Harbinger

by tigerowl

Naruto's friendship with his teammates Gaara and Haku is put to the test as they prepare to deal with the threat of the Akatsuki. The secrets Jiraiya has kept come to a head, and Naruto must shoulder the responsibility of protecting much more than the Leaf Village. Continuation of Forlorn. AU NaruHina, GaaSaku, NejiTen, ObiRin, OCs *Taoism, Self-Indulgent World Building, longfic

45. Blood

Note: Buckle up, kids.

Chapter 45- Blood

Chapter Soundtrack: "Heavydirtysoul" by twenty one pilots

It was a chore trying to integrate Kurenai into the Sarutobi clan whenever she grew uncomfortable and dug her heels in. For cripes' sake, Asuma thought, the woman wanted to marry him. But the clan's estate made her feel antsy and off-balance, the animals freely roaming the property also bothered her, she had a different level of hygiene than his clansmen, and she had a knack for finding small things to nit-pick.

She said she wanted to stay in their tiny, woeful condominium and live out the rest of their days there. He was thinking maybe compromise was necessary, because it was a shitty place to live even though it was affordable. "Very well." He got her to nod her head at compromise.

But they were on their way again to his brother Netsuke's house, located centrally on the sprawling, verdant property of the Sarutobi clan, upon which many houses and even a park had been built. They'd been there before many times, usually to get drunk and play cards. However, it was only noon and they were taking a bit of a meandering walk that sunny day, just to look around. Kurenai was fine with that.

While rounding the bend in the lane that would lead to his brother's house, Asuma stopped for a moment to light a cigarette. He watched as Kurenai leveled her attention on an orchard across the street.

"That smells good." She said absently.

"Oranges." He said, and then she repeated it as if she'd thought of the answer herself. He smiled to himself and followed her as she curiously crossed the street.

"It's not as developed here." Kurenai pointed out, "Not like the last block."

"This area usually stays reserved for gardening projects and the orchards we keep." Asuma walked around the fold of trees and blossoms, arriving at a pebbled walk, "I don't know what'll happen to it now."

"Why not?" Her eyes were sharp and attentive.

"The old folks that tended this plot moved away to a tropical island earlier this year, and the bank's trying to sell their house." He pointed to it, nestled between garden boxes overgrown with flowers, and paralleled by orange blossoms on its opposite side. Asuma exhaled a line of smoke, "Kakima gave up trying to maintain the plants here. I don't know what my brother wants to do about it."

Kurenai was frowning and thinking. Asuma stood back and observed as she carefully approached the home, which was a respectable size and of traditional style. Moss and vines had crept up onto the porch. The windows were dirty. Mother-of-pearl wind chimes hung suspended from a corner beam, swaying in the breeze. He did not object when she let herself inside without a word, entering through the unlocked door to take a look around. Kurenai had a cat-like fickleness when it came to decisions, so Asuma felt it was best to let her analyze and explore as much as she wished. He stood outside and smoked.

He glimpsed her at a second floor window as she was investigating the top level of the house. About ten minutes later, Kurenai returned and stopped beside him.

"It's filthy." She said.

"Banks don't clean as well as they should. They're not the best homeowners."

"I like everything about it." Kurenai told him, "I won't need much convincing, Asuma."

"You sure about that?" He smiled at her and raised his brows.

"It isn't surrounded by neighbors, your brother lives nearby, and I can garden here." She listed the positives, "That's why you picked it and made us come this way."

"That's why." Smoke rose in tendrils from his nostrils.

"Are there animals?"

"They show up from time to time." Asuma held the crook of his arm out for her to take, which she did, and they kept walking, "I can keep critters away if that's what you want."

"They'll eat my plants."

"They can try. There are ways around that."

"It needs to be cleaned, but it's in good condition. I suppose it does outshine the place we have now." She conceded.

"Yeah, it beats the hell out of the closet in that cramped little building we've been putting up with." Asuma agreed, "So if we call this a solid compromise, I'll work out the details."

"How much—?"

He lifted the cigarette from his lips, emphasizing, "Let me work on the details."

Her face was slate-serious, protesting.

"It's about as much as Kakashi's place was." Asuma yielded.

"That isn't cheap."

"It's not. And maybe Netsuke already put something down on it and called it a gift from our Dad." He informed her, "I know how you enjoy contributing, so why don't you furnish it? We can't bring the junk we have there."

"No, I suppose we can't."

While walking, he extended his hand to her and they shook on it.

Then they came to Netsuke's sprawling, Main House home, removed their shoes, and stepped up onto the engawa. Kurenai took a seat in the sitting room while Asuma extinguished his cigarette outside. By the time he ventured in to join Kurenai at the table, Kakima came bumbling through. She had been expecting them and set a variety of unhealthy snacks down on the table while greeting them, "Kurenai, Asuma. Early as usual, you great inconveniences…lunch isn't ready yet."

"I gave you plenty of buffer time. I even took her to see the house." Asuma squared eyes with his feisty, informal sister-in-law.

"Oh? And the verdict?" She turned to Kurenai.

"It's suitable."

"Hoo! Have I ever heard you use that adjective before? Hot damn." Kakima rose up in great amusement, "Just a second, Netsuke said he was grabbing something." She bustled out to retrieve whatever nice-smelling fish was grilling.

Lunch was served despite Netsuke's absence, and Konohamaru showed up as soon as he smelled the wafting aromas of food. He greeted his aunt and uncle respectfully when he joined them.

"Do you have a mission?" Kakima asked her son, "If you're going to complain to me about why I did not support you signing up for the Accelerated Chunin Exam, then I'd better see you working harder to prove me wrong."

"This afternoon, Mom, jeez."

"You need better role models." She pointed out nonchalantly, "Better diet. You should join my yoga class."

"No, Mom."

"Resist all you like, but I didn't become a Jounin through bursts of training in–between a sedentary lifestyle." Kakima grinned at him, "If you showed up for class, I'd even be willing to teach you a new jutsu afterwards."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really."

Kurenai and Asuma watched the exchange while chewing.

Konohamaru groused over his lunch, "But not one of those crappy low-level jutsu again, right? You always do that to me."

"How are you talking to me now, young man? See, that's what always gets your Dad annoyed. That attitude. That's why he said he would not lift a finger to train you until you become a Chunin. Until you cool it." Kakima reminded him.

"He said that to punish me. Dad never changes his mind."

"True, he doesn't really change his mind for whiners. Anyway, you were asking for it with that last argument you had with him." She twirled chopsticks between her fingers, "I may be crazy, but I don't give him attitude. That's why Dad likes me so much."

"That's gotta be it…" Konohamaru muttered under his breath.

Kakima skillfully snapped a small scoop of nattō at her son and the soybeans plopped and stuck to his forehead. He scowled at her.

"I'm a beautiful goddess and he worships me." She reminded Konohamaru dangerously.

Kurenai was in a very good mood and actually smiling. She quite enjoyed these lunches.

As penance for his muttering and mild defiance, Kakima set Konohamaru to work cleaning up the table after lunch. Asuma asked if they were going to save a serving for his brother, but Kakima insisted that he didn't much care for eating and when he wanted to eat he would scrounge around containers in the refrigerator. Asuma was amazed at the lap of luxury Netsuke lived in thanks to his marriage.

A few minutes after the table had been cleared, Netsuke showed up and set a box down on it, "You didn't save me anything?"

"You don't like eating, remember?"

"That is not in fact true, even when I'm late."

"Then don't be late." Kakima smiled like a knife.

Konohamaru didn't say it, but he did think that his mother absolutely gave his father attitude. She just got away with it.

Netsuke sighed and opened the box, greeting his little brother and Kurenai, "Thank you for dropping by today. Did you see the house?"

"We did." Kurenai confirmed warmly.

"Good. Please buy it soon. It desperately needs proper upkeep." Netsuke went on, "Kurenai, I have something for you."

Her eyes widened a fraction as he extracted a velvet tray of jewelry and other keepsakes from the box, and handed it off to her. Kakima and Asuma watched Kurenai intensely as she examined the heirlooms.

"Some of our father's personal items are in here too, which I'll be keeping." Netsuke clarified, "But those belonged to our mother, Biwako. Seems a shame such pretty things haven't been in use for so long."

Kakima added, "That's your Thanks for coming around! Gift." She was chuckling like mad.

While Kurenai blanched at the incredibly generous gesture, Asuma reassured her, "My Mom would have wanted to pass these things down to you, if she'd been able to meet you."

She shut her eyes and exhaled, overwhelmed, "Thank you. I'm sorry I've troubled all of you for so long."

"It's no trouble. There is sense in taking your time with things." Netsuke observed, "Both of you please feel free to relax here, if you like. Kakima and I have a meeting we need to get to." He handed the box off to his wife to carry, "Do you mind if we go and you see yourselves out later?"

"I know where the door is, Bro." Asuma reminded him.

"Save your sass." Netsuke smirked at him, "We'll be going then."

"Hey, Mom, Dad?" Konohamaru stood in the egress of the sitting room and kitchen, "Will you be gone for long?"

"We may be assigned a mission, if the Hokage or Black Ops need us this weekend." Netsuke estimated, "I don't think we would be gone longer than three days, if that's the case. Otherwise we'll be home tonight and waiting for you to return."

Konohamaru's smile fluttered at the sentiment. It was always hard to watch them go.

Kakima sauntered up to her boy and kissed his cheek, snatching the end of his scarf and tickling his chin with it, "Cheer up, my leaf. Who better to protect the village than your Mom and Dad? We always hurry home to you."

"I know."

"Do well on your mission." She said.

"I will."

"Protect your team." Netsuke added gravely.

Then they left. Konohamaru slumped down onto a cushion again at the table, noticing the finery that had been given to Kurenai, "Is that Grandma's stuff?"

"It was." Kurenai confirmed.

"I never got to meet Grandma." Konohamaru mumbled.

"She was fun." Asuma recalled of his mother, "She had a photographic memory. Very talented and learned as a shinobi. She would have spoiled you rotten."

"Yeah, and I really miss Gramps…" He settled an elbow on the low table and propped his head up on his hand, "So Auntie Kurenai, are you excited to join the Sarutobi clan?"

"I wouldn't say excited. I feel very calm." She was sipping a cup of tea.

"How can you not be excited?" Konohamaru had thought that impending weddings were exciting to all women.

"Please don't mistake my lack of excitement as a lack of appreciation or happiness. I am incredibly happy." Kurenai laughed softly at him, "I have been with your uncle for a very long time. I like to be sure of things."

"Huh. Well that's alright." He agreed, "What do you like about the Sarutobi clan?"

"Hmm." She thought on it, "The flowers all over this property. And Asuma."

"That's it? What about the monkeys or comedy night? Everyone loves that stuff!" Konohamaru was incredulous.

Asuma was merely a spectator of the amusing small-talk between future aunt and future nephew.

"No, Konohamaru, I can't say that I am fond of those other things. Though I may learn to be." She imagined.

While he tittered in disbelief, she poked his round cheek with her pinky finger, "You know, I have a student who you could definitely get along with. I should bring Sato by when he's free."

---

Today there was a sale on honey. Beekeepers in Nanakusa were having a lucrative summer this year.

Haku turned the jar over in his hand, impressed with the color and clarity. Hiroshi had sent him shopping at the main street's market to pick up things for the tea shop in bulk. After that, he would probably plan with Zabuza this afternoon about where to begin looking for Hozuki Mangetsu's burial site. He might even consider practicing with the spare needle sword that Zabuza had spoken of. If Migawari clamored for his help with patients later, he would do that instead.

He asked a salesman at a table if he could have two cases of honey, and the man nodded chipperly before packaging the goods. 'I haven't had a moment to rest and think, lately…' Haku thought to himself, 'Everyone needs something. At least Zabuza has been more considerate of people, this week.' He also noticed that the strange, non-platonic behavior of the swordsman had disappeared completely. Haku was not sure if Zabuza would ever make a pass at him again, though for now it felt as if the steeled man was utterly disinterested. He hoped to keep it that way.

While paying the honey salesmen, Haku felt a strange twinge. It was almost like a prick at the back of his neck, undetectable and faint. He swatted his skin, wondering if a mosquito had taken a liking to him. There was nothing.

"Hm." Haku glanced around and saw only the high noon hustle of the town around him.

With impressive strength, he carried two large bulk containers of honey jars up a block to Hiroshi's tea shop. He set the delicacy down in the back kitchen and Hiroshi thanked him, "Haku, thank you so much. All I need now are those fruits— the peaches and berries near the end of the market. I'll be making daifuku with them."

"That's a favorite of mine." Haku perked up, "You can get started, Hiroshi-san. I won't be long."

"Sure. How much help can I expect? Do you have training today?"

"I think I will, but I'll confirm that for you." He hurried out again onto the central avenue, passing through the busy stands and tents of the market.

It was a cooler summer day. Cumulus clouds rolled like perfect cotton balls across a blue sky, and the air smelled delicious. Haku would bet that Tomo's children were playing near the creek, supervised of course. Raiga and Ranmaru had gone to the beach together. Migawari would be napping in his house, more than likely. Haku passed by the old medic-nin's building and came to a stop in front of the fruit stand. The old lady greeted him while he examined the produce and gathered desirables into a basket.

His ears perked up to the crunching sound of boots halting on the gravel of the road. Haku looked to his left and saw three Sand shinobi. Swallowing in alarm, he looked to his right, surrounded on that side by another Sand ninja, and beside him was Temari. She looked unimpressed.

"Ah." Haku rolled his eyes forward again to the old woman and handed her money, "Madam, can I ask a favor?"

"Certainly." Her face wrinkled more when she smiled.

"These fruits are for Hiroshi-san, at the tea shop just up the road. Would you please have someone bring this to him?"

"I will, dear. Is something the matter?"

"Not at all. I'm just being arrested by these nice Sand ninja." Haku assured her, "There's no need for fuss. They're peaceful."

"Oh I see, well that's fine. You ought to be on your best behavior next time, young man." She lifted the basket and toddled up the way toward some children who looked strong and bored enough to complete the task for her.

Haku took a breath and turned back to Temari, slightly anxious, "Hello, Temari..."

"Gaara's been patient with you." She reminded him.

"Very patient." He agreed.

"That's over now." Temari updated him, "Don't ask how we found you here, it was a complicated process. Don't ask to do any last minute packing or farewells either. I don't have orders to let you do that."

"Then I won't." Haku saw no reason to protest.

He felt one of the three Sand ninja behind him push him forward, closer to the team captain. Temari turned to one of her subordinates, "Muta." With that cue, Muta stepped forward and gestured for Haku to approach. He had restraints in hand. Haku crossed his hands behind his back and calmly let Muta get to it.

One of the Sand ninja near the fruit stand was surprised, "I thought this fellow was dangerous, Temari-taicho."

"Not to us, he isn't." Temari explained, "To us he's a friend. To Gaara, he's even more important than that. We have to get him back to Suna safely. So remember the rendezvous points we marked just in case—"

Several things happened as Muta shrieked in terror and dropped the metal restraints before they could fold around Haku's wrists. He and Haku watched as the Sand ninja that Temari was speaking to was bisected in a spray of red, splattering them, and his torso toppled off of his bottom half and to the ground. Haku had only shreds of terrified thought race through his head: Muta must have been a Sensor ninja, but Zabuza had suppressed his chakra for the ambush.

"I thought Kori was keeping watch for this bastard!" A Sand Jounin spat as he dove laterally, avoiding the returning arc of Zabuza's sword.

"—he killed Kori! I can't feel him." Muta reported on their sentry, "He just killed…Mitsuie too…" He was frozen by the killing intent and the foul death of his friend just in front of him.

Haku decided to keep his hands free, warding Muta and Temari back with a gesture, "You can still arrest me! I just have to stop him." He had senbon steadied between his knuckles when he strafed sideways along market stands, trying to get a clear shot at Zabuza as Temari's other two subordinates darted around him. Even more troubling was that, no sooner had one needle successfully stuck into Zabuza's arm as he hurled a ninja named Tokumaru back…Temari slipped in and tranged her metal fan against Zabuza's sword.

His heart was in a freefall inside of his body as panic took root. Haku lunged toward the fight, but Water Clones that been lying in wait at the edge of an alleyway shattered apart a stand with Water techniques, slicing into Tokumaru's face as he rolled away. Haku and the other Sand ninja were bowled over by the barrage, scrambling to avoid the follow up strikes of the Water Clones chasing them. Haku's only recommendation to his new companion was, "Parry them!" Which the ninja managed with a summoned spear, kicking away one clone and then hacking into the other with a spear-tip. As the clone splashed apart, Haku molded it into ice, and he fired icicle shards at another clone that was looming over the defenseless Tokumaru on the ground.

The Sand ninja let out an anxious breath, "Shit. What's your name again?"

"Haku." The two had raced over to the fallen Sand ninja, and Haku set to work healing him, "Who are you?"

"Hisauji."

"Hisauji, I don't know if Temari and your teammate Muta can deal with Zabuza. If he was this willing to ambush your entire team, it means he is confident he can defeat you." Haku explained while healing Tokumaru's head, "You should take him as soon as he is well enough to stand and retreat. I'll stop Zabuza."

"Kid, if something happens to you the Kazekage is going to be mighty pissed." Hisauji informed him, "We already lost Kori and Mitsuie, which is just— I can't even think of that right now. I'm not going anywhere until you and Temari-taicho have got that fucker on his back begging for mercy."

Tragically, Haku spotted what was most definitely a Shadow Clone of Zabuza's. It was casually positioned beside a wheelbarrow and strategically producing Water Clones near a decorative pond to keep the Sand team separated. If only to level the odds, Haku frantically created several Shadow Clones of his own, and sent them to intercept the onslaught that would have surely killed the Chunin Sensor named Muta.

Temari sliced Zabuza's Shadow Clone in half with her fan, concentrating on moving counter to the nukenin's wild dashes and swings. His sword could hardly come close to slicing her. It was a vain effort on his part as her Wind nature deflected each attack.

"We don't want anything to do with you." Temari announced archly, "You don't need to step in for Haku. This is a matter that the Kazekage is willing to intervene on, so it's best if you back off before I leave you in pieces."

"He ain't the Kazekage's to take." Zabuza warned her, "He belongs to me now."

She did not like the sound of that, not in the least. It was helpful when one of Haku's Shadow Clones made it past the small mob of Zabuza's making, attacking Zabuza without an ounce of restraint. Zabuza whirled and cut into the clone's head, but his blade stuck. The Shadow Clone had been infused with Haku's Ice Release chakra. Temari spun herself with a windmill kick for momentum, opening her fan to three moons for an incredible blasting gust. The strength of her jutsu had reduced the iced-over clone to diamond dust, and forced Zabuza to abandon his sword to avoid the deadly technique.

A Water Clone's sword swipe snipped a few hairs from her pigtails, and Temari dropped quickly to avoid another attack. She kicked and swept the clone's legs out from under it, freeing a kunai from her sash and plunging it into the clone's head. While it dissolved into a puddle, she heard Muta's scream as he fell forward, impaled from behind by something thin and sharp. A second Shadow Clone of Zabuza's was carrying a needle sword, and he pulled back on a cable to retrieve the weapon, plucking it out of Muta's back. Temari chased off the hateful replication with a rush of wind, and kneeled at Muta's side.

"Can you get up?"

"Yeah, I think he missed. He's not so good with that weapon." Muta put pressure on his wound, "Captain…I don't want to die here."

"Me neither." She confessed worriedly, "Wave over one of Haku's clones. He can heal you."

"He and Hisauji are too busy protecting Tokumaru—"

"Wave him over! Haku knows I want you safe." She barked, speeding off again, "Keep sensing for other clones!"

The sounds of townspeople scattering and fleeing had long since quieted. All of the market had taken shelter on the far side of Nanakusa to avoid the ninja squabble. Temari took to the air to avoid a crashing wave of water that rose up from the creek adjacent to the town. The assault washed away many untethered booths on the street, and it had also given Haku unintended ammunition. He began to attack Water Clones more quickly, cannibalizing them, creating more ice, and then turned to give chase to Zabuza's Shadow Clone that was harrying Temari's subordinates.

With a swing of her fan, Temari blew apart the attempted conjuring of mist Zabuza had wanted to use for cover. He had regained the Seversword while she was distracted by Muta's injury, and he held it steady in his hands as he watched her with a calculating stare. Temari wasted no time in summoning her weasel, Kamatari, and held back as the spinning creature moved faster than the naked eye could spot. Kamatari rather handily cut Zabuza into chunks with his scythe.

She realized there was a nagging, aching pain quickly spreading throughout her body, in all likelihood her adversary's doing. She was also stuck in a repetitive vision of Kamatari cutting Zabuza apart, 'Shit, this is Genjutsu!' Temari dispelled the illusion and willed herself to turn, launching a gust of wind where she predicted she would be attacked from the rear. That staved Zabuza off if only for a moment. Knowing she would be vulnerable as the pain worsened, whatever it was, Temari bolted towards Haku as he did battle with the needle-wielding Shadow Clone. Muta and Hisauji appeared to be indisposed.

Haku let the clone wrap the needle blade's cable around his arm, and he pulled back to anchor himself as the replication took aim at him. In cooperative fashion, Temari cut apart the last Shadow Clone with her fan's gust before she dropped like a stone, striking the dirt face-first. Horrified, Haku turned around to make a break towards her, only to see Zabuza's Seversword had been pitched and was spinning through the air towards him. Haku plunged into an ice mirror below his feet to avoid it, exiting in a frozen patch of alleyway between two buildings.

Temari pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, panting, and beheld as Zabuza extended his hand. The Seversword obediently returned to him and when he caught it the kunoichi supposed that, as rumors purported of Mist's Swordsmen, such weapons were anything but ordinary. She coughed and flecked blood onto the pavement between her wobbling arms, 'What is going on? I don't think…I can stand…'

"It takes a while before Drain kicks in, but I've learned how this sword calls to blood." Zabuza clued her in as he stalked close, hovering Kubikiri Bōchō above her brow, "I could let you bleed out. That'd serve you right for daring to set one foot outside of that fucking desert of yours." He rested the blade's edge against her hitai-ate to mock her, "Ask nicely and I'll end it fast for you."

Temari raised her head in challenge, barely able to see as blood began to stream quickly from the corners of her eyes, nose, ears, lips, and fingernail beds. Her blood had never felt so thin, nor had she ever felt the rush of barbed wire along her insides that raked and destroyed, a technique cast by the giant, vile sword the man held. Her fingertips slid along the frame of her fan, wishing she would find the strength to lift it while she bled uncontrollably.

"Suffer, then." He advised coldly. Zabuza stood there and watched her, interested in the potency of the new technique he'd used. When his eyes strayed to where Muta, Hisauji, and Tokumaru were slumped over and regrouping, he had half a mind to chop their arms off and let them wallow. That was until Temari spoke up in a soft sputter, her teeth stained red.

"What a lonely, unhappy man!" A cough muffled her laugh, "You probably don't know what…you'd do without him." She was referring to his desire to keep Haku.

Incensed by the remark, Zabuza raised his sword up for a chopping blow, then Haku careened into him with an exhausted, desperate tackle that toppled Zabuza over. Rather than try to wrestle the Seversword away from Zabuza, which likely would not have worked out, Haku turned 'round on his knees and stretched himself over Temari. He felt her convulsing while he held her, trying to hide her from sight as Zabuza got a hold of Haku's tunic and tried to pry him off of the kunoichi he was shielding.

"What in the ever loving fuck are you doing?" Zabuza snarled, "They're trying to capture you, you imbecile."

"I won't let you do this— I won't let you hurt anyone else." Haku had pressed healing hands to Temari's face as she struggled to stay lucid, "Zabuza, I'm begging you…please let her go unharmed. Let all of them go."

"Let 'em go so they can tell the motherfucking Kazekage what happened, so he can hunt me down next?" The man could hardly believe the stupidity of the request, "They're all fucking dead. These are problems, and dumbass ninja to boot. If you hadn't gotten in my way, I'd be burying the lot of them right now— starting with this prideful witch of theirs."

"You won't." Haku had pressed Temari flat to his chest to avoid the curve of the Seversword Zabuza had aligned with her neck.

Fed up, Zabuza snapped, "Why do you care if this bitch lives or dies—?"

"-she's my girlfriend—!"

Between their roaring and flagging negotiations, Temari weakly pointed out to Zabuza, "He's exaggerating. I broke up with him a while ago."

"Fucking fuck." Zabuza stabbed his sword into the ground and grabbed Haku by his ponytail, pulling his head back to look the boy in the eye, "You are a menace to all progress and sanity. You think you get to pull this shit? You don't. Let go or I'll kill you with her."

Haku held on to Temari and tucked his head down. He readily accepted the possibility.

Furious, Zabuza tossed Haku's hair and stepped back. He momentarily weighed the cost of writing off Haku and the training investment that had gone into the insufferable young man, and then realized that Haku's goodness and dedication could be used against him. Now was an opportune time to do so.

"I'll kill them first." Zabuza offered, watching Haku tense as he laid a hand on his sword hilt and turned toward the Sand ninja who had slung Tokumaru's arms over their shoulders, "Or you can do as I say."

"They can fight." Temari reminded Haku, "Don't let him—"

"Whatever you want." Haku agreed.

She sunk her nails into the skin of his chest, "He's going to use you."

Zabuza opportunistically extracted another deal out of Haku, "You want me to let them go? Fine. They agree to not send any Sand idiots to this island or the surrounding area. That's the first requirement for me to not use their limbs for crab-pot bait."

Haku acquiesced, "They won't."

"Good. If they squeal, I send the two of you in a jar to the Kazekage with my regards."

Zabuza asked Temari's subordinates if they heard that loud and clear, indeed they had, but they still did not trust him as far as they could throw him. With her last bit of strength, Temari ordered the team to collect Kori and Mitsuie, and then wait for her at their first rendezvous point (which happened to be the Tide Village). Knowing better than to protest, the Sand shinobi did as instructed and then withdrew.

"Well then," Zabuza sounded pleased, "You work for me until I say otherwise."

"Fucking kill him." Temari hissed, "He's a lowlife, Haku. Don't believe anything he says."

"You're not just going to help me overthrow Hidden Mist, Haku," The swordsman informed him, "You're going to deal the final blow to the Mizukage. When there's discontent and questions, you are the fall guy for that. Understood? Akatsuki or no, that honor's yours. I've got an image to maintain, you said."

Temari could feel harsh breathing as Haku considered what was said. She felt his lips pressed to the top of her head, and felt his helplessness and resolve clash.

"I'll do it." Haku conceded, "Leave all of them alone, unharmed."

"I have your word." Zabuza pulled his sword out of the damp earth and then stalked off, staying somewhere out of sight where he would watch them to make sure they were not going to call for help or initiate a double-cross.

Temari only had the strength to mutter about what an unbelievable fool he was, but she could not stand and was curling into herself. Her eyes had shut and her fan slipped from her hand. Haku was not certain how Zabuza had gotten her to bleed without touching her, and neither was he certain of how to stop it. He only had the energy for one more Shadow Clone, which he sent (with Temari's fan in hand) ahead to warn Migawari of a critical patient coming in. Shaking, Haku lifted Temari up and crossed the deserted, damaged road back to the health clinic.

Migawari had risen from a nap, fighting off grogginess once he had received the bunshin's message. He met Haku near the entrance and sucked wind in shock, "What the hell happened?"

"Zabuza tried to kill her and her team." Haku amended as they moved, "I think he is killing her still."

"All this blood? Where are her wounds?" Migawari pushed open a treatment room door and snapped a light on.

"He didn't touch her. Could he have used a jutsu through the Seversword?" Haku was trying to make heads or tails of it as he laid Temari down on a table, her head lolling as she was fully unconscious.

"If he did…" Migawari pulled the woman's headband off and pressed a skilled palm to her head, getting a read on what type of injury she'd sustained, "We may be out of luck, Haku. Those weapons aren't natural and do terrible things to people."

Haku stripped Temari's bloodied jacket off and also felt around with his eyes shut, trying to dive in with a System Survey jutsu to find a cause of trauma.

"This is recurring on the inside. Feel that?" The old medic grunted, "If she had any wounds, she'd be dead by now. Organs are intact…no internal breaks or injuries…but there's something in there. A chakra."

"Tell me what to do." Haku insisted.

"We keep up with it." Migawari pressed several wads of gauze to the woman's face and other sites of bleeding, "Got that Yin Seal on your head yet, kid?"

"I do, but I have barely any chakra stored in it." Haku lamented, "I can't use it."

"You've got a world-class case of bad timing. Who is this Sand ninja, if you don't mind my asking?" Migawari was curious, "You're so worried I thought you just about wet yourself."

"She's…she was…" He lowered his head in shame, sliding his hands along Temari's skin where he felt a roiling, injurious presence wherever he tried to heal, "She's the Kazekage's sister."

"Oof. We might be in trouble here. You are a friend of the Kazekage, isn't that right?"

"Best friends."

"Well maybe not anymore, if we can't get her to thicken up and respond. I'm gonna try to find some coagulants and another agent I've used with some success." Migawari directed him, "Watch that bleeding and follow that ripping chakra in there. Suppress it. I don't know how long it'll linger."

He hurried out and Haku stood over Temari, his breathing ragged, still shaking from head to foot. It was somewhat reassuring when his Shadow Clone stepped in and made an attempt to suppress the drain with its own healing jutsu. It frowned while it concentrated.

To some extent, Haku realized, the Sand team had been poorly prepared. Either they had underestimated how Zabuza would react to their presence, or the ninja comprising the team had less experience than what was necessary. How could Gaara have allowed such a thing? Haku shook his head. No, how dare he judge them. They had probably located him recently and wanted to act quickly. Teams were not easily arranged on short notice. He couldn't criticize the squad trying to recover him since two men had lost their lives, and the remainder of the team nearly had. All because he was wasting time on a selfish, abhorrent nukenin who, it seemed to Haku now more than ever, would never be socially rehabilitated. He was a killer. He had not helped Haku in his search. He only took.

It was his fault. That was a plain fact. Of course Gaara had not accepted Haku's answer— that he would not be attending the Exam in Hidden Sand. Naturally, Gaara would want to retrieve Haku and tie up other inconsistencies, and probably still help him search for the Yuki clan. Haku had been content to stay with the friends he'd made in Nanakusa, but it came at the expense of those who were waiting for him at home.

Pua brushed against his leg and snapped him out of his thoughts. His throat was tight, "Oh…girl, I need you to deliver a message to a Sand team heading west." The rabbit sat up on her hind legs and sniffed at him in the affirmative. Haku's Shadow Clone stopped its work to write out an update for the Sand team that was in retreat. He included an apology, that he was doing his best to heal Temari, and when she was well enough he would send her to the Tide Village to be retrieved. Adding for them to wait and please not do anything reckless, as his armistice with Zabuza was fragile at best. He would jeopardize everything if he tried to escape to Suna now. The clone slipped that parchment into the rabbit's harness and then she raced off.

When Haku resumed work, Migawari returned and administered a small dose of an antifibrinolytic to Temari. He peeled back the soaked gauze and pressed fresh cotton against affected orifices. "Keep at it, Haku. Let's see if this helps." The old man flattened a sealing tag to Temari's sternum and held a hand seal, "We want what's inside her to forget what its job is…sometimes certain jutsu or weapons continue acting without direction from the user of the technique. There are ways to dull it, so to speak."

The Shadow Clone eventually dissolved, and Haku took a rest after a while as Migawari's intervention appeared to be working. Both he and Haku were smeared with blood.

"Heck." Migawari dropped onto a stool, exhausted, "I don't know if this is over with. Her vitals look okay."

"Thank you." Haku said softly.

"Oh you'll thank me alright. You'll be cooking me dinner for a week." He insisted, "Not to mention the fact that all Zabuza has to do is waltz in here while we are plumb out of strength…and finish the job."

"Don't say that." Haku pushed off of the wall to stand upright again, "I made a deal with him. He won't go back on it."

"How can you be so sure? I looked out the window and it's a bloody disaster outside." Migawari griped, "Damn lunatic, that one. Sure, Hidden Mist has issues and can use a proper coup…but I'm thinking he's not the one we want doing it."

Haku began scrubbing his hands and arms at the sink, and Migawari tiredly elected to do the same. "You okay, Haku?" The old man asked.

"I don't think so." His shoulders were slumped, "I may never be."

"Hang in there. I'll see if I can find Ranmaru and his stooge. I ought to help reorder things outside and coax frightened townsfolk back out into the open. Should talk to Hiroshi too…" Migawari patted his back, "Stay here and make this lady comfortable. Clean her up on the second floor, where I have those spare rooms. Just be careful with her and line the bed up there in case she bleeds a bit more."

"I will." Haku nodded and watched him go before slipping Temari into his arms, carrying her through the silent corridor and up the stairs. She was feather-light and pale. Blonde hair was matted to the sides of her face, stuck to tear-stains of blood. Her breathing was slow.

Cobwebs were disturbed by the footfalls and motion of an occupant, on the level of Migawari's home that had not had renters in a long while. Haku entered the washroom and managed to keep Temari tucked in one arm while running hot water at the tub.

"I'm sorry for everything...I'll do anything for you." Haku whispered soft assurances while undoing her red sash and unclasping her top, "Keep breathing. I can get you away from here." He tested water temperature with one hand and then resumed stripping her bloodied clothing off, spying blood trails along her chest, down her navel, and between her legs. Haku shut his eyes for a moment, accepting the nature of what had happened to her and what he needed to do to help her. He twisted the tap off when the tub filled, then pulled off her underclothes and settled her in the water.

Typically, it was frowned upon to put anything dirty or unrinsed in a tub this side of the world. Haku would bleach the bathroom if he had to, some other time. He needed a place to keep Temari still while he ran a cloth over the red trails marring her skin. He cautiously sprayed down her hair while holding her upright, snatching product bottles from a tile ledge to use for a lather. It took quite a time to get Temari back to some semblance of health. Haku painstakingly wiped off each of her fingers and the rounds of her ears, folding her over to reach her back, down her legs, and every bit of skin that had suffered. Once she was clean, he wrapped her in as many towels that were within reach. Then he did as Migawari said and rummaged through a linen closet, finding medical liners and sheets, dusting off a bed to prepare it.

It also occurred to him that the only available clothing around were the simple, masculine garments in the closet and room's drawer. The top and bottom he picked looked huge on Temari's frame, but once dressed she would keep warm and Haku tucked a blanket around her once she was settled down on a mattress. He took a deep breath and composed himself. She would be alright for now. He on the other hand was still a mess, so he kept the washroom's door open to watch the room vigilantly while he stripped, unclipped weapon holsters, and washed off. Haku was not truly confident that Zabuza would not reappear to end things.

He sat on a bathing stool and stared, tense, frightened, cleaning himself automatically. Afterward Haku tied his damp hair back and dressed in what he could find in the drawer. Maybe he ought to concern himself with what was going on outside, and how best to help the people who had fled the madness, 'I can't. I need to stay with her.' In the noiseless attic apartment, Haku kept the lights off and sat beside Temari where she lay. She was still, her hair fanned out over a pillow, and Haku balanced her hand in his palm and occasionally pressed her wrist with his finger to check for a pulse. It was there each time. As the day dragged on and the light outside faded beyond the window, he dabbed at Temari's small nosebleed with a cloth and pressed a healing hand to her head again. Whatever technique had been at work on her was still trying to function, in spite of healing and suppression.

Her eyes fluttered but did not open, and he held his breath.

"Temari," Haku leaned down as he spoke, "Please say something if you can hear me."

"Nnnmm." Her eyelids squeezed together and her voice was pained, "Don't let him."

"Zabuza is gone. For the time being." He assured her.

"He'll use you." She repeated weakly, "We both need to get out of here."

"We wouldn't survive if we tried." Haku supposed, "And I don't know what he would do to the people of this town if he believed it could get my attention or dissuade me."

Temari croaked, "You need to make better friends."

"I have great friends. I just don't think he's one of them." He admitted.

She peered up at him, shifting slightly under the blanket, "Where are we?"

"Migawari's house. He's a medic-nin tutor I've studied under, and he helped me stabilize you." Haku explained, "Zabuza used a jutsu that I have never seen before. I can only describe it as…a freakish, persistent technique designed to expire the one it affects from blood loss."

"So that's why everything smells like iron." She batted her lips, "Get me some water?"

Haku rose to fill a glass carafe on the bureau with water, then returned to help her sip it. As he helped her sit up he told Temari, "I will never forgive him for this. He'll pay."

Temari paused in her parched gulping to say, "Try not to plot while we're still at a huge disadvantage, alright?" She took another sip and asked, "Where is my team?"

"They went ahead to the rendezvous point you established, and I believe they took your teammates' bodies with them." Haku recalled, "I am so sorry. They didn't have to die."

"No, they didn't." She handed back the glass, "I should have waited like Gaara said. They weren't ready to deal with a Swordsman."

Temari settled back down and Haku traced a healing light over her face, neck and chest. When he asked, she confirmed that something still hurt all over. The suppression tag that Migawari had stuck to her had since been removed after becoming inert, and Haku could see it had not completely tamped out the Drain. She stared up at the ceiling for a while, her eyes vibrating with thoughts about her squad, the failure of the mission, what her brothers would think, what would happen to Haku…

She shut her eyes and sighed at his touches, "That feels nice."

"I should hope so. It's all I can do to hold back pain or bleeding, for now."

"Well, thanks for fixing me and…I'm sorry that I made things worse."

"Zabuza made things worse. I appreciate that you came to find me." He corrected her.

"I thought I didn't want to, for so long…" She said fuzzily, "But I did and that's why it was scary." She added, "I'm dizzy."

"You lost blood. I should set up a transfusion." Haku ceased his healing work and rubbed his thumbs over her arms, "Get some rest for now."

Temari grunted compliantly and drifted off when he set out to find a hook-up and type-O blood downstairs in the office to transfuse. He came back and was apprehensive about breaking her skin with a needle, but it posed no issue when he did so. Not long after that, Hiroshi and Migawari appeared at the doorway of the bedroom.

Hiroshi whispered in concern, "Is she alright? Are you alright, Haku?"

"We'll be fine." He turned to his friends with a sigh, "I hate to put you through this."

"Nonsense. It was very clear who decided to raise hell today." Migawari dismissed the apology, "I had a witness from a fruit stand say you were going quietly when you were arrested. Kudos."

"I would have had no idea where you'd gone, though it would've been a more peaceful departure." Hiroshi supposed as he approached the bed, "Migawari-san told me this is Gaara-kun's sister."

"Yes, she is. I'm going to protect her until she is well enough to get away and reunite with her team." Haku further advised, "And I want you to stay near Ranmaru. He's the only person here besides Migawari-san that we can trust."

Migawari was examining Temari and inspecting the transfusion setup while Hiroshi confessed, "I'll try to convince Ranmaru to stay when he gets back later. Zabuza is already haunting my shop."

"Already?" Haku growled under his breath.

"He is. I suppose he wants to keep you in check, somehow. It'd only be the second time this month my life has been threatened." Hiroshi shrugged, "But I can keep him docile with liquor. Maybe some aromatherapy…"

Haku perked up at the suggestion, "You could. Is he eating everything we've stocked?"

"Just about. He must be troubled by this whole debacle."

"And you have a top shelf of whisky and sake?" Haku confirmed.

"Still do."

"Give all of it to him." Haku demanded, "I'll pay you back for it."

Migawari looked over his shoulder, "You want that demon drunk?"

"Only when Ranmaru is around to keep you safe, Hiroshi-san." Haku explained, "I don't think Zabuza would lash out if he starts drinking. He hasn't done so in the past. I just need him preoccupied."

"I'm willing to do that." Hiroshi was sheepish, "And I'll send you the tab later."

"Thank you."

"So, what's her name?" Hiroshi was interested in the snoozing woman, "She's lovely."

"Temari of the Sand."

Migawari made a scoffing sound when Haku said it.

Haku sniffed, "What?"

"You speak her name as if you're in love with her." The old medic had noticed, "This scenario is pretty obvious to me; why she showed up in the first place, why you're trying to keep her safe…"

"We aren't like that anymore." Haku disclosed, "I hope she's moved on to saner, more dependable companions."

Hiroshi only smiled to himself and chuckled, "Do ask her and find that out. I'm surprised she had the guts to come here knowing the Demon of the Hidden Mist was lingering." He gave them a wave before exiting and descending the stairs.

"Young people." Migawari muttered as he hobbled around the room dusting with a fiber duster, trapping cobwebs, "Love, pff." He turned around and pointed the duster at Haku on the foot of the bed, "Don't lie."

"What are you talking about?" Haku raised his eyebrows.

"You looked possessed when you came into my office with her. Like the world would end if she kicked it." Migawari notified him, "Maybe it would if the Kazekage could get his hands on you, but in the emotional sense, I can see you are not over this woman." He cracked the bedroom window to shake out the cleaning tool and added, "I would know. My daughter played a game like this— unwilling to fess up to the fact that she was still enamored of the man she tried to move on from. I could see it plain as day. Even when she argued with me and denied it, she drove herself crazy while pretending and hiding."

Haku watched his tutor with a weakened, honest expression.

"So I said: Sarincha, put your money where your mouth is. Take a new job in Kaido, far away from Hidden Grass, and I promise you that if you're really done with that shithead then you'll take to it like a duck to water." Migawari threw his hands up over his head, "Then he proposed to her. Well fuck, I said. They got married and she took the job, and now I've got a son-in-law. Anyo writes to me pretty often, which makes it hard to dislike him."

While Migawari grumbled and stomped around, reminiscing, Haku pressed his mouth in a line and tried not to laugh. He got the gist of what his friend was trying to articulate.

"I'll bring some food up. Stay here with her." Migawari offered. Haku thanked him before he left. Worn out, he curled up on his side and dozed for who knew how long, until the smell of a tray of food on the bureau woke him. Haku sat up and regarded Temari who was still and asleep, seeing that color had returned to her skin. In another hour he would take her off the transfusion.

He took the tray and sidled over to her, feeling that it was a crime to wake her. Haku gave her a light shake and asked if she wanted to eat.

"Buh." Temari's hand flopped tiredly against his knee while he leaned over her.

Haku suggested, "Maybe later?"

"I smell chestnuts." Her voice was hoarse.

"Can you sit up?"

She struggled for a moment before wriggling up and sagging against the headboard. Her eyes scanned the tray, "Soup?"

"Mushroom soup."

"I like vegetable better." She was too weak to lift a spoon so she let him feed her. In-between spoonfuls Haku helped himself to a chestnut or two, which ticked Temari off, "Don't eat 'em all. Those are my favorite."

"I'm sorry, here." He held one out for her to bite, "Can't you get these at home?"

"We hardly ever find sweet things in Suna. I guess these must grow on this island." Temari crunched on the treat. Haku raised a cloth again to dab at a spot of blood rolling down her ear.

"I don't suppose it would be appropriate for me to ask how everyone is doing?" Haku ventured, "I would like to find that out for myself, but I have no idea what happens after this."

"You can ask." She opened her mouth for more soup, then went on, "You're a prisoner now, so you either die, or he dies, and then you can come to the mainland to be with civilized people."

"There are some good people here." Haku defended.

"Then they'd want what's best for you."

"I guess they would."

"Why are you even staying here? He may have taught you jutsu or helped you in your search, but Zabuza seems like the type of person you can't stand." Temari was perceptive.

Haku verified her suspicion, "You're right. I can't stand him. He's tormented me and many others. I've learned a lot from Zabuza, but I don't really believe he's capable of change. And he hasn't helped me at all with looking for the Yuki clan. That's what we agreed to in the first place."

"Sounds like he makes up the rules as he goes." Temari opened her mouth again like a baby bird.

"He has." Haku continued to spoon up the soup, "I kept hoping that…he has a chance at making things better in Hidden Mist. At helping all of the people here. But I think I wanted to stay…because I started believing I could do it better."

"Maybe." She shrugged with her face, "You are far more likable."

"It's stupid. I hardly know anything about the ninja or abilities of these lands, the history and strife…" He sighed and provided her with another chestnut, "What could I do that he couldn't?"

"Care." Temari said flatly.

"That won't be enough to save people."

"No, it won't. You'll need help, and probably not his help. Gaara's, Naruto's, Sand and Leaf, and even the Tide Village would consider—"

"It seems unlikely to me that stable, established villages would dive into potential feuds or war to reclaim Hidden Mist just because I asked them politely." Haku handed her the counterpoint, "The only benefit is that they may be able to install a leader who is favorable to them, or who would entertain the idea of an alliance. It's probable that even that wouldn't work."

"You've got to be more optimistic than that." Temari accepted one last bite of soup.

"I think I'm forgetting how."

"If the Akatsuki is there, running things in secret," Temari imagined, "We both know that isn't something you want to deal with on your own. So if you don't trust that Zabuza can actually do something about it, or if Sand and Leaf might hesitate to step in when you need them— convince the friends you've made here to act." She added, "Then come home."

"It might be easier to just give up and go home."

"Zabuza will make that difficult."

"I'll find a way to deal with him." Haku exhaled harshly, letting Temari have one last chestnut.

"You had better. He thinks he owns you. Like you're a piece of property, or a swordsman like him, or whatever psycho things he's got in his head." Temari observed, "If you go on like this, it seems that he wants to use you up— and he will. Let you take the blame or take on risk he might've been saddled with. You're just the means to his end."

"I know that." He gathered items back onto the tray and walked over to the bureau to set it down, "I really am sorry about all of this, Temari. I wish it were easier to figure out. I don't know if I should run away and not act on evidence of the Akatsuki being in Mist, or if I should try to impede them and help people while I'm here. What's going to help the most people?"

"You keep asking that…" She shut her eyes and let her head loll, "When was the last time you thought about yourself? Not just your clan…or your friends…you."

Haku smiled wearily, "I don't." He looked in the mirror on the wall to spot her and asked, "Should I try that—?" Haku blanched as he watched blood run freshly down Temari's face. He spun around and closed the gap as she keened over in pain, "Temari-!"

She had gritted her teeth, restraining a screech. She held out her arm to reveal her injection site was discolored and swelling, and in all of a moment Haku had switched off the device, removed the line, and pressed a healing hand to her arm. Temari tried not to thrash or scream as red tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry—" He said as he pressed his free hand to her chest, feeling around for the drain or what remained of it, "I'm sorry!" Haku straddled her legs and gave it his best effort, healing and suppressing what he could. He was still winded from fighting and helping her earlier.

After a while she grew calmer, but she did not have the willpower to resist sinking into a pillow and bloodying it. Haku had gotten the ravaging chakra inside of her under control again, but it left him raw and enraged. He said nothing as he patted blood from Temari's face and ears with a rag, hushing her apologies about making a mess. He fetched a damp cloth to clean her up so she could be comfortable.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

"No pain right now. I just want to sleep." She told him.

"I'm going to send Migawari to check you." He settled her down again, "Rest."

Then he stopped at a chest of drawers before leaving the room and picked up the holsters of weapons he had removed. He would need them. Haku moved down the stairs while fastening belts and clips, and then met Migawari near the front of the office. The man instantly noticed new blood stains on Haku's borrowed clothing. "She alright?" The medic asked.

"The technique is fading, but even in bursts it does damage. Will you please look after Temari for a while?" Haku requested with a steely glint in his eyes.

"Sure."

"Thank you, Migawari-san."

"It's getting late…don't do anything I wouldn't." Migawari tried to impart some rationality, as he sensed that Haku had been nudged past the brink.

"I promise I'll be back soon." With that, he was out the door and in the dark of night.

The cool air gave no relief to the boiling in his veins. Damn patience, optimism, forgiveness and tolerance. Zabuza had never been worth those things. He'd never been worth the oxygen Haku expended in conversations trying to get through to the brute. He crossed the street and kept to a single concrete walkway, entering silently through a back entrance of Hiroshi's tea shop. Haku was meticulous about keeping his presence concealed, and stole a glimpse round the doorway of the kitchen to spot Zabuza predictably indulging at a table littered with bottles. Hiroshi had done as he asked. The dining room even had a sour smell to it, some mix of sweat and booze. Hiroshi and Ranmaru ignored the beast drinking in the corner as they cleaned up.

Haku retreated without a sound and exited, scaling a rain spout of the building up to the roof. The main street at the front of the shop had a single lamppost. At the back, only shadows stretched over stone and shingles. Haku crouched there and waited. Time trickled by and his rage did not wane. He waited until Ranmaru left the shop to return to the small space he and Raiga occupied at the far end of Nanakusa. Until the front door was locked, irrespective of Zabuza lounging about, and Hiroshi shut off the lights and retired to his home upstairs for the night. The back door was unlocked, and before midnight, inevitably, Zabuza stumbled out of that exit. Unarmed.

It took every ounce of concentration Haku had not to give away his position, or flare noticeably with chakra or killing intent. He crept along the stone masonry of the roof, eyes sharp, and at the edge waited for Zabuza to pass beneath him on an isolated passageway. He would not use senbon because he wanted to feel the life leave the man he jumped down on, slamming down onto Zabuza's back as he dropped. Haku spun a curved knife in his palm and jabbed with precision, snarling when Zabuza caught his wrist while sputtering in shock. They grappled and rolled across pavers, and Haku used an array of tricks that might slow a drunken but thoughtful assassin.

He kneed the man in the groin, twisted Zabuza's hand back, and nearly had a clean stab to the ribs before the swordsman somersaulted backwards. Haku fell off of him and slashed again, cutting a line across Zabuza's chin while he tried to rise and flee. Zabuza fell flat onto his back but kicked Haku down before he could leap again. Within arm's reach, Haku batted over a plastic spackling drum that had collected rainwater, and spilled its contents onto the walkway. With a thought and a twinge of chakra, Haku froze the pavement under Zabuza's feet. No force was necessary since the man's sense of balance was about nonexistent. He slipped sideways and struck the alley's wall, took a knife to the stomach and a fist to the jaw. Zabuza went down again.

Then Haku was on top of him, battering Zabuza's face with such ferocity that the skin of his knuckles shredded off. Zabuza had some cleverness left in those desperate moments, snatching another knife from the holster at Haku's back and intending to defend himself with it. Haku was faster, and he sprang over the swordsman like a stoat and bent his arm back until there was a snap, and the weapon dropped from Zabuza's hand. Haku picked it up and rammed it with great satisfaction into the space between ribs at his back. He kicked Zabuza's knees and watched him fall forward, trying to brace himself with a working arm. Haku stomped on his functioning hand to pin it, seized the back of Zabuza's head without a word, and began smashing it repeatedly into the stones of the walkway.

Shortly after that Zabuza stopped moving. Haku dropped him, sucking in deep breaths as he stood back and glared at what was left of the selfish man. His arm was bent at an odd angle, knives stuck in him like pins, and blood ballooned in a puddle around his face on the ground. He would die from his wounds.

'Good.' Haku thought. He dusted himself off and left the scene, headed to the west side of Nanakusa and up into the flat they used for a hideout. He sloughed off blood again in the shower and dressed in his own clothes. After that, Haku returned to Migawari's residence.

All the while, a witness had seen the attack on the man in the alley. A local market worker approached the body timidly.

---

Migawari's snoring was audible from his first-floor bedroom. Haku limply climbed the steps to the next floor and found Temari safely asleep. He moved to take the food tray sitting forgotten on the dresser, and startled at the sight of himself in the wall mirror. His nerves were still lit with a fight or flight response. Just then, he was a stranger to himself. Haku could see in that reflection a person who could kill comfortably and be satisfied. Someone who made foolish decisions that could cost the lives of the people he loved. He had no regrets about what he'd done to Zabuza. Haku could admit he was willing to kill anyone who threatened his precious people. He wasn't as upstart and righteous as he had once been.

He lifted the tray and went downstairs to the kitchen, thinking morbidly of how he'd forgotten to use the Crow Summoning scroll for "mop procedure," as Zabuza had shown him. Yet he didn't care enough to go back and dispose of the corpse.

'Zabuza used me and extracted promises from me— he wanted to rape me as a form of payment. He was a miserable pig.' Haku reasoned. He had done what he had to.

He rinsed dishes and realized the choice had been final. Now there was one less, well-informed rebel to stand against the group holding Hidden Mist hostage. He did not really know where to go from there, or who to contact to build any momentum against the Akatsuki's control in the Land of Water. He sighed tiredly, 'Let that be tomorrow's problem.'

Haku scaled the stairs, drew the curtains of the room, and then stretched out in the free space of the bed. He took a clean pillow for himself and tried to relax. Haku's eyes steadied on Temari before he reached and flattened his hand on her chest, searching for any residual murmurings from the technique that had harmed her. He felt none. He kept his hand there as his eyelids grew heavy.

The next thing he knew it was morning, and a sliver of light crept through the drapes at the window. Haku cracked an eye open and saw that Temari was out of bed, carefully toweling herself dry in the bathroom with the door ajar. Near as soon as he'd seen her naked again, he shut his eyes. He'd seen too much already. He heard her footfalls over the floor, and then her riffling in a bureau drawer as she searched for clean clothes. She sighed and dressed, then returned to the bed.

With his eyes closed Haku asked, "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm better than I was." Temari assessed.

He looked at her and felt his heart constrict. She appeared defeated as she sat cross-legged on a blanket. She asked, "Will he be back?"

"I don't know. I think I killed him." Haku told her.

Her brows shot up, "You think you did?"

"I didn't stay to see his last breath."

"Yeesh. If you killed Momochi Zabuza you should've collected his head to turn it in for the reward." Temari considered it a rookie mistake, "But I guess you should find out before I try to go anywhere."

"I want to go with you." Haku said, "I'm prepared to apologize— to confront any humiliation or punishment that I deserve. I never should have done any of this. I never get any closer to what I've set out to do."

"Are you sure you didn't?" She wasn't convinced.

"Based on the few things I've learned, the Yuki clan sounds like a headache I may not want. It has produced a dangerous nukenin who killed the clan's leader, and now they cower from the world and live secretively. Even if I knew more about them, would my opinion honestly change?" Haku hardly saw the point of it.

"You can still love and appreciate people who have flaws."

"They won't have any idea who I am."

"But those who get to know you are usually glad they did." Temari reminded him, "You think my family was without its blemishes? I know it's weird, but I was able to love and hate my father at the same time. He treated me well while he treated others like vermin. It's not a perfect comparison, but who is to say you wouldn't be cherished by these flawed people who share your blood? There's only way to know for sure."

Haku rolled onto his back and considered it.

"I'm tired." Temari eased herself down again, "Will my team be able to meet me in Tide, if I make a run for it?"

"They will, and I hope they passed a message along to Gaara. Although I have no idea what he'll do in this situation."

From the doorway of the room Migawari cleared his throat, and Haku sat up to see the man beckoning him over. He left the bed and joined the medic-nin in the hall, listening as the old man asked in a low voice, "By any chance did you try to kill Zabuza last night?"

"I did." Haku confessed.

"Well he's in my front office and he's not dead." Migawari clarified for him, "He doesn't seem happy either. I asked him: What's eating you? And he said he'd kill me if I didn't fix his arm and some puncture wounds…so I did, then he told me to tell you that he doesn't suffer traitors."

"Oh." Haku was dismayed to hear it.

"I'd say you do a hell of a job improving our safety, young man." Migawari employed some sarcasm while clapping his shoulder.

"Can he move? Do you think he—?"

"I don't think he's going to murder everyone here, but he looks put out." Migawari motioned for Haku to deposit some blood-soiled sheets and clothes in a hamper, "A Sikh neighbor of mine took pity on him last night and brought him to me. Great man, really, and I don't know if he knew who Zabuza was, but I just thought I'd let you know that I'm gonna try to appease him with breakfast. We'll see how he feels after that."

"Alright. I'm sorry about this, Migawari-san."

"Me too. Enjoy your time up here because it may be the last hour you spend breathing." He departed with the hamper in hand and went downstairs.

Haku shut the door behind him, feeling a swirl of fear and self-loathing ransack his insides. He had made things worse. He'd gone back on an agreement and tried to kill Zabuza, and was now faced with Zabuza alive and unwell and understandably displeased. He crossed the room to the bed and sat down beside it on the floor, devastated. Temari rolled over and frowned at him, "What?"

"I hate myself." Haku reported in truth, "I'm useless. Impulsive. I make things worse."

"Hmm." She blinked at him as she curled up at the mattress' edge and observed his emotions.

He took a moment to swallow and fight the moisture in his eyes. Haku reached up and gently stroked her hairline while telling her, "There are mornings when I watch the sun rise over the ocean, and I like to tell myself that you're seeing it too on the horizon in the desert."

Temari conceded, "I do see it, sometimes."

"I want to make sure that you get home safely. Zabuza is here and I don't think he'll let me do anything without a fight." He illuminated their circumstances, "Don't waste any more of your time on the likes of me. You have a family and a legacy to carry on. I can only ruin everything."

"Don't tell me what to do." She quipped.

"Did I ever tell you that I was born on a farm in the Land of Water? I watched my mother die before I killed my father in self-defense. I think now I understand…all this time, I've been delaying the inevitable since that day." Haku shared his realization out loud, "I always cling to others. Try to further their causes and success, because I can't advocate for myself. Most of my life I tried to hide the fact that I am worthless murderer…so how could I ever have thought myself superior to Zabuza, who had much of the same experience I did?"

He added wistfully, "I want things of my own: a place to live, friends, and a family." His hand tightened into a fist against the bed, "But I should expect to destroy those things with my carelessness—"

Temari patted her finger to his lips, "Shut the fuck up."

Haku stared at her.

She went on, "Phew, you're exhausting. Like a carousel of self-flagellation."

The description startled him enough to make him laugh.

"It's time to get over the fact that you're not perfect or pure— that you had a shitty start and that you still screw things up." Temari advised him, "Many people can say the same and claim to be happy."

Her fingertips migrated along the side of his face, across his forehead, sliding along his eyebrows and back down again.

"Come on, even from my short encounter with him, I could tell with certainty that you're unlike Zabuza." She soothed him, "Your similarities aren't proof of identical guilt, or whatever. I don't think he has a capacity for compassion the way you do. Has he ever gone out of his way for others?"

"I don't think so." Haku yielded.

"There you go." Temari yawned.

It felt good to sit there and say nothing, counting how many times she blinked her teal eyes.

"I think…even if you hate yourself…" Temari postulated, "Selflessness and compassion for others will take you far enough to make the choice."

"Choice?" He rested his chin on the edge of the bed while he listened.

She elaborated, "The choice to forgive yourself. In my case, I feared and ostracized Gaara when we were children— when he needed support the most. I lived with the guilt after my father claimed he was dead…and it didn't feel any better when I found Gaara alive. I was disgusted with how I'd left things. Of what I didn't do for him." Temari poked the bouncy, healthy skin of Haku's cheek and said, "Had I not gotten over and accepted the mistreatment of my brother, we never would have moved on."

Haku had shut his eyes to focus on her voice. He sighed and relished her hand carding through his hair, lightly coursing over his scalp. Thinking about how Zabuza would likely make an authentic attempt to flay him downstairs was far from his mind.

"So, to describe how things are going in Suna…since you asked…" She decided to recap, "Things at home are amazing. The village is prospering, Gaara knows what he's doing, Kankuro keeps us sane, Matsuri is growing up fast…everything is great because everyone is actually putting sweat equity into progress. Unlike my father's regime, where everything was a shortcut or a desperate move… It's kind of a charmed life, nowadays."

"Hmm." Haku smiled with his eyes shut.

"Though it's not without its ups and downs," Temari traced a fingernail down from his widow's peak and along the bridge of his nose, "I've dated a few men in Hidden Sand. The results were mixed. One strong contender had an extra tooth that— how do I say this? Jutted out crooked from his gums…and eventually I couldn't stand the sight of him even though he had a great sense of humor."

Haku opened his eyes and teased her, "Your loss. He'll find someone less superficial."

"Pfft." Her touches roamed down Haku's neck and shoulder, as far as his shirt collar allowed, "Then there was this handsome guy who pretended for two whole weeks that he was respectful and smart…and then I discovered him outside of a shopping center giving a public rant about women and minorities ruining everything in Sand." Haku seemed to not be entertained by the recollection, but she continued, "Maybe he was embarrassed? He was very sensitive about me outranking him as a shinobi…so I think that inspired his insecure breakdown."

"Unfortunate." Haku supplied a word.

"I kicked him off of the storage container he was pontificating on." She sucked in a delighted breath as if she was reliving the moment, "That felt great. Felt even better when he got lost, that fucking tool."

"I might've said the same thing." He said with a slight, competitive edge to his voice.

She summed up, "Everyone who was interested in me has been a jerk."

"That string of bad luck can't last." Haku forecasted.

"All of them made you look better."

"I'm flattered." He really was.

"So how has your luck been dating-wise?" Temari asked.

"Well," Haku took a moment to compose his answer, "About the same, which is to say, no one came along. Most of my time is occupied by children or the elderly. Zabuza once tricked me into visiting a whore house, which was shocking and repugnant and I bought nothing there." He added candidly, "Most kunoichi I've encountered have tried to kill me, and in terms of excitement, the most exciting thing had to be when I nearly died behind a dumpster across the street. You see, romance just hasn't been in the cards."

"Damn." She said.

"I wasn't really looking, to tell the truth."

"Then…what do you think of a sometimes superficial, formerly promiscuous, Jounin-level kunoichi who really just wants a guy who would fight to the death to protect her brother, put others before himself, and love her even when she's difficult?" Temari inquired.

After a slow blink Haku confessed, "That's my ideal."

She didn't say anything coy or witty— Temari leaned forward just as he did to savor the warmth of his mouth, and it was a kiss that made her want to whine and rub her legs together. How long had she waited for that? It was more arousing than it should have been. She turned her face away from him and listened to his rough breaths, feeling an insane urge to cackle like a madwoman. Haku kissed her again when she turned back to him. Oh, she thought, this was better than the last time.

He held her face and announced, "You need to get out of here."

"You have a botched assassination victim downstairs who's unhappy he's been double-crossed. And I don't think I can move much…maybe I can fly at my slowest speed." Temari guesstimated, "Any suggestions?"

"I distract him."

"Uh huh. Where's the part where you suggest something?" She pressed.

"I did. Leave through this bedroom window, and five rooftops down is the flat Zabuza and I stay in. Go there and take my clothes." Haku told her, "They'll be more reasonable for travel. Ah. And take his weapons, as many as you can. Top shelf beside the sofa."

She kissed him again in thanks.

"Take anything else you need, then go." He rested his forehead against her hand, "I'm sorry about what happened. I want to join you."

"For now that isn't going to work." Temari rationalized, "Besides, I see the sense in you helping out down here and looking for your clan. I bet you're closer than you think. It'd be stupid to throw the towel in before you get a definite answer."

"Not completely stupid…"

"Try it. And feed correspondence back to Sand so we can have eyes and ears out here. Now that we know where to find you, we can send you backup whenever you request it." She pushed herself up with a stiff, traumatized body, "Ugh…I don't know how I'm going to pull this off."

Haku wondered, "Do you think you might bleed again?"

"No, the feeling's gone. I felt something inside ripping me for a while, but it stopped." She rose gracelessly to her feet, "Thanks again for saving my life."

He stood as well, "Not at all. Please sugarcoat this report when you get home."

"Heaps of sugar." She lifted her fan from where it was leaned on the bedside table, "I lost two men on this mission…and Gaara isn't going to be thrilled that my intervention just indentured you to a complete piece of shit. If he had more time on his hands, Gaara would probably wage war for you."

"I don't recommend it." Haku said as he unlatched the window and swung it open, "Stay safe."

Temari had a content look on her face, as if the parting would only be temporary. She was out a moment later. Haku promptly crossed the room and went downstairs, turning right and entering Migawari's household proper where he and Zabuza were seated at a table and eating. Haku dropped into a seat across from Zabuza. The meal froze and went silent.

"You're making this monumentally awkward." Migawari hissed.

"Am I?" He regarded Zabuza, aware that he had been healed, though his face was still dotted with blue bruises and broken blood vessels beside his eyes.

Zabuza watched him while eating a mouthful of egg and rice.

"I was hoping you wouldn't bother anyone else." Haku sniped boldly.

"Bother, as in, draw breath in their presence?" Zabuza said before taking a gulp of milk, "Fuck you."

Migawari told him to restrain his potty mouth and eat more food. Everyone had had a rough night.

"I'd understand your aggravation more if you hadn't killed two Sand ninja," Haku expressed as he added rolled omelets and vegetables onto a plate, "But you did. That's why I tried to kill you."

"You don't get upset when I go after anyone else."

"I do. Yesterday it was personal. I won't let you get away with hurting my friends and allies."

"Still mad that I bled your girlfriend?" Zabuza launched a jibe back at him.

Haku chewed and fixed an irate stare on the man, thinking he'd try his luck again and see if Zabuza stayed dead.

Migawari interjected, "We were able to suppress the jutsu you used, although I'm not exactly sure what it was."

"Drain can only affect one target at a time, and the last fool I used it on didn't survive." Zabuza acknowledged the veteran medic-nin with a tilt of his soup bowl, "So good for you, you old bale of grass. You did something I didn't think was possible."

"I know my stuff." Migawari pushed his spectacles up his nose again.

"The Kazekage won't tolerate what you did." Haku reminded the swordsman.

"Like I give a shit. I already know he's not coming here to save you or he would've done it already." He was largely unconcerned, "You're not going anywhere."

"And if I do?" Haku suggested boldly.

"Go." Zabuza leaned forward over the table, "Then I kill this guy here. Then fatass tea-man. The kid and Thunderbrain, and all of the children in this town." Scowling, he finished his milk, "Shortchange me. Do it."

Haku shook his head while he poured tea, "You're despicable."

"You want me to be more like you— to give a damn about these losers or anyone suffering because of Mist? Well that's kind of hard to do when you preach that and then try to kill me." Zabuza bared his teeth, "Who's despicable here?"

"Please don't threaten the man who served you breakfast." Migawari snarked angrily.

"Shove it, Miga."

"I only took your advice." Haku smiled darkly at Zabuza, "To be more like you."

"Didn't think you had the balls to do it. Actually, I just didn't think you had literal balls."

"Should I try again? The next time I won't let anyone come to your rescue."

"Maybe I'll bleed that blonde chick like an animal again." Zabuza suggested.

Haku stood up, unable to contain the bolts of wrath and violence surging up from a secluded corner of his spirit. The feelings crackled off of him. Migawari cleared some place settings and shuffled out of the room.

"Don't talk about her." Haku warned.

Zabuza was indifferent to his display, "Or what? You'll dump that soup on me? Since you've got a button that big that can be pushed, build up a thicker skin."

"You don't get to threaten the people I love no matter how thick my skin is."

"Apparently you don't remember the line of work I'm in." He finished another bite, "If your love were paper currency, I'd blow my nose with it. That's what good it does me. Bellyache and cry all you want. Hope you had your chance to fuck her yesterday, because now you're—" Zabuza honestly didn't expect his hand to be pulled up when he was swiftly tossed over the table in a Judo-like flip. He landed on tatami mats that cracked under the impact, and before he could tell Haku to eat shit, he was hurled through the glass of a closed window with chakra-fueled strength.

In the kitchen, Migawari squawked about the damage being done to his house. "These confounded arguments and swordsmen! The two of you—!" He peered around the corner to see Haku had already dove outside after Zabuza.

The tumbling Taijutsu brawl was inelegant, sprawling over a grassy lawn, scattering a wood pile, circling a storage shed. Zabuza took a knife to the back again, the second time in a span of eight hours, and then realized maybe he needed to learn to censor himself. Haku wasn't taking shit anymore, and he was just a bit too quick to be blocked or evaded. It turned out he had made a monster of his apprentice.

He did manage to entangle Haku in a proper arm-lock, and then smashed his knee into the boy's face. While he reeled, Zabuza landed a ferocious roundhouse kick that sent Haku streaking through a fence like a comet. He pulled the knife from his flank even though it wasn't a great idea, and used the blood to summon from a tool scroll. Zabuza procured the faux needle sword as he rushed at Haku.

Haku pushed himself to his feet, wheezing, and used one last kunai to parry Zabuza's swipes. The needle jabbed him twice in the shoulder, and then Haku dodged when Zabuza pitched it, maneuvering it with the cable attached to its hilt. That was the type of weapon Zabuza had told him that he wanted Haku to inherit— wanted him to use to kill the Mizukage.

The day was dry and Zabuza had forced him away from sources of water. It would take a greater expenditure of energy and concentration to condense water for jutsu, which Haku could not spare as he rolled and flipped away from the rapid-fire thrusts of the needle sword. Then he realized Zabuza was gradually positioning himself closer to their hideout. His attacks were warding Haku off.

"I bet you tried to let her get out of here," Zabuza rightly surmised, "But I don't think she's in decent enough shape to outrun me." When he made a break for their lodging, Haku raced after him with a cry.

Thankfully, Haku discovered as they took the fight indoors again that the apartment was noticeably missing items and Temari was long gone. Zabuza snapped the cable's length around Haku's shoulders and arms in loops, designing to impale or confine him before chasing after the Sand kunoichi. But Haku saw that Temari left the sink's faucet running, whether purposeful or not, and he was able to harness that water to shoot several ice projectiles into Zabuza's front before barreling into him. They put cracks and depressions in the plaster wall with their tousling. Zabuza shimmied to freedom through the open window behind him, and Haku followed as he slipped free of the cable.

They struck the dusty ground beside the main avenue outside, hacking and panting, and Haku sprang up first and was able to kick the hilt of the needle sword from Zabuza's hand. He held fast to a segment of metal cable, but Haku had taken up the blade and pointed it at Zabuza's head.

"Let go." Haku taunted, "I thought you wanted me to have this."

Zabuza raised his free hand towards the flat's window, and Kubikiri Bōchō soared out with a spin and gleamed in the sunlight when he caught it. Then he released the cable and stood up.

"You," Zabuza gestured at him with the Seversword, "Keep that."

Haku was flummoxed.

"You did pretty good. You're not a complete waste."

"Sorry…I'm not sure what you're talking about anymore…" He was trying to catch his breath.

"You're a wretched spoilsport and bleeding heart." Zabuza assessed, "But you have the stuff of a swordsman, I can't deny that."

Haku wound up the cable into the hilt and found that the blade was rather flimsy; the tang of the needle was damaged and the wire's spindle was crooked from overuse. He frowned at Zabuza and tried to comprehend it, "That wasn't…a test, was it?"

"It was an argument that I converted into a test." He acknowledged, putting pressure on his bleeding back.

"So you are willingly arming me?" It was hard for Haku to believe.

"You can keep that with my expectation that you won't attack me, and in exchange for assurance that I won't hunt your girlfriend or kill townspeople." Zabuza lowered the Seversword and began the slow walk back to Migawari's house, "Call it a deal, or we can finish this here."

"I think Nanakusa has seen enough violence." Haku agreed, still mildly suspicious, "I have your word that you won't hurt anyone?"

"I don't know. Is the caliber of my word comparative to yours? Because you made me a promise and then immediately broke it." Zabuza hissed, "I'm not going to cop out even when you're insufferable and pissing me off."

Haku lowered his weapon and also moved in the direction of the health office, "Fine. But I'm still skeptical about most of this."

"Maybe you should be, dumbass." Zabuza gruffed, "I'd ask you to fix my back, but you'll probably just stab it again."

"Trust doesn't come cheap, does it?" Haku's observation was barbed.

Then, Migawari bustled out of his front door, down the steps and marched up to them. "My. House-!" He pushed their swords out of his way and yanked the pair back toward the brick building, "Worthless, dim-witted bastards. Smashing my floor and window! Clean it up and fix it you idiots," They didn't resist as Migawari dragged them and muttered, "Eating my food, sleeping in my beds, making a—" He stopped when he saw blood soaking Zabuza's shirt and pants.

"You. Get to work." Migawari growled at Haku, chucking him in through the entrance.

"You're not bleeding all over my house, troglodyte." The old medic groused, sealing up the wound with green light, "You're tough, eh? In charge of everyone? If you kill us who the hell will feed you?" He slapped the broad side of the Seversword, "Put this shit away."

Zabuza was not at all in a fighting mood anymore, "Quit yammering at me—"

After healing the brute's injury, Migawari gave the sore spot a good smack and pushed him through the doorway.

---

Tsunade sat in a nicely upholstered armchair in her home, frowning at a monkey on the windowsill.

"This was supposed to be a relaxing evening for me." The Hokage mused, "Then Netsuke calls for an urgent meeting. If you're here it means that he must be on his way." She gestured with a bottle of sake before setting it on a side table, "Do you speak?"

A silver langur sat on the ledge and blinked its watery eyes at her. Its facial markings looked like glasses, and a blue bandana was tied around its neck.

"I don't suppose you do." Tsunade observed, "Not all of you do." She sat back and took sips from a cup.

After a few minutes the monkey clambered down from the window and across the floor. Tsunade's eye twitched when it hopped up to take a seat on the back of the sofa across from her. Netsuke and Kakima arrived a moment later, appearing in a synchronized flash of the Body Flicker.

"You're in plain clothes today." She motioned for them to sit down.

"Yes, but we still stopped by ANBU headquarters. We have news." Netsuke turned to the langur, "Moritoki, shut the window." The monkey strutted awkwardly on its hind legs and pulled the sash down. Tsunade was unnerved when she watched the monkey lock the window with little gray fingers.

Kakima set down an oak box on a coffee table before the Hokage and slid its lid free, "This box contains the final musings of the Sandaime."

Tsunade's eyes were bright as she gave them her attention.

"I found it in a closet within my home among some clutter we were removing, and I wanted to share it with you, Tsunade-sama." Netsuke informed her, pulling out an old, tattered scroll and a journal. He held up the scroll, "Classified reports to corroborate what you're about to see." He held up the journal, "My father's concerns, many of which are still relevant." Netsuke handed both to Tsunade and then took a seat beside Kakima. They were willing to let the Hokage thumb through it and get her bearings.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. Much of the report recapped older, more secretive operations that had taken place during the Third Ninja War. Each had been signed off on by an ANBU commander or Hiruzen himself. Tsunade unwound the scroll and set it on her lap, stopping to take some time with the worn out journal instead. It's very first entries only predated Hiruzen's retirement by a short time, and the segued into the power vacuum left by Minato's unexpected death.

The turmoil on our councils, or in my village as it rebuilds, cannot compare to what is pillaging my heart. Tsunade read the words with a pang of sympathy, noting the aftermath of the Kyuubi's attack.

Biwako is dead. I could hardly conceive of it as I held her in my arms. She was cold and her loyal student, Taji, was dead beside her. With fewer days ahead of us, I grieve the precious years I've lost with my wife. Years that we won't spend doting on grandchildren together, as I'd hoped. I know that this was a violent death, indicated by her injuries. She and her apprentice were killed as they oversaw Uzumaki Kushina's private childbirth. This sort of interference is what permitted the Nine-Tailed Fox to escape Kushina's seal, and was not due to any shortcoming in Sealing work on Namikaze Minato's part. I believe this was intentional, and they were chosen as targets specifically. My greatest regret is relaxing at home instead of standing by as a guard that night. Biwako, Taji, Minato, and Kushina did not have to die. I could have prevented it, and would have been better prepared to subdue the Kyuubi. I could have advised for more caution. Until our investigations yield fruit on who is truly behind this attack, I will be tormented by their faces in my dreams.

Rattled, Tsunade released a breath she had been holding and then took a swig of sake. She flipped a few pages ahead to see where it would land her.

Konohamaru will be turning four years old this December. He is a feisty scamp who delights in pulling down wall scrolls and picture frames all through the house. I gave one of Biwako's scarves to him because it is much cooler this time of year. That boy may never take it off.

Incidentally, I must admit that I am pleased with Jiraiya's actions today. For the most part. He returned to the village with one escaped Uzumaki Naruto, who I had sent out a search party for. He had wandered off and befriended other waifish children in a nearby trading town, and Jiraiya took it upon himself to deliver them to Hidden Leaf. One child is a refugee of the Water Country, who, according to my student, possesses a rare Kekkei Genkai. He seems very bright for his age, and he will excel in the Academy. Jiraiya also delivered to me the Fourth Kazekage's missing child, the jinchuriki for the One-Tail. He is not in the best of health, therefore I do not feel inclined to return this child to Hidden Sand. For the time being, I will follow patrol reports and make improvements to this boy's seal. I stand convinced that companionship will help these youngsters thrive. With agreement from my advisors, and Jiraiya, I have elected to keep them together as supervised wards of the village.

Netsuke interrupted Tsunade's leisurely reading, "Hokage-sama, please turn to the page I've marked."

She glanced at the man before turning over to a red tab in the journal, more recent than other entries.

I should have foreseen the demise of Team Hikki, for it may have been my doing.

Tsunade looked up again and asked Netsuke, "Team Hikki was an ANBU squad?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Headed by whom?"

"Takaharu was the captain of that team." Netsuke recalled.

Tsunade did not feel at ease with that context, but read on anyway:

Today, Team Ro performed a recovery search after Team Hikki was four days overdue. Every member of Team Hikki was confirmed dead, and it was discovered that Takaharu and Chinatsu, his spouse and teammate, were purposefully divided from their subordinates while traveling north to investigate threats made against the Hōrai Bridge and its surrounding communities

After being engaged by a rogue group via separate attacks, both halves of Team Hikki were defeated. A cursory investigation strongly suggests they were executed by the nukenin Dintei Bihokokuni and his supporters. I know that this level of coincidence does not exist. With Takaharu's retirement from my ANBU force merely days at hand, and his acceptance of a new position imminent, I expect Bihokokuni received tips from someone within Hidden Leaf to track and kill him.

I do not have comprehensive evidence at this time, but I believe that Shimura Danzo sold Takaharu's anonymity to Bihokokuni as part of an exchange. Two weeks ago, I had asked Takaharu to accept a position as the new director of the Root Foundation, with support from the village council and our advisors. I was heartened by his willingness to succeed Danzo as the Chief of our Root ANBU units, remembering that he was reluctant to accept candidacy for the position of Fourth Hokage.

I had hoped this arrangement would eliminate any corruption or unsanctioned activity occurring in Root Black Ops. Danzo had been very supportive of the change during my discussions with him. Now I am convinced he orchestrated this murder to maintain his position, but for what reason I cannot be sure. Does Danzo resent my defeat of him after all of these years? That I selected younger, more able shinobi to succeed me as Yondaime? Or was it this administrative shift that Takaharu was a part of? I do not know, but I hope I will in the near future.

Tsunade had absorbed Hiruzen's distress as she took in the text. She leaned back in her seat and covered her mouth. Her teacher had never shared a word of this with anyone, had he? Not even Jiraiya?

Netsuke offered more context, "When I read that passage, it was difficult to tell if my father had shared this suspicion with anyone. No members of the council were aware of this investigation or the outlandish circumstances when I broached the subject. I summoned Monkey King Enma in the hope that he might verify any portion of this, and he believed that my father's fears were accurate and well-founded." He concluded, "For years, my father's trust in Danzo eroded until this point. His undermining seems blatant, according to this."

"And though it looks bad, the Sandaime seemed to be closer to the proof he needed, just before the Invasion that disrupted the Chunin Exam a few years ago. The supplementary report in that scroll has record of some of the conversations they had." Kakima added, glancing sidelong to her husband, "But, while we're discussing Danzo's possible support of Dintei Bi…we should tell you about intel that came in through ANBU headquarters forty minutes ago. We just finished that briefing."

"I don't think I'm going to want to hear this either." Tsunade predicted.

"While approaching the northwest border between the Lands of Fire and Earth…our escort guarding Sasagainu Huo on his return to Iwagakure was intercepted." Netsuke announced, "My subordinates confirmed three casualties to our Leaf squadron, and two casualties on the team from Iwa that agreed to meet with us. Oku Sekieima, the Iwa Jounin that was also being extradited, sustained critical injuries but was successfully returned to Hidden Rock. We have two tracking teams cooperating with an Iwa squadron to locate these attackers." He stated finally, "We are reasonably sure that Bi's faction is responsible for this interference."

"Of course it is." She tossed the journal down on the coffee table, fuming, "And how did they know where our meeting point would be? Insider intelligence. That butcher still has links to our village."

Kakima crossed her legs and took Moritoki into her lap, "It could be that Danzo gave that group the head's up. Not that we can prove it…and it is very troubling to see a servant of Bi's return to his side with more intimate knowledge of Hidden Leaf."

"He's too dangerous to be walking free…Huo…" Tsunade lifted her sake cup again, "However…I may need you both to look into something for me. I was lulled into a false sense of security before this Exam…because Danzo expressed wariness about Sasagainu Huo. But Sarutobi-sensei's journal suggests to me that concern was merely an act. And…I may have the evidence that the Sandaime didn't." She locked eyes with Netsuke, "One of Bi's servants, Dintei Yasuya, was killed in the Toi Mine by Leaf ninja earlier this year. That mission report confirms a Root agent was in contact with Yasuya, by order of Root's Director."

"Ah, they're all related, aren't they?" Kakima was making sense of the details, "Dintei is the cadet family of the Sasagainu."

Netsuke clarified for her, "They were before they deposed the Main Line, due to Bi's frustrations with being an outsider. He was born into the cadet family, with all of the abilities of the main family."

"He seems very good at getting rid of people." Kakima rubbed Moritoki's cheeks.

"It's been his specialty for decades." Netsuke confirmed.

"And we have one survivor of the Main Line left in our village," Tsunade tacked on, "So please understand why I need you to focus on this group, for the time being. I want eyes on Danzo. I want discretion. I'm tired of my villagers dying because Bi considers it his sport."

"Can you secure testimonies from the participants of the Toi Mine mission?" Netsuke asked, "The council will need to hear those accounts when you decide to bring justice against Danzo."

Tsunade sighed, "I'll need the extradition report from Ibiki as soon as possible, since it would be fitting to cite this incident as well."

"Understood. I will keep tabs on our tracking cells to see if they can recover our escaped prisoner…" Netsuke pushed himself up from the couch, "But I don't think that's likely."

Kakima returned the journal and report scroll to the oak box, "Keep these, Tsunade-sama. We hope you'll find these reflections useful."

"Thank you…" She had her chin rested on her knuckles as she leaned on the arm of her chair, "Netsuke?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Should I involve any of my Jounin in this investigation?"

"Only those who have A-level clearances or higher." He recommended, "And among them, only those you trust the most. Danzo may be responsible for far more in this village than we yet realize. Any who scrutinize him may imperil themselves."

The couple left with their silver monkey the way they had come. Tsunade finished her last bit of sake before rising sluggishly from her seat, fitting the cover back onto the box. She would be lucky if she got a wink of sleep tonight. The news and possibilities were so unsettling, Tsunade suspected she would think twice before ever shutting her eyes again. Vigilance and initiative would be paramount.

She walked the box over to a writing desk and dropped it brusquely, annoyed when it knocked a Jounin Evaluation schedule off of a corkboard's pin. Tsunade hung up the schedule again tiredly. Soon, some of her new Chunin were going to try their luck in Jounin trials, since she had accepted their recommendations.

And they too would be subject to this madness.

---

It was a good place to meet for a change— a courtyard replete with peonies and bushels of white flowers that Obito couldn't recognize. He seamlessly slipped into his Tobi act, and Obito automatically began to pick blooms to weave into a flower crown. He crouched down in the hedge line like a perfect, bumbling fool, humming to himself as members of the Akatsuki congregated in the abandoned stone ruins of the temple.

From his position in the fronds, Obito regarded one of the first people who had arrived at the designated meeting point. Uchiha Itachi was off to his right, tucked against a lilac tree. His partner Kisame was seated on crumbling steps above them, tapping his fingers along the wrapped scales of his sword.

'He probably likes how that tree smells.' Obito supposed. He had watched Itachi make a bee-line for it when he had entered the yard.

Beyond that, he couldn't claim to know much of anything about Itachi. Obito was aware that he had been a prodigy among the Uchiha clan and the gem of his village. According to Jiraiya, he had also been a fond older brother. With such a bright future ahead of him, why had Itachi defected from Konohagakure to join a criminal organization? 'I just don't understand it…' He frowned in thought behind his mask, 'Jiraiya was vague when I asked about those two hellions…Itachi and Sasuke. I know there were tensions and competitive spirits in the Uchiha clan, but why leave home for a miserable life out here?'

Obito extended his finger to assist a ladybug clambering up from a leaf, 'I think that…maybe…Jiraiya didn't explain everything.' It left a pit in his stomach. Another shoe had to drop, and soon. The Akatsuki had become mobile again and were prepared to seal Biju from captured jinchuriki. 'If I am going into this operation blind with no background on Itachi, of all people…I won't last unless I start to figure this out. I'll need to know what his angle is…'

A hooded spy of Sasori's scurried through an archway to anonymously deliver information to the puppet master secluded in a corner, and then the informant quickly departed. After what felt like an age, all of the members of the Akatsuki had assembled.

Deidara was about to suggest making the demolishment of the ruined temple more complete, but Sasori spoke over him directly to the group's leader, "The Kazekage is strengthening defenses around Hidden Sand. It is rife with protection for an upcoming Exam."

"He was not our initial target." Pein stood at the center of the garden and confirmed, "But in due time he will lower his defenses again. You and Deidara shall be the ones to take him."

Deidara's annoyance at Sasori subsided with that update.

"There has been a great deal of activity in the south amongst the Lands of Wind, Wave, and Water." Pein informed the group, "Jinchuriki wish to band together."

"Can't blame them when they know what's coming for them…" Kisame smiled gleefully.

Pein shared a look with Konan beside him, as if both had derived the answer to this possible coalition of jinchuriki. He went on, "I want searches for the Eight and Two Tails conducted, as their age and experience will guide younger sacrifices to organize. The Seven and Nine Tails will be found easily. Konan will assign you your targets."

"Not you?" Deidara was curious.

"I will be dealing with a troublesome target personally. This will be the first extraction of several to come." Pein informed them, "After we adjourn, I am leaving for the Tide Village."

---

Note: Hope you liked that, my dudes, or at least had rampant thought provoked in your brains. Now I am off to drink wine for a while and listen to more twenty one pilots.

Chapter 46- The Wind's Shadow

Bonus Soundtrack: "Fairly Local" by twenty one pilots