Chapter 4: Blood in the Sky
Tobishachimaru
The night had passed without any further incident, but Kakashi and Rin slept in shifts. They tried to keep the spirits of Tazuna and the passengers high, but it was only a matter of time until people would become suspicious. As such the Copy-Ninja had a meeting with the crewmembers in his cabin while he waited for Pakkun to arrive.
"Has everyone been accounted for?" Kakashi asked.
"We did a headcount, there are no missing passengers at least," a young crewmember named Naoto said as he straightened his glasses and he looked at the manifest.
"As for crewmembers…" another crewmember, a young man named Roku frantically checked over the list again. "Two are missing…."
Kakashi nodded. "Could they have never made it on board before we set off?"
"Impossible. They were in crew mess hall while we were doing the preparations for takeoff," Roku said as he rubbed his chin. "Both of them were assigned to make sure the airship's helium sacks had no leaks."
"Up in the scaffolding?" Rin asked and Naoto nodded. "I'll head up there for some clues, maybe they had some drinks and passed out."
Kakashi nodded. "Be careful," he said as his nose kept twitching. "I can't explain it but there is something uneasy up there…"
Rin gave him a wink. "Don't worry Kakashi. I'm a lot stronger than the last time you saw me so if there is trouble…I can handle it."
The Copy Ninja nodded. "Just be discreet. I don't want to cause a panic with the passengers."
The medic gave a nod as well as a playful grin, before she walked out of the cabin. Kakashi folded his hands under his chin as the door swished close and Rin walked down the hallway. Just then a panel 'fell' away' and Kahyō stepped out and she dusted herself off. Her concealment was perfect, even a Jōnin of Rin's caliber couldn't detect her.
That damned brother of mine, he's going to blow our cover if I don't keep Kakashi distracted… Kahyō thought to herself as she straightened her reporter outfit. Her crew was asleep in their cabin, and she had been doing some reconnaissance. "Now…showtime."
She waited until the two crewmembers walked out to continue with their duties and then gently tapped the door of Kakashi's quarters. The Copy Ninja walked over and pulled the door open, and he looked at her, blush appearing momentarily before he composed himself.
"Kahyō-san, what can I help you with?"
"Oh…I was hoping to do a more in-depth interview with you, Kakashi-dono," Kahyō said respectfully. "I understand its early in the morning, but it would really help me out."
"Oh, of course," Kakashi said as he welcomed her not his cabin.
She surveyed the room a bit. There were two beds arranged as bunk beds, one was presumably his and he other was his teammate's. It was kept tidy though there were a few books that were on the nightstand. Kahyō's eye twitched when she realized what Kakashi's reading material was.
Icha Icha…seriously he reads that pornographic garbage? Kahyō thought to herself as her head seemed to creak to keep eye contact with the Copy Ninja. "Well then…lets start. I'm sure my audience would love to know some of your backstory Kakashi-dono, it must be highly thrilling."
"Well…maybe. I became a ninja at a very young age, back when Konoha still allowed children under twelve graduate from the Academy," Kakashi started as he leaned back. "I was five then and was assigned o Namikaze Minato as my Jōnin sensei. My first team consisted of two ninja who were older than I was from the Hyūga and Aburame clans, Hikoro Hyūga and Shinta Aburame, Minato-sensei's goal was to create a tracking squad for us."
"Something tells me that didn't go according to plan…"
"I'm afraid not. I got along with my teammates at least, at least they weren't…jealous of my skills like a lot of people at the Academy were. We had a relatively easy start but tensions between the villages were high then. On a B-Rank mission to the Land of Rivers we were escorting a high-ranking businessman to the capital when we were all jumped by Suna Ninja," Kakashi said as he frowned. "The battle was brutal…and I fought Sasori of the Red Sand there. Hikoro shielded our client with his body from a barrage of poison senbon and Shinta inhaled some of the poison gas he was using. Sensei and I managed to drive Sasori off, but the damage was done," Kakashi looked down and closed his eyes. "The client was safe, but my first two teammates had died in the line of duty before we could even hope to get to a hospital."
Kahyō felt her breath catch in her throat at that. "I…I had no idea…but…if it's alright, please continue."
"I ended up taking part of the Chūnin Exams a few months later with a couple genin who had also lost their own teammate and sensei on a mission. Honestly our teamwork was atrocious, but we were able to keep it together. Hell, eventually we became friends. They are Sotaru Hajime and Yusuke Inuzuka. All three of us passed the Chūnin Exams and we went on a few more high-level missions together…" his eyes darkened again. "Tragedy happened again during what was supposed to be a routine bandit expulsion job…a trap was triggered, and my teammates were caught in it…" He reflexively closed his hand. "…and on top of that…my father was ostracized for putting his own teammate's lives over a mission and ended up taking his own life by the time I got home."
Despite herself Kahyō put her hand to her mouth in shock and her eyes widened. That…that all happened when he was a child? How is he so composed…?
"It was at tat point Minato-sensei basically made me his personal apprentice and practically adopted me," Kakashi said as he looked down "For a few years we just were a two-man cell going on missions. It wasn't until I was nine, I gained new teammates…Rookie of the Year Rin Nohara…and dead last Obito Uchiha." He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. "Obito immediately formed a rivalry with me, claiming that when he awakened his Sharingan he'd 'leave me in the dust' and Rin…well…she got infatuated with me."
"From what I sounds like, you didn't return her feelings? Now that you two are adults is that feeling the same?"
Kakashi waved his hand. "We became good friends, but nothing more. Rin often acted as the peacekeeper between me and Obito…he had a crush on her," he sighed wistfully. "If it weren't for the Third Shinobi World War our team might have survived till now…" he looked down. "As terrible and nightmarish as the Fourth War was, the Third was a lot more…personal. Konoha's manpower had to be stretched to its limit and for the first time since the Warring States period, shinobi younger than 16 were deployed to the frontlines to stop Iwagakure's…as such my team were deployed as soon as Rin and Obito became Chūnin."
"…I had heard that the Third Shinobi World War was brutal, but I rarely had an opportunity to talk to any veterans about it," Kahyō said truthfully, despite her mission and past…judgements about Kakashi and Konoha ninja in general she found herself enthralled by his story. She had thought, mostly from reputation he would have been a braggard about his past exploits, but he was anything but.
"We did several missions together…fighting on the frontlines and we saw…countless scenes of dead. Razed villages, murdered civilians, helping refugees…" Kakashi looked down. "It was there I learned an anecdote that has stuck with me: War is Hell. Its not glorious. Its not pretty…and anyone who claims they love it are too broken inside to even make sense of what life actually is." He breathed out through his nose. "…and then at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge one more loss happened. I had just been promoted to Jōnin and Minato-sensei had put me in charge of our team so he could assist on the main front. But Rin was captured…and I tried to stick to the rules, still haunted by what happened to my father. I'd have made a terrible mistake if it wasn't for Obito…"
She watched as Kakashi slowly pulled his headband up and the Sharingan appeared in front of her for the first time. Kahyō saw the defined scar that covered his eye and he closed them for a few seconds.
"Obito went to save Rin…and I followed and saved him at the cost of my eye. Then his Sharingan awoke to protect me from an unseen enemy," Kakashi said as he looked down. "We found and rescued Rin and engaged the enemy…but after we untied her the enemy tried to take us both with him. I got hit by falling debris and Obito grabbed me and pushed me out of the way of a boulder…and he got crushed. He offered his Sharingan to me so he could see the end of he War and the next generation through me…"
Kahyō breathed in. "…I think that's enough for now," she said as she finished completing her notes. "Thank you for the interview, Kakashi-dono."
"Not a problem," Kakashi said as he pulled down his headband.
As this was happening Rin had gotten up into the rafters of the envelope where the air sacks were. She used a trick she had picked up as part of ROOT, when she had been sent to Iwagakure to infiltrate the village and learn some of its secrets. She was now for all intents and purposes invisible through the Meisaigakure no Jutsu (Hiding with Camouflage Technique), even her footsteps were muted.
Now let's see… Rin thought as she walked onto the rafters and down the causeways. She past the airships helium sacks as she felt the change of temperature. There isn't as much insulation up here, at this altitude it's pretty cold…if I need to, I better use my summons inside the gondola…
Rin put her hand onto the handrail, and she noticed something. Most people, even many shinobi would overlook it but due to her training…
Blood…just a tiny amount… Rin thought to herself as she stood up and tried to get a better look at the area. She could see several other small now black specks of blood on the handrails and part of the floor. Yeah…not good. This was definitely a killing blow…maybe the slice of a person's neck. And from the outline there is a deliberate shielding of the splatter but not all of it could be blocked…
She then heard the clank of footsteps coming up the catwalk and she deftly dropped down and held ono the bottom of the metal mesh floor. Rin charged chakra to her hands so she could stick to it to preserve her muscle strength and she then saw…two Sound Ninja walk into view.
"Man, I think Kakashi's reputation is overblown, he still hasn't detected us…"
"Shut up, I lost my brother to him during the Invasion of Konoha," the other Sound Ninja said with a growl. "We just have to keep our presence a secret until the bosses want to act…"
"Really makes me sick to my stomach seeing how people are living it up in the Land of Waves and Land of Fire," the other said while spitting. "Rich nations getting obese over their own success while our people barely scrape by in Sound…"
"Orochimaru-sama is going to counter that…"
Rin pulled herself back up onto the catwalk and got behind both of them. Her hands then glowed blue as she created her Chakura no Mesu (Chakra Scalpel) and she went low and cut both of the Sound Ninja's Achilles Tendon and made them crash to the ground. Before they could cry out in pain and surprise, she put a kunai hilt in their mouths and tied it before she dropped her cloaking jutsu.
"Sorry if I'm being a little rough, boys," Rin said with faux sweetness. "But I believe you will have to start talking…"
Before they could do anything, Rin bound both of them together and did a few hand seals. She then exhaled a reddish-pink gas from her mouth after she crushed a fake molar in her jaw and the wispy gas wafted into the two Sound Ninja's noses. The former ROOT medic then blew a full burst of it right into their faces for a full dose and was immune to the effects.
"Magen: Rōzuwārudo Jinmon (Demonic Illusion: Rose World Illusion)," Rin uttered as both of the Sound Ninja coughed and heaved as her genjutsu took effect and hey slowly straightened up. "Great, you both are going to tell me everything you know, right from the beginning…"
Konohagakure
Kushina had just learned the news that she was already going to be a grandmother and she was gleefully hugging Hinata as congratulations! Minato pat Naruto's shoulder and gave a huge grin as well! The four were at Minato's house after he had gotten off his shift as Hokage. They were sat around the dinner table; a fresh breakfast meal had been set for everyone to enjoy.
"Hinata-chan this is so amazing!" Kushina said as she hugged her son's girlfriend. "Oh, we have so many preparations to make…I'm gonna be a grandmother! Me a grandmother-tttebane!"
Hinata smiled and put a hand on her stomach. "I know…and I'm going to be a mother…I'm so excited…"
"Well, you know what that means," Kushina said, and she grabbed her son's ear. "I don't care if you are the Hokage now Naruto, time to put a ring on Hinata's finger!"
"Ow, ow, ow mom!" Naruto complained before she let go. "We are planning on it but we don't want to rush it!"
Hinata nodded. "There isn't any sense of urgency for us to be married yet, Kushina-san…"
"But…but…but…" Kushina started. "You're going to be parents, but you don't want to be married immediately?!"
Minato winced. "Dear, it's their life. Things have changed a lot since we got together…"
"Yeah, and it doesn't mean we won't get married at all," Naruto said as he folded his hands behind his head. "Just don't feel the need to jump on it!"
Kushina's head drooped. "But I already had a wedding kimono in mind for Hinata…she would look so good in it…"
"Then you can save it for when we do plan on it!" Hinata insisted as the Uzumaki matriarch whined at that.
"But I don't want to wait…" she groaned and Hinata hugged her future mother-in-law happily.
"There, there," Hinata said comfortingly.
Minato smiled. "We can discuss future plans later, this is still a time to celebrate," he said as he held up a plate with several dishes on it. "So, lets enjoy some of this feast Kushina and I made this afternoon."
"Yeah!" Naruto cheered as his stomach growled. "Let's dig in!"
The four then took their seats at the table and each took their favorite dishes. Naruto and Kushina of course had pork ramen and salt ramen respectively, while Hinata had some red bean soup and Minato had Shirasu Donburi for his meal. The family chatted and talked, the young Rokudaime telling his parents his plans for the village and Hinata took name suggestions from Kushina. After the meal Kushina rolled out a karaoke set, and the rest of the small party was spent singing!
As this happened Tsunade and Mei were returning from one of their dates at the Godaime Hokage's mansion. They had gone out for drinks and dancing, and now the Mizukage supported Tsunade as they got to the door.
"Ohh…that was fun…" Tsunade said as she snuggled against Mei.
"Yes…quite fun," Mei said as she kept her arm around her girlfriend's waist and gave a smile. "Though I didn't expect you to drink all that sake…"
Tsunade laughed. "You put down…a LOT yourself…hon…" she said and pawed at Mei's chest.
"Mmm…true…" Mei said as she had her hand slip and feel Tsunade's breast. "Oh…sorry about…"
The Mizukage was cut off by a passionate kiss from Tsunade. The two stopped and wrapped their arms around each other as they kissed on the walkway to the Godaime Hokage's front door. The kiss grew lustful, the two gasped and moaned into each other's mouths as they pawed at one another's bodies. They lost footing and fell right onto the grass with Tsunade on top. After several moments of heated kissing, they broke the kiss while panting.
"…whoa…" Mei said as she reached up and cupped Tsunade's cheek.
"Oh…yeah…whoa…" Tsunade said as she leaned in and kissed Mei again and the two opened their mouths to let their tongues flick together. "Here…?"
"Mmm…!" Mei gasped as she kissed Tsunade again. "Yes…can't wait much longer…"
Tsunade then pulled away and sat back before she opened her shirt and her enormous breasts spilled out. Then she tossed her shirt away as she then went down and kissed Mei's neck, yanking her girlfriend's blue kimono open as the Mizukage's enormous breasts were exposed too. The two then began to kiss again fiercely and they opened their mouths as their breasts crushed against each other and their pink nipples flicked together.
"Doing…it here…" Mei moaned. "In your…front yard…"
"Just so…naughty…" Tsunade gasped as Mei grabbed her pants and began to slowly pull them down. "Like out of a dirty novel…OH…"
The Godaime Hokage then sat back and helped Mei remove her pants and her Mizukage lover purred when she saw the thick bush of blonde hair over the pink lips of her womanhood. Mei herself undid her kimono and tossed it away too and exposed her auburn, bushy womanhood to her girlfriend. Tsunade then kissed her again and made their breasts crush together.
"Mmm…we're nearly the same size…HERE…"
"Oh, but you are a bit bigger than me…" Mei gasped as she and Tsunade kept kissing heatedly.
Tsunade then yanked Mei's legs up and practically straddled her hips. The two panted as they could feel their hot pussy lips get a bit wetter in anticipation. They then intertwined their right hands as they crushed their bushy woman hoods together. The two began to eagerly clap their wet cores together as they kissed heatedly.
"Mmmmm…" Tsunade gasped as she and Mei rocked and ground against each other, the Mizukage's legs flexing with every movement.
"Yes…MORE…" Mei gave a throaty moan as they clapped together faster.
Their clits then pushed together and sent jolts of pleasure throughout their bodies. The contact of their bodies drove them to pick up speed as Tsunade's twin-tails burst from their binds, letting her long blonde hair flow freely. She went in and kissed Mei's neck as they clapped together faster, with a slight bite of hardness.
The two got a little more aggressive, clapping their messy bushy pussies together faster and harder as Mei pulled Tsunade from her neck and the two began to kiss passionately. They were getting close, their nipples rubbing and jabbing together while they moved together faster. Mei's heels crushed against Tsunade's ass, keeping her against her as they began to tense up.
"I'm going to…"
"Oh…me too…!"
They bucked and clapped together harder and faster, their messy hairy pussies' ground together more as their lower lips 'kissed' from the angle. And then, all at the same moment they cried out as their orgasm burst like a crescendo over them! Tsunade then collapsed on Mei, the two gasped and lightly moaned, before she rolled to lay next to her girlfriend.
"This night sure got…even more beautiful," Tsunade said as she wrapped her arm around Mei.
Mei cuddled against her. "Heh…we couldn't even wait to get inside…"
"The ANBU took care of it, there's already a barrier around my house to prevent any perverts from seeing us," Tsunade said as she rubbed the Mizukage's cheek.
"…then…" Mei reached into her discarded kimono and pulled out a box. "Before I get sober…" Tsunade looked at her as the box popped open and a diamond ring was there. "Tsunade-hime…marry me…please…"
The Godaime Hokage's eyes widened before a smile spread ono her face. "I accept…"
The two cupped each other's cheeks and pulled each other into a loving kiss before they grabbed their clothes and headed into their house to continue their…fun. The ANBU which had been guarding the two gave a bit of a sigh of relief at that before they had the barrier vanish.
"…ever since Tsunade-sama started dating we've had to do this FAR more often than I thought we would," the purple haired Yūgao said behind her mask.
"Well, she is in love," the Kiri ANBU said next to her. "Mei-sama is the same. Haven't seen her like this for years."
"Well…lets just keep guard now. The lovebirds can enjoy all they want," Yūgao said as she leaned back.
Tobishachimaru
Kakashi was waiting for both Rin and Pakkun to come back with any information about the missing crewmen. He was in the airship's lounge now as he looked at all the passengers. His instincts were now screaming that something was wrong, but he couldn't place it just yet. Kahyō was in a corner and was interviewing a couple industrialists who were already making plans of buying Tazuna's patents to create their own airship fleet.
What is taking Rin and Pakkun so long? Kakashi thought as he reached for his cup of coffee. The should have found something by now…
Just as he thought that he sensed a flare of killing intent out of nowhere. He glanced up and around before his eye locked on a strange…little creature standing on the ceiling. It then began to laugh as it opened its single eye and the Copy Ninja sucked air into his mouth when he saw the pupil of a large Mangekyō Sharingan right there. There was a shimmer and a vortex of space time opened
A man with two Sharingan eyes dropped through it, as well as another man who had some features that looked like Kahyō for a familial resemblance…followed by several Sound Ninja. Kakashi grabbed a kunai but then felt the temperature noticeably drop and his eye darted to see that Kahyō had did a seal.
"While we were waiting for the Copy Ninja to have been out of this room, we have been compromised," the man with the multiple Sharingan eyes said with a snarl.
"Your bloodthirst gave it away…" the second man said, and he cleared his throat. "Tobishachimaru passengers, I have Rahyō, leader of the Armament Alliance!" He gave a sadistic smirk. "We're diverting our path…Orochimaru-sama is highly interested in this technology, so he wants the first prototype for himself."
The cockpit doors then were smashed open as Tazuna himself was tossed out in front of the crowd. Several people screamed and the braver went for any weapons they could get only for the Sound Ninja to block their path while drawing their swords or kunai's. Kakashi himself was about to leap into an attack as Kahyō intercepted him, landing a strong kick that sent him crashing through he door to he cabins.
"Thank you, sister," Rahyō said with a smirk. "But that won't put him down for long."
"I know," Kahyō said, hiding the disgust in her voice as she reached and pulled up her skirt which had a knife tied to her outer thigh and she pulled it out. "I'll finish him off before he can cause more trouble."
Kakashi had managed to recover and yanked his headband up. "So, you were planted to learn about me?"
"And make sure you didn't cause trouble, Kakashi-san," Kahyō said as she frowned. "Don't make this anymore difficult than it has to be."
"I'm sorry, but you're helping terrorists take over an entire sip of people, that's well past being 'difficult'," Kakashi retorted as the two vanished faster than the passengers could see.
There were a shower of sparks above the cabins as they reappeared on the ceiling itself/ Kakashi's hands were a blur as he created a Raikiri with his dominant hand while Kahyō finished her sequence of seals.
"Hyōton: Kōri no Kusari (Ice Release: Chains of Ice)!" she called out and unleashed several chains made of ice right out of thin air after the temperature dropped more.
Kakashi's Sharingan read the movement and he began to dodge each frozen chain that was launched at him, and he went to run the enemy kunoichi through with his Raikiri. She then gave a smirk and did a seal, and her body was then covered in ice just as he struck.
"Hyōton: Reitō Mayu no Jutsu (Ice Release: Frozen Cocoon Technique)!" Kahyō called out as the ice that had wrapped around her suddenly changed shape and slammed around Kakashi like it was an iron maiden.
Damn it, she's good! Kakashi thought to himself as he fell to the floor with a loud thud.
"Finish him, sister," Rahyō encouraged as Kahyō straightened up while she stood on the ceiling "Do it!"
Kahyō did two seals. "Hyōton: Kōtta Otome (Ice Release: Frozen Maiden)!"
Spikes formed within the cocoon that had trapped Kakashi and his Sharingan morphed to the Mangekyō form, and he then vanished into a Kamui vortex to escape, before he leaped out of another that formed right near Kahyō to her shock and he kicked her off the ceiling before creating another portal which sucked her and him into it.
"Lets take this some place where no one can get hurt Kahyō-san!"
Rahyō chuckled. "Forgot he had that space-time ninjutsu, but it won't matter…" a glint appeared in his eyes. "Before the Copy-Ninja tried to intervene…let me say you are all 'guests' of the Land of Sound now. Cooperate and you will live to be released…but…Shin-san, if you could demonstrate?"
The Sharingan user, Shin then grabbed a well-dressed guest by the neck as several metal straight shuriken that had been sharpened to a scalpel's edge moved up his arm and hand like scales. The man struggled as he tried to fight the rogue shinobi's grip. A sadistic smirk appeared on Shin's face as the blades around his hand pierced the man's throat…and he ripped it out as a shower of blood covered him. Everyone began to scream and panic at the display as Rahyō gave a nod of approval.
"Now if you don't want to end up like this unfortunate sod, you better…"
Before he could complete his sentence a blur of movement came out of nowhere and fist smashed into the terrorist's face. He bounced on the floor several times before he landed back to his feet, at first thinking it was Kakashi having been back already, and he reached into his pack and brought out a kunai as blood dripped from his lip. Instead of Kakashi however, the brown-haired Rin was there.
"You? Considering that you disappeared I thought you may have already been killed by our men," Rahyō said with a snarl.
"Sorry, but your men?" Up in the rafters the Oto Ninja that had been stationed there were suspended from the catwalk, unconscious, tied up and upside down after Rin had finished interrogating them. "Oh, and your plan to bomb the helium cells has been stopped to…"
Rahyō's eyes widened as the medical kunoichi pulled out an entire roll of deactivated explosive tags and she gave a taunting smirk. "Who the hell are you?"
Rin chuckled. "I'm Konoha's Nohara Rin, but you probably know me by another name…" she said as she tossed the tags down. "Shi no Kage…the Death's Shadow!"
"What?" Rahyō demanded as his widened. "Wait…that's…"
"ROOT's top medic and assassin," Shin said as he frowned. "No one knew who it was…only hearing whispers."
"Now I'm going to give you an ultimatum," Rin said as a kunai dropped form her wrist from a summoning circle she had tattooed on it. "Surrender, or you'll be learning why I got that title…"
Rahyō gritted his teeth as a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. "Gonna have to turn that down…" black markings that resembled scales crawled up his face and body as his Cursed Seal activated. "Its still two on one without your teammate here so I think we can manage."
With that the air started to turn cold as several ice shuriken were created around him and he launched them right at Rin. She charged fire chakra into her kunai and began to effortlessly block-and melt the blades of ice that were shot at her. At that same moment the other Sound Ninja attacked her at the same time and Rin countered them by tossing several shuriken out from her wrist summoning seals, supercharged with Katon (Fire Release) chakra.
"Katon: Moeru Yōna Tenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Blazing Ignition Technique)!" Rin called out after performing the Tora (Tiger) seal and the Sound Shinobi that were struck by her flaming kunai…were suddenly covered in a mass of flames.
Rahyō stepped back in shock despite his Cursed Seal activated and the Medic then threw out her hand and her custom weapon burst out of her seal…a large scythe which she twirled around. The shaft was a dull black and the blade gleamed in light as she held it with her right hand. The sheer amount of killing intent that Rin exuded at the moment could be felt by the enemy shinobi, but Shin smirked.
"Rahyō, do your job and secure the hostages," Shin said as he licked his lips like Orochimaru would. "I'm going to enjoy this…"
Several smaller blades began to rotate around his body out of the cloak he was wearing, as if being manipulated by Jiton (Magnet Release) chakra. His Sharingan then morphed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, looking like a black triangle within a black circle. With that…he rushed forward at Rin like a madman.
Kamui Dimension
Within the Kamui Realm, Kakashi and Kahyō jumped back on a cube and the enemy Ice Kunoichi glanced around in confusion while she held her knife. She could see the vast black space and the…stone pillars (?) that were evenly placed around. Kakashi's Mangekyō turned back to the normal Sharingan as he kept his kunai out.
"Well, Kahyō, you really surprised me," Kakashi said as he kept his weapon out. "Using a reporter as a cover…honestly its something I used myself. Bravo."
"Where…where are we?" Kahyō asked as she tightened her grip on the hilt of her blade as she glared at him.
"For lack of a better word, this is my personal world," Kakashi said as he pointed at his eye. "Thanks to my Sharingan I can access it. That means unless you stand down you won't be getting out of here."
Kahyō snarled. "Then all I have to do is force you back to the main world then. Good to know…"
Kakashi frowned behind his mask. "You are really comfortable with this? You didn't act like you were a cold-blooded killer."
"I'm not, I'm just doing what needs to be done," Kahyō snapped at him as she gritted her teeth.
"'Needs to be done'? You're working with a rogue state and terrorists," Kakashi pointed out. "Not exactly the allies you want for a noble cause."
Kahyō was silent for a moment before she did a seal. "Shut up…"
With that a cold mist burst around and she created several mirrors made out of ice that surrounded Kakashi. The Copy Ninja recognized this technique all too well, it was Yuki Haku's late most powerful technique. And he was now surrounded just like Naruto and Sasuke were all those years ago. Kahyō then melded with one of the mirrors and there was a flash of light.
"Makyō Hyōshō (Demonic Crystal Ice Mirrors)!" Kahyō called out from the mirror she entered.
Kakashi reacted quickly and dodged a barrage of kunai and shuriken that were launched at him from all sides. His eyes widened a bit as she then launched herself like a rocket right at him and he blocked and dodged as best as he could, but she was even faster than Haku was within this technique. He jumped, rolled and dodged before slamming his hands down to create a Doton: Doryūheki (Earth Release: Mud Wall) to block a barrage he read from the front only for her to attack him from his blind spot. His nose twitched and he dodged a near lethal strike, but he got a cut on his cheek.
"What are you going to do now, Kakashi?!" Kahyō demanded as she slammed through his earth wall like it was made out of glass with her pointed high heeled shoe aimed strength at his chest.
He grabbed her leg before he could be kicked but she used her other leg to land a heel kick right into his jaw and made him stumble back. She momentarily hit the ground before jumping right back into her mirrors. Kakashi rubbed his jaw and winced.
"Man, that is a hard kick that you have…" Kakashi complimented before he chuckled.
"What's so amusing?" Kahyō taunted as she unleashed another barrage of kunai and shuriken from each mirror all at once, seemingly teleporting from each one due to her sheer speed.
"I hadn't enjoyed a battle this intense in a long time," Kakashi replied as he slammed a smoke bomb down before the barrage could hit him!
Kahyō was expecting to hear at least some contact, but she saw the barrage of projectiles exit the smoke cloud on every side without hitting anything. She blinked in confusion before the smoke cleared…revealing a hole dug into the Kamui pillar itself! Her eyes widened in shock before she heard the chirping of birds before her technique's array…
"The weakness of your technique is that you're helpless to attacks outside of it!" Kakashi yelled as he charged with a Raikiri at the closest ice mirror and shattered it.
The ice mistress was forced to flee from every mirror as they got shattered in mere seconds. She was forced to retreat until there was only one left and she then decided to meet Kakashi's Raikiri head on from it. With her knife drawn she went to slit his throat, but he dodged thanks to the Sharingan, and he deactivated his Raikiri to land a palm strike that sent her flying back to another stone pillar. She jumped back to her feet and then coughed up a bit of blood before she straightened herself up.
"This battle is over Kahyō, you can't defeat me," Kakashi said as he kept his fighting stance. "You're really strong, and I can tell you have a lot of conviction as well as a sense of morality. Even when you attacked me initially in the cabin you deliberately avoided lethal blows and tried to keep the battle from getting to the hostages. Why are you working for Orochimaru, he doesn't care too much about collateral damage?"
She gritted her teeth. "What the hell do you know?!" she demanded as she did a seal. "I'm working with that snake to make sure my brother doesn't go off the deep end…I can't bear to loose anymore of my family!"
"If he has had more contact with Orochimaru than you…that failed. He'll either become Orochimaru's slave or die when the snake has no use left for him, or if he fails him," Kakashi told her as her body shuddered with anger and he could see despair as well as desperation being etched all over her face. "Just ask the late Yondaime Kazekage."
"SHUT UP…SHUT UP…!" Kahyō roared as she did a long seal sequence. "Hyōton: Aisu Doragon-dan (Ice Release: Ice Dragon Bullet)!"
A mass of frozen mist burst around Kahyō as it started to form into a gigantic, serpentine dragon with what looked to be eyes of red ice. She then jumped right onto the back of her creation to prepare herself to attack one last time.
"…that's it then, huh? I'm not going to let yourself be killed in Orochimaru's service," Kakashi said as he crossed his fingers and in a puff of smoke another Kakashi appeared. "Even though we just met a few days ago I want to save you from that fate."
"SHUT…UP…!" Kahyō roared as she launched herself at the Copy Ninja and his Kage Bunshin.
It smashed into a pillar as both jumped out of the way and then it flicked its tail to launch dozens of ice scales shaped like kunai right at both Kakashi and his Bunshin. They blocked and dodged only for Kahyō to unleash several Ice Senbon from her mouth at both of them. They dodged the barrage as they then did a seal and shot a blast of wind and then a blast of flame right at Kahyō and her dragon mount who then countered with a blast of water that was supercooled from the ice. A massive steam explosion shook the dimension and covered large swaths of it…but it gave Kakashi the perfect opening.
"Raiden (Lightning Transmission)!" Both Kakashi's yelled as then slashed through the Ice Dragon like it was nothing, forcing Kahyō to jump out of the way as they followed up with several kunai.
She deflected them with Ice Kunai that were created from what was left of her Ice Dragon's scales. She then formed a sword of ice just as one of the Kakashi's was on her with a Raikiri and she slammed it through his chest…and then was electrocuted when he turned right into lightning. Kahyō cried out in pain before she dropped to her knees, bolts of electricity around her as smoke wafted up and she looked up at him as he had a kunai pointed right at her.
"Its over, though I really don't want to kill you Kahyō," Kakashi said as she winced.
"My body is so numb…what the hell did you do…?" Kahyō asked.
"Used a Raiton Bunshin instead of a Kage Bunshin, when the former is destroyed it discharges enough electricity to paralyze whoever is caught in it," Kakashi said as he kept his kunai pointed at her. "Surrender and help me save the passengers. I can tell you're not really on board with this plan."
"…no one was supposed to get hurt," Kahyō said as she gripped her knees. "My brother and I joined the Armament Alliance to try to change things…make things better for people outside the Five Great Nations. To make sure no one would have to suffer the loss of a child like I did…" she closed her eyes. "It started…slow. I honed my abilities even more and was sent in multiple times ahead of my brother to gather intelligence…being a reporter became my favorite persona."
"I've done the same a few times, often to learn more about what my students would be working on without them knowing I was checking in," Kakashi said and Kahyō closed her eyes.
"We had a lot of successes to the point where we got well known within the underworld, and my Hyōton mastery increased…learned a few secret techniques from the Yuki Clan scrolls that we managed to steal from the archives if Kirigakure," Kahyō looked down. "My brother was getting more and more frustrated especially since the organization's leader wasn't willing to make greater steps, and I think he became jealous that I had surpassed him despite him being a ninja longer. Then Orochimaru made his overture…and…we fell in with him and his promises."
Kakashi nodded. "…and Orochimaru doesn't share any of your noble goals? Is that why your fight with me was a bit half-hearted?"
"…yes…" Kahyō replied as she squeezed her thigh to calm herself. "I wanted to help people, my brother wanted power ultimately…and Orochimaru was all too happy to have more pawns."
Kakashi pulled his kunai away from her. "Then how about you help me stop this plan and save these people?"
"Huh?" Kahyō asked, expecting either to be captured or just left in this infinite prison of Kakashi's.
He gave a smiley eye. "My student Naruto rubbed off on me, I'm willing to give you a second chance and a way to atone. You just have to be strong enough to take it." Kahyō looked at him in surprise as the Copy Ninja offered his hand to her and she hesitated for moments. But she then took it moments later.
Tobishachimaru Envelope
As this happened Rin dueled Shin, the two locking blades. Rin had managed to draw the psychotic wannabe Uchiha into the envelope of the airship away from the passengers. She twirled her scythe and blocked a barrage of the small, scalpel like blades that made up Shin's arm. She had already deduced he was controlling them not through Jiton (Magnet Release) but through his unique Mangekyō, and he had made several attempts to grab her scythe which she deflected with her knee or kicked out of the way.
On top of that she had to sense and dodge several blasts of black flame that would appear out of nowhere and some of the catwalk was burning from the hellish flames. She noted that Shin's Amaterasu's casting was far slower than that of Sasuke or Itachi's, but he could create more of it all at once due to having multiple Mangekyō Sharingan. She spun her scythe again to block a giant shuriken that was made of the smaller blades, actually managing to shatter it and jump out of the way before they could skewer her.
Over the course of the battle as well she had managed to keep the air sacks safe but several of the deflected blades had made cuts through the envelope and exposed the interior to the cold, limited oxygen of the altitude they were fighting at. Both panted a bit as they were forced to use chakra to compensate, and mist came out of their mouths to show how cold it was now.
"I have to admit, you're a lot stronger than I expected," Shin said as he smirked despite the cold air around him. "Given you're the Copy Ninja's teammate and Yellow Flash's student, I guess that is to be expected…"
"Glad you approve, now I'm going to give you a chance to surrender since I'm tired of playing defensive," Rin said as she widened her stance. Both didn't see what looked to be paper…coming through the breach…before a practical flood of them came through them.
Outside, the scared passengers could see the cloud of what to be paper swirling around the Tobishachimaru. Rahyō looked in utter confusion before the cloud vanished and he looked from side to side in the as the mass of paper entered into any creak and crevice that it could find. As sudden as the cloud appeared it was gone, and any breaches were now sealed.
And within the envelope the paper coalesced into a humanoid shape before a beautiful blue haired woman wearing a white cloak appeared, more paper forming wings at her back. Shin then spun and saw her…and a burst of chakra made Rin skid back away from him as sheer rage overtook him.
"YOU! The Akatsuki traitor!" Shin snarled as each of his Mangekyō pulsed from the surge of chakra that had responded to his rage.
Rin blinked. "Konan-sama, what are you doing here?"
"Your sensei thought it'd be wise I head up here as your backup," Konan said as she saw the seething wannabe Uchiha. "And his instincts were right."
It was at that moment Rahyō appeared having abandoned the hostages-well…being forced away from the Kami Bunshiins she had sent in through her entrance. His Cursed Seal had flared, and he saw both kunoichi that were opposing him and ultimately Lord Orochimaru's plans. Konan glanced at Rin and nodded.
"I'll take the Sharingan user, you handle his partner," Konan said as she had more paper extend to the envelope and cocoon the air sacks. It glowed blue as she added a Kekkei barrier to protect everything and everyone in the cabins. "There, we don't have to hold back anymore."
Rin smirked. "Thanks…that's an impressive barrier that you made!" she said as she turned to face Rahyō.
"You're not going to rob me from this glory…not after Orochimaru-sama gave me his gifts!" Rahyō snapped as his Cursed Seal spread and his eyes turned yellow, with the sclera turning white. His skin turned a grayish black and his hair grew out and turned a midnight shade of black…before two feathery wings burst from his back as he entered the Level 2 state. "I'm going to present your heads to him!"
"You can have Death's Shadow…I'm taking the traitor," Shin said as he turned to face Konan.
She cocked her head. "I don't recall seeing you in Akatsuki meetings, nor one of our old underlings. You just look like you're one of Orochimaru's experiments."
At that Shin launched himself in pure rage at Konan who flew right out of the way after he ignited several of his small blades with black fire. Her eyes narrowed when she realized he could use Amaterasu. She then formed a chakram of paper and used it to block his next strike charging more chakra through it to form a blade. Then from her wings she launched multitudes of paper shuriken right at him.
"Useless!" Shin roared as black chakra burst around him as each of his Mangekyō pulsed and the ribcage of a Susano'o appeared around him to block the attack.
"Just because you can defend yourself against my barrage doesn't mean your safe," Konan said simply as the paper began to cocoon around him even as his new, demonic Susano'o began to take shape.
"I'm in the Uchiha's ultimate defense, you can't stop me! And then I'll destroy your barrier!" Shin boasted as his rage kept boosting his Susano'o's power as it continued to evolve into its 'Complete' state…but more and more paper kept wrapping around it and cocooning it. "Blasted…Amaterasu!"
Black flames appeared on the paper, but they glowed blue and deflected the flames with a barrier of chakra. Konan then did several hand seals as the paper suddenly pulsed…and Shin and his Susano'o were slammed to the floor with enough force that the 'ultimate defense' cracked and shattered a bit. He then saw the sealing formulas for enhanced weight all over the paper that now bound him.
"Kami Hiden: Hebunrīpēpā Keimusho (Paper Hidden Technique: Heavenly Paper Prison)!" Konan called out as the sealing formula that bound Shin's Susano'o became more complex, and more weight held him down. She noticed he struggled and just increased the weight. "Unless you're Susano'o is more powerful than a Biju, you won't be getting out of that.
"Damn…you…fallen…angel bitch…" Shin snarled as he then started to have trouble breathing. "What the…?"
"One more thing about this technique? Its airtight," Konan said as she did the tiger seal. "The more you struggle against this prison, the more oxygen you use up. Compound with the weight that is now binding you…well unless you surrender, you'll either die of asphyxiation or by being crushed to death. Your choice though."
Shin gritted his teeth as his Susano'o kept cracking and splintering and he began to find it very, very hard to breath. Every attempt to use his Amaterasu to burn through the paper was blocked by the chakra which created it. He dropped to his knees as he gasped for air, and he grabbed his throat as he began to hyperventilate. All thoughts of killing Konan were replaced by the desire to escape. He had to get away as far as he could before he was utterly crushed and his Mangekyō responded and opened up a space-time vortex right at his feet and he went falling through it. Just as his Susano'o was breached and crushed by the sheer pressure!
During that same moment Rin and Rahyō were engaged in a tremendous duel. Despite fighting Shin beforehand, the former ROOT medic still had enough stamina to battle the mad iceman. She spun her scythe around and blocked several ice shuriken that were launched at her and she then did a seal and shot a blast of flame out right at him which he blocked with a wave of water from his mouth.
"Got a lot more chakra in those attacks now, don't you?" Rin taunted as she broke the elemental clash and avoided the blast of water which instantly froze into an ice spike. "Ohhh scary…"
"Shut up!" he roared as he flew at her and formed several birds out of ice which he launched at her in a fury. "Hyōton: Tori no Fubuki (Ice Release: Blizzard of Birds)!"
With that more and more birds made out of ice appeared and launched themselves at Rin as if they were forced by a strong gust of wind. Not only that their feathers broke off their body to form sharp but beautiful blades that resembled snow which were kicked up by the localized wind. Rin then countered by doing a single hand seal and her cheeks swelled.
"Katon: Karyū Endan (Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet)!" Rin called out as she shot out a massive blast of flame in the shape of a dragon right at the incoming blizzard and melted right through it, and she added more chakra to increase the heat as the orange yellow flames turned a bright white.
Rahyō's eyes widened as the massive white flame dragon seemed to lunge right at him. He barely had time to fly out of the way as Rin then launched herself at him as she pulled her scythe back and she charged chakra throughout her body. The blade of her scythe glowed an eerie blue and Rahyō could swear he saw the personification of Death itself behind her.
Despite Orochimaru's enhancements and his mastery of Hyōton the battle was already decided before it even began. Rin spun like a buzz saw and all the terrorist could do was pull his head out of the way of a decapitation…which lead to Rin severing both of his wings. Blood burst from his back as he cried out in agony as he plummeted onto the catwalk below and Rin deftly landed on one of the railings and perfectly balanced herself.
"So tough guy, you want to continue?" Rin asked as blood dripped off her scythe and she flicked her wrist to clean it off. "Or have you grown some sense, and do you surrender?"
Rahyō's Cursed Seal receded as he clutched his shoulder. The shock and pain of losing his wings was nearly too much before a voice in his head chimed in. Orochimaru had been monitoring everything and he sounded utterly disappointed.
"Rahyō, Rahyō, Rahyō, I expected more out of you. You were good at rallying more followers for me but now you are just a loose end."
"Wait…wait Orochimaru-sama! I'm still useful! And Shin fled so I…"
"Despite his own performance Shin did accomplish some things here. But you Rahyō…"
In his mind Rahyō saw the white eyed Orochimaru lift two fingers and then physically his body began to seize. He began to plead for mercy as from his cursed mark the Snake Sannin's will began to be poured into him like pure venom. His veins became visible and turned black as he started to cry out in pure pain and terror.
"NO, NO, NO OROCHIMARU-SAMA I'M STILL USEFUL I'M…!" the black venom leaking through his veins discolored his eyes as he started to rapidly gasp for breath and started to scratch his own neck. "PLEASE! PLEASE OROCHIMARU-SAMA DON'T…I'M…I'M…I'M…!"
Rin's eyes widened. "What the hell?!"
"Orochimaru…" Konan said as she recognized the handiwork as Rahyō began to thrash around and started to foam at the mouth. "He must have seen Rahyō as a useless loose end…"
Rin's instincts were to rush to him to try to use her medical ninjutsu to at least save his life, but the former Akatsuki blocked her with her wing and shook her head. Rahyō panted and then cried out as his head swelled…and exploded with a shower of black liquid before his torso dropped lifelessly to the catwalk. Both kunoichi were utterly sickened and looked away.
It was just then Kakashi and Kahyō exited the Kamui Realm and saw the paper barrier that was around the airship's interior as well as the black flames that were on the railings and catwalk and that were slowly spreading. He reacted quickly and used his Kamui to suck the flames right into the Kamui realm again to extinguish the hellish flames and his prisoner (?) saw Rahyō's headless body…covered in the black liquid. And then she gave a loud, sorrow filled scream before she dropped to her knees.
"Orochimaru…he was saying his name as he died that way…" Rin said as she came over to the woman.
"Damn it…damn it…not again…and its my fault…I should have talked him out of working with Orochimaru…damn it!" Kahyō sobbed as Kakashi put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
The Battle in the Sky was over. Orochimaru's men had either been killed, apprehended or in Shin's case, fled with no trace. All that was left was the cleanup and the aftermath…as well as making sure he airship landed at its destination with no further incident.
Land of Waterfalls, Landing Zone
Several hours later the Tobishachimaru was setting down to a crowded group of onlookers. The Sound Ninja had severed the radio's communications, so Konan had used her Kami Ninjutsu to send advanced notice of the battle that had taken aboard the airship. Rin had patched up Kakashi, Tazuna and any injured passenger. Kahyō's hands were bound with chakra suppressing seals to prevent her from using anymore ninjutsu as she kept sobbing. Despite everything however, Kakashi didn't leave her side.
The airship slowly descended until it was in the 'dock' that was being used for the landing. As soon as it was secured Konan released the barriers that were keeping the envelope airtight, and it deflated around the air sacks as the grateful passengers flooded up. Reporters from every nation were there wanting to hear about the flight and the battle firsthand but medical personnel were first to greet them. Body bags were brought to take the passenger which was killed as well as Rahyō's body.
"If it weren't for Konan-sama, the entire airship would have probably fell out of the sky due to the damage from the battle!"
"Yeah, but Kakashi-san and Rin-san subdued both of the Ice siblings, they're heroes too!"
"I owe my life to these three shinobi! They are a blessing!"
As the crowd clapped and cheered a group of Taki Ninja made their way to take Kahyō into custody for her crimes on the airship but Kakashi lifted his hand up to stop them. They blinked and Kahyō looked at him in confusion.
"Kahyō-san is in my custody, she will be given her sentence within Konoha's walls," Kakashi said as the Taki Ninja looked at each other.
"What of the other Sound Ninja?" one of them asked him
"Them? You're free to take them and try them with whatever crimes you want," Kakashi sand and the ice kunoichi glance up at him.
"…what do you intend to do with me?" Kahyō asked with a small, defeated voice.
Kakashi gave her his smiley eye. "You'll find out, but only when we're back in Konoha."
Rin came over while she held Pakkun, and Konan walked over as well. Pakkun, throughout the entire ordeal had been forced to hide from the Sound Ninja when they had detected him. Since he wasn't a fighter all he could do was wait them out until Rin found him after the battle.
"Sorry I couldn't back you up there, Kakashi," Pakkun said as Rin scratched behind his ear. "Those Sound jerks nearly got me, made me remember their stupid invasion seven years ago."
"Its fine Pakkun," Kakashi said. "Get back home, I'll make sure you and the rest of the dogs get a big meal."
The little sentient pug's ears popped up at that and in a puff of smoke he vanished from Rin's arms, but the medic pouted. Rin hadn't finished cuddling him after all!
"Konan-sama, thank you for your help," Kakashi said respectfully, and he bowed in front of her and the former Akatsuki waved her hand.
"Don't worry about it, Kakashi-san. We're allies, and your teacher thought you could use some non-Konoha backup just in case the flight was intercepted," Konan said with a smile.
Kakashi glanced at the reporters who had interviewed her. "Also gave you a chance to start repairing your image from the past, correct?"
"Yes, your teacher is quite insightful in that regard," Konan replied.
"Alright then…I think its time we head home…" Kakashi said, and Rin nodded.
Konohagakure, Few Days Later
After the maiden flight of the Tobishachimaru and the resulting battle that raged on it, Kakashi, Rin, Kahyō and Konan made their way back to Konoha on foot. Kahyō was still sullen after what had happened to her brother as well as the fact, she was now branded a traitor, and was wondering what Kakashi was thinking. Rin though seemed to try to cheer her up and told her that Naruto would probably be lenient due to her reluctance to take part of the attack.
Soon they were within the village's walls and at the Hokage Tower. Naruto read the report from his desk as he sipped some cup ramen. Kakashi sweat dropped at that as his former student enjoyed a late lunch before finishing up. He lifted up the mission paperwork and gave a nod.
"Great job Kakashi-sensei, Rin-san, and Konan-senpai! Nearly every passenger and crewmember were left alive after that incident and the airship suffered minor damage!" Naruto said as he congratulated the three.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Rin said as she gave a respectful bow to her sensei's son.
"Rin-san you don't have to do that!" Naruto said with a grin. "Now as for your request, Kakashi-sensei?"
Konan blinked. "What did he request?"
"Leniency for Kahyō-san," Naruto replied, Kahyō had been put into one of Konoha's prisons with her chakra sealed while Ibiki was going through her background. "As well as a way to redeem herself."
Kakashi nodded. "I could tell she didn't want to hurt anyone there, Naruto. She's a good person…just was being taken advantage of by an evil man."
"Like I said, you don't have to explain it to me," Naruto said as he waved his sensei off. "She'll be put under your custody and in three months I'll have a test to see her abilities." He then gave a coy smirk. "Rin did say in your report you fell for her, Kakashi-sensei…?"
Kakashi's cheeks flushed at that, and Rin gave a victory sign and stuck out her tongue. "We…can discuss that later, Naruto," he checked the time. "I need to start my prep for surgery after all."
Naruto nodded. "Heard about that. Oba-chan should have your vision restored 100% after she's done."
Shortly at Konoha Hospital, Kakashi was in a hospital gown and was comfortably sitting on the operating chair. Instead of the table he was basically sitting in a dentistry chair for easy access to his head. Tsunade walked in with Shizune, both were in surgery smocks and their mouths were covered with masks and their hair was hidden by surgical hats. In Shizune's hands was Obito's other eye inside a cooler which was being used to help with the preservation.
"Now Kakashi, we're going to put you under," Tsunade said as she pulled on some gloves. "The surgery should take just two hours, but you'll be off duty for the next couple weeks. I've already removed you from Konoha's active-duty roster for that time."
Kakashi nodded. "I'm ready then Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade nodded and a few other nurses came in with the anesthesia as well as more surgical tools for the operation. Kakashi's favorite mask was pulled down and immediately covered with the anesthesia's and Shizune told him to breathe slow and deeply. In just a few seconds the gas took effect, and the Copy-Ninja was unconscious.
And before he knew it, he would wake up with a new power awakened within his body. Tsunade and Shizune started to get to work…
As this happened, at Konoha's prison, Kahyō sat in her cell and bitterly reflected on everything. From losing her son during the War, to her and her brother joining the Armament Alliance and the first jobs, to finally the deal with the devil that ended up with Rahyō's death by Orochimaru's own jutsu. And she cursed herself for not trying to stop him from joining Sound. Kahyō glanced at the chakra suppressing bonds around her wrists and gritted her teeth…any chance of vengeance was also being taken away from her because of her own actions. But as she stewed on that she heard the sound of footsteps and turned to see…the Hokage himself, Uzumaki Naruto coming to greet her.
"…what do you want?" Kahyō asked carefully and Naruto gave a gentle smile at the older woman.
"Just wanted to talk," Naruto replied as he pulled up a chair. "Kakashi-sensei told me you've had a hard life."
Kahyō scowled but remained guarded. "I assume he told you in his mission debriefing."
"Yeah, but I wanted to hear it from your own mouth," Naruto said as he gave one of his trademark smiles. "I believe if we understand each other, we could help each other out…its what my late teacher Jiraiya passed onto me."
"…understand me?" Kahyō asked and she gritted her teeth. "I don't need your pity…"
"I'm not giving you that," Naruto said as he looked at her calmly. "Kakashi-sensei probably told you about his past…didn't that make any connection?"
She was about to retort no…but she paused and looked down. "…I do admit it did, but we all have our own pains and trials…and now I have to deal with the fresh pain of my own brother dying in the most horrible way possible."
Naruto nodded. "I understand that we can offer you some counseling if you want. Ino or Sakura are great at that."
"Offer me counseling, I'm a criminal, a prisoner," Kahyō muttered softly as she looked down. "Not just the airship but I've done several questionable things after my son died…"
Naruto nodded. "That may be the case but I'm a firm believer of redemption and atonement," he said as she blinked before looking at him. "Konan? She used to be part of Akatsuki, took part of the same attack that destroyed Konoha and killed a lot of people. Now? She is one of our most trusted friends and allies and is working to make up for the mistakes she made in the past," he started and lifted a second finger. "Then there is my best friend Uchiha Sasuke, he abandoned Konoha for Orochimaru and nearly killed me when we fought at the Valley of the End, and he went onto become an international criminal when he attacked the Five Kage Summit. Now he's making up for everything and even helping the families of the people he hurt have better lives in Iron." Kahyō looked up at the young Hokage who gave her another smile. He listed off others he encountered who ended up changing their ways. "But the biggest one that stands out to me is Nagato, he and Konan had some of the most soul crushing and horrid lives in the Land of Rain under Hanzō the Salamander. Ero-sennin…I mean Jiraiya-shisho was their teacher…practically raising them with another boy named Yahiko. But thanks to manipulations from Hanzō, Danzo, and even Tobimaru…he fell to darkness and was concerned solely in bringing peace in the worst way possible. He even killed our teacher…destroyed Konoha…but after we fought…he decided to believe in what Jiraiya-shisho was aiming towards…"
"…is this…Nagato still alive?"
"…he gave his life to bring back everyone he killed during his invasion of Konoha," Naruto relied, and he leaned back. "That includes Kakashi-sensei, by the way."
"…I…I see…" Kahyō said as she breathed out. "But what does this have to do with me?"
"Under Kakashi-sensei's recommendation, I'm going to give you a chance to redeem yourself," Naruto said as he offered his hand to her. "But you have to take it, how does that sound?"
Kahyō paused for several moments and digested what Naruto said, and she breathed out. "…before I give you my answer, most of your past isn't in general knowledge. So how can I understand you the same way you understand me?"
Naruto then gave another grin. "I'll tell you anything you want! "
With that the young Hokage started with telling her how Kurama was sealed within him in the first place, how he grew up and how things were at the Academy. For all her skepticism and distrust, she found herself hanging on his every word and even putting herself into his shoes during it!
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes:
Phew, this was a fun chapter to do. For a bit I debated whether to include the Tsunade x Mei lemon scene but I felt it did have some plot relevance due to this was how they proposed to each other. And before you ask about Kakashi's backstory, I thought this would make more sense considering the ages we got for him, Obito and Rin's graduation ages: Kakashi was six when he became a ninja and became a Chūnin a year from that. Kishimoto's original intention seems to be he was already a ninja before Obito and Rin became a team, so I took a page out of First Try Series (by Lucillia)book to say that the Team Minato we got for the Gaiden was composed in reality of two merged teams, Obito and Rin graduated later and probably lost a teammate and their original teacher, just as Kakashi and Minato lost two members of Team Minato's original cell. Thus, it prevents some of the squicky thoughts of Rin crushing on a then ten-year-old Kakashi for instance during Kakashi Gaiden and keeps their ages the same (which seemed to be the original intention).
Now as for the battle, that was a bit harder to come up with, I had run through many scenarios within my head for what to do and Rin was the hardest to decide what power set I wanted to give her. I settled for taking some Ruby Rose inspiration for her weapon, her scythe, as well as playing up the angle that due to her years n ROOT she became a pretty damn elite kunoichi with skills that she learned from all Five Great Nations. Then her title hit and bam, I had what I wanted to do with her. Honestly, I wish there were more villains in the original Kakashi Hiden so I could have given her an even bigger fight against an enemy that would be a bit more difficult. For power she's around mid-Kage.
And finally, Konan's big damn heroes was also a highlight. Already established that she was heading that way, so I played up on her way of travel…making it look like a cloud of paper enveloped the Tobishachimaru was too good of an image to pass up. And I wanted to show her power…Konan was the one who originally took down Han after all, and her battle with Sasori, she had in the Ultimate Ninja Storm games did happen here…where she overwhelmed her fellow Akatsuki member and forcibly recruited him. Plus, her battling Shin who is Tobimaru-light was a no brainer since it gave her some level of 'battle redemption' against the OP Big Bad. Even though Shin is arguably stronger than he is in canon…Konan is just too strong for him, having the perfect move set to counter him.
And now for Rahyō's death. I wanted to reestablish why Orochimaru is not only evil, but fricking terrifying. He modified all new Cursed Seals so he could monitor those branded with them to gauge their performance. This would allow him to add his power directly to those who served him well…and to eliminate those who fail him. From no matter how far away considering his Byakugan had been upgraded from transferring into a Zetsu body during the War. Plus, it gives Kahyō more reason to find redemption (and maybe even try to get revenge on Orochimaru down the line) for a greater role in future events than just becoming a Prison Warden that she became canonically.
And Kahyō…her original move set and powers I thought didn't fit fighting Kakashi. Her signature technique would never hit Kakashi who had the Sharingan after all, So I decided to make her basically what Haku could have been if he had lived, with a dash of Mei's powers too.
Finally, I also wanted to establish the generational divide between Minato and Kushina's to Naruto and Hinata's generation when it came to marriage. Minato and Kushina grew up with the constant threat of war breaking out again and couples were encouraged to get married as soon as they were of age after all. Compared to Naruto and Hinata's generation they grew up in a time of relative peace where things were much more stable, to them and others of the Konoha 11's generation marriage is something that can take time for, if not do all together in some instances. Reflecting on how real-life thoughts on relationships and marriages happen in the current day compared to past generations.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please read and review! Just got the epilogue right after, then its Shikamaru Hiden's adaptation!