Burdened Slave

Chapter 8


"Haruno Kizashi was mildly injured and was taken to the hospital for treatment upon return," Shisui reported as he stood alone in the Hokage's office. "Uchiha Haru handled the situation well enough on his own and dispatched the opposition."

Fugaku nodded. "I'd say he did more than well enough—unless you had something else in mind at the time."

Shisui sighed. He had a lot to say to that, but he knew he couldn't. So, he went to the next best thing. "I thought the way the two disguised shinobi moved was suspicious. I had wanted to interrogate at least one of them."

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "Suspicious how?"

Shisui's expression became like stone. "Perhaps it is best if I showed you."

He reached into the one of the pockets on his vest and took out a single body sealing scroll. He then knelt down to place it on the ground and brought his hand to it's centre to push chakra into it.

A pale, blonde-haired, and shirtless, courtesy of Shisui, corpse suddenly appeared in a puff of smoke. The dead man was preserved as if he had died only an hour ago.

"This is one of them," Shisui spoke. He then rolled the corpse onto its stomach to show a tattoo that was clear on its neck. "He was one of Kumogakure's elite forces. The other one too, but this one had something most peculiar on him."

Shisui started to point at the circular object embedded into the corpse's back. He was about to speak again when he looked up and froze.

There at his desk, Fugaku sat rigidly straight. Mouth parted only slightly and Sharingan eyes active. The surprise and fear that Shisui felt coming from his clan's head and Hokage was worse than any killing intent Shisui had felt in his life.

"W-what is it?" Shisui squeaked.

They sat in silence as Fugaku pulled himself together and slowly stood. Several ANBU appeared in the office and surrounded Shisui and the corpse.

Shisui did not bother standing up as Fugaku slowly walked up to him. The man's eyes, Sharingan still active, had not left the corpse.

Slowly, Fugaku's eyes moved to lock onto one of the most prodigious boys of his clan. Uchiha Shisui's own eyes red with the Sharingan. Unconsciously activated some time between Fugaku had stood from his desk and walked over.

"This," Fugaku pointed at the object in the corpse. "Is the Dohatsuten. A forbidden Jutsu that should have been more than impossible for Kumo to have obtained. If this man were alive, he could have single-handedly destroyed Konoha."

After Fugaku had finished speaking, all but one ANBU disappeared along with the corpse. The remaining ANBU held out his hand to Shisui expectantly.

"The other seal," the ANBU warrior demanded. His voice came as if from another location in the office.

Shisui shakily stood, reached into his pocket again, and took out not one, but six body storage seals.

"Just the one with the Kumo-nin, Shisui," Fugaku said in a kind but firm voice.

Shisui quickly nodded and plucked one of the seals to put into the ANBU warrior's outstretched hand. Said warrior then disappeared from the office.

"I don't get it," Shisui said. "I couldn't find them in any bingo books... are they even missing nins? Probably not... but what does that mean? Were they on a mission? Why did they disguise themselves as bandits? Why did they show themselves? Why—"

"For the past six months," Fugaku interrupted. "We have been receiving reports of highly unusual movements from three major villages."

"Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure," Fugaku listed as Shisui clenched his hands into fists. "Within this last month, Kumogakure has been moving forces closer and closer to our country."

"W-what does it mean?" Shisui whispered.

"I believe that at this point, Shisui, you are only trying to delude yourself," Fugaku calmly said. "In one months time, we will strike at the Kumo forces approaching us. We have been waiting in order to observe, however, we cannot afford to wait any longer."

Silence fell in the office and minutes ticked by without either of them trying to break it.

"So this is how the fourth shinobi war starts, huh?" Shisui asked.

"Quite possibly so," Fugaku muttered. "I am putting you in charge of a team that will start dealing with Kirigakure immediately. Those demon fish simply cannot wait to be cooked by our Katon. What's more is our esteemed Maboroshi clan will be actively aiding us. There is no room for failure,"

"What about Haru?" Shisui had to ask the question.

"Forget about him for now," Fugaku stated with finality. "Focus on your current duties."