Daze
Chapter Eight: Sea of trees
A/N: Hope you enjoy, even if it is more of a setup chapter.
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Three weeks later Karasu had learned two more wind jutsu from Sasori.
Wind Style: Wind Whip, and Wind Style: Wind Blade.
And three jutsu from Itachi.
He had managed to awaken his water affinity though it was weak but he couldn't quite use lightning yet.
The only water jutsu Itachi had managed to teach him was the Water Dragon Jutsu, though he also taught him The Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, and The Shunshin Jutsu.
Along with that he had practiced his change in chakra form, chakra strings, and Rasengan.
In between these Itachi taught him Taijutsu and the fundamentals of Genjutsu mainly escaping from it.
Itachi decided he was ready to go on a mission.
Karasu hadn't cut his hair since he had woken up from the coma and Itachi said it looked better long so he kept growing it.
'He looks just like Minato.'
Itachi had long since burnt the "kill me orange" jumpsuit while "Karasu" was in a coma.
Instead he now wore black ANBU style pants, long blue sandals, blue and orange wristbands, an ash colored tank top, and a white hoodie with a yellow Otsutsuki clan symbol on the back, and blue chevron pattern collar, sleeves, and zipper over it,
Around his neck he wore an orange Konoha Hitai-Ate with a slash through the middle.
Itachi had explained to him that he was a rogue chunin from Konoha who had defected after he was falsely accused of killing a council member.
They had a kill on sight policy so it was vital that he didn't let any Konoha shinobi see his face.
With that in mind he handed Karasu an ANBU style white crow mask with a yellow transparent crescent moon on the forehead;
and blue transparent stripes under the eye holes, and around the beak.
Karasu nodded and took the mask.
"Itachi-Aniki you were from Konoha too right?"
He nodded.
"Is that why you took me in?"
Itachi shook his head.
"Then why?"
Itachi looked somberly.
"You remind me of my brother."
Karasu smiled sadly.
Kusa base, three months earlier...
Tayuya left the ruin just as a massive shockwave struck it collapsing the entrance.
"Yoroi huh, too pussy to fight me alone."
Yoroi smirked, with him were twenty or so Oto ninja with sound weapons on their arms.
Yoroi twirled a kunai.
"Sorry Tayuya-Chan only a fool fights fair."
He pointed the kunai at her, the men readying their gauntlets.
"Either come with us or we'll kill you where you stand."
Tayuya smirked and her curse mark flared up.
"You think you weak bastards can kill me.
She put her hand behind her back subtly grabbing her flute and made a single hand seal.
Channeling wind chakra into it she began making notes with her hand the wind playing the flute for her.
The men all froze in place as the haunting melody began to play.
Her hair began to grow turning pink with white flower-like horns as her skin turned a muddy brown, her eyes turning a sick wine color.
She spoke her voice dripping with murderous intent as she pulled her flute up to her lips.
"Die you scum slowly and in pain!"
Three white ghost-like creatures with white razor sharp fang lined maws shot out of her flute.
They flew into the men and began to eat through their chests entering their bodies and tearing them apart from the inside.
As they screamed in agony they made a cacophonous noise less like a human more like a dying animal echoing through the forest.
Akatsuki base...
Karasu fixed his mask to his face grabbing his pouches and a small tanto which he strapped to his back.
He wasn't formally trained in kenjutsu yet as Kisame was on a mission, but Itachi said it would come in handy.
"Itachi-aniki when do I get a badass cloak?"
Itachi chuckled.
"You don't, you're not a member, only an accomplice."
Karasu pouted.
"Fine."
Itachi tossed his cloak on and motioned Karasu to follow him.
Karasu gripped his tanto handle nervously making sure it was on properly, before following Itachi out.
Tanzaku-Gai...
Jiraiya sat at a picnic table writing in a scroll today was the last day they'd spend in Tanzaku-Gai.
They were travelling to The land of water to meet an old friend of Jiraiya's who agreed to train Sasuke in kenjutsu, as long as he proved talented.
Sasuke was in the field testing his Amaterasu on Kakashi's shadow clones.
Though they were very careful not to overuse it lest Sasuke go blind.
Sasuke breathed heavily, his chakra exhausted and his eye burning.
Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's call it a day."
Sasuke nodded with a hnn leaving for the nearby bathhouse.
Karasu and Itachi walked through the forest bordering the hq when they ran into a familiar red-haired figure.
"Sasori-San."
He nodded.
"Karasu-Kun."
Sasori turned to itachi.
"What's the mission?"
Itachi checked a scroll.
"We have to assassinate a water councilor."
Sasori smirked.
"That's all, I expected a challenge."
Itachi gave him a stern sigh.
"Careful Sasori you get cocky and Deidara won't let you live it down."
Sasori paled at the thought of his blonde partner having something to hold over him.
"Y-Yeah you're right my bad."
Itachi nodded.
"Let's get going."
Tanzaku Gai...
Sasuke followed the older men down the dirt road leading toward the land of water.
Anko let out a bored sigh as she tugged at Kakashi's shirt sleeve like a little kid.
"Kashi-Kun I'm bored, when will we get to blow shit up."
He chuckled.
"I'm not sure Anko-Chan someone will be dumb enough to mess with us it's just a matter of time."
She yawned.
"I wish I could sleep while walking, you really wore me out."
He blushed under his mask coughing and adjusting his shirt collar.
"Yes well erm- I mean."
She laughed.
"I'm just messing with you."
Kakashi cleared his throat and pulled out his favorite orange book reading it as they walked silently.
After a couple hours of walking they arrived at a waystation
The old man walked out and smiled genially.
"Well hello there could I interest you in some food, or drink?"
Jiraiya shrugged.
"When life gives you lemons."
He followed the old man into the tiny diner and ordered a tea.
The rest of the crew sat around him and ordered some food and drinks.
Sasuke let out a groan of pain grabbing his shoulder and arm.
Kakashi looked at him worriedly.
"You've been overdoing it with your training Sasuke you'll wreck your body if you don't dial it back."
Sasuke shook his head.
"I'm fine."
Karasu followed Itachi, and Sasori through the forest.
The warped trees bent around them as they walked the thick mist and faint light giving it an otherworldly appearance.
They passed under a tunnel of wood and leaves exiting to a cliff side overlooking an even larger forest.
Karasu's eyes widened in amazement.
"That's a big fucking forest!"
Itachi nodded.
"The sea of leaves, the bridge between Hi No Kuni and Mizu No Kuni."
Sasori smirked.
"I've gathered a good chunk of my collection here."
Karasu looked at him confused.
"You mean you used the trees to build puppets?"
He chuckled.
"Sure the trees."
Itachi looked down in disgust but hid his emotions beneath his cloak.
"Let's keep moving."
Tayuya lay amongst the wreckage sweaty and exhausted.
She had used more chakra then she had planned and passed her limit.
"Damn I can't believe I wasted so much chakra on this garbage."
She shakily got to her feet.
"Well I think it's safe to assume Dickless isn't here."
She let out a sigh.
'Why do I even give a fuck.'
She shook this thought off and headed for the nearby town to begin her search.
Back at the leaf village the rookies were out for a day of food and games.
The chunin exams which were held every six months had come again and they had all attended.
Neji, Lee, Tenten, Sakura, and Hinata had passed.
Ino, Choji, Kiba, and Shino had barely missed the requirements much to their chagrin.
Still half of the rookies being promoted to chunin was cause for celebration.
Along with them was Temari, now, also a Chunin, who claimed she was there on a mission.
Her brother's Gaara, and Kankuro were with her but weren't comfortable in large groups and opted to look around the village instead.
Temari sat next to Shikamaru ignoring the whispers, and giggles of Ino, and Tenten.
Kiba took the initiative raising a glass of sparkling grape juice.
"To Naruto!"
The rest of the rookies echoed him.
"Let's do our best for him."
Kiba sat down petting Akamaru who yipped happily.
Hinata and Shino sat on either side of him eating happily.
Akamaru hopped up from Kiba's lap hopping into Hinata's and laying down.
Kiba smiled.
"Looks like he likes you Hinata-chan."
She nodded blushing at the chan suffix.
Shino looked down silently, seemingly deep in thought.
Kiba snaked his hand over grabbing Hinata's hand, she jumped as expected but didn't pull away.
Kiba smiled, staring at his crush.
'Maybe Naruto being gone can lead to some good.'
Karasu sneezed, rubbing his cheek.
"Itachi-aniki are you talking about me up there?"
Itachi shook his head.
"No Karasu-chan."
Karasu shrugged must've been the pollen.
Itachi scouted from the tree branch catching sight of Sasori's signal.
"Sasori's agent had deactivated the detection barriers, let's go Karasu, we have a fifteen minute window."
Karasu nodded following his surrogate brother turned leader down the cliff face and into the forest below.
Fifteen minutes later Karasu and Itachi along with Sasori arrived at the edge of the forest.
Karasu was breathing heavily and leaning on Itachi for support.
He didn't have the skill they did yet so he had to rely on pure athleticism instead of teleportation.
As they left the forest edge Karasu saw a set of seals glow red indicating the barrier reactivated behind them.
Sasori let out a chuckle.
"That was close Karasu-kun had you been a second slower we would've been dogpiled by ANBU."
Karasu paled slightly.
"S-sorry."
Sasori waved him off, putting a scroll in his robe.
"Let's go, we're almost at the courtyard."
Sasori walked ahead writing on a scroll and checking a device on his wrist.
Itachi motioned to Karasu to draw his tanto as the complex came into view just ahead.
Karasu obliged, adjusting his mask and steeled his nerves.
Itachi put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You've got this aniki just help Sasori handle the guards I'll deal with the councilor."
Karasu nodded.
"Yes niisan."
Itachi turned to Sasori who nodded.
"Let's do this."
Sasuke and Kakashi sat across from each other with a fire in between them.
Jiraiya was roasting smores and weenies while Anko sat off to the side drinking a bottle of sake.
Sasuke let out a sigh cracking his neck and shoulders.
"Geez Kakashi you didn't pull your punches today."
Kakashi chuckled.
"Well Sasuke now that you have Mangekyou I have to make sure you're ready."
Sasuke responded with a hnn staring at the fire deep in thought.
Kakashi also stared at the fire remembering his time in ANBU as the moon faintly illuminated the grasslands.
X END X
2/2/21: Chapter eight revised.