Chapter 15: An offer
After a week of recovery, Sasuke and Hibiki were able to move again. Hibiki healed faster after her fever broke. She was still weak, and had some pain, but was well enough. Due to Karin's chakra, her scarring was minimal. Only the worst areas received burn marks. One sad loss was her hair, it was scorched a bit, and Karin had to cut it. Now it was chin length and refused to settle down. She would have to wear shoes for now on, the road would be too coarse for her sensitive feet. She had shinobi sandals on that covered her ankles. One of them was bandaged and she walked with a slight limp as it was still healing from her fall. Hibiki's stomach and upper thigh were by far the worst. Her flesh took a darker color, and the skin pinched up. A long horrid reminder of that night.
Her new clothing was acquired by Karin as her old clothes where scorched and cut off. She now had loose fit knee-length shorts a shirt and a sleeveless zip-up sweatshirt. Her body healed well, and she felt normal, except her hands. While she still had feeling in her palms, thanks to Sakura's early treatment, but they did not look good or feel good. Hibiki felt sad at the odd texture of her palms. Embarrassment set in and she pulled fingerless gloves on to hide them.
With both her and Sasuke healed they left the cave for the last time. Outside was warm, and the sun tickled her skin. She stood in a shadow.
"Split up, find Itachi," Sasuke ordered.
Sasuke knew that Hibiki's vision still needs a few days to recover. For now, they would find Itachi the harder way.
Karin, Sasuke, and Juugo all scattered. Leaving Hibiki to Suigetsu, who didn't complain about babysitting this time. As Karin left, she glared at Suigetsu meaningfully. And he glared back.
"Ready?" He asked Hibiki. She nodded.
Suigetsu had his sword on his back, so Hibiki was scooped into his arms. Like always she helped distribute her weight by wrapping her arms around his neck. Suigetsu then turned and left in his designated direction.
"Where are we going?" Hibiki asked, feeling weird by not knowing.
"We're going to a town where a bookkeeper for an Akatsuki member is."
"Are you interrogating people today." Hibiki jokes.
"Fuck yea." He beamed. Finally, some action.
They stopped outside of town and Hibiki was set on her feet. She looped her arm through Suigetsu's, the town was packed with people, Hibiki needed to stay closer, so she doesn't get separated. Hibiki walked as normally as she could, but her ankle still hurt. She pushed on not wanting to slow Suigetsu down. She was enough of a burden already.
They arrived at a small alley, and Suigetsu guided her down some steps, when a guard called out, Suigetsu left Hibiki and Made quick work of him.
"Sasuke will forgive me." He smirked.
With Hibiki standing out of the way so the blood didn't get on her. Suigetsu took her to the door.
"Wait here," he told Hibiki.
He burst through the door, Hibiki could hear a ruckus inside, she popped her head in just enough to hear the conversation.
"You're that Akatsuki, What's his name? Kaku Kakuta Kakusa Kakushi," Suigetsu tried to remember.
"His name was Kakuzu," Hibiki called to him. He snapped his fingers at Hibiki
"Yes, that's the one." he smiled. "You're that Kakuzu's henchman- his bookkeeper, right?"
"I'll tell you anything you want to know." the man quivered in terror "J-Just please don't kill me."
"That's the way, keep talking." Suigetsu urged him. The man spoke quickly and in little detail unless threatened by Suigetsu. Hibiki leaned in the door frame waiting. Not having her vision was annoying.
When the man finished speaking, Suigetsu released the two men and replaced his sword on his back. He took Hibiki's arm and guided her out, and back onto the street.
"Well did you have fun?" Hibiki giggled, as they walked, arms locked
"Yeah but it could have been better." he pouted.
"Well, I'm sure you'll go on a murderous rampage soon." Hibiki teased. Suigetsu flicked her forehead. The two walked through the village and into the opposite side, Entering the forest.
"I wonder how everyone else is doing?" Hibiki asked as She and Suigetsu sat in the grass.
"Probably the same as us. Hopefully, our combined information will be useful." Suigetsu shrugged.
"Uggg I feel so useless." Hibiki moaned.
"Yeah, you kinda are…" Suigetsu began and was punched in the arm by Hibiki. He laughed a little as her face made a pouty expression.
"But you saved Sasuke's ass. You were really hurt," he hesitated, "You can be useless for a while." Suigetsu said reaching and petting her head.
"Sasuke won't be understanding for long. He will leave me if I don't produce something soon." Hibiki sadly smiled as she tilted her head down. Clenching her hands. "I need my vision to have value." she sighed.
Suigetsu cupped her face with his hand and had her look towards him. She gave him a confused expression.
"When Sasuke stops using you as a tool, I'll bring you with me," he said.
"Right the seven swords, you'll need help tracking them down," Hibiki concluded. Suigetsu frowned as he heard her say this. Gently he touched his forehead to hers.
"Nah, you said it before I like the hunt. I want to find and win them, can't do that if you give me the locations. It would be too easy." he laughed lightly.
"Then what would I be doing?" Hibiki laughed back.
"Can't carry the swords with me everywhere, I'll need a safe place to keep them, and someone to keep the swords in their best condition."
"I wouldn't be able to protect them," Hibiki argued lightly.
"I don't know, you can be pretty damn scary when you want to be. Besides, I wouldn't have a base that could be found easily. Can't have people steal what's precious to me."
Hibiki's face burned. Did he just say what I think he said?
They were sitting so close now, she could easily be pulled into his arms.
A loud explosion shook the ground, Suigetsu looked up, "Fuck."
"What was that?" Hibiki asked as he helped her stand.
"Sasuke probably, come on we need to go," he grumbled as he scooped her up and started running.
I am going to kill Sasuke,
…
The explosion was at the rendezvous spot, Suigetsu ran to a river near the site and set Hibiki on her feet. Suigetsu checked the scroll Sasuke had given him earlier.
"The snakes gone," he said to himself. Hibiki listened as Suigetsu rummaged around,
"What are you doing?" she asked. Suigetsu pulled her closer and performed the summoning jutsu. The loud sound was followed by the smell of burnt snake. A smell Hibiki knew from spending years with Orochimaru. Hibiki reached out and felt the skin of an enormous snake.
"Manda?" Hibiki asked.
"S-So, this is Orochimaru's Summoning Jutsu Manda, Even Orochimaru had trouble controlling this guy." Suigetsu said.
"He used genjutsu, didn't he?" Hibiki guessed.
Sasuke fell out of Manda's mouth, he struggled to stand, but he approached Suigetsu and Hibiki.
"Whoa, you're a mess! Who did you fight?" Suigetsu asked.
"You had the nerve to use me? You damned brat, those eyes you controlled me with those eyes! I of all people!" Manda said. Hibiki followed his skin to his head and found his eye. She leaned her head on him.
"It's my fault, I couldn't use my vision, I'm sorry Manda," Hibiki said as the snake exhaled his last breath
"Oh-ohh, he's dead." Suigetsu noticed. "Wasn't Manda Orochimaru's favorite pet? You ought to treat animals better and the whole manipulation with the genjutsu." Suigetsu frowned.
"There wasn't time to think. I had no choice." Sasuke said. Hibiki found Suigetsu again and stood near him.
"Found you! I figured you'd be here! Your chakra suddenly disappeared, so I wondered what had happened" Karin exclaimed as she ran to the group. "Did you transport yourself?!"
"You hid inside Manda, then used the Transportation Technique to escape into another dimension." Suigetsu guessed.
"So why are you in such bad shape?" Karin asked.
"Just before escaping, we both got hit by the blast wave. My opponent was one of the Akatsuki." Sasuke panted "He was stronger than I expected."
"In any case, he needs time to rest." Suigetsu said. "Right, Karin?" he teased.
"Ahem! How pathetic! And you call yourself the man who killed Orochimaru?!" she argued.
"Orochimaru was already weakened, to begin with. That's all there is to it." Sasuke frowned.
The group made their way back into the closest town, the town Hibiki and Suigetsu had been in. Karin aided Hibiki as Suigetsu helped Sasuke. Inside, they got a room at an inn and were soon joined by Juugo. He began to help Sasuke, bandaging him again.
"Hah! You talked about killing Itachi You won't be able to move around for some time in that condition!" Suigetsu laughed.
"We've been moving nonstop lately. It's a good chance to rest up." he smiled leaning back against a wall.
"All you've done is rest, you feeble punk!" Karin yelled.
"There, finished," Juugo said.
"You didn't do a thing at the northern hideout, so don't start telling me what to do now." Suigetsu yelled back.
"What?! Wanna make something of it?! Then let's do it!" Karin charged and began to attempt to beat Suigetsu, but as usual, her hits were ineffective as he simply became water at the impacts.
"Will you two settle down," Hibiki said as she found Karin, pulling her back. Karin and Suigetsu shared an intense glare.
"Suigetsu, Karin Have you gathered data on Itachi?"
"You're in no shape to act so bossy!" Suigetsu complained. "I've picked up some tips about Akatsuki, but nothing specific about Itachi himself," he explained.
"I got zero," Karin admitted. "Seems they're targeting specific people through People with special chakra," she said.
"Special chakra?" Sasuke wondered.
"I did some talking to animals and located a number of Akatsuki hideouts. It seems they always sense a powerful, unpleasant chakra around each area. That's what the animals have told me." Juugo reports.
"Wow, even simple minded animals can sense chakra, eh? Or maybe it's because they're simple minded, Just like you Karin!" Suigetsu mocked.
"What did you say, you jerk?! Suigetsu! This time, you're not getting away with it!" she yelled attacking Suigetsu to no avail again. Hibiki tried to break the two up, but as she was grabbing Karin, Juugo got tense and trembled.
"Kill I want to kill.." he mumbled over and over.
"Shoot! Jugo's killing impulse is loose!" Karin panicked. She and Suigetsu ran and restrained Juugo as much as possible.
"Sasuke! Hurry it-!" she struggled
"Calm down, Juugo," he said with anger. Juugo was caught by Sasuke's sharingan, and slowly calmed down.
"S-Sorry, It's your fault, Karin." Suigetsu blamed. "Screaming and making such a fuss."
"What? You too! You constantly try to provoke me," she argued,
"Karin. What are you up to? I've already told you. I don't intend to leave Sasuke for my own reasons." Suigetsu smugly said.
"I-I'm not up to anything." she blushed. Hibiki had found Suigetsu and grabbed his ear. He bent over and winced.
"Don't fight, Juugo needs us to be calm," Hibiki ordered as she released him.
"You didn't have to pull so hard." Suigetsu complained.
"The only one who can replace Kimimaro is Sasuke. Sasuke said he would become my cage. Right now, only Sasuke can stop my urges, as he did earlier." Juugo said sadly. Hibiki lowered her head at Kimimaro's name.
"Still our cages are unlocked. We can escape anytime we wish." Suigetsu observed.
The room grew silent, Sasuke had fallen asleep sitting up so Juugo cared for him. Laying him back. Suigetsu found a seat and leaned into the wall again. Hibiki sat next to him, she took deep breaths as she closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Seeing this made Suigetsu feel uneasy.
Just in case: yes Hibiki and Sasuke healed way faster than what is normal in real life, but my excuse is: the story needed to move on. So they are healed. Bam, magic of plot!