Thirty Kisses Theme 03 - Jolt
Hayate followed Kabuto when he saw the gray haired medical ninja skulking about the boundaries of the chuunin exam building. He had gone into the offices to pick up papers regarding the final contestants when he saw the glint of glass out of the corner of his eye. Being of the paranoid sort, Hayate paused, lightening his breath. A jolt, a shiver, ran down his spine, a tell tale sign, as long as he was concerned, that he was being watched.
He followed the genin a steady twenty paces behind, keeping his pace light and his movement fluid. He had enough time to idly wonder where the ANBU border squads were, but he couldn't detract his attention from his quarry. When Kabuto stopped Hayate took up a position around the corner, his back against the cool stone of the building.
"Sand is ready to do its part in this alliance with Sound." Those were the words of two traitors. Two traitors in Konoha who posed a danger to the entire village. Hayate felt his knees creak as he got to his feet to tell the Hokage.
"It seems we have a rat." The voice was Kabuto's, but it sounded sinister, unlike the voice he had used in the chuunin exam preliminaries. Hayate's muscles tensed, his feet about to propel him towards the Hokage Tower.
"No… I'll do it. After all… it's just one little rat." Hayate was gone.
Baki caught up with him on the dome of the Kikyou Palace. As he drove his blade into Baki's shoulder he allowed himself a surge of thought that he could still win, still warn the village. But the windblades shattered it.
As he lay bleeding out upon the dome he vaguely noticed Baki spit in his direction before leaving. If he'd known things would turn out like this… he would have kissed Yuugao goodbye that morning instead of letting her sleep in. He would have proposed. And he would have loved her more.
