Chapter 17
"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. ~
Tsunade lets out a slow breath. "That all depends on what I find out." She states and I nearly shrug. Good enough for me. That means she isn't holding any preconceptions. She's openly willing to take what I say into account. Itachi... I'm sorry, but I want you to come home. I want your family to come home.
"I'm not sure what you can do with this information, I am hoping you can help but I also know if this information leaves the village lives could be put in jeopardy." I sigh admitting my own shortcoming. This is as far as my plan ever made it for the most part. I couldn't set on a specific outcome amongst many possible ones.
"What is it?" She asks narrowing her eyes and steeling herself for what I am about to say. Closing my eyes a moment I take in the silence before looking to Tsunade again. Who surprisingly was being patient. Who knew she could muster up the ability for that. "The Uchiha Massacre was ordered." As soon as those words leave me her eyes widen and Kakashi's gaze though hiding his emotions at the moment falls fully on me.
"What do you mean by that?" Tsunade snaps, her shoulders become tense though the look in her eyes showed the distance. She herself was trying to figure out exactly why that would have happened.
"Well, what you would find out from the elders if they so wished to grace you with the information. They would tell you it was to prevent a coup d'etat and keep peace in the village. That's if they know anything about it which is unlikely that they don't." From the look on her face, I decide to close my eyes. She is just too easy to read. "The Uchiha were planning to stage a coup against the village hierarchy. They had been steadily placing Uchiha within the village command structure to act as spies. Itachi making Anbu was like a dream come true for them." I could almost hear her fists clenching. "However, Itachi became the eyes and ears for the village. Reporting to the third everything the Uchiha were planning. Since Itachi did not agree with his clan's plans. He could see that such a coup would cause unnecessary death and quite possibly another Shinobi war."
"Gramps, he understood the Uchiha. Since the clan was feeling the oppression brought on them after the appearance of the nine-tails. Just for the simple fact, an ancestor of their clan had the ability to control the tailed beast. Things were truly dark for them if you remember." I push off from the wall and walk to another window if only for some movement to keep my mind focused. "Gramps wanted to find a peaceful solution with the clan. A resolution that eventually would have worked. However, Danzo." I pause saying that name just to see her flinch in anger. "He had other plans. Seeing Itachi's best friend bestowed with a rare and powerful gift was trying to use it to control the clan leaders' minds to keep the talks of peace from falling apart… Well, let's just say a twisted plan cooked up in his mind. He killed the boy and made it look like a suicide just to make peace, impossible by revealing to the clan Itachi's true actions. It was Danzo that made only two possible outcomes likely. He then ordered Itachi to kill his clan but when he went and reported the success of his mission to the third... He found out that he had no idea such a mission existed."
Sighing I look out the window at the night sky. A part of me was actually glad the moon was out even though retelling the Uchiha story left me with a heavy heart. Silence filled the room and I could feel a tear roll down my cheeks. "Old man." my voice broke uncontrollably making me cuss myself inwardly. "He promised to take care of Sasuke and keep him out of Danzo's reach. Since Danzo's only goal for such treachery was the clan's unique powers. That is why the old man disassembled root to remove Danzo from power."
"That... Snake!" Tsunade yells and slams her fist into the top of her desk causing it to fold in on itself. "I knew nothing good would ever come from him!" She snarls, seething with rage.
"Yup, the old man must surely be pissed off knowing that not only did Danzo keep root active but waited for his death to regain the very power he took from him." I spoke and I could hear her panting. Ready to explode from her anger. I chose correctly it seems. She must be more like the old man than I gave her credit. A thought came to my mind making me shake my head. I look down a moment, thoughts whirring through my mind. Plans, strategies. Everything I've built up to this point. "Now I'll ask you again. What do you plan to do with this information?"
Tsunade takes in a breath before getting up and walking to one of her windows in thought. "I guess, first we will need to find proof. Then and only then can we arrest the man." She speaks low but calmly. I knew it. Itachi, by the time this is all over. Nothing will keep you and your family from returning.
"I would say that's impossible." I comment and puff out my cheeks. Feeling her eyes now on me from my reflection in the glass. "He will only escape. Plus, his sole reason for doing what he did was to achieve even more power. A very dangerous one. In my opinion, him even living is a liability. Once you have proof you may be able to sway the elders to discredit him and agree to his arrest but, when he escapes he has nearly an army at his disposal on top of his own prowess. I don't want to sound like the man, myself. However, he is extremely dangerous. As of now just with knowing what I do, from his past deed and his unyielding desire for power of any kind. He probably sees you as a weaker adversary than the old man. He is most likely laying in wait, planning for the perfect time to make his move. To steal the title of Hokage from you... In certainty, it's about 89%" I put a knuckle under my chin as I divert my gaze to my right. "In fact, I have no doubt, that is what he is planning."
"I don't like it." She sighs then closes her eyes. "But I agree with you there, if and when we find proof. Danzo will have to be eliminated." I nod with a yawn. "You should go home and rest." She speaks softly and I give her a smile.
"Gladly." I tell her before going to the window and climbing out of it. Looking back over my shoulder I smile. "Thank you, Tsunade. Just by being open to this discussion, you have earned my trust." These words cause Kakashi's eye to widen before it softens gently upon me. Soon, Danzo will be dead. I wonder how it will happen. A silent kill? No trace left behind so it would be as if he simply vanished? To be honest, I don't really care as long as it is done. And from the reactions, she gave me tonight. I know, she's going to get it done and no one will find out. Someone who spent most of her life fighting in wars. Swaying her to my plans was a simple act to accomplish. Once my back was to her I smirk again before leaping out of the window to go home.
Looking down at my arm I remove the tourniquet as I draw yet another vial of my blood. For nearly two entire days, I slept. Yet, even with the access, I have to this hospital I still had to ask permission from Tsunade to use it. It was a pain, I still don't like asking permission for everything I plan on using. I had even needed to schedule usage time with the different equipment here. This alone makes me miss my lab. -I want to go home.- I very nearly sigh.
Shaking my head I mix one of my previous vials as I pull chakra through it to my hand causing the contents to swirl and turn blue. A knock at the door threatened to pull my concentration from my task as a female nurse walks in. Hearing her gasp a moment before I feel her swallow hard and walk further into the lab. "The rats you requested." She speaks almost hesitantly as my hand and vial stops shining blue. "Good, set them on the counter behind me."
"Oh, ok." She responds before doing as I said and walking out of the room. Heh, timid as ever. I shake my head pushing my stool over to my second area. I pick up a dropper before pulling a drop of the vial contents. Carefully placing the droplet onto my rolled-out scroll already consisting of one of my jutsu diagrams. Watching it light up with a golden light before it fades leaving it empty, free of the blood I had just put on it. Smiling to myself I slip the vial into one of the few holders I had set up to show completion of different stages.
Getting up I walk to the one window in this room and lookout. Today was a beautiful day, even the wind at this moment would feel good. Retrieving a cloth from my lab coat I brush it over my face to rid myself of any lingering sweat. I had decided I would make more than a few doses. Since Tsunade gave me permission and has even granted me actual lab rats, I'm guessing she is finally seeing the fruits of my labor. After proving the effectiveness with Yamato and now Asuma. I can only hope she has the proof she needed.
It was then the door opens again forcing me out of my thoughts to look away from the window. This time it was Shizune. She gives me a smile holding her usual clipboard. "How's it coming along?" She asks after her eyes skim over my workstations.
"The first batch is about to come out of the analyzer. From there I'll know if more work will be needed before I even test it." I inform her causing her eyes to move to station four and the metal container that was still humming.
"Well, umm, if you need help. You can feel free to ask." She says trying to form her words around her thoughts that were visibly running through her mind. Nearly making my head tilt in curiosity before I shake my head and sigh.
"I guess, it would be easier with two people." I tell her before pointing to station two. "Once I move items from station four you can maneuver the vials to their next steps. Then you can post yourself at that station. Review the information there. More than familiarize yourself with that step before starting on the next batch." I inform her. She gives me a determined look.
"Right away." She says before walking over to the very station I pointed at. I nearly sigh as I walk over to station four when the analyzer goes off. Looking at the results I nearly smile. This batch is good. I silently thought before pulling the eight vials from the machine. Placing them safely into a vial holder before carrying them to the rat's cage.
As I prepare a small syringe with enough of the medicine equivalent for their size I hear Shizune moving the vials from one station to another as I had asked her to. She even went so far as to placing the next batch into the analyzer before her movements pause. "How do you know if it works?" She asks so I wave her over to me. Setting the prepared syringe down and reaching into the cage. "What.." She breathes coming up on the other side of the table watching me.
Pulling out a rat as I retrieve a scalpel. Her eyes widen as I stab the blade into the creature making it squeal in pain. Freeing my hand of the blade I quickly grab the syringe and inject it into the animal. Setting it on the table to watch it. "That's so.." She starts as we watch it struggle.
"Inhumane." I speak my voice now completely void of emotion making her nod. "I haven't found any other way to test this medication other than using it on live subjects. I am hoping, once you become intimate with my research process, being a more experienced medical-nin than I am, that you will fix this stage of the process." I admit making her brows furrow. If I am honest with myself, I would much rather be using my test subjects instead of rats. This part of the process is cruel and these creatures have done nothing to deserve this.
"You are already well past me in the field." She breathes making me shake my head as the rat begins to kick and move to its feet slowly.
"Me? All I have learned is through books along with trial and error. I still have much to learn." I explain picking up the rat along with a sponge to clean the blood off of it. Taking my time to check the external injury before pushing my healing energy into my hand. Bathing the rat with the green light as I feel for the internal injuries I had rudely caused the animal. I put it in the lone empty cage when it showed that the wounds indeed had healed. "It will take only a few minutes at maximum to know if it will have any of the side effects."
