Hello at last. I know it's been far too long. If you follow the Facebook page, you know I was out of the country for a little bit, and the fall semester started a day after I came back, so things have been hectic. I have a new chapter for you though! And the next one is already in the works, so I'm hoping you won't have to wait as long for that as you did for this one…even though I enjoy torturing you from time to time. Thank you for your support and patience of course. This chapter and the next one wrap up the Kazekage arc, and then we'll shift into more Itachi-centered chapters. He needs some lovin'. And then Kokoa finally decides to do something. So I plan to get things rolling. Thanks again. Stay fresh. Ja na!
Kokoa peeled open heavy eyes. Every inch of her ached, and her head spun. She propped herself up on one arm, nauseated. Grass clung to her chin and cheek. And then it hit, all rushing back. She jumped to her feet with a gasp and rushed towards the others. Kakashi spotted her moving from the corner of his eye.
"Whoa! Hey," he said, catching her just as her legs gave out. "How are you awake?" he asked in disbelief. Kokoa kept quiet for a moment, clinging to him. "The Tsukuyomi would knock anyone out for at least a few days. How are you even moving?"
"I don't -" Throat dry, her voice cracked. She turned to cough. "I don't know. But it doesn't matter. Where?" She pushed off of Kakashi.
"Where what?"
"Where is he?" she asked. Naruto stood a bit away with Chiyo and Sakura. He noticed the commotion.
"Kokoa-chan? She's awake!"
"What?" Chiyo watched the girl drag herself over.
"I thought she'd be unconscious." Sakura, too, eyed Kokoa.
"Hey, Kokoa-chan -"
"Where is he?" She cut Naruto off. "Where is Itachi?"
"Well - eh - you see…" He fiddled with his thumbs. She pushed him aside and approached the scene they had been hanging around, eyes widening at the sight.
"So I was right...it wasn't really him, huh?" She held herself, gazing down at the sacrifice used for the jutsu. "He's a Suna shinobi, the one who disappeared."
"I noticed something was off about Itachi too," Kakashi said. "This works out for you then, no?" He leaned close to her, whispering. "He's out of our hair for now, and alive for you later. I have your cooperation now, right?"
"Hai." Kokoa dropped her shoulders with a pained whine. She fought to hold back frustrated tears, but failed, pushing them aside with the back of her hands.
"He attacked you, belittled you, and even used the Mangekyo on you, yet here you are shedding tears for the Uchiha," Chiyo said. "Can you really still love him? What does that make you -"
"What would you know about love, you miserable, old woman!" Kokoa stepped forward with a cry. She had reached her limit. "Nothing! You know nothing of love. Even now, you don't care about your Kazekage. You're only here for politics, self-interest, and what suits you. What could you possibly know about lov -" Kokoa paused, a sensation rippling through her. Looking at Chiyo, it all became clear. She saw everything through her eyes. "Oh. Oh I see," Kokoa said. "You did love once. A child. A child who's no longer around. You loved him, and then you lost him. You mourned him. And it was ok. You!" She pointed a finger. "You can mourn your loss and cling to your past and your pain, but I can't? You justify your own actions but blame me for mine! Is that how it is? Eh!"
"Kokoa." Kakashi stepped between her and Chiyo, pulling Kokoa against him to calm her, but the Kuroki didn't stop, standing up on her toes to look at the old woman over Kakashi's shoulder.
"I bet he isn't so innocent," she said. "Where is he, huh? I see your guilt! What did he do? Is he a monster too? But you're allowed to mourn him, right? You're allowed to love him still."
"Kokoa." Kakashi put a hand behind her head and pushed her face to his shoulder. "Calm down. You're physically weak and emotional. If you don't take it easy, you'll collapse again. The fact you're awake is a blessing for you and the rest of us."
"Yeah, we're going to need you to get Gaara back," Naruto said. "You're super fast, and having more people is always better. If you can't walk yet, maybe Sakura-chan can heal -"
"No," Kokoa said. "I don't want her near me. She tried to kill me, spoke ill of Itachi-san." She stepped away from Kakashi. "The only reason you're alive right now, Haruno, is because of your little team here. Cross me when you're not hiding behind Naruto, and I'll put your head on a stake like I promised."
"Oh, rot in hell!" Sakura snapped. Kokoa had started off, her only reply a tossing of her hand in the air to brush off the comment. Chiyo grabbed Sakura's arm, squeezing gently.
"Sshhh," she told her.
Itachi and Kisame had found a quiet spot to sit and meditate before beginning the jutsu. Their copies having been defeated, both Akatsuki members released the hand seal they had been holding.
"Seems like you're finished too," Kisame said. Itachi slowly opened his eyes, blinking a bit at the sun.
"Ah. The chakra's run out," he said.
"Well the sacrifices were only given thirty percent, right? Still, it's a convenient technique that makes perfect copies of us. We could have given them even more chakra. We limited what they could do."
"True," Itachi said, gazing off to the side, "but it was more than enough to delay them."
"I suppose. Anything interesting happen on your side?" Kisame asked. Itachi said nothing for a moment.
"Interesting?" he asked. The Uchiha gritted his teeth, slowly shutting his eyes. "No."
"That's a handy technique they have," Kakashi said, looking down at the body again. Kokoa sat in the grass leaning against his legs.
"The fact they're using such high level jutsu can only mean one thing," Chiyo said. "They've already begun extracting the bijuu." Kokoa stiffened, heart sinking to her stomach.
"Ah," Kakashi said, placing a hand on Kokoa's head to ease her. "We have to move fast to save Gaara."
"Gaara-sama…" Kokoa gazed down at her open palms, helpless, hopeless. Itachi had slipped right through her fingers once again, and now Gaara was dying. When did she become so useless? So weak? She cupped her face. Sakura noticed her reaction, but didn't quite understand how Kokoa moved between emotions so rapidly; swearing to protect Itachi one minute, hysterical over Gaara the next.
"What do you mean extracting the bijuu?" she asked. Chiyo took a moment to explain. Afterwards, Sakura turned away in tears.
"You always cry so easily, Sakura-chan," Naruto said. "Don't worry. I'm going to save Gaara -"
"I'm worried about you, Naruto!" She faced him with a pained expression. He smiled a sad smile,
"Kokoa, where are you going?" Kakashi asked, realizing she had left his side.
"We're saving Gaara, right? There's a foul feeling coming from that way. It has to be Akatsuki."
"Yeah? We need to hurry." Naruto said.
"Hai, hai. Let's go," Kakashi said. He jogged over to Kokoa. Taking her arm, he set it around his shoulders and helped her walk.
"I'm fine, Kakashi-san," she said softly, calmer now.
"You need to rest. If you don't want me carrying you on my back, you're going to have to deal with this at least."
"Fine. Arigato."
"Ah," he said. "And...we'll talk later."
"Zetsu," Pein said, "clean up those two bodies we used for the jutsu."
"Understood." All Akatsuki members still stood, focusing on extracting Shukaku. Itachi and Kisame had fully returned not too long ago.
"Itachi, brief us on the enemy's numbers and any special abilities they have."
"Hai." He met Pein. "They're moving in a five-man cell consisting of Sunagakure's senior council member, Chiyo, as well as Konohagakure's Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki Uzumaki Naruto, and...Kuroki Kokoa." Sasori flinched at Chiyo's mention. And Pein's eyes widened the slightest bit in surprise upon hearing Kokoa's name.
"Kuroki?" Kakuzu said with a tilt of his head, taking a moment to remember the name. Sasori also showed interest. Itachi met Pein's gaze yet again, knowing he already had Zetsu do his research. There was no point in lying or avoiding the subject. He turned away.
"Ah," Itachi said. "Kuroki Akihiko's daughter, Kokoa has inherited the kekkei genkai, able to read people much like her father could."
"I knew that name. Akihiko, hu?" Kakuzu eyed Itachi. "So she's the one…"
"She's always excelled in tai-jutsu, praised by and sometimes even compared to Konoha's own Maito Gai. She is extremely quick and light on her feet, does fairly well with nin-jutsu, and though she is weakest in gen-jutsu, Kokoa has mastered countering it, even my own sharingan. She has a large chakra reserve, and while she may not know it now, has the potential to become something feared like her father. A tool, an asset to whomever she sides with."
"Everyone, stop!" Kakashi said, dropping from the trees. The rest followed. Naruto had taken over in supporting Kokoa. He let her lean against him. "Let's rest here for tonight.
"Eh! What do you mean?" Naruto said, marching over to his sensei, hands flailing. He caught Kokoa off guard, and she fell to the ground with a thud. She didn't bother getting up, not when all they were doing was arguing. "If we stop now, Gaara will di -"
"Fighting the fake Itachi slowed us down. We need to rest," Kakashi said.
"He's right, Naruto," Sakura said.
"We're all tired. And look at Kokoa."
"Eh? Sorry, sorry." Naruto helped her sit up.
"Tomorrow, we might have to fight the guys who took Gaara, Naruto. We need to be at 100%."
"All right, all right."
"So, what should we do about those annoying flies?" Kisame asked. They were close to finishing Shukaku's extraction.
"They were faster than I thought," Zetsu said.
"Not a problem," Pein said. "We've delayed them enough. That, and we have a backup plan."
"Meaning the two of us will have to finish them off, hm," Deidara said, glancing over at his partner.
"Let's hurry and get this done, Deidara," Sasori said. "We've got some guests on the way, and we've got to make sure we're ready for them."
"That's right. We need to prepare a good welcome, yeah," he said. Itachi kept his head down, eyes shut. What would happen? Worse, he wouldn't be able to do anything.
"They're quite annoying, aren't they?" Kisame shrugged with a chuckle.
"Tch, all this fuss. We haven't even found our damn jinchuuriki yet," Hidan said, irritated.
"Settle down. We'll finish our mission soon enough," Kakuzu told him.
"It better be entertaining. I've been itching for a good one."
"I have a feeling it will be."
"Enough chat. Focus," Pein said suddenly. "From now on, I won't forgive any screw-ups."
Once rested, the team set out again and met up with Gai's squad not long after. Both teams stood before a large cave closed off with a boulder and barrier seal. There was no doubting it was Akatsuki's hideout. Neji took a look with his byakugan, and the situation didn't look good. Without him saying anything, Kokoa knew that Gaara was dead. She knew by the way Neji anxiously cleared his throat. She knew by the fact she could not sense Gaara, by the twisting in her gut.
They were there and ready, but now the problem was finding a way in. Gai tried a few times to no avail.
"It's gotten noisy outside, hasn't it," Pein said.
"It seems they've arrived," Kisame added.
"Which group is it?" Deidara asked. "The one Kisame-no danna was holding up? Or is it…" He shifted his gaze to Itachi. The Uchiha stood still, as he always did, with half lidded eyes, dreading what would happen next. Kokoa stood outside, determined to find Gaara, wondering if she'd see Itachi again.
"It's both," Zetsu said.
"They made it here at the same time. Unfortunately for them, they're too late."
"There's another jinchuuriki here right?" Sasori said, laughing under his breath. "And Akihiko's child. Don't think poorly of me, Itachi." He laughed another sinister laugh, taunting the Uchiha. Itachi stared on, sharingan bright in the darkness of the cave. The nerve Sasori had, to not only steal Itachi's mission, but to consider taking down Kokoa as well, possibly for his own sick collection. How serious was the Suna shinobi? And how far would Itachi go?
"We need to hurry and finish up here," Pein said.
"We're not even sure they can make it inside," Kisame said.
"Do not underestimate them," Itachi said, a warning in his voice. "You should know that."
"Sasori. Deidara. Take care of the guys outside. And take the jinchuuriki alive," Pein said.
"Ah."
"The rest are dismissed." They all left one by one, vanishing.
"Itachi," Sasori called out, "just what type of person is the Kyuubi jinchuuriki?" For a moment Itachi said nothing, once again staring at Sasori with cold, cold eyes. Pein paused in his tracks, eyeing Itachi.
"Tell him," he said.
"He's the one who screams and charges first."
"Oh?"
"Can't you be a little more specific?" Deidara asked.
"And what about the Kuroki?" Sasori added. Itachi lowered his hands from the seal and took one last look at him before disappearing without a word.
"Oh my," Deidara said with a shake of his head. Sasori turned away with a grunt. He'd have to figure it out on his own.
Dispelling the jutsu, Kisame and Itachi returned, their real bodies still quietly meditating on large stacked rocks, their backs to each other.
"Is this really ok?" Kisame asked. "The Kyuubi's supposed to be your target." Itachi rose to his feet.
"Let's go," he said.
"He's after your girl it seems. He must know about her father. That's why he's taken an interest in her," Kisame said. Itachi kept quiet. "Probably plans to turn her into one of his creepy projects, no? Ne, Itachi-san, are you going to let him?"
"Let's go," he repeated. With a smirk, Kisame leaned his head back to look at his partner.
"Hai."
And just when they thought peeling all the tags at the same time would remove the barrier, they were faced with yet another obstacle. Gai's team, who had dashed off to find the other seals, were confronted with clones, true to life versions of themselves; Akatsuki's counterattack. They had no choice but to fight. Kakashi's team remained by the entrance, wondering how they'd get in now that the barrier had been lifted, worrying about Gai and the others, worrying about Gaara.
"I could hit it," Kokoa said. "Quick tai-jutsu with concentrated chakra. If I hit the right points, I bet I could get it to crumble."
"While that might work, you're exhausted," Kakashi said. "You're not at full strength. It won't be enough, and you'll end up hurting yourself or worse."
"But -"
"I'll do it," Sakura said, stretching an arm. "Hitting its weak points might work, but I have more power. If I hit it dead center…" She eyed the boulder. Kokoa made a face, clicking her tongue. Just when had Haruno improved so much? Kokoa found herself envying the younger kunoichi. She left for Suna for a fresh start, to grow wiser, stronger so that she may protect that which she loved, but all Kokoa was able to do was break in front of Itachi yet again, let him escape, lose Sasuke, and fail Gaara.
Kokoa flinched, Sakura's smashing of the boulder dragging her out of her thoughts and back to reality.
"Let's go!" Kakashi said. They dashed in, immediately freezing at the sight. Kakashi shut his eyes with a sigh. Chiyo and Sakura stood shoulder to shoulder, speechless.
"You son of a bitch!" Naruto shouted, eyes flickering with a wild Kurama. Kokoa swallowed the knot in her throat, fighting to keep her cool, but the sight of her Kazekage dead on the ground with Deidara sitting on him like he was furniture made her want to destroy everything in sight.
"Where the hell do you think you're sitting!" Naruto shouted, taking another step.
"There's no mistaking it," Deidara said, "that's the jinchuuriki. First thing he'll do is scream and then charge. Heh, Itachi actually described him pretty well."
"Gaara! How can you be asleep at a time like this! Stand up! Wake up!" Naruto kept at it, desperate. "Oi, are you listening! Stop it already -" He glanced to his left when Kokoa placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes never leaving Gaara's face. For the first time since they had met, he was at peace. The longer she stared, the more violent the storm inside her became. Sure he was at peace, but not because he had achieved it on his own. His life was taken, his dream stolen. Her grip on Naruto's shoulder tightened, nails digging into his skin, and he noticed, understanding she was just as angry as he was.
"Gaara! Listen to me!" He took another step.
"Enough, Naruto!" Kakashi called out. "You should already know…"
"He - he can't be. Kokoa-chan?" Naruto met her eyes, praying for some bit of hope.
"He's...he's gone, Naruto."
'Kokoa?' Sasori's gaze drifted over to the girl.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto tried one last time. She too, told him what he did not want to hear. In addition to keeping Naruto from acting out, Kakashi noticed Sasori's interest in Kokoa. What was he thinking?
"So you're the Kuroki?" the Suna ninja asked. Kokoa said nothing, only stared back with fiery eyes and a knitted brow.
"So you're the chick causing Itachi all that trouble, hn," Deidara teased. "Sorry about your friend here." He gave Gaara a pat on the cheek. "Not his lucky day."
"Where is he?" Kokoa asked, voice nearly cracking.
"Hu?"
"Where is he?"
"It doesn't matter -"
"Where. Is. Uchiha Itachi?" She stepped forward. Deidara pouted at her boldness. "Itachi-san!" she suddenly shouted. "Are you here? Are you hiding from me again! Did I get too close? Did I see something?"
"Are you mad? He's not here," Sasori said. "He left us to finish the job."
"I highly doubt that."
"And why is that?"
"Because he said he would be the one to kill me. If I die, it's by his hand, not yours."
"Some nerve for such a little girl. Still, I wouldn't mind adding your pretty face to my collection."
"Kokoa," Kakashi scolded, grabbing her by the arm. "Stand down. You're in no position to talk to them like that."
"I have every right! Itachi is playing games again, and now they've gone and killed my friend!" She stomped a foot, and chakra, deep grey, clung to her for a moment before dissipating.
"You're not in your right mind to be making decisions like this. You might be willing to risk your life right now, but I won't let you." Kakashi grabbed both her arms, holding her in place. Kokoa couldn't fight back, still worn out from the Tsukuyomi.
"Cut the crap! Give Gaara back!" It was Naruto's turn again, and he charged. With a click of his tongue, Kakashi pushed Kokoa to her knees before leaping in front of Naruto.
"Calm down," he said. "If you charge without thinking, we're all dead. I can't have both of you hysterical."
"Oi, Deidara, I'll take him," Sasori said, taking a peek at Gaara.
"Eh?"
"It seems the junchuuriki and Kuroki want to take him back, and they're little friend can't control both of them."
"You make good points, Sasori-no danna. I'll be sure to consider them all."
"Huh -"
"This one is mine." Deidara summoned a large clay bird of his, scooped Gaara up in its beak, and headed for the exit with hopes that Naruto would follow. And sure enough, Naruto did.
"Looks like I won't be able to control him after all. I'll handle the guy outside. Chiyo-baasama, Sakura, I leave this one to you," Kakashi said. "Kokoa. Kokoa, listen." He spun her around to face him, grip tight on her shoulders. "Listen, please."
"Hai." She met his eyes. "Right now, we need to get Gaara. Naruto's losing control. We have two Akatsuki members who we know nothing about. You're not at 100%. I need you to listen to me." He waited for her to argue but continued when she didn't. "Itachi's not here. He's gone. Focus on this right now. Can you do that? Can you keep your cool long enough to finish this? I said we'd talk once this was all over. I promised you. Can you trust me as you've always done?"
"What do you need me to do?"
"Come with me so I can make sure you're ok. Besides, you might be the only one Naruto listens to now. Stay close behind and act as my back up if need be. Understood."
"Ah."
"This Sasori guy's been eying you. I don't like it. If there's a bounty on your head or something, he could be in on it. You're coming with me."
"Let's go then, Kakashi-san. You have my word."
"Good."
Kakashi, Naruto, and Kokoa pursued Deidara for some time, though Kokoa was beginning to lose patience again. Gaara was dead. She knew that. He had been for some time. Naruto was in denial, and Kakashi couldn't abandon him, but what was she doing? What was she ever really doing with her life? She gritted her teeth, tight, all of her so tight, tight, tight that if she pushed anymore she'd split and fall to pieces. She could run off. She could slip away from Kakashi and do her own thing, but she gave him her word, and he promised they'd talk. Kokoa sighed deeply, knowing she needed to get a few things off her chest. She needed to confide in someone before the chaos inside swallowed her whole.
Snapping back to reality, Kokoa noticed Kakashi pick up the pace, focusing on something, some technique. And then she realized it was the sharingan. Kamui. The sky warped high up beside Deidara, and she held her breath when he came so close to getting caught in it.
"Damn, he got away," Kakashi said to himself, leaning against a tree to catch his breath. Kokoa dashed over, gently placing a hand on his back.
"You tell me to keep my cool, and here you are overusing that eye of yours," she said. Kakashi took a second to breathe, relieved she had come to his side, but that relief didn't last long. Naruto went after Deidara and retrieved Gaara's body with two clones. But Naruto lost control, succumbing to the Demon Fox's Cloak. Kakashi acted quickly and helped the genin before he hurt anyone. Gai's team followed and aided in taking out Deidara, but when Kokoa tried to close in for an attack of her own, her vision blurred before fading to black.
She found herself in the grass when she came to, not far off from Kakashi. Like before, it all came rushing back. She scrambled to her feet, making her way to the front of the crowd. That's when she saw Sakura sadly shake her head and step away from Gaara. So there really was nothing anyone could do.
"Kokoa -" Kakashi started but fell quiet at her expression. She gazed down at the red head.
'I was supposed to be there for you. I made a promise, a promise to help you reach the top, to achieve your goals, to have your peace. I let yet another person down.' She glanced to her left. Naruto stood, tears inching down his face. His shoulders trembled.
"Why?" he said. "Why did Gaara have to die like this?" He approached Gaara. "You're the Kazekage, damn it! You just became the Kazekage!" Kokoa shut her eyes, head down.
"Calm yourself, Uzumaki Naruto," Chiyo said softly.
"Shut up!" He spun to face her with angry eyes, such angry eyes, voice strained and pained, tears still falling. "It's your fault! If you goddamned Suna shinobi hadn't put that monster inside of him, this never would have happened! Do you have any idea what kind of burden he carried! Damn the jinchuuriki...You have no right to act like you're better, to label us and use us!" Naruto fell apart, dropping his head and shoulders to sob in his own arms. Kokoa stepped over, eyes still shut, and let her shoulder rest against his.
"I…" he whispered beside her, "I couldn't save Sasuke...I couldn't save Gaara...I trained so hard for three years, and nothing's changed…" And that was enough for Kokoa, as if he had taken the words right out of her mouth; as if he had read her heart. She started to walk away.
"Oi, Kokoa," Kakashi said. He rose to his feet, still exhausted from overusing his eye. "Kokoa where are you going?"
"Away. I'm done."
"But why?"
"I couldn't keep my promise."