Hey, everyone. I'm super sorry for the long break in-between updates. There was a lot going on over the summer and fall that drew me away from some of my projects, including this one. I'm back with a new chapter, the first of the new year. I'm hoping I'll be able to wrap up Poison Dove's version of the Kazekage Rescue Arc this year. As the last few chapters have shown it's definitely going to be different from canon, which this chapter will continue to show. I hope you all enjoy!
I do not own anything.
Poison Dove & Maelstrom Fox
Chapter 26 - Kicking Up a Storm Pt.2
"Well, that was one hell of an unexpected fight, and an unexpected way for it to finish." Kakashi Hatake openly mused.
"I agree with you on that, granted I feel like perhaps this battle has merely been put on hold." Semiramis remarked. Ever since coming to the Ninja World, she'd gotten used to that "poof!" sound that marked so many jutsu, especially Summoning Jutsu. It always sounded borderline comedic, but Semiramis had learned sometimes there wasn't anything funny about hearing it. Sometimes it was just flat-out annoying.
"Think next time we'll meet the puppet master?"
"Naruto, I can only hope. I would wish to give them my regards for crafting such a cute toy." The black-haired woman responded. Though her voice was seemingly dripping with sarcasm, she meant every word. The puppet had indeed been quite a well-craft weapon, and she would have loved to meet its creator. She'd want to have a lovely talk with them before either subduing them or killing them.
"Semiramis."
The tone of his voice immediately pulled her out of her internal musings. Her slitted golden eyes looked straight into Naruto's hardened blue.
"We have to get to the Sand Village, now more than ever." He declared in his resolve-filled voice.
Briefly breaking his gaze, she looked up to the sky. The bright sun and blue sky stared back at her, completely untouched by the mayhem of the last couple of minutes. There was always something comforting and irritating about how the natural world could continue on in spite of the upheaval of human affairs. Then there were those times when the weather lined up with the mood. Semiramis was thankful this wasn't one of those times because, for the life of her, she didn't want to think about potential failure.
"Everyone, gather around. I'm going to summon some of my doves, and we're going to ride on them." The black-haired woman declared.
"But didn't you say your doves weren't built for fast-flying?" Sakura questioned. "Is it possible you can make them go faster?" Rather than her, she looked at Naruto. She wasn't the only one.
"We've got it covered." Naruto affirmed with a fierce look in his eyes.
"I can't promise this'll be a smooth ride, but-"
"Just do it." Temari cut in. She looked ready to grab Semiramis and demand she do so. "If you can get us there even faster, then just do it! I'll help if there's any way I can!"
If your wind jutsu lives up to its reputation, then you may just be able to. Granted, you'll probably scare the hell out of my doves. That was going to be a small price to pay for getting to where they needed to be on time. Semiramis quietly hoped that they wouldn't suffer any more unexpected interruptions on their way to Suna. If they did then she knew they were going to be in deep trouble, and might not have any more time left to spare. "Everyone, stand back." Holding her hands out, she manifested a cuneiform-lined magic circle appeared. Based on its size, it was obvious that whatever came out of it was going to be massive.
While Semiramis chanted, Sakura made one last trip around the town to check for the wounded. Naruto decided to help her, knowing that his Servant had it handled. Temari and Kakashi stayed behind to watch. For the former, in spite of her desperation, she let genuine awe at the display of mystical power show. With Kakashi, there was something else, something far more…pragmatic in his watching.
He's watching me, studying me. The man truly lives up to his reputation. Thought the poisonous sorcerer. Her chant reached its conclusion, causing the circle to flash bright purple. Two mighty white wings burst from it, showering the surrounding area with pale radiant feathers. A mighty gust of wind was kicked up as the newly summoned dove took flight. It wasn't the only one as a second dove materialized seconds later. Both birds stood at close to eight feet with appropriately-sized wings. They were undoubtedly majestic creatures…but Semiramis knew that as far as flight speed came, they were far, far outclassed. That might change with the aid of the wind.
"This is the first time I've seen a Summoning Jutsu that involved doves." Temari remarked. Her awe hadn't lasted long. She was examining the birds to see if they would be able to fly as fast as they needed them to. "What's their maximum flight speed?"
"Not enough on their own." She bluntly answered. Her words caught the attention of her newly summoned pets. To her credit, she shot them apologetic frowns. "Oh, I'm sorry, you two, but this is going to be a hard flight. You two have my word, you'll be rewarded when this is over with." Semiramis affirmed while patting their beaks. Both of the doves looked at each other with naked concern. They knew that this was going to be unpleasant to say the least, but there was no getting around it.
"I can use a bit of Wind Style myself." Spoke up the Leaf jonin. "Granted I'm sure I'm not on the level of Temari here, and where Naruto stands is still up in the air."
"You'll see for yourself, Kakashi-sensei." The spiky-haired blond sounded off. He'd sensed him coming seconds before he'd spoken. Without another word, he moved toward one of the doves, quickly mounting it.
"Woah," Sakura quietly whispered as she too was taken aback by the sheer size of the doves. "If it weren't for the situation, I'd ask if we could go for a leisure ride on them."
"After we've saved the Kazekage potentially." Semiramis offered while walking to take her place on the same dove as her Master. As she spoke the words, she couldn't shake the feeling that doing so was going to be easier said than done. She absolutely hated it, yet it'd only grown stronger with every passing second. A monarch had been kidnapped, leaving his country in turmoil. Things were rarely straightforward, especially when it came to dealing with ninja-warriors of shadow and subterfuge. Here's hoping when we get to the village it isn't in the throes of anarchy. If not, well…I can still work with that.
Sakura was behind Naruto while Kakashi and Temari were on the other dove. Both creatures took to the air, scattering pieces of debris about. Within the next second, they were soaring through the skies, the magic familiars moving as fast as their wings could carry them. Even at that speed though, it wasn't going to be enough, not nearly enough.
"Naruto!" the Assassin shouted.
Right behind the blond, the pink-haired kunoichi watched as Naruto began a series of hand signs. From so close, she could feel the build-up chakra. She always knew that Naruto had a lot of chakra, more than any other person she knew barring a few. It was something that always amazed her…and left her deeply curious. He turned back at her, his eyes burning with determination. Reading his expression, she moved about so that he could crawl to the back of the dove.
"Hold on tight, Sakura! You too, Semiramis!" He shouted.
Several feet away on the other dove, Kakashi had already guessed what Naruto was about to do, what he and Semiramis had planned. Looking back behind him, he saw that Temari had arrived at the same conclusion.
"He's got wind nature too, just like me, huh?" The Sand Village kunoichi summarized.
"Yeah. Given how powerful his chakra reserves are, I can see him being able to create a pretty powerful gale just like you." The silver-haired Leaf jonin affirmed. He was silently grateful to learn that Jiraiya had already started training Naruto in the arts of elemental ninjutsu. It was something that he planned on teaching his genin students one day, and he had…just not in the way that he'd planned. Sasuke went first, partially because of circumstances that demanded he is at his strongest. Kakashi knew all five elements, but his strongest jutsu were undoubtedly fire and lightning and earth. Still, he knew a little bit of wind style which he thought would help his spiky-haired knucklehead of a student. It was generally agreed upon between him and the Sannin he'd be a better teacher than him in that department.
"I think I'll be the judge of that." There was a slight cheer in her voice. Frankly, Kakashi was happy to hear it. Maybe a little friendly competition would be enough to help them take their minds off of what had just happened, and keep out the possibility that they'd arrive too late. "Better hold on, and this dove better be able to ride the wind!" Temari shouted while reeling her now extended fan backward. "Wind Style-Azure Dragon Gale!"
WWWWHHHOOOOSSH!
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Wincing while her hair smacked against her face, Semiramis whispered an apology. It was only one of many that she was sure she was going to have to make. She knew that this was coming, oh, she knew.
Popping her eyes open, she saw the dove being propelled far ahead of them. Azure wind trailed the dove, which was the same thing that had launched it forward. It was almost like watching a comet made out of wind speeding across the sky. The sight was awe-inspiring, and motivating in the case of the other blond in the group.
Sakura and Semiramis shared a brief look with each other. Both women knew exactly what was going to happen next, the latter more so. Realizing that, Sakura asked for details with her eyes as it seemed like her mouth had stopped working. Either that or she was afraid of jinxing things, something that Semiramis was vastly aware of. When one tempted fate, fate seemed to respond in kind, or with extra force. That last part was a fitting description for one Naruto Uzumaki, who was currently sitting behind them. Both sensed the increasing buildup of chakra. No longer able to ignore it, they both looked back.
They did so just in time as the final hand sign was made. Semiramis and Sakura knew what was about to happen next, they correspondingly clenched at the dove's backside. The dove itself knew what was coming after seeing its compatriot be propelled by the wind ninja; a similar fate was mere seconds away from happening to it. It sent a silent plea to its master, hoping that she would stop the human boy from what he was about to do.
"Wind Style-Fujin Bellow!"
"Wait, not that jutsu!" Semiramis' panicked voice was lost to the literal wind. So too was Sakura's. The two ladies held onto each other and the dove beneath them, the latter seemed to be thrashing about the most violently. There was a good reason as rather than flying like its compatriot, it was being propelled forward as if it were an arrow shot from a bow. It wasn't a fun experience at all.
"Narutooooooo!" Sakura screamed with her eyes shut, the g-force of the extreme flight speed was forcing her to leak out tears from the corner of her eyes. Somewhere in the depths of her heart, she actually felt…happy. This was the Naruto that she knew and came to love as a friend, and knew she could depend on in a tough spot. Even if he did drive her absolutely up the wall with annoyance and at times pure fear. "When the hell did you learn this jutsuuuu!?" Much like Semiramis' own statement, hers was literally lost. It seemingly blended into the explosive wind blast that Naruto was exhaling from his mouth.
He and he alone was pushing the group, himself, his two lady companions, and lastly the dove itself. All three were wailing in terror; for the dove, well, it was wailing as much as an animal could. It wasn't flying like its companion, who looked on in wide-eyed horror. There was a flicker of relief as it realized it got the better deal. That went for Kakashi as well, who looked on with a sweat-dropped stare.
Yep. That's definitely Naruto. Still the Naruto that we know and love, glad to see he hasn't changed. The Copy Ninja thought with a mental smile. All things considered, they were actually covering some pretty good distance.
"Fujin's Bellow, huh? That's pretty good, but you better not be underestimating me!" Temari shouted. Kakashi's sweat drop grew bigger as his right eye go wide-eyed.
"T-T-Temari, now wait a minute!" The adult ninja tried to plead. He already knew that it was futile. He could only watch in horror as the fan was used to kick up a new windstorm. Right beneath him, his dove cried out in alarm as it was subjected to a new "supporting" gale. Like his pink-haired student and their new black-haired member, Kakashi found himself hanging on for dear life lest he fall off the dove.
Anyone crossing the desert outside the oasis village of Gojōme would have witnessed two "wind comets" soaring through the skies. It was undoubtedly an unusual sight, albeit not too out of the ordinary for the Great Wind Desert. Over the centuries, man and animal alike had developed numerous ways of crossing the sea of sand. For the former, that more often than not included the use of jutsu, in some cases even spurning the development of new jutsu. Should one have been traveling along the ground, they might have also felt some of the blowbacks from the twin windy comets, so great was their force that they were even kicking up the desert sand dozens of feet below them. As they sailed through the sky, one could have spotted numerous white feathers floating down, or being blown down.
Along with that, the panicked squawking of birds seemingly carried across the desert. For some, it was reason to look up to the sky in bewilderment. For others…simply dismissed as meaningless noise, more desert sounds to pay no heed to.
⊲=≡▷-ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ-◁≡=⊳
"Um, hey? Do you see something coming up on the horizon?"
"Huh? Hey, now that you mention it…I…think I can. Plus, does the wind seem a little off to you?"
Ever since the Akatsuki's raid on Suna, tension hung over the village like an unmoving storm. Even if the Kazekage's kidnapping had been the goal, one that was accomplished, no one knew for certain if things were only going to end there. For those who knew the village's luck, many were right to assume that things could get worse, and that they definitely would.
No one knew what was going to happen for certain, but practically everyone in the village couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that things were about to get worse. What could be worse than the Kazekage being kidnapped?
An all-out attack on the village by an enemy, possibly the Hidden Stone or potentially Hidden Cloud Villages. There were some other contenders, including some smaller factions who simply bore a grudge against the village.
Domestic chaos as no one knew what to do and public unrest reached a tipping point? Whispers abound that such a thing had already begun to take place. Dissent mixed with panic, then being added to preexisting thoughts of treachery, just what the village needed. There was some dismissal of such talks as mere rumors, though there were others who believed them to be very real as not all had accepted the Fifth Kazekage. Heavy in some corners and taverns were the talk of who could potentially be the Sixth Kazekage. If such talk was ever spoken of in the open, it was meant with heated denial, sometimes to the point of red-hot anger.
As the two guardsmen watched the approaching objects grow closer, their minds whirled with thoughts of all of this. In the Sand Village, no, the whole of the Land of Wind, there was a saying that no matter how fierce the storm, it would eventually pass and the sky could be seen again. Rather bright blue or the darkest of black, no storm was permanent, light would always find its way back. Now, no one knew that for certain, but some were desperately looking for that light.
It arrived in the form of two giant doves who looked like they were about to fall from the sky in utter exhaustion. Before they could, their occupants jumped from their backs and made the last stretch of the journey.
"Hey, hey! T-The one on the left, does that look like-"
"Y-Yeah, I think it is!"
"We're back!" Temari shouted at the top of her lungs in spite of the slight exhaustion nipping at her. "It's us, we've brought back-up from the Leaf Village!" She affirmed.
No one stopped moving, even though they all looked like they'd traveled straight through a sand storm. Scratch that. Based on the grains of sand littering their clothing, the guards were willing to bet that's exactly what they'd done. As they took headcount, they silently sighed in relief realizing that they had. The village had been praying for a miracle, and it seemed like one had arrived.
"Lady Temari! Oh, thank the heavens you're back!"
"Kankuro has been…Gah, there's no time! This way!"
That one statement stopped Temari cold in her tracks, as well as Naruto. The exhaustion that had been gnawing at him was suddenly erased as if it'd been one of the many grains of sand blown away by his air blast. He stood up straight a heartbeat later and he was sprinting again, alongside Temari and everyone else as they ran past the village gates. Semiramis looked back at the two doves they'd rode to get here. Both of them looked exhausted, and more than a little upset at the unexpected ride they'd gone through. With their feathers ruffled, they honked at Semiramis leading her to wince and call back to them, promising them that she'd make it up to them.
She quietly hoped that the village would have something she could use to keep that promise. After they saved the Kazekage and his older brother.
As soon as the Servant heard the word "poisoned", she felt excitement. It was a feeling that she kept to herself as it wasn't the type of thing to publicize. Someone's life was in danger, the life of someone that her Master held dear. That said…she was the World's - her world's - Oldest Poisoner with a conceptional connection to the concept. Just the mere possibility of being able to see and examine a deadly type of substance excited her. Did you forget who you are? Have you been here for so long that you've forgotten your venomous roots? A harsh and cynical voice laughed at her. Semiramis said nothing in response to it. Her silence might as well have been an admission of acceptance of its words.
You are POISON yourself. It continued, sounding harsher, like her when reprimanding one of her unruly subjects.
I am. Another side of her popped up. Because I am poison, I know how to treat it in others. For the briefest of moments, her coppery golden eyes shifted to her right. She found Sakura had an equally dire look on her face, as befitting the situation. That said…I'm not the only one who knows how to treat it, and maybe I can pass on and receive a bit of wisdom myself.
At first glance, only a few signs of battle remained. Either the battle had been mostly contained to certain areas or the people of Suna were rather good at rebuilding. The true evidence could be found in the eyes of the people. As they ran, the newly received Konoha team attracted all the attention of citizens. Their clothes, their headbands, and the air of urgency around them, they drew their attention like moths to a passing flame. Based on their faces, many saw them as a flame of hope, having come to dispel the darkness that had fallen over the desert village.
Semiramis wasn't sure how to feel about that. She still wasn't sure about people looking at her in such a way.
Hey, Semiramis…
Her eyebrow rose. Looking up ahead, she saw the back of Naruto's head. She'd still definitely heard his voice though. How are you handling this? I understand you and this Kankuro didn't have the best relationship at first, but you two eventually got along.
Yeah, he can be a tough guy and a jerk…but he's still a friend, and one who loves his little brother. What's happening to him now…he doesn't deserve it, especially for trying to rescue his little brother!
Thanks to her common sense and years of experience, she kept from chuckling in amusement. Naruto's response was nothing short of what she'd expected. As per usual, she'd found something oddly comforting in it. He won't. One way…or another.
Like practically every other building in the village, the central hospital was a giant sand structure, looking the part of solidified, hardened sand. One look at it and Semiramis was immediately reminded of the Leaf's General Hospital. It had an aura of life and death, the two forces constantly battling it out. As the group bolted in and ran up numerous flights of stairs, Semiramis could feel death slowly but surely gaining the upper she felt was absolutely confirmed as they came to a stop at the designated room.
Her eyes immediately locked in on the puppet master known as Kankuro. As he lay flat on his back in the bed, groaning and writhing in agony, Semiramis saw the vile poison moving through his body. She felt an immediate inclination to march over and examine him. His life was disappearing second by second, his every breath-
"DAMN YOU!"
She saw Kakashi's single eye bulge almost out of its socket. "Huh!?"
"Get ready to defend yourself, or die!"
One of the things Semiramis had learned since being summoned to this world was that absurdity was the norm. No matter the time or situation, it would find someone to pop up. Like an annoying, indestructible weed. It was irritating as hell, but she liked to think she'd learned to accept it. As the elderly woman charged toward Kakashi Hatake, murderous fury blazing in her eyes, the Assyrian woman realized that no, she hadn't truly accepted it. She hadn't gotten used to it. Even she could still be caught off-guard. So caught off-guard that as the old woman launched a furious all-out assault on Kakashi after easily taking down two of her Master's Shadow Clones. All Semiramis did was stand there and watch, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
Behind her awe, a couple of things stood out to her. First, there was the old woman's movements - she was a veteran warrior. Semiramis had seen enough to know one when she saw one. That alone was enough to pique her curiosity. Second, as she jumped back, Semiramis took note of the odor that lingered on this woman. It was one that Semiramis knew far too well as it constantly clung to her.
"I haven't forgotten what you did!" The crone declared in a venomous voice. Her battle position wasn't just for show. "I've waited for this day, White Fang of the Leaf! The day I reckon vengeance on you for what you did to my son and daughter-in-law!"
Ah, so THAT'S what this is about. The Servant realized while Kakashi attempted to defend himself, and clear up the confusion. In making that connection, she returned to reality - if something wasn't done this woman was going to attack again. Given how skilled she was, there was a chance she'd make it past Naruto and go for Kakashi, who'd have to retaliate. Semiramis' fingers flexed as a new surge of excitement began to seep through her. Hmm, I can't kill her. Murdering the elderly leaves such a bad taste in my mouth, but I have to restrain her. I wonder how good her poison resistance is. To be drenched in it even at such an old age. Let's test-
"Take a closer look at the man, sis." The other elder, now identified to be the first one's brother, declared while holding his hand out in front of her. It at least did the job in making her hold off on her next assault, albeit Semiramis and Naruto remained at the ready. Thankfully, it seemed the old woman was heeding her brother's advice. "it's true there's a resemblance, but this one is not the White Fang."
"Eh?"
"Uh, hello." Kakashi measly said with a raised hand. "I believe the person you're referring to is my father."
"Yes, I do believe that who is who my sister has confused you for." The male elder continued. "Besides, as you know, the White Fang of the Leaf died long ago. Remember? When you heard the news, you wept in frustration because it meant you would never have your vengeance. Isn't that so, sis?"
Semiramis looked at Kakashi, then to Naruto. Naruto looked at his sensei in wide-eyed shock, apparently this being the first time that he was hearing so much about his sensei's past. The same went for Sakura. She too was taken back by the story, and the strange woman's conduct. She was far from alone in that front.
"Mmm, oh well, never mind." The mysterious old woman finally said, then smiled and started to laugh like a hyena. "Hahaha…hahahahaaha!"
Her laughter echoed through the room like a resounding bell. It utterly drowned out the flabbergasted gasps and exasperated groans made by the Leaf ninja, especially Naruto. Semiramis, for her part, didn't say a word, she merely stared at the woman with a twitching eyebrow. Her earlier remark about absurdity returned in full force, and once again it was verified.
This woman…is either senile, insane, or…or…oh, enough! When will I get used to this!? The Servant woman pleaded. In her heart, she knew it was futile, just like almost every plea she made. That fact was only hammered in by the elderly woman's continuing laughter. It was starting to get Semiramis' nerves!
"Aaaarrrgggghhh!"
She was almost grateful for the puppet master's sudden cry of agony as the poison in his system ate away at him. Not to mention it was a reminder that he was still alive, though from what Semiramis saw, not for much longer if something wasn't done. Pushing aside her annoyance with the mysterious elder woman, she moved to the bed on which Kankuro lay. She wasn't alone as Sakura moved with her, taking an instant look at the downed jonin. Semiramis recognized the analytical look in her eyes - she was seeing what the Servant was seeing, albeit probably not quite in the same way.
Sensing a familiar set of eyes on her, Semiramis looked back to see Naruto. He too had moved on from the spectacle that the old woman had caused. The puppet-using jonin's scream had definitely reminded everyone precisely what sort of situation they were in, and what sort of threat loomed before them.
"Everyone, we're going to need you all to clear out. We're going to need some space and quiet to work." Sakura declared in a calm voice befitting a medic.
That's what she was, Semiramis knew she didn't quite fit the description. In fact, her existence was practically the opposite of the pink-haired kunoichi. Her green eyes met Semiramis'; she was well-aware of the difference between the two of them.
What brought them together though was the man on the bed before them.
"You're a poisoner, right?" Sakura asked.
Her voice was tight, controlled. She didn't like being alone with her and it was finally showing, but the kunoichi was keeping her unease under control for the sake of the problem at hand. Semiramis felt respect for that. "I am, and I can see the poison spreading through his body's system. Quite deadly, impressive I'd say."
Sakura didn't press her for more. She didn't ask her to remove the poison from the puppet ninja or for any input. All Sakura Haruno did was get to work while Semiramis watched on in silence. As she did so, the Servant let a thin smile form on her face. If the kunoichi noticed it then she said nothing. Anything she had to say to her could wait until after this apparent operation was over with, and it would end with a success. Semiramis' mere presence assured that…but she'd decided that this success wouldn't be to her. No, she'd prefer to let this young girl, his Master's teammate and first crush, put her training to work. Not to mention she wanted to see what the teaching of the supposed "Slug Princess" was good for. Semiramis wanted to know if the Fifth Hokage's medical expertise were up to snuff.
No one spoke to her, though she did endure the occasional glances; those Semiramis had gotten used to. Ironically for an Assassin, she always seemed to draw attention; she was proud of that from time to time. At a time like this though, she was merely a beautiful observer, and judge. Everyone seemingly came to recognize that as she stood off to the side, arms crossed and silence her language. Her eyes were on Sakura and no one else. For her part, Sakura kept on working on her patient, never losing a bet as the Servant studied her.
Watching all of them from the hallway were Naruto, Kakashi, and the two elders. None of the four's expressions were exactly the same as they were all taking the events in different ways. For Kakashi, he'd whipped out his book and begun a quiet read as if a life wasn't hanging in the balance. Given who he was, one could have assumed he knew that life wasn't going to be that way for much longer. Beside him, Naruto knew that for absolute certainty. His gaze constantly shifted between his Servant and his teammate, lingering on the latter for a little while longer. The blonde's mouth slightly fell open at what he was witnessing. This gave him something in common with the woman beside him.
The female elder had her mouth open in visible shock at what she was witnessing. Her face was a portrait of disbelief that seemingly grew by the second. Beside her, her brother watched with only a slightly surprised expression. He made for an appropriate end to the little quartet of observers.
Naruto laced his fingers together and flickered his gaze over to his Servant. Sensing him, she looked back at him, her face as impassive as it usually was. Her mind on the other hand was a different story.
So, how's she doing? The genin asked.
Good. She is doing good. If she's anything to go by, then the Fifth Hokage may indeed live up to her reputation. Not to mention I won't have to spend so much time looking after everyone.
Ah, Semi-chan, that's nice of you! Naruto laughed.
Urgh, you know what I mean. I'm a poisoner, not a doctor like her. Besides…where's the harm in letting a commoner do the leg work, especially work that they've been trained to do. She fully expected Naruto to give an explosive reaction to her statement. Had he been the way he was when they first met, that's exactly what he would have done, causing a scene and potentially interrupting his teammate's medical procedure.
But the Naruto sitting just a few feet away from her wasn't the same hyperactive brat he'd been when they met. Not entirely anyway. His lips curved into a thin, assured smile. Well, would a queen be willing to compliment this so-called commoner on a job well done?
She looked away, a common tactic she did whenever he said something that seemingly penetrated her walls. During their time together, he'd gotten frustratingly good at penetrating them. Semiramis knew she was going to have to toughen up a bit, she didn't want him thinking that she was getting too soft. I've complimented you and the fool of a sage before, haven't I? Far from her Master's mental viewing, Semiramis once again mused on the somewhat dishonest nature of her statement. Sometimes it was hard to remember that her Master actually wasn't a commoner like she originally believed him to be. Much like his fellow Jinchūriki, he'd been born to ninja royalty…not that such a thing had protected him from the terrors of the world.
Sensing a stirring of poison, Semiramis looked back at the operation. Kankuro's cries of agony had seemingly magnified, no doubt on account of the fact that Sakura had begun removing the poison within him. She couldn't quite see her chakra, but she could see the movement of the powerful poison in his body - it was being drawn out by the kunoichi without harming the puppet ninja. Without a word, Semiramis stepped forward, somewhat taking care not to intrude on Sakura's operation. Her coppery-golden eyes gleamed with interest as she watched her pump the poison out with her left hand while her right gathered it. The Servant's slitted eyes seemingly glowed as they watched the dark purple poison collect itself in her other hand.
Now I'm more eager to meet the man who wounded this young ninja. They may be worth my time. Finally, one of her hands was raised. Extending her right finger, she exerted just a fraction of her control over all things poisonous. In her other hand, she manifested a clear-glass vial. At her command, the poison that Sakura had collected shot from her hold to Semiramis' finger, where it hovered about, completely under her command. Under her command, it flowed into the vial.
Upon placing a cap on it then dismissing it, Semiramis looked back to the rest of the group with a dismissal look. Her focus went to Sakura. "Was that all?"
"W-Wha-? N-N-No. We're not finished yet." She gathered her will in speaking to her, her green eyes having gained a sudden hardness to them. "Are you going to collect any more samples?"
"No, what I have here is enough to…do what I need to do. Now, I believe you still have a job to do, correct?" Her tone was civil and direct. Any other time, Semiramis would have let the arrogance in her voice show. She supposed she'd been…humbled enough not to do that. Part of that humbling came with truly acknowledging the skills of the ninja that made up this world. She gave that acknowledgment to the teenage girl in front of her.
Sakura took it with a quiet but firm nod, then immediately got right back to work.
"Your analysis of the poison was correct. Its design is both fatal and sadistic, the death of the victim being quite slow and agonizing." Her gaze swiftly went to the Suna doctors on hand. "Is such a thing common amongst the poisons produced by in this village?"
"Somewhat." One of them answered, still caught in a mixture of awe and unnerved tension, no doubt at what he'd just seen her do. The Servant knew that she was probably going to be facing some questions after this. "In our village, fast-acting poisons exist, but so do more slow-acting ones. These can be used for torture and in the past…execution." The hint of displeasure that littered the last remark told Semiramis that this was a village practice that had probably fallen out of favor. "Poisons like this though, it's unlike anything we've ever seen before. There's a chance something like it might have existed in the distant past, but those records have been lost. Whoever concocted this had to be a-"
"Genius." Semiramis finished for him. Knowing full well what she would bring on, she turned about and looked straight at the elderly woman who'd attacked Kakashi. Her face had gone from surprised to cool and controlled, just as Semiramis' had been. Their eyes locked and it became overwhelmingly clear that these two were going to form a bond with each other. Rather it was one of mutual respect or a heated rivalry, only time would tell. Perhaps it would be both.
Time marched on, all the while Sakura continued the same procedure of draining the poison out of Kankuro. True to her word, one sample was all she needed as she took no more; the Servant was content to let the Suna medics collect them in the bowls provided. They ended up going through four in total before Sakura finally stopped.
"His life's out of danger now, but he still won't be in any condition to move around. Bottom line though, he's going to live." The kunoichi proclaimed with a bright smile that lit up the whole room. Sighs of relief quickly fanned out; Temari outright slid against the wall, her legs giving out as sweet relief enveloped her. "But I'm still going to need to prepare an antidote for the poison he's been infected with. Odds are we're going to be facing it again."
"I concur, which is why it'll be helpful to know who it is we're going up against." The Servant affirmed. Her gaze was still on the old woman, whose eyes never broke from hers. She knew that she was calling her out, analyzing her. To her credit, she was standing strong in the face of Semiramis' cold glare. "Speaking of what we're up against, there's something you all should know."
"While on our way here, in the oasis village of Gojōme, we were attacked." Kakashi explained. "The attack was done by a massive puppet, a war puppet I believe."
"WHAT?!" The chorus of voices all said in unison. Clearly, the news caught them off-guard, and based on the looks of everyone's faces, it was the last thing that they wanted to hear.
"A war puppet!? Impossible! They should all still be in sealed storage!" Baki snarled.
"Yes, they should…but it's also possible that new puppets could have been made." The male elder mused. "After all, there were several prototypes that went missing two months ago. If I may, what did this puppet look like?"
"A snake, big, ugly, and tough as hell." Naruto answered with a displeased look on his face. "Come to think of it, it sorta reminded me of the puppets used by the Shirogane Clan years back. Are any of them still around?"
"After their attempted insurrection, the last of them were either imprisoned, killed, or been under close surveillance. Almost all the puppets that they had have been confiscated and sealed away." Baki explained, having just barely gotten his temper under control. He was beginning to feel a headache coming on, and he knew that a drink wasn't to come in his future. Not fast enough. "All that said…I think it's entirely possible that we might have…missed something somewhere. The fact that they attacked you at Gojōme means that they knew where you were going - that you were coming here, and coming here to help."
"We understand there's still been some unrest with the current Kazekage." Semiramis noted. "Has there been any talk of a…replacement?"
Every Sand Village ninja tensed at the Servant's words, which was the confirmation that she needed. Kakashi as well since he realized that they really were going to be facing down a problem on two fronts. As a veteran, he was used to this - missions taking an unexpected turn once they got underway. That's how Team Seven's first major mission went, and none of them would ever forget it. "On the way here, things seemed orderly enough."
"That's because that kind of talk has been limited to quiet corners, and kept there. The longer Gaara stays missing, the worse it's going to get, which is why we have to focus on rescuing him." His Sand counterpart stated.
"Agreed." Kakashi said.
"Then I'll do some recon work to help lighten the load." Semiramis spoke up, bringing the focus onto her. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of surprise on their faces…save for Naruto, who had most likely expected it. "Worry not, I won't get too rough, nor do I plan on shirking my responsibilities as a member of Team Seven."
"So, is she…Sasuke Uchiha's replacement?"
"Eh, sorta. It's complicated and can be explained later." Kakashi said. "This is Semiramis-"
"A foreigner. I'm…here to help along with Team Seven." The long-haired woman interjected. With that, she walked out the door, giving one passing glance to the elderly woman. Everyone took note of the way their gazes lingered on each other, a promise of a future showdown solidified. Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura all looked at each other, each hoping that such a showdown wouldn't end up hampering the mission.
Someone spoke, breaking the tension left behind in her departure. "Quite an arrogant woman to proclaim that. As for you Baki, you didn't even attempt to stop her."
The sand jonin remained composed as he faced the elder. "If she's from the Leaf Village, that's reason enough to trust her. Besides, we're already stretched thin as it is. We need all the help we can get, Lady Chiyo. That's what allies are for."
"Allies…" The older woman muttered. It sounded like she was trying to figure out what the word meant. Based on she looked around at the remaining ninja, it also seemed like she was trying to gauge whether that's what the Leaf ninja truly were.
Naruto took notice of her attitude, and decided to do something about it. "Hey, granny, we're here to help. As soon as we heard Gaara was kidnapped, we got here as fast as we could."
"Ain't that the truth. Lady Chiyo, listen, these people can be trusted. They've helped us out once before. Hell, without Naruto, we wouldn't have Gaara as the Kazekage!" Having gotten back to her feet, Temari decided to vouch for the Leaf ninja as well. Like the jonin, she too seemed aware of the elder's skepticism regarding outsiders. Unlike her sensei though, she was putting more force into her words. "Now's not the time for bringing up old grudges! We need the help!"
The gray-haired woman shot the blonde kunoichi a harsh glare, albeit the latter didn't back down. That was to be expected of Temari, one of the strongest ninja in the entire village, and that went for willpower as well. She seemingly acknowledged that, yet refocused her attention on Sakura. From the start of the operation, she'd been focused on the pink-haired kunoichi. No doubt her medical abilities had captured the old woman's attention; her eyes had twinkled with slight awe as she identified the attributes of the poison and removed it, thus saving Kankuro's life. A feat that apparently she hadn't been able to do.
"You remind me of the old Tsunade." Elder Chiyo began. "I find it a strange coincidence that you turning up in our village like this." The suspicion in her voice was obvious.
Thankfully, Sakura took no offense to it. Either she was expecting it or she was simply strong enough to move past it. Even more, a smile grew on her face. "She is my teacher, and it was by her order I personally came here. I'm glad that I did because otherwise, the results would have been a lot worse."
The way the female elder's gaze softened was telling. Noticing this, her brother picked up on it. "Keep in mind, sister, the river of time keeps on flowing right by us."
Naruto felt a sudden pull in his gut at the words. His mind jumped to Semiramis, remembering how she'd explained her existence as a Servant - someone that was long dead in her world. When they were summoned, their time had long since passed, yet their actions could have an impact on the present and even future. He found himself looking at his sensei, who'd been the target of the old woman's fury. From what he'd heard and put together, his father had killed this woman's son and his wife, and the latter was still carrying the grudge all these years later.
Grudges never disappear so easily. That's the way of the world. Judging by this woman's age, I'd wager she's a veteran of the Second Shinobi World War, just like the Sannin. His inner demon sounded. Naruto silently agreed with his analysis. He knew his mentor and his legendary teammates to be in their late fifties at the least, which matched up well with the timeframe of war. Keep an eye on her, her thirst for vengeance may just flare up again.
Come on, really? Even though it was Kakashi-sensei's old man that killed her son? She seemed pretty willing to let it go once things were cleared up. Naruto countered.
Are you willing to take that chance, runt? The Nine-Tails challenged with a growl.
I am. Naruto answered back with fortitude. And if granny does try something, I'll be there to stop it. Either me or Semiramis. Speaking of which, wasn't she looking at granny kind of funny?
Those who reek of venom recognize their own. Came the fox's reply with a hint of amusement. Just a word of caution, you might have to play peacemaker between Semiramis and Sakura. They're opposites ya' know, a healer and a poisoner. They're going to clash eventually. Hahahaha! I can't wait to see when that happens…and how you try to handle it.
You know, you seem more interested in watching me get stuck between two girls than you are in rescuing your fellow Tailed Beast. Doesn't Shukaku mean anything to you? Aren't you guys, like siblings or something?
There was a momentary pause from the fox sealed within him. Naruto could see him mulling over the question within his mind, behind the bars of his prison. His blue eyes stared into his inner demon's crimson orbs. He was the first to see how they filled with malicious glee. Following that, the fox's jaws opened as he roared with cruel laughter that shook Naruto's mental landscape. The blond was glad that he'd gotten used to the sensation, and the fox's at times outright bastardly mentality.
Siblings…yeah, you could say that. He's the runt of the litter, having only one tail. The difference between us is as vast as heaven and earth. It's no wonder that dumbass went and got himself caught.
Naruto never knew what it felt like to have older brothers, but listening to the demon fox within him gave him an idea. He had to admit, it wasn't a fun thing to witness. That said, he'd learned that sometimes, there was more to his inner demon than meets the eye. Within his mind, he stared hard at the beast, trying to force out whatever else he wasn't hiding. Not to mention he felt like he still hadn't gotten an answer to his question.
The fox took note of that as his dark amusement faded. He seemed quietly taken back by his human host's hard gaze. Could it be that he was disappointed in him for finding something funny in his fellow Tailed Beast's capture? Knowing him, probably. Gah! Don't look at me like that, idiot. Shukaku should have fought harder to keep himself and his host safe. The Nine-Tails attempted to end the conversation there with a hard glare aimed at his host. It didn't work as Naruto glared back at him. Not only did it not work, but it seemed to incite something within the blond Uzumaki. And now, I'm stuck with the job of having to go bail him out. Heh, at least I'll be able to hold this over that tanuki.
Within the confines of the sewer-like prison, the Nine-Tails saw his host give him a bright and goofy smile. He absolutely hated it and yet again wished there wasn't a set of bars separating them.
"Hey, what are you smiling about, Naruto? That happy that Kankuro's going to live?"
Awakened from his thoughts by the whimsical voice of his sensei, Naruto attempted a quick rebound. "Y-Y-Yeah, I am. Sure, he can get on my nerves sometimes, but he's still a friend."
"Haha! That's how he describes you most of the time, plus throwing in how much of a loudmouth you can be." Temari laughed. "He'll be happy to see you when he wakes up." She said with relief in her voice. "Sakura, I…we don't know how to thank you."
"There's no need to, I was doing my job, and happy to do so too." The pink-haired kunoichi answered back. "It's just a good thing we got here in time, and the blow he took wasn't a major one, otherwise I…don't think I'd have been able to treat him." For the briefest of seconds, Sakura's eyes jumped from her to her teammate. It was brief, but Naruto recognized the look - the unspoken question that she was asking him.
"Let's not think about what-if. The important thing is we made it here in time, and we're going to find whoever did this, kick their asses, and rescue Gaara!"
Woah, you actually handled that with some tact, brat! I'm impressed!
Thanks, fuzzball! I appreciate the compliment!
"Alright, we can talk to Kankuro and get some information out of him when he wakes up. I'd wager that might be an hour or two?" Kakashi said.
"Probably." One of the medics inferred. "We'll watch him around the clock and send word when he wakes up. When he does though, please be prepared because it's possible he won't be at full strength to answer all of your questions."
Naruto reached out with his mind. Hey, Semi-chan?
Busy at the moment.
Okay. I'll call you when Kankuro wakes up. He may have useful information for us. What about you? Found anything yet?
I believe so, though I'll share when we reconvene.
He knew that tone of voice. Whatever his Servant was doing, she was into it and likely didn't want to be disturbed. That realization filled Naruto with a mixture of emotions, two being the most prominent - excitement and worry. On one hand, he knew that his Servant was likely working toward the goal of locating the Kazekage and rescuing him, he knew it in his heart. That said, Naruto also knew Semiramis'…certain style of doing things. Sometimes that could be good, sometimes it could be, well, Naruto could describe it in a number of colorful ways. Most importantly, he just hoped she was doing something useful and that whatever it was, he wouldn't need to explain himself to Gaara when they rescued him.
The Hidden Sand Village somewhat reminded her of home. Rocky and borderline desert lands stretching in all directions beneath a bright blue sky and burning sun. That said, her homeland wasn't entirely a complete desert, Assyria had the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to provide for them. The Village Hidden in the Sand and even the Land of Wind didn't have any such rivers. In fact, this very village had been built on what could only have been described as a miracle site in the middle of a burning hot desert.
Enough space between a massive valley, sunken in and filled with a decent-sized city. From up ahead, she was able to deduce that it was somewhat smaller than Konoha, but no less populated. It was still such a powerful contrast to the Hidden Leaf Village. Personally, Semiramis actually preferred the latter. She admired plant life thus the Leaf was naturally preferable to this city of sand and stone.
That said, she knew the city had value, and if something wasn't done it was going to fall into chaos. In order to prevent that, she was here on a rooftop just a block away from the Kazekage Building, another structure that strongly resembled its Hidden Leaf counterpart. Spreading out around her was a magic circle engraved with the writing of her homeland. Floating in front of her was the poison that she'd taken from herself. It was a small amount, but enough for her to attempt a tracking spell. Semiramis wasn't overly optimistic about her chances of directly pinpointing its source; she'd need to hunker down, take a Ley line for power, and attempt to make a tracking spell. There simply wasn't enough time for that, so here she was doing her best with what she had.
It was absolutely ridiculous for a woman of her station, but she'd learned how to do so, and even take a bit of pride in it. There were two people that she had to thank for that.
From the vial, the poison rose, glowing with a bright purple glow that matched the magic circle beneath her. Semiramis' eyes were closed in tight concentration as she was casting the spell and gathering energy, natural energy, from the earth. It wasn't an easy task, but she was doing her best.
Miles out. Yes, I know that. Just please, don't let them be out of the country, not yet! Even that was stretching it. All the Akatsuki needed to be was two hundred miles outside of the village and they were far out of range, yet here Semiramis was trying. Beads of sweat collected on her brow as she attempted to make the poison show her the direction where the rest of it lay. It wouldn't be much, but it'd be something for them to go on. Where!? Where, damn you!? Where have you gone!? I am the first poisoner of the world, and I demand answers!
The poison throbbed as if it were a living thing cowering under the force of her command. Apparently, it was enough to finally get her an answer.
Popping her eyes open, Semiramis saw through her eyes miles of desert, miles upon miles stretching out seemingly into infinity. Distance mattered little to her, all that mattered was the direction. She saw a straight path barring a few turns consistently heading east, outside of the Land of Wind to…
"The…Land of Rivers. I see, so that's where their base is." Semiramis huffed, though her pink lips curved into a smile of triumph. "It's only a fraction, but at least now we know." If she could close the massive distance gap, then maybe she could more accurately pinpoint a greater source of the poison - its creator.
Thush!
"Huh?" Muttered the long-haired woman said. Her vision warped again as the poison sample she was using as a catalyst took her to a new location. Semiramis' mouth fell open as her vision took her through the streets of Suna, and eventually through the doors of one of its buildings, straight into someone's pocket. "Well, well, it looks like there's more unrest in the sands than anyone thought."
The insidious nature of her voice was undeniable. Semiramis knew that in spite of the Fifth Kazekage's popularity, he still had his distractors. Every leader did. Now he was kidnapped and the village was in crisis, it was an opportune moment to strike. That included the time for someone to put their name forth for consideration as the Sixth Kazekage. She wanted to meet the potential candidates herself, and maybe ask them how they planned to handle the supposed "office curse".
Dispelling the magic circle, she left to do just that. Unknown to the populace of the Hidden Sand Village, the Wise of Queen of Assyria descended upon them, like a single grain into the sea of sand.
Naturally, she was in spirit form, completely unseen to the naked eye. There was a small part of her, her vanity that wanted to materialize and be gawked at by the people, especially the men. Her beauty had never failed to draw attention before, and it certainly wouldn't in this desert city. Any of them would have given a limb to be the recipient of her attention.
One man had caught her attention and didn't even know it…mostly.
Every now and then, the black-haired man would peer over his shoulder, his blue eyes squinting as if he were trying to see something that wasn't there.
Wonderful, it seems he possesses some modicum of sensory abilities. Well, at least this is making this just a little more interesting. The Assassin summarized. When it came to staying undetected, these "sensory-types" actually posed a challenge to her. What she had was mana, but it could function just enough like chakra it could be sensed, especially when the latter was being pumped into her via her Master. It seemed that this man was a sensory-type himself, or at least a low-key one. Lips curling into a smile, she hid behind a pillar, not that she needed to. This was turning into a fun game for her.
Once he felt he had no one tailing him, the man got back to walking, hands in his pocket with a casual look on his face. It wasn't too out of the ordinary, but some in the village had looks of deep anxiety, no doubt because of the current state of affairs. That said, there was a small undercurrent of optimism spreading through them thanks to Team Seven's arrival. She imagined once word spread of Kankuro's survival, that level of optimism might just increase.
The fact that she found herself looking forward to such a thing quietly surprised her.
The more we're able to stabilize the situation, the better off things will be. Her rational mind affirmed. Hmm? Seems like I'm not the only one who's doing some spying.
Seeing her jogged her memory just a little. It took a continued look at her for Semiramis to fully place her identity, and in doing so, she was yet again reminded of how…unique her Master was. He had a truly incredible power to change the viewpoints of others.
Like many, Matsuri had viewed Gaara as a dangerous monster in human form. Frankly, she wasn't exactly wrong, nor was anyone else, but thanks to her Master, he'd learned what it meant to be human. He'd regained some of his humanity, and Matsuri had been a witness to that. If Semiramis were willing to venture a guess, that experience had fostered a strong sense of loyalty for the current Kazekage. That was the only reason why she was tailing the stranger with such a determined look on her face, like a woman on a mission.
A new thrill of excitement raced through her. More and more, it seemed she'd made the right decision to go off on her own. Instead of flying solo, it seemed she'd have a little accomplice to help her out.
Now was the time to go meet her.
⊲=≡▷-ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ ᕳᕲ-◁≡=⊳
One minute Matsuri was tailing her target, and the next she got a positively chilling feeling going down her spine, almost like a snake was crawling on her skin. A poisonous one, which had happened to her before. Stopping dead in her tracks, she quietly looked around, hoping that it was just her imagination. At the same time, the feeling was so powerful that the brunette knew it had to be more than that.
A heartbeat later and she was proven right.
"We have a few things to discuss, for the sake of the village." Came a silky yet chilling voice.
Her arms struck out, a kunai appearing in her hand. Both her arms were stopped and restraint as her back was pressed up against a wall. Frankly, she tried to free herself, but the piercing gaze of her captor froze her stiff. Her comparison had been right, and for a minute Matsuri thought that she was looking into the eyes of a giant snake.
The coppery-golden eyes and slit pupils filled her with fear and a slight intrigue. In spite of the former, she noted how there was little hostility in them, practically none to be exact. That said, her body still instinctively tightened up. Just because a snake didn't immediately bite you didn't mean that it wasn't dangerous, that was the vibe that she got from the woman in front of her. As she had her pinned, the Sand kunoichi quietly examined her from head to toe. Behind her tighten mask of caution, she privately admitted that she was quite beautiful, probably the most beautiful woman that she'd ever seen. Even her eyes, which had an almost paralyzing effect on them.
Gathering her resolve, she managed to get her voice to work. "W-W-Who are you?"
"An ally of yours and the Kazekage, by way of Naruto Uzumaki." The woman plainly spoke.
Matsuri's eyes lit up. "Naruto!? You're with Naruto?! Is he here in the village? Did he come to rescue Gaara!?"
"Well, he certainly didn't come for the Sand Dumplings, though I'm curious as to how they'll taste myself." The mysterious woman answered.
"Hey, they taste great! Gaara's talked about sharing some with Naruto! A-A-And I-I've thought about…I mean…I'd like to share a meal with him." Her cheeks flushed red, and turned redder as the woman in front of her smirked. A jolt of embarrassment struck her, hard. "W-W-Wait a minute, who are you?"
"For now, you can just call me Assassin. As I said, I am an ally of the Kazekage…which I suppose makes me your ally, Matsuri." She said while removing her arms from Matsuri's wrists.
"H-How do you know my name?"
"Via Naruto." Came to her casual response. "Look, we don't have time for a round of questions. I'm aware that you're tracking a man with black hair and blue eyes. He took a vial of poison extracted from Kankuro during treatment. I don't believe his intentions will be beneficial to the village, no…to the Fifth Kazekage. Am I correct?"
She wanted to question this woman, but Matsuri's gut held those questions back; she was right. Every minute, every second, Gaara was who knows where and she hated not knowing anything. Even more concerning, every second he was gone, there was a movement forming to replace him as Kazekage. Even after everything he'd done, there were still some who refused to accept him. Either he was still a monster in their eyes or he wasn't strong enough, both implications made her blood boil with anger. She wasn't normally a violent or angry person, but whenever it came to Gaara, well, any criticism directed at him could light a fire in her. Said fire could inspire her to do some pretty wild things, things that she never would have thought herself capable of before.
Like tailing an esteemed council member's son, who also happens to be a highly respected ninja to boot. What she was doing would get her one hell of a reprimand if she were caught; Matsuri was prepared for that though, having long accepted such a thing would be worth it if it verified her suspicions.
"He's…his name is Yoshikatsu Futagawa. He's the second-borne son of Councilmember Futagawa and has been a critic of Gaara ever since he took office."
"Hmm, so he's connected, but what makes him different from any other critic of his? Has his criticism crossed a line?" The woman known as Assassin questioned.
"More than a few." Matsuri nearly growled. "Even after Gaara started gaining more public support, he still criticized him, not to mention there's a couple of rumors floating around that he's been involved in anti-Kazekage groups. Not to mention a couple of other criminal activities like smuggling. I…look, I don't have much evidence to go on, but-"
"You have some evidence now." In her right hand materialized a vial of purple liquid. "As I said, this is the poison that was extracted from Kankuro's body. I used it to trace the direction of Gaara's kidnappers, and while doing so I was drawn here. It seems that he took a sample of the poison for himself. As for why…well, given what you've just told me, I suspect he has his own plans, which may involve someone else wearing the Kage hat." Switching to a wicked smile, she dragged one long, delicate finger up Matsuri's cheek. Her touch was incredibly cold and unsettling, as was her gaze. "Do you plan on letting that happen, Matsuri?"
"N-N-No! I won't! I refuse, especially since Gaara isn't dead! I know he isn't!" The brunette passionately refused.
"Good, then that means we have an alliance, correct?"
As much as she impulsively wanted to say yes, Matsuri held back in speaking, for the moment. She knew very little about this woman, and frankly being so close to her made her incredibly nervous. The snake comparison held firm, albeit this snake could talk and was talking sense to her; Matsuri also felt like this snake wasn't lying. Her mind jumped to Naruto, the boy who'd reached out to Gaara and started him on the path that had led him to become Kazekage. A great man, a man that she realized she had feelings for. If it meant helping him then…
Arms at her side, her hands tighten into fists. Sucking in a breath, she looked back at the strange woman. "Yes, it does. Promise me you'll get him back?"
"We will." She responded with a glint in her eyes. Whatever it was behind that gleam, Matsuri didn't know, but she had the feeling that this woman wasn't lying. That was good enough for now.
"Okay…um, I'm pretty sure by pulling me aside like this, we lost Yoshikatsu." The brunette said.
"No, we haven't. Not as long as I have this." Again, she held up the vial of poison. Was it some sort of tracking jutsu? "Continue to follow him, I'll be right behind you."
Slowly nodding, the Sand kunoichi stepped out of the alleyway. The midday sun felt incredibly warm against her skin. How long had she been stuck in that alley? Why had it felt so cold? She suspected it was because of that woman known as Assassin. Her presence was unsettling, but Matsuri felt the woman could be counted as an ally; she certainly appreciated her help in tracking down Yoshikatsu. She immediately gave it in giving her directions, which Matsuri followed without complaint. As she walked, she felt a constant presence behind her, Assassin's presence. Matsuri supposed it was something she was going to have to get used to.
It was midday and the bars and restaurants were carrying on with business as usual, as if the attacks had never happened. She, as well as hundreds of others, knew that was because of Gaara. He'd fought the Akatsuki member with all his strength, and when the final clash came, he chose to protect the village instead of going after the rogue ninja. Stories still ran rampant of the gigantic sand shield that he'd created to shield them all. Matsuri was definitely never going to forget it; she had no idea that Gaara could move that much sand at once, and he continued to move it after he'd taken an explosion to the face. He refused to let it come down and crush them all. It was another reminder of just how far the former village pariah had come…and why her heart burned with such animosity when she heard people speaking ill of him.
"It doesn't matter how much gold painting he puts on. A monster will always be a monster, not to mention one who'll go berserk at the smell of blood."
"He's good…but the village can do better."
"Who!? Who the hell could be better than Gaara!"
Yukata and Mikoshi had to be there to hold her back that afternoon. Actually, someone always had to be there to hold her back since she could never stand Yoshikatsu's badmouthing of Gaara. She didn't care about the vast difference of power and rank between them, both of which people took great pains to remind her. At times, Yoshikatsu had looked at her with a modicum of respect for talking back to him in spite of those things. Matsuri begrudgingly had some respect for him too. As harsh of a critic as he could be, there was no denying that he was a skilled ninja, probably one of the best in the entire village. As she remembered Assassin's words about the stolen sample of poison, Matsuri felt that sliver of respect was about to dry up.
If this suspicion turned out to be true, then she knew that feeling was going to spread to a lot of people, including Yoshikatsu's family, provided they weren't in on this whole thing either.
There was no way to verify that by watching him sit down and take a couple of drinks at his favorite bar. Matsuri wasn't a heavy drinker, in fact, she really didn't like alcohol that much, but she'd learned to stomach it. She'd had some pretty awful missions that involved bar stakeouts. Along the way, she'd developed what she thought was pretty good alcohol tolerance.
Not that she was going to need it.
"Huh?!" The brown-haired girl gasped, nearly spitting out her own drink in the process. She didn't pay a lick of attention to the bar-goers around her, although some of them followed her line of sight to find whatever reason almost made her spit-take. Inevitably, some of the men groaned, then went back to their drinking.
Assassin was a beautiful woman, albeit one who radiated danger on every level. For whatever reason, men seemed drawn to that sort of thing; Yoshikatsu Futagawa certainly was. Based on the lively expression on her face, the mysterious woman was playing along and making it seem like she was just as interested in him. Even if her mind told her it was all a ruse, something about the sight still caught Matsuri off-guard and left her absolutely speechless. Not to mention blushing for whatever reason.
In the far corners of her mind, she was fervently trying to picture herself and the missing Kazekage conversing like that. This wasn't the first time she'd had such thoughts, but watching Assassin so effortlessly fraternize with their target set something off within her.
If only you had those kinds of looks, and that kind of charm. The depressed, borderline pessimistic side of her chirped.
Head hung low, Matsuri went back to her drink, a silent surrender to her inner voice.
"Woah, didn't think you'd be the type to fall for Yoshikatsu."
"I'm not, Ogumo. It's just seeing them together is…gah, frustrating." The kunoichi clarified. Looking back on the past fifteen minutes, everything about this operation seemed a lot more fanciful in her head. Then again, that's how a lot of things seemed to go, including her training.
The dirty blond bartender smirked. "You know, when Lord Gaara comes back, maybe you should consider making your move though. Knowing the council, they'll probably start pestering him to produce an heir so there's a backup to the hat."
Matsuri's cheeks flushed red as they always did whenever someone mentioned her and Gaara in a romantic relationship. Throwing kids into the mix? She downed her entire glass then pushed it out for a refill. Ogumo chuckled and gave her exactly that, then she downed half the glass in a single gulp. A burp rose and pushed itself past her lips, causing her to blush in embarrassment. Again, she wasn't a chronic driver, but sometimes alcohol could help smother out feelings of unease. Or just serve as a good way to pass the time.
"Eh, I think it's better to focus on, ya' know, getting Lord Gaara back."
"I hear that some ninja from the Leaf has arrived. Gotta say, hearing that I'm plenty more optimistic than I was a day ago." The green-eyed former ninja admitted.
Shooting him a comforting smile, she raised her glass. "That's how everyone feels. They sent their best."
An eyebrow was raised. "You know the ninja they sent, don't 'cha?" Leaning in close, the retired jonin grinned. "Details?"
"Naruto Uzumaki." Matsuri simply said with a giggle. "Yep, he's here to help."
"Uzumaki, Uzumaki," the retired ninja mused. His eyes widened, then he leaned in to whisper to the younger kunoichi. "Isn't he the Leaf's Jinchūriki? Did they really send their only one here to save our asses? Seems awfully risky, don't you think?"
"Hey, we're allies, aren't we?" The kunoichi responded. "Besides, this is Naruto. Once he heard that Gaara was kidnapped, he'd force his way onto any team to rescue him."
Ogumo shook his head in puzzlement. "Wonder if it's a Jinchūriki thing. All that said…if he can help rescue Lord Kazekage then what the hell. We're probably going to need all the help we can get." A dark look came over the older ninja's eyes. It was one that Matsuri recognized as she'd seen it before on the faces of several of her seniors and elders. While it was commonplace to laugh off the Kazekage curse as mere superstition, it was undeniable that in the wake of their deaths or disappearances chaos had followed. At the moment, everyone was holding their breath, including many in the bar. The wonders of alcohol could keep back the fear that came with uncertainty. "Look, Matsuri, you know I like ya', but…think you could sit this one out?"
"Ogumo!" She shouted, completely disregarding the fact that she was supposed to be keeping a low profile.
The older ninja remained calm as he looked back at her. Given his age and experience, he had far better control over his emotions than she did, something he often used to settle down the younger ninja like her. "Look, I know you care about Lord Kazekage, probably beyond what a subordinate should feel for their superior, or a student for their teacher, but ya' gotta look at this with clear eyes. Kankuro was defeated, and if he was then you don't have a grain's worth of chance of doing any better." Letting out a sigh, he reached over and put a comforting hand on the teenage girl's shoulder. "Matsuri, don't go running off getting yourself killed for him. You know that's the last thing that he'd want."
As much as she wanted to refute his words, the brunette knew the older ninja was right. Still, she couldn't help the burning desire to go out and search, to potentially force her way onto the Leaf search party. She knew that Ogumo's words about what she was truly feeling for Gaara were another reason why she wanted to go-no, they were in fact the true reason.
But if you really wanna show you love him, then you won't make things worse for him. Sounded the logical side of her voice. Heaving out a sigh, she dove into her drink, scarfing down almost the rest of it, then putting it out for a refill. One more shot was probably all she was going to be able to handle before she started getting tipsy.
Her senior shot her a sympathetic smile as he took the glass, only to stop as he noticed something. "Huh? How the hell did that get there?"
Looking down at the counter, Matsuri blinked in surprise at the snow-white feather in front of her. Exactly how did something like that get in front of her? Where had it come from?
Her eyebrows rising, she whipped her head to her right to the seat that had formally housed Assassin and Yoshikatsu. It was now empty. Looking back at the feather, her intuition pointed her in a single direction.
"Thanks for the drink, Ogumo! I'll be back for another some other time!" She shouted while digging into her pocket for money. Throwing it down and grabbing the feather, she jumped from her seat and bolted out the door.
"Hey! Just don't do anything reckless, alright!" Shouted the retire Suna ninja. "Ahhh, kids these days. So full of energy, then again maybe that's not always a bad thing I guess."
Outside, Matsuri's feet pounded against the hot and hard ground. She could somewhat understand how the white feather worked - it was filled with chakra that pointed in a certain direction, the direction it'd come from. Without hesitation, Matsuri followed wherever it pointed, twisting and bobbing out of the way of people as she went. Her mind wasn't on them, only where it was leading her.
She wasn't surprised to find herself heading toward some of the apartments, particularly the higher-class kind. These were the sort that people like Yoshikatsu, rather wealthy and social, owned. Some rumors went that people like him had an apartment for every lover they had; Matsuri frankly found this absurd as those same rumors suggested people like him had as many as ten girlfriends. How that worked, Matsuri would never know, and in a way, she didn't want to know.
What she did want to know was how she was supposed to get into one of these buildings. Would she set off some sort of alarm or have to get past some kind of seal?
An answer to all her questions came in the form of the feather in her hand. Suddenly, it glowed purple and levitated out on its own. After temporarily gaping in shock, she followed where it pointed, jumping along rooftops and eventually coming to a flight of stairs that led her to a door. A lump quickly developed in her throat as she reached for the knob, hesitating at the last second. After a quick second of steeling herself, she touched the knob and turned. She nearly jumped when she found it opened for her.
"Aaaaaaaggggghhh! Stop, please, for Kami's sake, stop!"
And upon hearing Yoshikatsu's ear-piercing scream of agony, she nearly shut the door and ran away in terror.
"Matsuri! Quick, in here, and close the door!" Assassin snapped at her.
In the span of nanoseconds, Matsuri came to a decision. She slipped into the apartment and shut the door behind her, making sure to lock it. It was her guess that some sort of noise - canceling jutsu had been set up as Yoshikatsu's screams echoed throughout the entire apartment. Its lavish design and furniture were undercut by its owner's pain-filled screams. Her legs shaking, she followed the screams to the living room where she came upon a sight that would haunt her for weeks, months to come.
Yoshikatsu Futagawa didn't look like an elite ninja or charming bachelor. No, he looked like a man begging for death to escape the agony of the poison eating away at his body. Eyes bloodshot, he looked straight at her; there was no accusation of her being in on this, only a silent plea for her to stop this torture, somehow. She looked at the purple-tinted chains keeping him bound to the chain. They were coated in poison; she could tell from the smell and look. Veins bulged across his body as it was racked with agony the likes of which she didn't want to imagine.
Sitting on the opposite end of the table, enjoying a cup of tea, sat Assassin. She looked to the stunned kunoichi with a nonchalant look on her face. All Matsuri could do was gawk at the woman.
"Ah, you're just in time, Matsuri, I believe he's ready to start talking. We may get some information out of him before I have to depart and join the others in the recovery mission." The strange woman stated.
Matsuri would have fainted if not for the iron-clad resolve to rescue Gaara. A resolve so iron-clad that she was about to become an accessory to torturing the son of a village council member.
How the hell had she ended up in this situation? And who the hell was this woman?
You know, it's a dark pleasure of mine to write Semiramis torturing people for information. She's a character that I can easily see doing it, and being so nonchalant about it that it can come off as funny. Now, am I one-hundred percent confident I can pull that off? Eh, maybe sixty-percent. I'm a fan of dark humor myself, but I'm still getting the hang of writing it. Expect a good amount of that next chapter in the first segment as I expand on the Sand Village's internal situation.
While Team Seven was off rescuing Gaara, we learned that apparently, the Kazekage has a troubling history of being assassinated, and Gaara Hiden really expanded on this. To give Semiramis something to do and to expand the story, I'm going to include that in this story. The Fifth Kazekage's been kidnapped, and he's also the village' Jinchūriki so certain parties are going to be making their move. I've been building this up over the last two chapters and next chapter will feature some names and motives being dropped.
Now, I know many of you are probably asking, "Why didn't Semiramis treat Kankuro?" She's poison expert and she could have easily done so, something that I honestly thought of doing, but then I thought that would be a little too boring and predictable. As stated in the story, Semiramis is very aware of the difference between her and Sakura, she's the team healer, not her. In the end, I decided to have her step back and have Sakura prove that. She's also the student of Tsunade, a woman that Semiramis has a curiosity and modicum of respect for, so she wants to see what her best student is capable of. Not to mention she knows that Sakura's trained for this sort of situation and isn't going to rob her of it, much in the same way that she wants Naruto to progress and is willing to step back and let him do things on his own. The end result of this will be a judgmental but well-meaning older sister figure. That's not to say there won't be some friction between the two of them (and not just those two), nor will Semiramis always be stepping back. There will be times she steps up with matters related to poison and venom and showcases her abilities as the ultimate poisoner.
In case it wasn't obvious, yes, I'm an unapologetic Gaara/Matsuri shipper. Probably not surprising since I'm a NaruHina shipper and they're a more subdued Sand version that never came to be. For the Sand Village sub-plot, she and Semiramis are going to form a very unlikely pair trying to get to the bottom of the insurgency mystery. Helping a stranger kidnap and torture what might as well be a member of village nobility? Yeah, Matsuri's going to be going further down the rabbit hole (or snake hole if you will) in the name of saving her home and rescuing Gaara. Semiramis in turn is going to…take something of a shine to Matsuri. Sure, she's there to help, but as always, she's going to have some fun of her own along the way. Said fun will of course come at someone else's expense and raise some eyebrows.
Let me say that the next story update will come much faster. The best estimate I can give is sometime in March, so please be patient and stay safe until then, readers. Also, best wishes to the people of Ukraine.