Chapter 16
Asuma agreed reluctantly as the rain began to downpour upon us. I barely know the man and I already could tell he hated the idea of retreating. So it was a well-thought decision to go along with my suggestion. Once Izumo had recovered enough he had sent his doves to the remaining teams and the Hokage before we moved to the trees to sit and wait for a response from her. Even though he agreed he had also countered saying that we needed to wait for the Hokage to decide what we do next.
Night fell and most of the group we had accumulated were asleep. I moved away from the fire and set up in a tree looking out away from us. I already figured Leader called them back to seal another tailed beast. That is about the only reason he would have interrupted them but the leaf didn't know that. Meaning it will take three days before we see any sign of them. So it is understandable that they didn't want to just leave the area when they could come back. I very nearly sigh thinking back through the last three years. The banters I held between Hidan and me. The jokes we would pull on the other members. Him chasing me down the hall because I stole his necklace while I couldn't help but laugh and toss smirks over my shoulder. At first, he was pissed but sometime in the chase, he couldn't help but grin. Yes, whenever I could steer his mind away from his religious ramblings... he was fun.
"It's not your shift." A voice meets my ears as someone lands on the branch next to me. "You should be resting." I smile but make no move to look at him.
"You're one to talk, Shika." I raise my right leg onto the branch and rest my arm over my knee. Seemingly as if I am watching for any sign of movement. Rather than having been lost in my own thoughts and memories.
"Shika, huh." He says and I could hear him smile. "I don't think you ever called me that before this mission." He points out making me lightly chuckle.
"Caught that huh." I tell him as I sober. "Before this mission. We never actually talked before. Shika is easier to say than Shikamaru. It's a pain to say an entire name when it's that long." This made him laugh as I feel him rub the back of his neck.
"So true. But in that case, what about the Hokage? You call her by name." I finally look away from the cloud-covered view to meet his gaze.
"Well, I can't possibly call her Tsu or Slug now can I?"
"No, she would probably kill you." He laughs making me smile as I turn my attention back onto the landscape.
"Probably, I've heard she has a temper worse than Sakura's." I laugh in turn knowing that it's true. When I sober I sigh openly. "You know, I think this is the longest conversation I've had with anyone since I got back. It's nice."
"Really?" He asks and when I nod I hear him kind of grunt before he too looks out at the trees in front of us. "I guess, everyone has been busy since most of us have been made either chunin or Jonin."
"Yeah, life goes on. You can't remain a kid forever." I mutter lowly.
"That's true." He sighs before falling silent as if there was something on his mind. "Say, Kira?" He asks almost hesitantly. Huh? I breathe to show him I'm listening. "On the way to the collection office. You were talking about an Akatsuki that doesn't like killing." I nod to him and finally pull my gaze back over to him.
"What of it?" I ask as he sighs and folds his hands in his lap before looking back at me to meet my gaze.
"You were speaking, fondly, of the guy." This time I smile softly and look away from him, though I continue to watch him from the corner of my eye.
"You want me to tell you his name and explain right?" I ask him causing his shoulders to slouch before he nods in turn. So I hit the nail on the head. "There isn't much I want to say yet." I tell him causing a look of confusion to come from him. "I dropped a bug in Kakashi's ear so maybe Tsunade is looking for the documentation that will back my words. Don't get me wrong. I want to tell you. But if I do and you tell someone else. It could put you and others in danger." This did nothing to alleviate his confusion. It just seems to make it worse as he furrows his brows.
"The Aka.." He begins and I shake my head.
"No, people in the village." This made his eyes widen and I sigh before I close my eyes. "Anyway, The last time I was out like this... I was with him. He hides his emotions well but he's sad, and I... Want to help him." I say quietly. I could feel Shika's eyes soften as if he already picked up on who I was talking about even if I was deliberately concealing basically everything. Thankfully though he didn't say anything.
"Lucky guy, whoever he is." Shika says before falling silent. Making me glad the conversation was over. A comfortable silence fell over us as we continue to sit there. Watching the landscape in peace.
It had begun to rain heavily for a second time this day by the time Shika even got down out of the tree and went back to camp to rest and dry off. I waited until he was out of earshot before I sighed. "Eavesdropping, Asuma. Very ninja of you, but a bit tacky under the circumstances. He is your student after all." I nearly smirk as he steps out of the shadows.
"Who he develops feelings for, is none of my business." He says making my eyes roll.
"Then don't make it your business to listen in on his conversations." I poke at him causing him to grunt up from the ground. Leaping down from the tree branch I walk over to him. Seeing him standing there with his hands in his pocket. Seems like now that all the adrenaline has worn off, he's not exactly sure what to do with himself to keep from smoking. The effects of withdrawal are already lining the features on his face.
"Do you really believe there was a reason behind, his, actions?" He speaks lowly his gaze becoming serious nearly making my body stiffen by his one look.
"I know the entire truth, Asuma." I look away from him. Stepping up until my shoulder was nearly brushing against his arm. "If you are wondering who could have possibly been behind it…" I drop my tone even lower, barely above a whisper. I've already saved his life when I knew he was supposed to die. If he dies after this. What do I care? "You'll just have to wait for Tsunade to unravel my clues." Without waiting for a response from him I smirk and walk past him back to camp. Not entirely sure why. But getting under this man's skin is fun.
"You went to the trouble of calling us back here just to seal the two tails?!" Hidan's astral form turns as he yells loudly at the leader.
"This will take three days." Pein says blankly, unblinking at Hidan's anger.
"Three days?! Oh man, it's raining where we are…"
"Hidan, shut up." Kakuzu interrupts him causing Hidan to click his tongue.
"I was so close to crushing those leaf village morons and proving to that heathen traitorous whore the might of the way of Jashin!" By Hidan's remark, he had the eyes of three other members. One whose Sharingan eyes burning a bright red narrow upon the loud member.
"Konoha is not full of atheists. They venerate their ancestors and follow the will of fire. In fact, some can say their motives for fighting are just as valid as yours." Pein explains.
"Huh? How dare you?! Are you trying to insult me, huh?!" Hidan snaps at their leader in irritation. Pein knew that by bringing up the leaf's beliefs would redirect one of the two problem members away from discussing Kira. He did not wish to blatantly shoot down any questions he might stubbornly bring up.
"No, I did not intend to rid you of your reasons why you do that. After all, you and I are birds of a feather. It doesn't matter what you use to justify war. Religion, philosophy, resources, land, revenge, love, even a whim. No matter how trivial the motive. They are all worthy causes for war. There will always be war. The reason can be found later. Human instinct seeks conflict."
"Ahh. Nobody wants to hear your long-winded lecture! Listen, I've got my own way of doing things, I have my own set of goals! I don't intend to devote my all to this, organization. Alright?!" Hidan yells finally losing his temper.
"So long as you are affiliated with the Akatsuki, you will contribute to its cause. Once they have been achieved yours will be as swiftly granted as well." Pain narrows his gaze on Hidan as he speaks.
"You can act all cool as you want but it won't change the fact that the only thing the Akatsuki wants is to make money! You're the same as Kakuzu. And fighting for money is the motivation I hate most."
"You're right, our immediate ambition is indeed financial but the Akatsuki's true goal lies elsewhere. And it is one that will cost a great deal of money to fulfill."
"Next to Tobi, I'm the second newest member of the team! I haven't heard anything about this, true goal from you! To top it off you missed the most pressing matter at hand, and it's not money. Kakuzu thinks we should bring the bitch to you, I think we should kill her!"
"It can't be helped." Pein says as he closes his eyes a moment. "If you run into her again, bring her to me. Do not kill her... What runs in her veins... Would bring us enough profit we would have all the money we need to bring our goals to fruition."
"Tch, money again?!" Hidan yells in irritation. "The bitch burned me with that annoying jutsu of hers and helped them cut my head off!"
"It's not like it killed you, Hidan." Pein points out making Hidan groan in annoyance.
"That's not the point and you know it!"
"If you see her again, bring her to me." Pein narrows his eyes on Hidan repeating his orders to him. Making the stubborn member click his tongue at him again with a glare.
"Alright alright! Fine!" Hidan gives in much to Itachi and Pein's satisfaction. "Now tell me what this ultimate goal is already!" Hidan shouts changing the subject back to the one Pein had attempted to distract him with in the first place.
It had been late morning by the time the newest team had arrived. Informing us of Tsunade's wish for us to return home. As I had suggested this new team consisted of jonin, even though I doubt they'll ever come into contact with Hidan and Kakuzu. Them believing Asuma to be dead would mean they will head straight for the village rather than to return to this drop-off point. Unless Pein somehow redirects them to a different mark, but that is unlikely. Kakuzu won't let his cash cow go too far.
Since Asuma had time to rest we made it back to the village without much delay. I was going to return to my apartment but Asuma pointed out that we needed to report in to Tsunade. Which I am not exactly sure why. We had told her basically everything in that message Izumo sent her. Beyond hearing about it personally to put faces to the words there was no reason to need us there. Inevitably I listened to Asuma and went with him, Shika, Izumo, and Kotetsu to the Hokage building.
I could only venture a guess that since Ino and Choji's squad didn't really do anything but make a diversion to get our team out of there that their presence isn't required. Used to I would have found a way to get Asuma to let me out of this headache. I'm tired, I haven't slept at all for four days now. My bed was the only place I wanted to go. Yet, here I am, standing in front of Tsunade alongside four others that could have just as easily reported to her.
"Your mission was to capture or kill the Akatsuki and you failed, Asuma." Tsunade sighs and leans back in her chair. "But you did gather invaluable information on the two Akatsuki. We now even know what they look like so it will be easier to find them. And, you all made it back alive. That more or less is a victory in my book." She smiles at us making the other four relax under her gaze. "Kotetsu, Izumo, Shikamaru." She says their names abruptly causing them to tense up again. "I want all of you to be checked out at the hospital."
"Yes." They say in unison making me rub my ear closest to them in annoyance before they left. I turned to watch Shika give me a smile before he closes the door behind them. I had almost wondered why I wasn't dismissed with them but I already had an idea as to the reason.
"Asuma, your side mission." Tsunade mentions drawing my attention back to her. He seems to stuff his hands in his pockets as he thinks about the words he is going to say. The silence however made me feel uneasy.
"The Akatsuki had no idea she was in the village, even verbally labeled her a traitor." He pauses another moment. "If not for her, I would be dead." This made Tsunade smile as she continues to listen. "When we were at the fire temple it was her that realized who we would be dealing with, that one of them was immortal." He glances at me a moment before looking back to Tsunade. "I have no doubt that she defected the Akatsuki as a whole. Saying that I must say she still harbors... Feelings for one of them."
"Itachi huh." Tsunade's smile fades before she looks at me. "Thank you Asuma, You go to the hospital as well. I want to make sure there are no lingering effects of that drug."
"Yes, Lady Hokage." He says before he turns and walks out of the room. Leaving me alone in the lion's den.
"Did you hear that, Kakashi?" She suddenly says just before he comes to the window and sits on the sill letting one leg hang down towards the floor.
"I heard." He says lowly causing me to look from her to him and back again. His tone wasn't lightweight at all. Something was bothering him that he was skillfully masking. Tsunade then stands retrieving a book from her desk as she does before coming to me. Tilting my head she holds it out.
"Read it." She states and I raise my brow. Opening it I flip from page to page only finding blacked-out writing. "All of it is confidential. Even from the Hokage."
"I see. Not surprising." I tell her, my voice losing the emotion I had been fighting to show these last few days. Closing the book I hand it back to her.
"Nothing should be confidential from me." Tsunade narrows her eyes though her anger wasn't directed at me. "What the hell happened that the third didn't want anyone to know about?!" She groans and walks back to her chair and sets down in a huff.
"Hard to follow." I state nearly smirking when she glares at me. "Was that question for me? Or the old man?"
"Haha, funny." This however made her calm down as she leans back, no longer glaring. Walking up to the window Kakashi is setting in he gives me a closed eye smile as I lean against the wall next to it. "If you can answer, I'm all ears." She finally says after taking in a breath. I see, so the whole reason for having Asuma watch me wasn't just to make sure I really did leave the Akatsuki. She wanted to make sure she can trust what I am about to tell her. Well, whatever makes her comfortable I guess.
"Before I tell you, Tsunade. I would like to know what you will do with the information." This time she does actually glare at me. Oops. I nearly laugh at this situation.
