Chapter 9
While we were in the Barbeque restaurant, Sakura and Naruto made comments about me meeting Sai. I could only guess it was the boy who gave me the creeps when I saw them last in the Land of Grass. However, to make them think I now thought more of others I packed a to-go box before we left. With some rice, beef, pork, and some vegetables. I need them to trust me. I thought as I curl my fingers around the box when we walk through the hospital.
Naruto and Sakura were walking in front of me. Naruto with his hands folded behind his head while he tells her about the training he left off on. Sakura was smiling up at him making me tilt my head curiously. Walking up to them I move to the other side of Naruto and look around him at both of them. "So, you two dating now?" I ask making their eyes widen as they look at me.
"No. . That's not." Naruto rubs the back of his head looking nervous so I look at Sakura. She isn't outright yelling. Or going crazy with anger like she used to.
"Oh, it's just you two seem... Really close now." I tell them lightly and smile as they stop at a set of hospital doors. "Too bad, I think you guys would be good together."
As they stare at me I go into the room leaving them in the hall. When I see the boy who I expected was the one they were talking about, he was sitting up in bed with a book in his hand. He looks up at me and I smirk down at him. "Long time no see, so you're the one they call Sai." I talk lightly and set the to-go box on his lap making him raise his book so I didn't just bury it.
"You are Kira." He says before smiling up at me with his eyes closed. I raise a brow at him. This smile... is a little different than the last one I seen. It isn't much but there is a little more feeling in it. "I see, you are awakening your own emotions." I mutter causing him to look at me "Keep working at it, they'll come."
"I'm sorry but I don't know how I should take that coming from someone as unfeeling as I am." He says lightly though his eyes held more of a stern look to them. Making Naruto and Sakura look at each other. Naruto then shows up next to him and whispers, rather loudly into the boy's ear. "Hey, watch what you say Sai. Kira here is known for a temper like Sakura's!"
I shake my head and give a light laugh drawing the two boys' attention back to me. Sobering almost as quickly as I showed them that light-hearted action. "You're right. Real emotions have eluded my grasp for quite some time." Turning to the wilted flowers on his stand I sigh noticing how they were all watching me. My hand begins to glow blue as I move my energy into it. "My emotions are like these flowers I guess. Wilted and withering. But with a little bit of help." I raise my hand over the flowers allowing my energy to flow through them. Feeling the soft petals inside me, the sweet aroma they bring. Their pain from having been severed from their roots as they are fighting for their own lives. Easing my energy through them I smile as they perk up. Their petals brightening to their original hue, the brown from lack of nutrients they would normally receive from the soil fading. "Maybe I can be like these flowers."
Dropping my hand back to my side I pull my energy back within me gazing at the fresh flowers in front of me a little while longer before looking over at them. Thoughts are hidden within their own silence as Sakura looks down. Moving my gaze back to the boy who seems to be watching me. Desperately trying to understand what I was saying. "Maybe it can be the same for you." I smile slightly at him before moving around to the empty bed in the room and sitting down. Finally retrieving my book from my pouch.
Opening my book I look at the blank page and very nearly let my disappointment slip. Itachi still hasn't said anything. Retrieving my pen I move it to the page just to have Sakura lean over me while Naruto somehow was helping Sai eat the lunch I gave him. It's astounding how much Naruto can fit in his stomach. "A journal?" Sakura questions looking down at my empty page pushing me to abandon what I was doing and close my book. She smiles at me as if that move in itself told her that it was exactly what she thought. Slipping my book and pen back into my pouch I move to get up.
My movements pause hearing the door to the room opening on the other side of the curtain that was hanging between this bed and the exit. The others look in that direction as I feel him walk into the room. Bringing my eyes up as he comes around the curtain. His weird eyes meeting his creepy smile. "Ahh. Captain Yamato?!" Naruto squeaks in his surprise as if the mere sight of this man creeps him out.
"Oh, sorry about that." He says before he turns his attention to me. "I was hoping to find you here, Kira." Tilting my head I fold my hands in my lap. "Lady Tsunade wanted me to give this to you." He then rummages into his pouch before holding out a blue-clothed headband. Taking it from him I look down at it realizing exactly how weird it was to be holding one without the symbol scratched out.
"Thank you." I smile up at him as I bring the headband up and tie it around my forehead. This made my stomach turn though I'm not sure if it was from disgust or nostalgia. He smiles down at me then looks at the other three. "Naruto, aren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on Sora?" He asks making Naruto's eyes bug out.
"I forgot!" He then gets up and runs out of the room mumbling something about the jerk is probably starting fights again. Getting up I stretch then go to walk past Yamato.
"If you need me, I'll be around." I tell them before walking out of the room. My only thoughts were getting some privacy. Today has just been, noisy. Making my way out of the hospital I couldn't help but stop and look up at one of the windows. Feeling someone standing there watching me brought rise to goosebumps. With a frown, I walk away, in a familiar direction back towards my old training grounds.
As of right now, I know I should report back in to the Leader. I also knew that it was still far too soon to do so. Even though I could no longer feel eyes on me and my energy could not pick up anyone anywhere close to me. It would still be far too risky to attempt the mind link. I am in enemy territory and that I need to remember. Setting up on a tree branch I lean my back against the main part of the tree. Retrieving my book and pen again I write out Itachi's name. After the ink disappears I rest my head back and close my eyes, feeling the rays of the sun peeking through the leaves down onto my skin. The rustling of the grass and trees reminding me of being with Itachi and Kisame. I could almost catch the faint scent of pine flowing over the area on the wind.
Itachi never responded. I waited and rested upon that tree branch until the sun had set. I had heard a few hours ago something that sounded like an explosion coming from somewhere in the village but I had paid no mind to it. My thoughts were too focused on the reasons why Itachi wasn't responding. So I had written him a couple more times. Telling him that I figured out that I am now stronger than my cousin and that the Hokage has decided to put me back on my old team. But also explaining that everything was unfolding too easily, almost as if they wish to make me comfortable to see if I will expose myself.
A sound of glass shattering permeating the silent area draws my attention towards the village for a moment. In the moonlight, I could see two figures running along the rooftops either running away from or towards something. Looking back down at my book with still no reply I close it and slip my things back into the pouch at my hip. Standing on my branch I place a hand on the tree as I look up at the moon. It was a beautiful night tonight. Too bad I could feel tensions rising in the air threatening to disrupt it.
Sighing I move from my spot on the branch and make my way into the village. Following the energies, I felt running in this direction. There were three of them. One. Was Naruto's. Tilting my head I land on a roof in time to see their shadowed forms talking on a rooftop. It was the black-haired boy from earlier wearing his white outfit and bluish-grey sash. He was yelling at Asuma clearly more than upset. Crouching down lower to the roof so I was less likely to be seen I watch as the end of Asuma's cigarette glows from him taking a drag.
It was then a disturbance in the energies around me draws my attention as a rumbling sound echoes throughout the village. Looking towards one wall I see a huge building pushing from the ground. Erecting itself just outside of the nearest gate. A purplish chakra emits itself over the top of the village like a blanket. Looking up at it I couldn't help but frown. A barrier... Why would a barrier jutsu be used?
The electricity in the air was becoming almost malleable. Turning my attention away from the drama before me I look around the tops of the buildings. I could already hear Kisame in the back of my mind needlessly pointing out about the building stench in the air. So I leave the three be and I move towards my right allowing my senses to guide me to where I needed to go. The electricity tugging at my own energy.
Stopping on another rooftop I find myself near the power station for the village. Two men laying dead just inside the fence with four coffins standing on end in the center. Electricity running along the ground from the power conduits to each one, lighting them up like Christmas trees before the electricity finishes fizzling out. Leaving the open coffins void of its residue. A man standing not too far off with long white hair, the dirt tingeing it almost a grey in color. Even from here, I could tell how unkempt it was as if he didn't bother taking care of his hair in the slightest. Or if it was permanently like that from being damaged by previous battles, a straw hat marked with the Rain village symbol resting over the top of his head.
His dark grey shirt reminded me more of a kimono in style rimmed with gold and blue. Contrasting well with his dark grey pants barely peeking out from beneath. Each step he takes caused a tapping sound from his bamboo sandals. In one hand he holds a monk-like staff topped with gold loops. The man seems to start mumbling to the lone man standing in front of him. as his voice reaches me, the words themselves become indiscernible from the distance. He begins to laugh maniacally at something he must have said. This guy should really be in an insane asylum or dead. I think this as I see another man run into the power station.
Another source of tremors causing sounds to echo over the village draws my attention back towards the main gate. It almost looked like a mountain of dirt was growing. Perching itself from inside the village to hang over the gate itself. The stink of death permeating the air even as I hear people in the distance begin to fight. One thing I am sure about which is an obvious sight. The village is under attack. But so far everything adding together just doesn't seem to make any sense. Unless. Diversionary tactics! That's got to be it.
Even this, I look back down at the power station I see the white-haired man had left leaving the large man with a brown mohawk. Who now seems to be fighting the man who had ran into the power station. This itself doesn't seem right. This is a powerful jutsu at play reanimating the dead and yet... It's like I am missing the big picture. As if all of this wasn't the real objective at all.
The dark-haired man becomes captured in a lightning-style barrier as the large man runs off leaving his adversary very much alive and mostly untouched. Tilting my head I stand and jump down into the now mostly empty station. Finding none other than Asuma. Whose eyes widen as he sees me before his gaze narrows upon my form. "What are you doing here?" He asks lowly. Accusation deepening his already bass voice.
"Looks like you need help." I point out walking up to the barrier, my hands still in my pockets. It's understandable that most people do not even know of my presence in this village yet so his guard isn't surprising. "I could just leave you here and meet up with Naruto." I sigh as he pulls out a cigarette and brings it to his lips. He retrieves his lighter and flicks the zippo open before striking it. Igniting the flame and lighting his cigarette. He calmly takes a drag before placing his lighter back into his vest.
Pulling my right hand out of my pocket I sigh, his eyes now watching my every move again. Bringing my energy to my hand I tug at my lightning-style chakra before letting it escape my hand. His eyes widen as my hand lights up with lightning bolts shooting from my palm. "That's.." He says nearly making me frown. Pushing more energy through my hand until the area around us echos with the sounds of it. "And not even a hand sign. hn." He smirks just before I jab my hand out towards the barrier.
Element style jutsu though powerful can negate each other if met with the same amount of power behind them. Itachi had taught me that one. Digging my lightning blade against the barrier the sounds of electricity against each other nearly had me wincing even if it lasted only momentarily. The barrier fails and I pull my energy back inside me. Undoing my lightning blade. "Why are you in the village.." He asks as he steps out and up next to me.
"I escaped and came home over a week ago." I tell him simply before turning looking towards the village. Seeing three sets of electricity pulsing as they move through the streets in different directions. "The energy tonight.." I mutter placing my right hand on my hip. "It's thick, almost like a weight bearing down on us."
"Hn." Asuna grunts. "Sakura and Yamato already went after two of the four shinobi that had been in these coffins. I don't know what you are doing here, Kira. But if you are one of us. Go after the third and stop him. I'll go after Kitane." He drops his cigarette and steps on it.
"Alright." I tell him and leap back up onto the rooftops. Pushing outwards with my energy trying to feel the ones emitting the electricity. Closing my eyes a second to focus away from all the others in this village, I pinpoint them as they walk. South, East, and west. Asuma has the one who went North, sakura is chasing after the one who went south and Yamato is tailing to the west. east it is. I grunt and change my direction. Heading east to catch up with the other one.
This leads me to the opposite direction of the main gate. Leaping up onto a rock facing just outside of the village I look down to spot a short black-haired one. Smelling of death, a scar lining the front of his face going from the right side of his forehead down to his chin on the left side. It was then that he turned into dirt and sank into the ground. Eliminating the streaks of Lightning that had spread across the sky while I had been tailing him. Well, that was uneventful. I almost forgot what it was like to be used as a pawn instead of a higher-standing piece. Most of the time you don't actually get to do anything.
