Chapter 75 - One Last Kiss
"Yugito-senpai, are you sure you don't need to stop for healing?" Yugito snapped her attention to the right when she heard Riku - a Chunin Kouhai of hers - asking with a worried expression.
"I'm healing just fine," Yugito answered, hiding the increasingly throbbing pain that was spreading throughout her body.
She spoke the truth, the Jinchuuriki healing was a passive thing whether she was conscious or not. But just because her body was repairing itself, didn't mean that it stopped feeling like her muscles were being ripped apart and her bones were being shaved off at every movement.
The pain had become bearable. That much was expected of Nii Yugito, Kumo's elite shinobi, the host of Two-Tail.
"But surely, even you have a limit! Besides, we've already sent a message back to Kumogakure," Riku argued with barely a whisper, making sure that she wouldn't draw any unwanted attention from others, which Yugito appreciated.
Yugito had long learned to not show her weakness, ever since she was told what exactly her role as the Two-Tail Jinchuuriki entailed. After all these years, it was hard to say what relationship she had with Matatabi - prisoner and warden, partners in combat, destined enemies … But the one thing that was sure was that the nekomata wouldn't hesitate to exploit her weakness.
The messenger hawk carrying a report of Akatsuki's attack on Yugito had left hours before, hoping to convey the direness of the situation before Yugito's return. Even then, she didn't feel any more assured.
"It's better if I can relay the events myself to avoid any confusion," Yugito answered. They had misjudged Akatsuki. They didn't go into hiding because they felt threatened by the attention, they did so to lower the guards of Kumogakure.
It was human nature to settle into a long-lasting comfort, after all. By a stroke of luck, her attackers were killed by the Konoha shinobi before they could kill her. But it was exactly this sense of peace after the crisis that fueled her distrust.
"It's not just a matter that affects myself, but Killer B-sama as well. It's safer if we return to the village as soon as we can," Yugito repeated again, solidifying her mind.
Normally, Matatabi would be laughing at her from the inside. It was Yugito who promised with confidence that she would complete the solo assassination without any failure. Now, she hid her tail and scurried her way back to Kumogakure as if the mere thoughts of being outside scared her.
But this time, Matatabi remained quiet inside of Yugito, as if every single word was exhausting to say for the injured feline.
"If you say so, senpai. But please rely on us a little more and trust me when I say that nobody would ever think any less of you," Riku said as she stretched a faint smile on her face - that was until her face froze because of the mass of white that was quickly expanding on her body.
Yugito heard screams around her, from Riku, from all the other Kumo-nin that came to escort her return. Foams of white wrapped around their torso, suffocating them before they could even blink.
Matatabi let out a growl in Yugito's mind as bright blue chakra coursed through her vein, forcefully pushing itself through her musculature and bones that could break at any moment. No time to be shocked as Yugito swiped her claw, slashing through the white mass that engulfed Riku's face and throwing it to the ground.
Riku gasped for air to fill her lung, but Yugito's danger alert turned haywire as she felt a sinister gaze fixated on her - red and black, a swirling mess of hate, anger, and desperation.
"I had such hope for Kakuzu and Hidan, with their unique abilities and all." A voice rippled in the air as the scene in front of Yugito swirled. The man with the orange mask raised his head a little as he placed his gaze on Yugito. "But they were quite the disappointment, it seems. And now we have to clean up their mess."
"Tobi, don't speak ill of those who sacrificed for our cause." Yugito barely had time to register the second voice before she was pushed to the side by a force that came out of nowhere. Blue chakra enveloped her as black marking spread on top of the bright colour. The tailed-beast chakra augmented her body and cushioned her as she crashed through several tree trunks.
Riku, on the other hand, didn't have the luck. Her body hung on a broken branch where the sharp tip that pierced her chest was smeared with red.
Akatsuki, the red robes rang the bell in Yugito's mind when she felt her vision go white with fury - both hers and that of Matatabi - as she sprung forward and charged with fire in her claws.
Eight minutes later, that fire was extinguished.
Yugito tried to breathe, tried to draw in one more ounce of oxygen that would hopefully make her hands move. But every organ in Yugito's body hurt and the black rods that punched holes in her body weighed like lead.
"How are things at Konan and Kabuto's end?" The mangekyou user - Tobi - asked in nonchalance, not giving Yugito any more attention now that she was, once again, on the verge of death.
"Yeah, Kabuto messed up the control over the Kazekage and Sasori in the end, so he had to suppress them into mindless puppets." It was a third voice, one that Yugito couldn't make out. "But it worked well while it lasted. We have the Jinchuuriki."
Despite the pain that seemed to erupt at every second, Yugito's mind worked its hardest to decipher the confusing words she had heard. Another Jinchuuriki was in danger, just like her.
"Well, would you look at that? Now that's what I would call 'no expectation, no disappointment'. Sometimes, they even give you pleasant surprises," Tobi exclaimed as a light-hearted joy filled his voice. "Shame that we don't have Kisame and Deidara's tissue. But what can I say, my cousin is very good at erasing bodies, to the point that it's tempting me to try it on her myself,"
Noises cluttered Yugito's mind, accentuating the slow beat of her heart and even the flow of her blood out of the wound across her chest.
Konoha said that Akatsuki operated in teams, each being given its own missions. So when the previous two missing-nin that were sent to capture Yugito got defeated by the Konoha-nin, they subconsciously thought that it would be the end of Akatsuki's current attempt.
Yugito didn't question whose mistake it was, just like she didn't question why Sasori's name - supposedly dead, according to Konoha and Suna - was mentioned alongside that of Kazekage. It was too late and too taxing for her to dwell on something that couldn't be helped.
So Yugito decided to focus her energy on something that might help - the last thing she might be able to do in this sorry state.
I'm sorry, Matatabi.
She didn't expect a response, not after Matatabi had exhausted her power in the battle against the immovable enemy. Even if she did, Yugito would imagine the nekomata to be cursing at her.
Are you certain? The calmness in Matatabi's fatigued voice was not what she had expected.
Yes. Yugito answered as her hand inched closer to the fallen figure beside her.
By a twist of fate, Riku's body had landed next to her. They had fought all over the forest, destroying the landscape to a point beyond recognition. But Riku's upper body had remained, hidden by slabs of rock that somehow stacked to a cave that shielded her remains.
Biting her teeth so that no gasping breaths could come out and alert the enemy, Yugito curled her fingers around the kunai that was still clenched in the girl's hand when she met a quick death.
Well, it's not like I have anything to lose. Matatabi mocked her in her mind when Yugito tightened her grip around the cold metallic weapon.
Yugito would laugh as well if she wasn't in such a precarious situation. She wouldn't say something like 'I wish we'll meet again' because that would just be a badly told lie.
Matatabi had caused her as much trouble as she had caused the creature. The truth remained that none of them needed each other. Yugito didn't need Matatabi to become a hard-working shinobi, and Matatabi didn't need Yugito as a host - even loathed it, one might add.
But circumstances brought them together as one, and they had come to accept it.
Still, once was enough.
You'll only have a second, don't waste it. Matatabi warned, dispelling any hesitation that Yugito may have towards what she was about to do.
Matatabi roared in her mind, burning away her blue flames full of vitality so that Yugito could break free from the control of the black rods. Without any hesitation, Yugito brought the kunai to her own neck and stabbed using all her strength.
No one would be getting hold of Matatabi for at least another three years. Not Akatsuki, not Kumogakure, not Yugito, not even Matatabi herself.
"Yikes, I only took my eyes off of you for a second." A hand touched her shoulder just as Yugito drilled the kunai into her flesh. Yet, not a single drop of blood flew out. To Yugito's horror, it didn't feel like her kunai had touched anything even though she was sure that it went into where her neck was.
A black shadow crept up from underneath and Yugito's body was locked in place. The black shadow covered her like fabric as it forced her to remove the kunai from her neck - her nonexisting neck - and dropped the kunai.
"What's with Jinchuuriki wanting to commit suicide these days? You really think delaying the tailed beast's rebirth by three years can make a difference?" Yugito heard the man called Tobi say as more black rods pierced her body, pinning her down on the ground with even more force.
"Wake up, so long as you hidden villages keep on slotting tailed-beasts into humans to stake claims for such power, Akatsuki will come for them. Who knows, maybe even those tailed-beasts will like our grand plan more than whatever destiny the shinobi village had planned for then, don't you agree, Nagato?"
"You talk too much." Yugito could vaguely hear the displeasure and tension in the voice that responded, but her consciousness was slipping, from the broken bones in her body, the damaged organs, and the litres of blood that was being lost.
Even then, she wanted to scream at them, telling them that Matatabi loathed them enough to want to spend three years void of any thought and consciousness instead.
But unfortunately, Yugito never told anyone what Matatabi said or wanted. In Kumogakure, she always needed to be in control. Her village needed a shinobi, not a beast. Too bad, she supposed it would have to stay that way forever.
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ fuwa~fuwa~desu~~~
I gave the hospital one last look before turning to Ryuu and asking, "Is he awake?"
"Yes," Ryuu answered. There was a pause before the younger boy spoke up again, "Are you sure you don't want to spend more time with Sasuke-kun?"
"He has others around him now. Even without me, he won't be alone," I said, a faint smile stretching on my lips as all sorts of feelings bubbled up. Shaking them off, I directed our attention back to work. "What's the prisoner's status?"
"He's … reserved." Ryuu furrowed his brows, trying to find the appropriate description. "He won't answer anything. He just hides in a corner and tries to stay away from anyone that approaches."
"So he's hiding from human contact," I summarized and Ryuu nodded a second later. Is he hiding from other people, or is he hiding a part of himself?
When I descended into the lowest level of the Special Containment Quarter - formerly the Eastern Root Base - I got to see for myself what Ryuu meant.
The orange-haired boy pressed himself against the corner of the walls as if he was trying to melt into the steel surface. He hugged his own legs tight as he buried his face in his knees. Chakra sealings chains connected one of his feet to the back of the cell while additional restraints made of chakra-negating materials bound his wrists.
It was unfortunate that we had to treat him this way, but what he had transformed into during our previous encounter warned us not to take him lightly.
When he sensed me intruding into the silent space, he raised his head and our gaze met through the translucent barrier. Unlike what Ryuu described to me, the boy didn't merely retreat back to his shadow.
He opened his mouth, looking like he wanted to say something, but after a few moments, no words came out.
"What's your name?" I asked after seeing that he wouldn't. While I had heard what Orochimaru's underling had called him, I wanted to hear it for myself, to make sure we start on the right page and to gauge what he was like when he was not promising my demise.
"Jū… Jūgo," the boy answered, lowering his head unconsciously. I didn't know what prompted him to make contact with me when he refused to do the same with my fellow Konoha-nin, but clearly, his resolve wasn't very strong.
Therefore, I stepped forward, closing the distance between myself and Jūgo until I was standing right in front of the barrier.
"Jūgo," I called him, startling him with both my actions and my voice, making him unable to ignore my presence. "Do you remember what happened at Orochimaru's base?"
"I … a little. The memories of my rampage return afterwards," Jūgo answered with a soft voice. He seemed to remember something as panic filled his voice, "Kimimaro and Orochimaru-sama—"
"Both of them are alive. Your friend Kimimaro escaped with instructions from Orochimaru to preserve his master's life." I looked on with intrigue when the boy looked assured by my words.
He clearly had an attachment to the one named Kimimaro, which in turn, translated into some degree of loyalty for Orochimaru. However, he didn't seem to hate Konoha, who was responsible for his separation, much less attack us by turning into that thing full of fury.
Well, perhaps it was because Kimimaro was still alive that he kept his sanity.
"You're not going to question if I'm telling the truth or not?" I asked. Jūgo paused for a moment as he considered my words, then he shook his head.
"I don't think I'm in any position to question that," Jūgo muttered as he pulled on the chain that locked him to the wall, making a rattling noise that was sure to get all those Anbu agents spying in the corner all jittery. "If in the end, you're lying, then I guarantee you that this chain won't hold. But before that, I'd rather not let the other 'me' out."
"You've got quite a gentle personality, don't you?" I said, but Jūgo shook his head vigorously. Since it didn't look like he wanted to correct my words, I continued.
"I'll be honest, you're quite a change from what we usually see of those that associate with Orochimaru. But nevertheless, you've got senjutsu energy coursing through your body like a natural reservoir of the cursed mark that Orochimaru uses. So, may I ask what is it that Orochimaru wants from you?"
As expected, he stayed silent, burying his face in his knees, neither denying nor confirming my words.
"Fine, let me ask you a different question. What do you want from Orochimaru?" Most of those associated with Orochimaru wanted something, even if that thing was an illusion instilled by Orochimaru - like meaning in life, or the feeling of a changed existence.
That could very well be the case with Jūgo, but with how careful he was towards his contact with others, perhaps there was something more practical that he wanted.
When Jūgo debated in silence, I prompted with another push, "If you don't tell us, how can we give you what you need now that Orochimaru wasn't here? After all, you looked very bothered." That got his attention.
The boy raised his head and stared at me, or my eyes, to be exact. I was all too familiar with the attention my sharingan could bring to know what it was exactly that attracted his gaze. Suddenly, I had a pretty good guess of what he wanted.
"Orochimaru-sama and Kimimaro can contain the other 'me', preventing me from slaughtering the innocent," Jūgo said, regret mixed in with the fear in his voice - a fear of himself, when the 'him' that he knew of became an observer to horrifying deeds down by the 'him' that he couldn't understand.
"So, is this what you're wishing for?" I blinked, letting the red swirl out of my irides like the flow of ink, painting the three-tomoe pattern of the sharingan. I allowed chakra to rise to my eyes with malicious intent, letting it pierce the oranged-haired boy through my gaze.
Jūgo's body shook under the pressure and the horror I instilled in him, unconsciously, he whipped his head back and slammed his back against the metal wall, only to discover that there was no way to run.
Fear washed his body like the icy-cold river in the dead of winter, freezing his body and any strength that he could muster, dousing his mind of any thoughts of resistance.
For him, perhaps, fear was medicine.
Quietly, I lowered my gaze and a second later, my eyes returned to normal. I give Jūgo some time to catch his own breath and regain strength in his muscles. When he looked decently awake enough, he looked up and our gaze met again.
What I saw was a mixture of aversion and relief. Interesting.
"The sharingan has contained things much worse than you, Jūgo, and Konoha has plenty of us." Well, I didn't know if three and a half pairs counted as plenty, but that was like the majority of our population, anyway.
"Also, even if you break the chain, this thing isn't just for show," I told Jūgo, knocking the transparent barrier that stood between us. This place wasn't named 'Special Containment' for nothing. In terms of physical destruction, even with Susanoo, it would take me a while to break the barrier. "So don't worry, you'll find the containment you're looking for in here as well."
Jūgo let out a sigh of relief, even relaxing his body a little bit so that he was not digging his fingernails into his leg. However, before he could go back to being a silent prisoner - contained by a different organization, but his role remained unchanged - I spoke up again.
"If all you're looking for is someone to control you, to take responsibility for you, then you'll find that both here and with Orochimaru," I said, hearing my voice resonate in the empty halls. "But for how long? Until you die of old age? Until the other party breaks off their promise?"
I hoped that he knew that what Orochimaru was willing to provide him was a deal - he would take responsibility to quench Jūgo's bloodthirst in exchange for the research value Jūgo could provide. Konoha, too, was only doing this because we wanted to glean some information on Orochimaru.
"But I don't have a permanent solution," Jūgo answered, quick to pick up the meaning of my words - or perhaps, he knew it perfectly from the beginning. "My values to others are temporary, but at least I'll have temporary solutions."
Well, as long as he was clear on that part. As he said, sometimes permanent solutions were simply not in sight, then it was back to temporary fixes, one bandaid at a time.
There was nothing else making me stay, seeing that Jūgo wasn't going to give us more information on Orochimaru willingly, not now anyway. As for whether the interrogation would be worth the risk of making him transform, that was a question left for Tsunade-sama and Morino-san to decide.
However, just before I was about to leave, someone knocked on the door to the hallway once before entering.
"A word, please," Kakashi said as he raised a washed-out scroll in his hand, catching my attention immediately.
"A white snake delivered this scroll to the Anbu Station at the outer perimeter of village patrol. Orochimaru is alive alright, and he was looking for an audience with Konoha," Kakashi explained, voicing out my disbelief as I read over Orochimaru's message - not disbelief for the fact that Orochimaru was still alive, but the fact that he contacted Konoha without using a method that involved mass destruction.
"And Tsunade-sama is actually considering giving him a meeting?" I asked, handing Kakashi back the scroll once I finished its content, which said that Orochimaru would be coming to the outpost himself in the form of a shadow clone, and he hoped that we'd have an amiable chat about the 'future' before he was dispelled.
"While he said that it's a shadow clone, on the principle of precaution, we need to check it out. But if it really is a shadow clone, then it would be pointless for us to pop the clone. Tsunade-sama wants to know why he had come, for the boy we brought back, or something else," Kakashi said as we ascended up the base and climbed back to a space filled with open air.
Only when I felt the moonlight veiling over us as the night took over, did I realize something. "Wait, Orochimaru said that he'd be coming tomorrow, no, today, at dawn." That made it just a few hours until Orochimaru would show up.
"Just enough time for a trip to the outpost. Aren't you glad that I caught you in time?" Kakashi said with his usual sarcasm. No, I didn't feel glad, but I supposed that misery loves company and that made things a little better.
"You're not in a good mood," Kakashi chimed in as we raced through the forest, running towards the outpost.
"We're going to meet Orochimaru's shadow clone on a few hours' notice because he spontaneously dropped us a note. Really, I wonder why," I answered in a flat voice, not at all impressed by the way he stated the obvious.
"Really, is that all?" Kakashi returned my words with an equally flat voice, telling me that he was also not impressed with my bullshit. While I didn't exactly lie, Orochimaru did make my mood go from bad to worse, there was definitely something else that made my mood crappy in the first place.
"Sometimes you can be a little less intuitive," I said, admitting defeat under his scrutinizing gaze. Hours of travelling through Konoha's forest usually ended up with some gossip to chase away the boredom. However, when it was just the two of us, it was usually my problem that ended up being the gossip of the day, never his.
I couldn't tell if that was because he just had a less exciting life or he was trying to divert his problems away using mine. It felt unfair as if I was never going to stop exposing every bit of my emotions in front of him. But at the same time, I let it go, never resisting more than a few snarky words.
It was addicting, and the difference between 'can't stop' and 'won't stop' blurred.
"You always told me that I spoil Sasuke too much. I never agreed with you," I said as my listener remained patient. "I always taught him to get stronger, to grow up faster, to prepare for danger at every corner, that's not what someone does if they want to spoil a child."
"I know he wants to catch up - which was already a flimsy definition - and I thought, that'll be helpful if he had a goal to reach. But when he actually made it, entering Anbu, fighting against Akatsuki, I wished he never had to fight against enemies like that."
It was irrational, I trained Sasuke to be a shinobi of his own, but when it was time for him to put that training to use, I wanted to close that door, telling him that this battlefield wasn't for him. I worried so much for his safety when I heard of the battle over a messenger hawk. It took every ounce of my self-control to not rush out of the village and discard everything in my hands.
"Everything in my mind felt conflicted, and I can't let that conflict affect Sasuke, not when he was already affected by everything else I do." I let out a bitter laugh, thinking about how disappointed my little brother would feel if I even let a single ounce of my over-protectiveness show. He would feel like I thought he wasn't good enough when in reality, I would never think that.
"I've always told you, Maiko, but you need to stop seeing him as the eight-year-old that witnessed the massacre of his family." For the first time, Kakashi responded, and he wasn't kind with his words.
I used to always rebuke that statement of his, telling him that I had always realized Sasuke's growth. But perhaps, he was right on the mark, because I wasn't as comfortable letting my little brother into the big bad world as I had thought.
"How can I stop seeing him as a child that needs to be protected?" I asked, in all genuineness.
Kakashi stayed silent for a moment as he rushed through the trees, with me falling behind a little. After a few seconds of contemplation, he turned his head a little to face me and said, "Perhaps, first by realizing that not even you, with your Eternal Mangekyou and all, is capable of protecting him from all the danger in the world."
I never believed something so arrogant, the words almost blurted out of my mouth, but I pushed them down because being stubborn in my own views just defeated the purpose of asking a question.
"It's not Sasuke that was stuck on that night six years ago, it's you." Because I didn't stop him, Kakashi continued with his words. "Your own guilt will always remind you of the fact that you couldn't protect him at his most vulnerable state."
Now that made me laugh. "Should I not remember what happened that night? Should I not feel guilty?" If his answer was no, that would have been a pot calling the kettle black. Kakashi carried the guilt of the mountain and he was the last person willing to shake them off.
"I'm not telling you to forget and forgive, I'm just telling you to move forward from that point. Like Sasuke did." Kakashi shook his head, unfazed by my pointed words. "You want to protect your family, that's the most ordinary desire in anyone's life. But you're not compensating anyone by trying to shield him from all the possible danger when you know as much as I do - even Sasuke does - that it's unrealistic."
Kakashi glanced at me again, giving me a once over as he said, "Mah, I suppose it's not your fault. Sasuke had years to get used to you running into life-and-death situations, and you're having a breakdown after his first encounter."
"Hey!" I shouted because that was mean. As he said, we all had our first time and I was feeling terrible questioning my inner thoughts and parenting methods.
"Are you feeling a little better from your clogged brain?" Kakashi said and my anger dissipated. Well, I supposed that he did help. I wasn't being fair to Sasuke, and I wasn't being fair to myself. Letting out a sigh, I nodded. "Good, now you can focus on dealing with Orochimaru because it's too early - or late - for me to do that alone."
Hah, I didn't know what gave him the idea that the pain of dealing with Orochimaru would decrease with more people. The headache that immortal man brought was a function independent of the party present.
"There he is," I whispered when I sensed the ominous presence approaching. Not surprisingly, I wanted to rip that smirk off of his face when he strolled in like nothing we do could hurt him.
Lazily, he cast his glance around the canopy, no doubt already identifying the Anbu hidden in the shadows, making sure that he didn't bring more unwanted surprise than what he had written in his letter.
"I was expecting Jiraiya or Tsunade, but this is a reunion nonetheless." Orochimaru had the guts to say as if our encounter four days ago was not filled with violence and bloodshed. But that was a facade because Orochimaru was never the kind to forgive and forget.
"What do you want, Orochimaru?' Kakashi asked, cutting to the chase without giving him more time to waste.
"Impatience is death for a shinobi, Hatake Kakashi," Orochimaru said with a hint of annoyance, clearly not liking the interruption. But nevertheless, he spoke up again, "A question for Konoha, who do you consider to be worse, Akatsuki or myself?"
"That's a hard question, I guess you're both winning in your unique ways," I couldn't help but say. "Akatsuki is a new age problem, but you, Orochimaru, are a historical issue that won't go away anytime soon."
"What a naive thing to say, Maiko. When you want everything, you'll often get nothing. But I'm sure Commander Hatake knows that priorities have to be made," Orochimaru said as he turned to Kakashi. "Even the strong fall when they're beaten by exhaustion, and Konoha has been burning its cinder longer than anyone else."
"It's funny that you're worrying on Konoha's behalf." Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the Snake Sannin, his headband already pulled up to reveal the Sharingan. "So, what are you suggesting, that you're a much lesser threat than Akatsuki? If you want to negotiate peace, Orochimaru, you're going to need a lot more than that argument to convince Tsunade-sama."
"Oh, no, peace is fragile and transient. I'm merely proposing a cooperative effort against this …" Orochimaru paused a little as he looked for the words I use, "... new age problem, which I'm sure Konoha wants to get rid of as soon as possible, for the sake of its sanity."
Kakashi and I exchanged a glance, then I asked a question instead, "You're no stranger to chaos and insanity, Orochimaru, for you to want Akatsuki gone now of all times, what did Akatsuki do to you recently?"
See, I wouldn't deny what Orochimaru said was true, that Konoha, as the first to realize and act on the belief that Akatsuki would become a disaster to the world, was burning its resources far longer than the others. We had a limit, and we would reach it one day.
But Orochimaru had coexisted with Akatsuki for many years already, being a traitor on their list to hunt, but it never seemed to cause an issue for him before this. The fact he had reached out instead of watching Konoha plummet further in the plot against Akatsuki, was hardly the most efficient route for him in terms of costs and benefits, so something else must have happened.
"Let's guess, perhaps it has to do with how you're mass-producing cursed mark users in a hurry. Are we causing a problem in your supply chain?" I continued, watching Orochimaru's smile become stagnant on his face. I was, of course, talking about Jūgo, the source of his curse mark research.
"I suppose I do also have Konoha to blame for my predicament, but I know my priorities, so I'm not dwelling on Konoha's stupidity from the past, starting from when you let Kabuto be taken by Tobi." Orochimaru raised his head, enjoying how much impact that unexpected name had on us.
Still, a few seconds was enough for us to understand why he brought up that point. "Kabuto is destroying your research," I guessed and Orochimaru gave me a shrug.
"That young man is quite lost in the way of life and is looking to make an identity for himself in all the wrong places. But I had to admit that he has the right aptitude, including how to take inspiration from those that came before you." Of course, Orochimaru just had to go on a speech to mock his former colleague - now his pain in the butt.
"What's Kabuto doing, Orochimaru?" Kakashi cut him off without mercy.
"A little hint for Konoha, as a show of my sincerity." Orochimaru pressed a hand to his heart and it sent a shiver of disgust down my spine. "I considered Edo Tensei to be incomplete during the Chunin Exam because I didn't find a binding agent strong enough to tie the souls to my control without hindering the soul's potential."
"Of course, I've found my own ways. But the beauty of science promised that there are more than one solution to a problem, and Kabuto must have thought to find his own." Orochimaru left it at that, looking at us with the smiles of a patronizing teacher, expecting us to come up with an answer of our own.
It really wasn't a hard question, given every word that was spoken here. But it did take considerable courage to go along with Orochimaru's question.
"He's using your curse marks to perfect his Edo Tensei," I answered, much to my chagrin and his satisfaction.
"The chakra in it, to be exact. As much as you demonize my curse seal technique, all it is is a binding contract. It taps into the user's potential, in exchange for being under my control." Orochimaru explained, no shame at all in his words. Somehow, I failed to see how his explanation was any better.
But nevertheless, it all made sense. Kabuto, with Tobi's help, was wreaking havoc on Orochimaru's store of cursed mark users, which forced him to start more experimentation in a hurry, leading to some sub-par judgements on the staffing.
But there was just one loophole in that story.
"Why are you so worried about your cursed marks?" Kakashi pointed out the loophole with no hesitation. "No matter how strong those curses mark users are, they are just external artifacts that you won't have trouble shedding, especially compared to having to reveal yourself in front of Konoha and making an enemy out of Akatsuki."
"Ah, but I'm already Akatsuki's enemy. Perhaps these curse marks were just a passing time for me, but they're my properties and I don't appreciate having them taken." There were quite a bit of hidden lines in that sentence, especially when it was said to us, who had just raided his base and took away Jūgo.
I didn't doubt that Orochimaru was the kind to want retribution, but what he said about Kabuto was not enough for him to go through such length. I mulled over the way he attempted to gloss over the topic and considered the general mysteries surrounding the Snake Sannin. An idea popped into my mind.
"Say, Orochimaru, you're looking very alive for someone who had been burned to a crisp by Amaterasu four days ago," I said, drawing Orochimaru's attention immediately. "I wonder if your resurrection had to do with those curse marks you spread around. If so, then I had to give it to Kabuto, for his ingenious plans to kill two birds with one stone."
My eyes followed Orochimaru meticulously, examining every twitch of his muscle, every surge of emotion. It was hard to read his thoughts, but I was adept at realizing the spark of hate and contempt that flashed through his eyes.
Kabuto knew that Orochimaru used those curse marks as a point of resurrection, and perhaps, he had chosen the binding agent for Edo Tensei inspired by that knowledge. Orochimaru was still wanted by Akatsuki, so Tobi would be happy to procure Kabuto's research material while punishing Orochimaru.
Akatsuki and Kabuto's actions made Orochimaru feel the vulnerability of mortality, and he wanted that nuisance over his back gone.
"Don't get cocky, Maiko, my immortality will last me for a while, much longer than your likely lifespan as a shinobi," Orochimaru replied, spitting out insults like venom.
"You said cooperative efforts, so what do you want from Konoha other than a common enemy?" Kakashi asked, taking his attention away from me before the conversation escalated into action.
"Jūgo." What a surprise.
"Knowing that curse mark users are the raw material for Kabuto's Edo Tensei, why would Konoha give you back the boy that will allow you to make more of them?" Kakashi asked, and yes, he was suggesting that Orochimaru was quite useless in keeping his subordinates safe.
"Kabuto already obtained plenty of my cursed mark samples, it's too late to stop him now. Better to think of ways to counter Edo Tensei, wouldn't you agree?" Orochimaru had the guts to say.
"And you're suggesting you can be the solution?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Fight poison with poison, Commander Hatake, you need to broaden your perspectives," Orochimaru said. It was somehow amazing how much pride he had in his evilness. But with all due respect - and I didn't actually mean that - using Edo Tensei to fight Edo Tensei sounded like adding more problems than a solution, especially when Orochimaru was in the picture.
"Konoha has ways to contain Edo Tensei, making your proposal kind of redundant," Kakashi said, leaving Orochimaru to guess if we were bluffing or not. But Kakashi's poker face was impeccable, so the Snake Sannin moved on without a second thought.
"But why focus on Edo Tensei alone? I dabble in many areas, and I'd be happy to provide my expertise against Akatsuki, as long as Konoha gives adequate compensation in return," Orochimaru said, sounding more like a badly written advertisement of a sham doctor by the second.
Neither Kakashi nor I looked impressed, telling Orochimaru that this negotiation was not going to sail. Like a bad actor, Orochimaru feigned a sigh of disappointment as he flicked out a kunai from his sleeve.
"Akatsuki's ideology was to bring peace through pain and suffering, I hope Konoha is at least capable enough to get that far. So believe it or not, I don't want that ideology to come to fruition anymore than you do." Orochimaru said, twirling his kunai only for the sake of getting on Anbu's nerves.
"I like the world as it is - a nest of sin, strife, and desires - and I'm disgusted by the idea that I'll be brought to the same level as everyone else. Another time, Uchiha-hime, Commander Hatake. I await Konoha's request." Without anything else said, Orochimaru stabbed himself in the neck, dispelling the shadow clone in a puff of smoke.
Whoa, Akatsuki seriously doesn't vet their membership applications thoroughly enough.
Kakashi raised a hand, signalling to the Anbu to go search around, making sure that everything remained as peaceful as it should be. Only when all the agents dispersed out towards the forest, did Kakashi let out a sigh full of annoyance.
"I knew I shouldn't have taken the job. Every time someone calls me 'Commander Hatake' - and Orochimaru is not helping - I die a little inside." Kakashi muttered, rubbing his temple to ease the internal burns.
"See, I'm doing you a favour by never calling you that," I said, finding an excuse for my blatant disrespect for hierarchy.
"... Right, because you reserve that honour for mocking me," Kakashi followed up in a monotonous voice. Fine, I got it, I wasn't helping either.
"Will Konoha entertain the idea?" I only asked after I shut the entrance to the underground Anbu tunnel. While I asked in the vaguest words I could think of, Orochimaru's white snakes had taught us to only do so behind sealed barriers.
"Not until we're desperate, so let's hope we never get to that point," Kakashi answered and I had expected as much. "I do think he wants Akatsuki gone, though, so using Jūgo as a transaction for a temporary partnership would certainly be killing two birds with one stone."
"Or three birds, if he also plans to screw us over afterwards," I added helpfully. My trust was limited already, I couldn't afford to spare it on someone like Orochimaru.
"That too." Kakashi shrugged in agreement. See, Orochimaru could be perfectly in line with our goal of wanting Akatsuki gone, but that didn't mean he didn't want us to go with them.
In the end, it was Tsunade-sama's decision, but given everything, she reacted the same way as Kakashi's guesses, albeit with much more irritation and contempt, festered from decades-old bad blood.
"So, does Konoha have a way to contain Edo Tensei?" I asked, suddenly remembering that little detail from earlier. It was quite a recent development, and I had yet to receive any updates.
"Maybe? I heard from Jiraiya-sama that the progress is … progressing slowly," Kakashi answered. Alright, he was definitely bluffing. Suddenly, he gave me a strange look and said, "Isn't Itachi working on it with Jiraiya-sama? Shouldn't you know this better than I do? "
"Well, Itachi has rarely been home for the past few weeks, presumably holed up along with Jiraiya-sama. Besides, I've been spending my days spying on Bounty Exchange points like all Anbu, so forgive us if we didn't talk often," I said, seeing Kakashi raise his hands in defeat.
Since Itachi never brought up anything in the short times that we were in the same place, I just sort of assumed that nothing was going anywhere.
"But that reminded me, I should probably let him know Kabuto's little breakthrough and ask him about their progress," or the lack of it, but it's not like anyone has the right to judge him for not achieving something that has never been done before. "See you around, Commander Hatake."
With that, I flickered away onto the roof before any retaliation could be made and ran away without looking back.
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ fuwa~fuwa~desu~~~
I dropped by the hospital on my way back and found Sasuke already fast asleep. The Medic-nin told me that after a long rest to recover from Chakra exhaustion, he would be free to go home.
Itachi was, in fact, not at the compound, which was not surprising these days. However, I didn't think I would have to be dealing with this.
"No," I said with no room for leniency in my voice.
"Why not?" Fuu asked, refusing to take the hint or give up.
"Because I'm tired and this is a bad idea for you," I replied and as usual, Fuu gave me a pout.
"It's not the fatigue, it's the stress, I can tell," Fuu analyzed, adamant about focusing on me instead of the second part of my words.
Yeah, between finding out Sasuke's life-and-death encounter with Akatsuki, meeting with Orochimaru, and learning that Kabuto had Edo Tensei Version 2.0 lined up, I wonder what could get me stressed?
"She has a point, you're stressed, and alcohol is perfect for getting rid of that," Yugao added from the side, definitely not helping me in the slightest.
See, over the months, Fuu had really hit it off with some Anbu tasked with watching her, courtesy of her overflowing social skills. Yugao was one of them. So when Fuu heard her plan of going to the tavern with her coworkers and friends, the natural thing for Yugao to do was to invite her along, which escalated to the brilliant idea of getting me to come as well.
"Yugao-senpai, really? I know standards are shaky for shinobi, but Fuu's only sixteen." I eyed my trusted friend in Anbu with exasperation - I might have to re-evaluate my opinion - but the woman just shrugged.
"Come on, are you saying that you haven't gone to the tavern before you reach the dull, civilian age definition of adulthood?" Fuu argued and my words got stuck at the tip of my tongue. With a smirk, Fuu declared victoriously, "Yeah, I don't think so."
"Okay, you got me there, but that still doesn't explain why I have to go," I said, refusing to get dragged into this another time.
"It's celebratory, everyone could use some of that!" Fuu pleaded. Celebratory? I looked at them in confusion and Yugao moved over and whispered into my ear.
"Asuma is planning something. If it works, then he'll buy everyone drinks. If it doesn't … then I guess we'll buy him drinks to drown his sorrow." Ohh. So that's what's happening.
"It has to be a success, or I'll never believe in love again," Fuu shouted from the side. She had been here for nine months, and she knew more about the love story between Asuma and Kurenai than I ever did.
"The more the merrier, Maiko. I know that you don't feel like you know those Jonin and Anbu enough to join them, but many would like to know you more. Moments of celebration are meant to be shared," Yugao encouraged from the side. "Besides, with Hidan and Kakuzu gone, we don't need to spy on the Bounty Exchange Points anymore. We have Team Rei and Asuma's team to thank for that."
Alright, she got me there. Got to toast to the heroes that saved us from working overtime.
"Okay, fine." I relented in the end, making Fuu cheer in excitement. "Wait, have you ever drank before? Can you even hold liquor?"
"Who knows, but I'm a Jinchuuriki and I doubt that I can't handle a little alcohol. Chōmei will pull through and take care of it, I'm sure," Fuu said with an incredible amount of confidence, but all it did was make me more stressed than I already was.
Chōmei did not pull through - or maybe he could, but just refused to do so to teach Fuu a lesson. Three cups down the pipe and Fuu was already too drunk to muster up her chakra and cleanse the alcohol.
"Maiko! How could you! You looked so fragile back in Takigakure, and my heart ached for you, big time! Then I realized that you breathed fireballs bigger in size than me!" Fuu lamented with a storm of emotions as I sat there, wanting to disappear from the face of the earth after I burned this entire place down.
"Fragile, huh," Kakashi repeated as he poured himself another cup of sake. See, when I called him 'Commander' earlier to irk him, I didn't expect to see him until tomorrow, when his irritation would have worn off. But of course, It was an important moment for Asuma today, so there was no reason for him to not be here.
Yugao snickered on the side, unable to contain her laughter as she clutched onto her boyfriend's arm to steady herself.
"Right, I'm sorry, Fuu. I really appreciated your help back then, I swear," I comforted the girl. Fuu told me that she got over the whole situation back in Takigakure, but apparently not. Or maybe it just got buried deep and was unveiled by the influx of alcohol.
"No, you're lying! I felt like such a fool for saying things like 'I'll protect you!', all confident and stuff," Fuu cried out, her hands going for the sake bottle in the heat of the moment.
"Nope, you're drunk enough as it is." I grabbed the sake bottle in a hurry, taking it away from Fuu's reach.
For a second, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the bottle. Hah, whatever, perhaps the answer all along was that I shouldn't be dealing with this sober, so I poured myself a cup of sake before placing the rest in front of Kakashi.
"Free drink, all yours," I told him. But with a glance in my direction full of amusement, he pushed the bottle back to me and said, "It looks like you're going to need more of it."
"Hey, Fuu, what else was Maiko like back in Takigakure?" Of course, Yugao asked as the glint of mischief grew in her eyes. She was a little drunk too, but her intelligence remained. That made it even scarier.
"She was so sweet and considerate. Like she'd talk to you and you'll feel like she gets you, you know, like she actually cares!" Fuu said, a sob escaping her mouth.
Dear gods, I buried my face in my hands, feeling the burn of the embarrassment and the alcohol at the same time.
"Sweet and considerate, hahaha!" Yugao burst into laughter. "Oh my, you surely were in for a surprise when you came to our village."
"Hey, I put in a lot of effort in Takigakure, okay?" I shot back. It was taxing to always be reading other people's moods, trying to think of the best words to use to reach a certain goal. "If you're a mission target, Yugao-senpai, I, too, can be whatever you want."
"So I'm merely a 'mission'? I thought we're friends!" Fuu, of course, only heard what she wanted to hear. When she looked at me with those accusatory eyes, I let out a sigh full of exasperation and defeat.
Right, I definitely need more alcohol for this, I thought as I downed another cup of sake and took a deep breath.
"We're friends, and that's why you're seeing the real me, all the time." I lowered myself and rested my head in my palm so that our gaze would be on the same level. "I'm glad that you're such a nice person, otherwise, my mission in Takigakure wouldn't have gone that smoothly, at least until the last part."
Fuu's breath looked like it got stuck as when I gave her a smile. "Oh," Fuu let out a sound that was barely audible. Slowly, red crept up on her cheeks, spreading out under the warm hue of the tavern.
"Smooth, Uchiha. You're a woman with many faces!" Anko, always the one with creative choices of words, cheered from the other side of the table. That … doesn't sound like a compliment.
Suddenly, the crowd stirred up around the tavern, saving me from this perpetual hell.
Asuma took Kurenai's hand and led her to the center of the room. It looked a little comical because Asuma still had the cast around his leg and a crutch in his other hand. But I supposed that for him, some things just couldn't be delayed for another second.
"Look over there, Fuu. That's the true love you're rooting for," I whispered to the young Jinchuuriki as I moved her face towards the couple in the spotlight. The light above shined on them like a layer of golden dust as Asuma linked Kurenai's hands with his and took a deep breath.
"Kurenai." Asuma started with all the bravery in the world, but the words seemed to get stuck in his mouth when the kunoichi looked up with her gaze, telling him that he had her full attention.
"Yes?" Kurenai prompted, a hint of laughter in her voice as Asuma cleared his throat to drive the nervousness away.
"I'm a pretty lacklustre guy, to be honest. I don't have a grand ambition in life, I'm not decorated with great honours, and as many have reminded me, I don't exactly have the best habits that make me look reliable," Asuma said, a little uncertain, making Kurenai chuckle lightly.
But suddenly, his voice turned loud and fierce as he declared while staring into Kurenai's ruby-coloured eyes. "But every time I come back from a mission and I see you walking towards me, calling my name, I fall in love with you once again."
"Every moment, I'm so thankful for the fact that I got to know you since we're still academy students; that I didn't mess up when we were growing up so that you give me the chance to continue knowing you." Asuma's tone softened again along with his gaze, their hands still linked together with a gentle touch.
"So, Kurenai, will you marry me and allow me to continue being a part of your life forever?" The room turned silent when those words were spoken, as if the main characters in question were transported into a world just for themselves, caught up in a moment where the time froze.
Kurenai's eyes widened, no doubt feeling the skip in her heartbeat. No matter how easy it was to guess what Asuma was going to ask, she couldn't possibly prepare for the emotions when hearing those words.
Only after a second, did Asuma remember something, looking like he was rushing to kneel down. "Asuma, your knee!" That broke Kurenai out of her trance too, catching her lover by the arm, stopping him from the reckless action.
Asuma looked a little dumbfounded because this definitely wasn't planned. It was then that Kurenai let out a smile. "And yes, I'll marry you."
Just like that, the room exploded in cheers as many words were being shouted out.
"Kiss, Kiss!" That was from Yugao and her friends, the former even teared up a bit. "Happiness for a hundred years!" That was from across the room and was immediately joined by a chorus of similar wishes, including mine. "Make a baby soon!" That was a more niched response, but yelled with much loudness, causing the couple in question to blush. And finally, "Free drinks for everyone, Asuma!" had a surprisingly large following.
I looked to my left and saw a smile appearing on Kakashi's face, uncovered by the face mask, as his gaze rested on Asuma and Kurenai locking in a tight hug. It was a rare sight, the combination of Kakashi with a smile and having his mask down, so my gaze lingered a little longer than it should.
Kakashi must have felt the intruding gaze, for he turned his face in my direction faster than I could blink. Embarrassment rushed to my brain which was already drenched with alcohol, making it function even slower as I opened my mouth, trying to find something natural to say so that I would stop feeling like I was in an unexplained state of panic.
Kakashi never lost in a staring contest with me because he always seemed to have an infinite amount of composure and patience to outlast me. So he waited as my brain tried to work itself out, failing and then rebooting.
"... Do you know any good suggestions for wedding gifts?" Yep, that was the best my brain could come up with.
My words made Kakashi laugh as he asked, in an unusually good mood, "And you're asking me in particular because …?"
"You must have gone to at least one wedding in your life, right?" I replied. Hey, it was valid, considering that I had zero experience … unless he had indeed never been to a wedding in his life.
"Yeah, just one," Kakashi said when he saw the growing disbelief in my eyes. There was a moment of pause before he added, "It was Yondaime and Kushina-san's wedding."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that, because it was the kind of detail that Kakashi would never tell me before, always answering my questions with the vaguest answer possible. But Kakashi seemed to move on quite quickly, looking like he was actually searching his memory for appropriate suggestions.
"There were a lot of kitchen wares and home decorations, so I guess those are your safe bets. But Sensei got eight sets of cooking knives, pretty sure only one set stayed while the rest got donated," Kakashi said as he topped up his cup with liquor. Then he pointed towards my empty cup, silently asking if I wanted another one. I nodded.
Okay, maybe not kitchen knives. I was definitely thinking about kitchen knives when he said the first sentence. At least it was a popular choice.
Beside me, Fuu rested her head on her arms, breathing in a soft rhythm as sleep overtook her. At least she got to witness that true love that she was so invested in. As for how much she would remember at tomorrow's sunrise, that was another question to be answered for another day.
"Ohh, Yugao, when will you and Hayate get married?" Anko's voice sounded from the side as she asked, full of drunken slurs. For all the teasing Yugao did to me, it was satisfying to see both her and Hayate stutter with words.
"Yugao and I discussed it before, but maybe not right now," Hayate answered after they got over the embarrassment.
"Ehh, not the kind to tie the knot before the war, huh," Anko said, always so blunt.
But us shinobi were never the kind to shy away from reality. The resurfacing of Hidan and Kakuzu, caught in the act of kidnapping a Jinchuuriki meant that Akatsuki was ready to strike again. After this attack on Kumogakure's tailed-beast, all the villages would be on full alert and there was no excuse for underestimating the threat of Akatsuki anymore.
While the future was cloaked in uncertainty and unknowns, the feeling that the 'do or die' moment was looming upon us was never more real.
"Maybe after the world … quiets down a bit. We'll both feel better that way." Yugao exchanged a smile with her boyfriend. There was no right or wrong, just a matter of personal beliefs. Still, Yugao looked a little regretful as she added, "Yeah I know, we're just not that brave."
"I think it's already very brave to love." Suddenly, I had the urge to say to her. My words definitely caught the attention of everyone at the table, but it was too late to stop myself now. "Once love takes roots in the heart, it's not that easy to be plucked out again. It takes courage to protect it and let it grow."
"Maiko, you're surprisingly very romantic." Of freaking course, that was the first thing Yugao told me as she blinked in surprise. When she saw how unimpressed I was, she quickly added amidst her laughter, "I very much appreciate the stamp of bravery."
Unlike myself, Yugao, Anko, and Hayate had a hub of social connections. Soon, their friends found them across the room, inviting them to go to some dubious drinking contest at the bar.
Yugao pushed Anko and Hayate towards them before saying, "I think I'll stay here. I brought the girl here, you know," she pointed at Fuu, passed out and slept soundly. "It'll stain my conscience if I don't keep an eye on her."
"Just go, I can stay here with her," I told her despite her look of disapproval.
"Maiko, I brought you here as well. I don't want to leave you alone either." She and Fuu convinced me to come in the hopes that I would expand my social circle, which I hadn't been and definitely wouldn't be doing, seeing that Chōmei did not take care of things like Fuu said he would.
Before I could fully think it over, I glanced at Kakashi before telling Yugao, "See, he's here. I'm not alone."
Kakashi paused in the middle of raising his cup. It took him a second to understand what was going on, then he reassured Yugao. "Yeah, what she said."
With that, I gave my trusted senpai a smile to dispel her skepticism. As per her suggestion, I came here for the celebratory moments and I was very glad that I was invited. After all, happiness was uplifting and heartwarming to all those that bore witness.
Only after Yugao had left, I leaned in towards Kakashi and whispered, "Sorry. I didn't mean to keep you here. You should go to your friends." My eyes searched around until they inevitably found the unforgettable Jonin in his signature bright green bodysuit.
"Oh look, there's Gai …" My voice went silent when I heard Gai crying out "All the best wishes for your Youthful love, Asuma and Kurenai!" all the while hitting Asuma's back with what looked like enough force to cause pain. "... Being really emotional."
Upon seeing the scene, Kakashi also narrowed his eyes in doubt. "Maybe not now." Some of us were just bad drunks and the others were just bad at dealing with drunks.
Speaking of bad drunks, I looked at the young Jinchuuriki snoozing off on the table. With a sigh, I whispered to Fuu, "I hope you get a hang-over tomorrow so that you'll remember how bad you're with alcohol." I was sure that someone wanted to say that to me once upon a time, but how the table had turned.
Kakashi shook his bottle of sake, noticing that it was empty. Seamlessly, I handed him the bottle that I bought for Fuu, which still had half a bottle left at this point. "Finish this one too. I'm definitely getting my money's worth this time."
"I'm not sure if it's considered getting your money's worth if you're not the one who drinks it," Kakashi mentioned, but his hand didn't stop pouring the liquid out.
I took a moment to contemplate his words. Huh, he's right. Silently, I pushed my empty cup towards his, telling him with my eyes to pour me one as well. He did, reducing the content of the bottle to a third left. I was seeing victory.
The alcohol flowed down my throat, rushing into my vein with a burn that both provoked and muted my senses. Over the years, I had learned how not to be overwhelmed by this fiery liquid full of contradictions. If I waited long enough, I might even taste the hint of sweetness that got buried by the initial assault of bitterness.
Things tended to get weird after one had half a bottle of sake, so I wasn't quite sure if I was hallucinating or not when a slug the size of my hand popped out of the air in a puff of smoke.
"Kakashi, Maiko. Tsunade-sama requests your immediate presence. Kumogakure has sent bad news," little Katsuyu relayed in a low voice. I swore that she was judging us when she realized that we were not exactly sober, but she left us enough dignity by not pointing it out before leaving.
I guess I won't be getting my money's worth.
With a groan, I let a rush of chakra wash over my body, purging the lingering effects of the liquor in my veins. My headache grew stronger for a few seconds, before it faded, leaving me feeling much more refreshed and returning my senses to normal.
I made sure that Yugao would watch over Fuu and send her back afterwards before slipping out of the tavern with Kakashi, rushing towards the Hokage Tower as fast as we could.
"Kumo's Two-Tail Jinchuuriki is missing, likely captured and dead, given how the group of Kumo-nin travelling with her were all slaughtered," Tsunade said, slapping a communication scroll down on her table, the Kumogakure insignia was clearly inscribed on the fabric. "Oh, and their Eight-Tail Jinchuuriki was kidnapped too."
For a second, I wondered if I was still dreaming because did I just hear Kumo losing two out of two of their Jinchuuriki within three days?
"So the Two-Tail Jinchuuriki was attacked on her way back to Kumo." Kakashi managed to figure out the timeline. "What about the Eight-Tail?"
"Reportedly around the same time, given the time of death of their shinobi stationed around Killer B," Tsunade-sama explained. By the tense air pressure around our Hokage, I was going to take a guess and say that Killer B was also not within the village at that time either, despite our numerous warnings to Kumo, telling them to stay cautious.
"If bodies remained on scene, have they uncovered anything about the attackers?" I asked.
"For Two-Tails, not exactly, but all the shinobi died in a very swift and violent manner, indicating someone powerful, no doubt. But for the attack on Eight-Tails, here's the interesting news. They found traces of Sasori's poison and gold sand among the victims." Tsunade-sama tightened her eyebrows as she tapped the table with her finger in irritation. Both Kakashi and I sucked in a breath when we heard that because the implication was as clear as ever.
"Kabuto reincarnated Sasori and the Yondaime Kazekage through Edo Tensei," I stated. The sword of Damocles drops and so it begins.
"I figured it'll take some effort to explain everything, which is why the Raikage is calling a meeting of all the Kage in three days." Tsunade-sama didn't give us much time to process before she turned to us and handed out the orders.
"Kakashi, keep the village in order while I'm away. Maiko, you're coming with me. Expect a lot of questions, accusations, and just general underhanded insults being thrown around." Tsunade didn't even pause as she placed a summoning array on her table. A little Katsuyu appeared a second later.
"For god's sake, where the hell is Jiraiya and Itachi?" Tsunade asked, impatience clear in her tone.
"They seemed to be inside a barrier and I was unable to teleport through. However, they must have identified my attempts and should be here soon," Katsuyu said in a hurry, but with every word spoken, a bit of Tsunade's impatience turned into fury, and I worried a little more for my brother's imminent future.
Thankfully, Katsuyu spoke the truth. The door was slammed open as Jiraiya burst into the office, excitement evident on his unkempt face.
"Tsunade, I think we finally have something! We finally have some progress!" Jiraiya yelled as Itachi walked through the door as well, tired and looking like he hadn't slept in three days, but nevertheless, there was a satisfied expression on his face.
That definitely got Tsunade-sama's attention, for her fury died down and was replaced with curiosity. "Start from the beginning, Jiraiya, and use words that make sense."
Taking a deep breath to contain himself, Jiraiya said, "It took like half a year, but Itachi-kun and I are finally making progress! It's not complete, but if this is the right direction, then we might eventually reach something that can incapacitate and delay Edo Tensei's regeneration."
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ fuwa~fuwa~desu~~~
Naruto lowered himself into the onsen, letting the hot water wash away the fatigue. Its exact efficacy was to be debated, considering that even without the onsen, Naruto would be back to full energy in no time.
But man, using shadow clones to train is exhausting. Naruto thought as bubbles rose to the surface. At least Ero-sennin took pity on him and allowed him to go somewhere other than Mt. Myōboku.
Not that Mt. Myōboku was terrible. No no no, Naruto would never say that because he had learned invaluable lessons there; because the sage toads are always so nice to him in their own ways. Oh, and because six of the said sage toads were standing guards around him, circling him in a formation that allowed them to activate the reverse summoning array with a single thought.
"Umm, is this really necessary? This is getting slightly … uncomfortable," Naruto muttered as he felt the gaze of all six pairs of eyes. This was even more uncomfortable.
"Young one, do not complain, this is for your own good. Besides, haven't we assured you that we're of the same gender according to your narrow human definition," The eldest one said in a cracking voice, and all Naruto could do was nod if he didn't want to get more lectures.
The onsen was connected to a natural spring up in the mountain, bringing in the heated water to fill the giant hot spring that Jiraiya had rented for the night. Naruto could hear the rhythm of water flowing in and out in a calming melody.
Except, the said melody was disrupted when something disharmonious sounded.
Save him. Naruto was beyond surprised when he heard the deep rumbling voice from the pit of his mind.
"Wait! Nine-Tail knows something!" Naruto yelled when the toads were about to activate the teleportation array. Perhaps it was a response that no one had prepared for, the toads paused just in time for Naruto to finish his sentence. "He wants to save that person."
Just then, the smell of blood seeped through the water. The toads eyed the direction of the intrusion with suspicion, but they knew that the fox was a prideful creature. If he wanted to harm Naruto, he would do so by breaking his mind and spirit, never by other means.
In the blink of an eye, two of the toads rushed into the distance. A few seconds later, they pushed something out of the shadows - it was a person floating in the water, bloodied and injured, barely breathing.
He was devoid of any features that would identify his allegiance to a shinobi village, whether that was because he lost them during battle or that it was deliberately discarded to keep his identity a secret, that was a hard question.
Naruto reached forward, hoping that whoever this was that Nine-Tail wanted to save - out of the kindness of his heart, while unlikely, Naruto could only wish - was not dead.
Just then, Naruto felt a surge of chakra forcefully pulsing through his vein. Nine-Tail! Naruto screamed in his mind with anger, wondering what in the world had gotten into the fox today. What surprised him even more, was the burst of chakra that originated from the unconscious figure.
"Whoa whoa, calm down!" Naruto rushed to lock the gate between himself and Nine-Tail, forcing that surge of chakra to dissipate. The foreign chakra from the other party receded accordingly, but it was enough for Naruto to feel a sense of familiarity as the cogs and wheels in his brain turned quickly to match the answer.
"Okay, this is getting really uncomfortable," Naruto couldn't help but say. This heavily injured shinobi, still floating in front of them like a log, was a Jinchuuriki. Still, Naruto felt the need to add something else to express the absurdity.
"What the hell?!"
A/N: The title comes from the song 'One Last Kiss' by Hikaru Utada. It's one of the most romantic songs I've ever heard, from the melody, the lyrics, to just the overall vibe. This is my first time writing anything close to romantic love - not the ones many of you are expecting, but maybe there are breadcrumbs if you just squint - and you gotta start somewhere. Besides, I was rooting for Asuma and Kurenai's love, much like Fuu is right now.
Also, I don't know if Maiko will ever get her money's worth.