Hello fellow readers, once again, my absolute apologies to those who have been waiting for this update. A lot has happened to me in life, the pandemic rising back, work is busy as ever, another family member passed suddenly (non-related to the virus), and all that sort. Managed to use my free time to make this update and hopefully you like it. Enjoy.
ju-hkjv; Thank you for the review my friend, and I truly appreciate your patient for this update. Hope you like it.
Daniel McKie; Glad you like it, even though it's old and all, plus, sometimes I like to add a little spice between the main characters with some OC ;). Thanks for the review and hope you like this update.
Village, top of a building…
Akeeba stood as he saw the view of the village, holding the dagger he was able to obtain from the weapon store, and a small dram that contained a small amount of blood; the blood he was able to obtain from Naruto in his cat-form when he scratched him.
"One drop should be enough to start the fun," Akeeba smiled evilly as he poured a drop of blood right into the blade of the dagger and watched it absorbed and dissolved into it as it glowed into flaming red; hence the power of the Nine-tailed fox. Afterwards, he swung and….
Slice!
Although he appeared to have cut only the air, a slice of pitched black appeared in front of him, and black smoke began to pour out of it and fell right into the ground at an alley….
Meanwhile, through the market area…
Naruto, Shino and Sasuke are walking through the village heading to Shino's resident, Sasuke still wearing his disguise to avoid any of Ibate's subordinates to find him,
"We may have to warn our comrades, they don't know about the situation like we do, so they might be in danger," Shino said,
"We could, though we should remain cautious in case any of them are 'one of them'," Sasuke said, as he remained on his guard in case they come across any of Ibate's subordinates, Naruto however heard some commotion passing by, he turned and begin to notice many of the villagers are starting to misbehave,
"What the…?" he whispered.
"You have some nerve showing your face here around in my store," a man yelled at the other man with an angry look on his face,
"Your store, this was never your store since all you do was gamble all our savings," the other man yelled back,
"I know you've been cheating on me behind my back," a young man yelling at his girlfriend,
"Well I know you've been sneaking around with my sister for years," the girlfriend yelling back at him,
"What part of 'No pets allowed' don't you assholes get," the elder woman yelled at an elderly man while holding his small dog.
Soon, all three of them stared at the madness, all yelling and screaming at each other,
"What the hell's going on with them?" Naruto asked,
"I don't know, but we shouldn't stick around to find out," Shino said,
"Agreed," Sasuke replied, as they continued to walk away from the area, unaware of the black smoke visibly surrounding some of the villagers, which caused them all to behave that way.
Distance from the area….
Two mysterious figures stood on top of the building, and they saw a black misty smoke not too far from them,
"I sense a demonic activity happening over there," the man figure said,
"I also sense a demonic weapon being used. We have to hurry," the female said before they disappeared from the building.
Haruno resident…
Ino and Hinata were finished cleaning their tops after the tea was spilled on them by Sakura's sudden action,
"Hey Hinata," Ino said,
"Yes?" Hinata replied,
"I was wondering, have you noticed anything off with Forehead? I don't mean just now, but lately," Ino asked,
"Actually… yes, I have noticed something strange about her," Hinata said,
"Strange how?" Ino asked,
"Like yesterday when she invited me and my mother over…" she explained to her what happened…
(Flashback…
"...we wouldn't mind bringing a dish, or some fruits. We bought a bag of oranges just this mor-" Hinata said until Sakura's eyes turned red,
"NO ORANGES! DON'T EVER BRING THOSE DEADLY THINGS!" Sakura replied aggressively, which shocked Hinata by that unexpected response…
Flashback over…)
Ino stood stunned after what she just told her,
"She said that to you?!" she said, Hinata nodded,
"Why would she say that way to you and since when is she against…" Ino asked until suddenly…
AAAAAAAHHHHH!
They both heard a scream and cried out coming from down the hall, they both rushed to it and stopped when they saw Sakura standing before the girl as she was on her knees in pain, holding her twisted broken arm, crying in pain.
"You should've got rid of it when I first told you, you never should've brought it here in the first place," 'Sakura' said to her in a cold demonic tone,
"What the hell's going on here? What did you do?" 'Sakura' heard Ino's voice as she turned to her with her face expression appeared blank,
"It is a matter that has no concern with you," she said to her, which aggregates Ino,
"No, this does concern me, you're way out of line Forehead!" Ino appeared upset, as Hinata went over to aid the injured girl,
"Ever since last week, you started acting differently; your behavior is out of character, your skin is pale as white, and what you just did to her right now, this isn't like you at all," Ino stated.
"You appeared distressed, why don't I pour you a cup of tea," 'Sakura' said,
"I don't want any of your damn tea! What I want is to know what the hell is going on with you?" Ino angrily yelled at her,
"And where is the dog?" they all heard Tenten's voice as she appeared from downstairs, while holding the collar in her hand,
"I beg your pardon," 'Sakura' asked,
"I found this collar upstairs in your bathroom, it belongs to the dog that's gone missing," Tenten said as she holds out the dog's collar,
"Oh… now I get it…" Akalra thought to herself as she recalled that moment from earlier…
(Flashback…
'Sakura's' arm to swing and…
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Slapped all three of the cups in one swing, and they all spilled onto Ino, Hinata and Tenten's shirts, which took them all by surprise.
Flashback over…)
"She didn't just prevent them from drinking the tea but rather to get one to find that dog's collar, causing an interference of the event. It would appear I underestimated that clever little bitch," Akalra thought, realizing Sakura's true intention.
Hokage Manor…
Iruka was able to get Kakashi and Gai at a private room away from the main hall,
"So what is it you wanted to show us?" Kakashi asked,
"I encountered something that is beyond abnormal, and I wanted to show you both what I discovered," Iruka said, as he brought the blue tea he was able to get from the main hall without being noticed, he placed it on the table.
"You wanted to show us a cup of tea?" Gai asked, as he doesn't find it abnormal at all,
"This is the same homemade tea that was given to me earlier but in the Academy, I thought it was nothing and was about to try it until I added a few drops of this," Iruka explained, and then he pulled out his small sliced lemons.
"You brought some lemons?" Kakashi asked, unsure where he is going with this,
"Yes, but watch this," Iruka demonstrate the same thing he did before, as he add some drops in the tea, just like before, it bubbled and fumes like a chemistry beaker, Kakashi and Gai watched as they were stunned that even they know no tea was supposed to do that all, let alone from a few drops of lemon. And then…
Pop!(Break!)
Meanwhile, near the waterfall…
The fight continues as Ibate faces off with the Sensor, he attacks her with roots from the ground, but she counteracts his attack with her staff, and then… Ibate forzed again when he felt that same unexpected feeling on the back of his neck like before…
"That feeling again… which means the subordinates were unable to get rid of all the citrus. This could be a problem," he thought just as he was able to quickly dodge a blast from the Sensor.
Hokage Manor…
The tea cup burst into pieces, which did surprised both Kakashi and Gai,
"What the hell kind of tea is that?" Gai asked,
"Is it poisonous?" Kakashi asked,
"I almost thought it was, but when Pai-ju drank some it didn't kill him," Iruka explained,
"That Chunin you don't like?" Kakashi asked,
"Yea… although it didn't poison him, it did cause some sorta change to him, his behavior suddenly became less of himself and more into someone else, also his eyes became all pale and dull, like Anko's back in the restaurant yesterday," he explained.
Kakashi and Gai fell silent for a moment as they did remembered how Anko's behavior is out of the ordinary and her eyes were also pale and dull,
"I think this is what Jiraya tried to warn us about," Iruka said,
"But he didn't show up, he was with a woman," Gai stated,
"It may be a cover up that something bad had happened to him. I don't exactly know what is going on, but I had a feeling we should warn the other Jounins and Chunins and leave here. And Asuma…. Where is Asuma?" Iruka said as he noticed Asuma isn't with them,
"He went somewhere, we should try to find him before…" Kakashi said until…
"Before what?" they all heard a voice and turned to the door, and there stood their Lady Hokage, blocking their way and has her arms folded in front of her,
"What are you three doing in here, shouldn't you all be in the main room with the others?" Tsunade asked, while giving them a blank expression on her face,
"We were… actually about to go find Asuma, we went to somewhere and we needed to find him," Iruka said, while he, Kakashi and Gai remained calm despite being caught by her,
"That won't be necessary, the gathering is about to begin and I would like for you all to attend to the main room at once," Tsunade said as she moved herself from the door, leaving a half space for them to leave the room, Jounins appeared hesitant to leave after the discovery they learned,
"That's an order," Tsunade ordered them, leaving them no other choice but to leave them room to go to the main room.
Hallway…
Asuma and Kurenai alone in the hallway, as Asuma appeared displeased upon Kurenai's strange behavior, and that kiss she gave him proves otherwise.
"You seem distressed, not to worry, they should have some homemade tea in the main room, you should try some," Kurenai said, which slight annoyed Asuma by her behavior,
"No, I'm concerned and you're clearly hiding something from me, what the hell is going on?" Asuma said as he demand answered, Kurenai stood with her emotionless expression,
"You display such negative emotion which is not allowed upon the start of the gathering," she explained, Asuma crooked his eyebrows by what she said before she continues,
"I strongly recommend you seized such emotion, for the Master will not tolerate any emotions upon this gathering,"
"Master?" Asuma said,
"If you refuse, we will gladly seize it for you," she stated. Before Asuma were to say something he picked up a chakra nearby and his senses detected a weapon coming from behind, he quickly pulled out one of his Chakra Blades and deflected a shuriken that was thrown by Anko, who was standing upside down on the ceiling. Then his senses detected another weapon coming right at him and quickly pulled out his second blade to block a kunai knife being held by Kurenai as she attempt to stab him, before he know it, Anko jumped off from the ceiling and then charged him with her kunai knife, but was able to block her attack with his first blade. He pushed them both away but they stood on their ground, as Asuma stood on his guard with blades up at them,
"The hell?!" Asuma said as he is deeply confused as to why are they attacking him, what is going on in the gathering, and who is this 'Master' Kurenai is referring to?
To be continued…
I hope you like this update despite the very long wait and feel free to review; and also a belated Happy Saint Patrick's, Easter, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas. AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!