. The ANBU were far too close. Far, far too close. Kakuzu is berating himself for letting his guard down. It was bad enough the first time but twice? Unacceptable. Meanwhile Hazel bobbed and swayed with each jump he took. It seems like the girl can't stay conscious for more than a day and Kakuzu always ends up carrying her around anymore. It's aggravating for the rogue but he can't chastise her just yet. Instead, although he shouldn't at a time like this, the mercenary is trying to piece together what just happened.

'Did we teleport? If they are who I think they are- then it's possible. The Yellow Flash can use teleportation ninjutsu and he is a Leaf shinobi.' Kakuzu likes to believe he is realistic. If he is facing the Yellow Flash the missing-nin is done for. That man has a ridiculously high bounty for a reason. Kakuzu had been tempted to pursue the shinobi before but deemed it unwise. Minato Namikaze can kill him before Kakuzu could draw a weapon. He is one of the only men to ever exist that the bounty hunter refuses to hunt.

'-And if he were to have been involved, I wouldn't be breathing. He wouldn't waste the time or the chakra to teleport all of us to a new location. Not when he has the power to end it. Hell would have been over for me back in the mountains if he were here. Well, if not the Yellow Flash, then who? Maybe this isn't a teleportation jutsu? It may still be genjutsu if there is an Uchiha here…' It didn't take Kakuzu even a second to rule out this theory.

'-No, no. The Uchiha torture their victims with genjutsu. This is way too out of character for them and I don't believe I looked at anyone's eyes.' The three shinobi's signatures are really trailing behind. Kakuzu assumes the ANBU are just as disoriented as himself so they might not track them for the time being. Taking the opportunity this presented, the mercenary scouted for any familiar land marks and caught sight of more mountains approaching. He has to refocus on losing the ANBU for the mountains are sure to be grueling to navigate since Kakuzu still hasn't figured out where they are. What happened… happened. He can think on it later.

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Hours later.

Kakuzu ran until the enemy's signatures drifted out of his sensing range and continued to run to ensure they lose them. He found rivers and small ponds along the way so the missing-nin used the water to disperse his scent trail as he had done so prior. Unlike before the water is covered in a thin layer of ice, forcing the rogue to seek out unfrozen sections of running water. His pant legs are heavy with chunks of ice still clinging on. He must find a shelter tonight. If not for his sake, then for Hazel's. Neither of them are dressed for this weather and she's already ill. This climate may kill the child.

'I think I see something. That can't be right?' Kakuzu could swear he sees city buildings piercing the horizon but if that were true, he would be able to sense the citizens. Yet he feels nothing. Not one signature.

'-No, there is definitely a city coming up. I see the lights but if there are people nearby why am I unable to sense them?' As if he wasn't surprised before, Kakuzu almost fell on his face. He might as well have ran straight into a wall- the realization hit him so hard.

'Earlier! EARLIER, YOU IDIOT! Hazel was able to live without chakra! Are these HER PEOPLE? IS THIS HER COUNTRY!?' He turned to Hazel. The child is out cold even now but he noticed her nose twitch ever so slightly.

'-She may wake up soon. Finally, something is going right! I need her.' Kakuzu is heading straight for the city. If these are her people than this already confusing predicament just became a hell of a lot worse. As Kakuzu took another leap the forest broke into a narrow clearing. Below the shinobi saw a strange path laid out. It isn't a dirt road nor a stone path. It's smooth, with a dotted yellow line dividing the center. Kakuzu's thoughts flashed back to the photos he saw in her phone. This type of pave way was a common sight in Hazel's pictures and he remembered it carries those odd carriages her people use. If there was any shred of doubt before it's gone now. This is the girl's homeland. They are in her country. While he would prefer to stop and try to understand how this came about he will have to hold off. First priority is to disguise himself and find somewhere to dress Hazel so they don't stand out.

Thinking fast, he recalled an outfit her father had worn quite a few times in her pictures. He considered only changing his clothes but figured even that isn't enough to blend in. He doesn't know which facial features of his will stand out in this country so he must go further than that. The shinobi must alter his entire appearance to be sure and he has just the disguise in mind. Kakuzu hastily wove the hand signs for a transformation jutsu. To help keep wondering eyes off of him he transformed into the only man he knows from this country- her father. Every detail he could remember was used in his disguise. This should guarantee the mercenary won't stick out. Also, the two of them now resemble each other so the civilians should just assume Hazel is related to him. They shouldn't suspect anything more nefarious such as the truth behind their 'partnership'.

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Later.

Kakuzu made it to the outskirts of the city. It smells of fish and smog and is so alien to him. What he's seen would have floored him if he hadn't had any forewarning. The buildings really are built differently than the ones he's familiar with back home and those carriages are EVERYWHERE. The vehicles are shockingly loud as well. He almost sent a kunai at one after it let out a monstrous roar. He had barely stopped himself in time. The mercenary landed and took cover in the last patch of trees he could see to clothe Hazel and wake her up. He only had to slip on her coat because she's already wearing pants and these closed-toe boots she refused to take off. He had stolen the boots and the coat for her recently since he was intending to head North eventually. Yet the very day he snagged the shoes she began using them. It was summer at the time, but she seemed to prefer them over her sandals. Kakuzu never understood why, but it made no difference to him so he ignored the strange quirk and now he is grateful he let her. Hazel's feet didn't get frostbite because she did. Kakuzu finished zipping up her coat and as if on cue the girl woke up. Of course Hazel did, the man isn't gentle. He was also grumbling out loud without realizing. It's ok though, she feels better. Her twisted stomach has untangled and the pain dissipated. She cracked open her eyes but what she saw nearly knocked her out again.

"…Dad?" Her voice quivered. The girl tried to touch his face but Kakuzu caught her hand. He recognized this is a mistake on his part. He should have waited until the child was awake to cast the jutsu.

"No Hazel, it's me." Hazel sputtered. His voice, that was-

"K-Kakuzu?!"

"Yes, it's me." Her lip trembled but she didn't cry. She had seen him transform before whenever they passed other travelers, so she's aware of this power of his. Only this time it's left a bad taste in her mouth.

"Why my dad, Kakuzu?"

"You won't understand me. Too difficult." Hazel squinted at him.

"I won't understand? Ok?" She didn't like it but her language skills are still garbage, so he is probably right. She decided to ask other questions instead. Ones he may be able to explain.

"-Where are we? Where shinobi?"

"They are gone."

"Understood, where are we?" She asked again. Kakuzu stood up and held a hand out to help her up. She took it and got back to her feet. It hurts- it hurts terribly seeing the image of her father on Kakuzu's face. She wished her actual dad was here to help her out of the snow not Kaku-

"-Snow?" He can read her confusion like a bingo book.

"Hazel, we made it to your home." Hazel furrowed her brow. The girl knows enough to recognize the word 'home' but she is from the farmlands of Ohio. Certainly not a pine forest.

"No, not home." Now Kakuzu is confused.

"This isn't your home? Look- "He pointed to another one of those weird paths up ahead. She followed his hand to see what he is pointing at and Hazel gasped when she saw what he was showing her.

"A ROAD!? I haven't seen a road in ages! Kakuzu!" She squealed. Kakuzu cupped his hand over her mouth and shushed the child.

"Hazel, the shinobi." Hazel gasped behind his palm.

'Oh no, we have JUST escaped the shinobi. They may find us again.'

"-I'm sorry." She mumbled into his hand.

"Just walk and don't try to get help." He let her go and Hazel's attitude got the best of her.

"Again. Kakuzu said again."

"Kakuzu 'you have' said 'that before'." She sneered back at him.

"Kakuzu- YOU HAVE said THAT BEFOOORE." Hazel sassed. Kakuzu snatched her hood and pulled it over her head and face with a harsh jerk. The girl bent over before he let her go and Hazel stumbled.

"Not now." Hazel ripped her hood back off of her head.

"Fuckface."

"Watch your tone and lead the way." She squinted at him this time. That was a new word he had used.

"Leaud?" He only gestured for her to go before him. Hazel's mouth popped open.

"-Ooohhhhh lead." She went before him and took a moment to really think about what is happening. Her reactions are muted because she is still drowsy but the situation is really starting to dawn on her.

'This road… it is like the ones back at home. It seems Kakuzu is lost too and he's trying to say that I'm home. Does this mean I'm back IN AMERICA!?' The excitement is too much to contain. It had to have been months, maybe close to a year even, since the first day of this journey with Kakuzu. During that entire time she never ONCE found any signs of home. Hazel could swear there are even buildings.

'-No, THERE ARE BUILDINGS. HOLY SHIT!' Through the trees about a few miles away, there is a city. A city with a massive waterfront view and mountains encompassing it shrouded in white. It's beautiful and even though it isn't home it looks more like home than anywhere she's been with the missing-nin. The child finally may have the chance to reunite with her parents.

"Kakuzu, city? Go to city?" She squealed/whispered.

"Yes, to the city. No help." He confirmed with a scowl. Hazel will listen, just like before she will play along. It's gotten her this far and it may just get her back to her parents like she had prayed it would.

"No help, no help. I no help." Her legs are weak, but they still picked up speed until she began running through the snow. Kakuzu appreciated the child's haste.

"Hazel, you try to translate." Hazel nearly skipped with joy.

"Yes, Kakuzu!" She didn't question how this came to be. It didn't matter how- she couldn't care less.

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