Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this innocuous interlude. Oodles of respect for Masashi Kishimoto, the creative force behind Naruto. Please do have patience with me and with the ninja whoattracts attention.
THREE: HIGHTAIL IT
Although Iruka was quick and careful, he was neither quick enough nor careful enough. A black snake slipped along the alley in his wake, hugging the wall and nosing past litter. It looked smart. Probably a summon. And it was soon followed by Orochimaru himself. Or a clone, at the very least.
Maybe it was coincidence.
Maybe it was a death sentence.
Iruka wanted to run. Or take to the roofs. But by the dictates of this mission, he was nobody special, a plain citizen without chakra pathways to draw upon. One who was meant to suffer from poor health. By force of will alone, he slowed his pace.
How was he supposed to evade one of the Sanin?
What he wouldn't give for an ANBU intervention about now.
Rounding the first corner he came to, an alley crammed with restaurants and bars, he spotted Kisame just leaving one of the establishments. And instead of feeling trapped between two enemies, Iruka broke into a run. "Kisame!"
Recognition. Pleasure. Concern.
As Iruka stumbled into him, the nin grinned sharkishly. "Miss me that much?" he rumbled.
"Kisame," he gasped. "Hide me?"
The mist nin's smile fell away, and his gaze narrowed on the alley. "What happened?"
"I caught someone's eye, and I didn't like the way he looked at me."
Pushing Iruka behind his formidable bulk, Kisame said, "I've got this. You got him?"
"I do." A hand gripped Iruka's shoulder.
He'd been passed to Itachi.
The Uchiha flatly added, "Don't take forever."
"Depends on how interesting things get," countered his partner.
Iruka almost called a warning, but … he wasn't supposed to know anything about legendary ninja, so he bit his lip and looked to Itachi for guidance.
Itachi's hands flashed through seals. "Why are you so pale?"
"Orochimaru."
The Uchiha stared at him with something akin to exasperation. "Calm your breathing. Slow your heartrate."
"I can't believe he's here."
"What did you do to draw his interest?"
Iruka winced. "He can probably taste fear."
"This way."
They walked to the end of the alley, then along a nondescript path that sloped toward the sea. A line of beach cottages soon came into view.
"Are we being followed?" asked Iruka.
"Do not rush, but do not dawdle."
Itachi caught his wrist and led him to a weathered cottage surrounded by a low fence. The gate wasn't locked, and he stepped through like he owned the place. Pushing Iruka into a deck chair, he took the next one, propped his feet on a footstool, and gazed off toward the ocean.
"Calm your breathing," he repeated. "Slow your heartrate."
"Trying," he muttered through gritted teeth.
He favored Iruka with the same faint smile Sasuke had delivered earlier. Which raised a rather important question. Did Itachi know his brother was in Terranean? It was obviously important that Sasuke not find out Itachi was. And probably equally important that Itachi be informed.
"Orochimaru had Sasuke with him."
"Hmm." Itachi's gaze didn't waver from the sea.
So Iruka slowed his breathing to match the rhythm of the waves. Calm came. But so did questions. "What are we going to do?"
"Wait for Kisame to return for us."
"That's all?"
Itachi angled his head to consider him and softly asked, "You were hoping for more?"
He slowly shook his head and exhaled on a breathless laugh. This was just as surreal now as it had been over the summer. The only more he was really hoping for was Sukea. So he shook his head again and remarked, "You look tired."
"Hmm." Itachi looked away. "I will rest here."
"So … why did you choose this place?"
"I left the choosing to Kisame. He has a fondness for the sea."
"I saw a few shops that looked interesting. Mostly fish places."
Itachi slouched further into his chair. "Kisame will already know the location of every bar."
"We could look for tea shops if that's more to your liking."
Dark eyes slanted his way. "Where is your lover?"
"I'm supposed to meet Sukea tomorrow."
"You came early?"
"I suppose I was … eager."
"So was I."
Iruka wasn't sure he wanted to ask why. Then he was spared deciding by Kisame, who came sauntering along the same path they'd followed. His sword was over his shoulder, his eyes on the sea.
There must have been a genjutsu hiding them from view, because Itachi dispelled it with a snap. Kisame spotted them, studied them for a few moments, then just stood gazing out at the waves. Finally, he said, "This is a good place. Want me to get this house?"
"No."
"Just as well. I fixed up our reservations at the inn." Kisame shook his head at Iruka. "You guys were in a dinky little room, way off on the other side of the building."
For strategic reasons, no doubt. But Iruka only asked, "Were we?"
"It was nothing to rearrange things," Kisame boasted. "The innkeeper was real accommodating. We moved your bags and everything."
"You did?" Iruka weakly added, "Thanks."
Itachi stood and asked, "Did you have any trouble?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle." Kisame held the gate open for them. "How'd you attract that guy's attention, Iruka?"
"I'm not sure." He replayed the moment in his mind. "Our eyes met, and he was just … coming at me."
Kisame scowled. "I suppose you could be his type."
That was a truly disturbing thought.
Dropping a hand onto Iruka's shoulder, Kisame cheerfully advised, "Try not to attract any more interest than you can handle."
End Note: originally posted on October 1, 2021. (Late because new routines are not yet established, so I FORGOT.) 924 words.
Author's Note: If you're also following my original writing, I currently have two titles up for pre-order. Bk5 in the Amaranthine Saga ... and Songs of the Amaranthine #7. Details at ForthWrites dot com.
