Chapter Three
"Morning Akana" Izumo said.
"Might want to get ready." Kotetsu grinned. "Ibiki likes to make a grand entrance."
"What ninja doesn't?" I asked smiling widely.
"Everyone, get ready!" Ibiki ordered. The Konoha ninja and I braced and in a puff of smoke the blank room in the Hokage Tower was replaced by a large sunny room filled with Genin. "All of you be quiet!"
I smiled at Naruto when he spotted me. His other friends from what I assumed were around his general area but the gray haired boy in their midst drew my eye. He looked familiar from one of Sasori's own spies but he had a darker aura around him than one would expect from a Genin. He met my eyes and I knew on instinct that this man was not just a Genin, he was dangerous. Someone to look out for.
My eyes next found Akira's children who also gazed at me with either a blank or assessing look. I bypassed them to keep roaming around the room. There were a few Oto ninja spread in here amongst the others. The red haired Jinchuuriki was the one who caught my eye while the other watched Naruto as Ibiki explained the rules of the test. I almost snickered when Naruto started to visibly freak out. Math was not his strong suit.
"So how was the experience?" Lord Hokage asked after the first exam had been concluded and the Genin had been lead to the next test.
"Overall I think Amegakure has a thing or two to learn from Konoha. Your training is different from ours in that it is smaller sized and also allow you to train as many shinobi at a time while also giving your Jounin continued experience in sharing all that they have learned."
"And Ame does not?"
"Amegakure is still a small nation. Our ninja force is small but with continued practice I have no doubt that we will become stronger than our predecessor made us. Currently I aim to change the views regarding gifted shinobi."
"The strong will live, am I correct?" His sharp wits certainly earned him the title of The Professor. "If I may, how did a Higurashi end up in Amegakure? I believe you have a sister in Sunagakure do you not?"
"We split up when we were younger. She was done with travelling but I wanted to see more. Amegakure is where I found my family." I evaded.
"Are you a Jounin?"
"Yes." Actually I was an S-ranked criminal.
"Will you demonstrate your kekkei genkai for us?" What? Well that was unexpected.
"I apologize Lord Hokage, but I am a second born child of the Higurashi clan." He hummed before blowing out smoke.
"The darkness to your sisters light." I nodded. "Nightmares come true in your presence."
"Among other things. If that is all Lord Hokage, I was hoping to see the next phase of the exam?"
"I believe that can wait for the time being. Currently the Genin are participating in a five day survival course in a secured location."
"Understood. I shall acquaint myself with the Main Street restaurants and relax for a while. It's been a while since I have been given this pleasure." The Hokage smiled. A knock on the door sounded.
"Come in." He called before turning back to me. "If you still want to watch you may come back in five days time and we will proceed to the second phase together Akana." I bowed.
"Of course, thank you Lord Hokage. I shall leave you now." I turned and saw the three Jounin who had entered. One was a woman with red eyes that slightly resembled the Uchiha. Another was a tanned man who had a cigarette in his mouth and a handkerchief tucked into his waistband with a symbol I didn't know. The last was a silver haired man with only one eye. As a true study for the Bingo book thanks to Kakuzu I knew who I was looking at. Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi and Kakashi Hatake.
I exited the room knowing they had gotten a good look at me before I left. No doubt a tactic thanks to the Lord Hokage's suspicious nature. I'd been staying at Naruto's place the past two nights and I doubted the Konoha Jinchuuriki would not be under constant surveillance during such a time as this. Many a ninja would no doubt have seen me leaving and would have reported this to the Hokage. Or he really was a God and knew I was staying at Narutos. Still, he didn't know I was with Akatsuki, my poses were meant to look like I was simply meditating.
When I exited the Hokage Tower I stopped and took a deep breath. With the Hokage aware I would need to be extra careful.
Dinner that night consisted of ramen back in Naruto's apartment where I could feel a Konoha ninja outside keeping watch. No doubt an ANBU level ninja. Guess the Hokage wasn't taking any chances. These next few days were going to suck.
The five days passed slowly for me.
I became very much a normal customer for my favorite eateries in Konoha while also unconsciously choosing a training field to practice my taijutsu and meditating. I didn't check in with the Akatsuki as I had nothing to report but, I did notice the ANBU following me was exchanged with the three Jounin I'd seen in the Hokage's Tower. This didn't bother me as I couldn't care less.
What did manage to upset me was the cold flashes I caught every once in a while that gave me chills and made me extra paranoid. The flashes were random so I never knew what was triggering them. What I did know was that whenever I was around the hospital the chills got worse and I swear I was seeing white balls of light and dark shadows. Needless to say I never went around the hospital for longer than I needed.
On the third day I actively sought out Akira to ask if she was feeling this also. She was in a tea shop having tea and eating a cake when I entered and went straight to her.
"Akana, surprised to see you." I flopped down and stared at her.
"What's up with the chills and balls of light in the hospital and the shadows?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow so delicately I almost wanted to bite her.
"What do you mean?" I rolled my eyes and stole some of her cake.
"Don't play coy Akira, you know what I mean. You felt the chills that time in the field."
"I did feel chills but what do you mean 'balls of light and shadows'?" I studied her expression before I decided to push forward.
"The hospital here, every time I walk past it I see balls of light but no one else does. Whenever I go inside I see shadow people around the corners and in the dark areas where the lights don't reach."
"I don't know anything about that. You've never seen this before?" Akira asked, frowning as she put her tea down to watch me seriously.
"If I had I wouldn't be freaking out here." All at once a chill enveloped the both of us. I knew because Akira's eyes widened while I noted her muscles stiffened, as did mine. This time the chill was accompanied by darkness that seemed to bleed into the cafe. I looked around and noted that everyone seemed to be just as frightened as we did. I looked at Akira when she grabbed my arm. Akira pulled me out of the cafe and outside. She didn't stop pulling me until we were on the roof.
By this time we were running across the rooftops towards the northeast. We stopped once we reached the edge of the village where no exit was. We were both breathing hard but the urgency had lessened.
"Akira, what's going on with us?" I asked looking at her to see her frowning at the wall.
"I don't know." The honesty in her voice scared me more than any rouge ninja ever had.
We parted ways shortly after. I headed back to Naruto's apartment and laid down on the futon while thinking over what had happened. The people in the cafe had definitely felt what we had, they had seen the darkness. But the deep cold urgency that had invaded my senses was not something I had ever felt before. Like I had to be somewhere right then because something important was happening.
I simply refused to think on this further and rolled onto my stomach and fell asleep.
The preliminaries task wasn't as cracked up as I had thought it would be. At least this time Akira was with me. I mean if I was going to be somewhere to watch a bunch of Genin beat each other to shreds it may as well have been with her.
"You know, other than that one Hyuuga match and Gaara's madness, this was such a waste of my time." I complained to the air. In the end I had left when the crazy snake lady had been giving everyone a chance to pick a number from the box.
"Akira!" Oh no, someone was calling for my sis. Glad it wasn't me Genin were running to. "Akira!" I continued on my way until my body locked up. I felt myself being turned around to face Akira's catboy who was frowning at me. "Didn't you hear me calling you Akira? We're supposed to meet the others in a few minutes. Come on!"
"Let me go kid." I growled.
"Yeah yeah quite glaring let's go." The chakra strings had me following the catboy like a good puppet.
"Let me go you fucker!" I yelled. Catboy glared me me over his shoulder.
"Shut up Kira." I opened my mouth to continue cussing him out but another chakra string was added to my throat, constricting it. Sasori if there was ever anything you needed to teach me it was how to break chakra strings.
Catboy dragged me all the way to a huge hotel that I knew many diplomats and other Genin hopefuls were staying at. I tried to struggle but, well it didn't work. We went all the way to the 6th floor and entered a suite where a man with a white cloth covered half his face and a girl with four pigtails was waiting.
"Kankuro, Akira, about time. We need to discuss our next moves." The man started. I stopped struggling instantly. My attention was peaked as I came to the realization that Akira was holding out on me. I mean, so was I but I had assumed she was here on legit business. Guess not. "Kankuro why are you holding Akira?"
"She wouldn't come willingly." I glared at him. "Plus if I let her go she'll go cussing up a storm again." Apparently my glare was enough to convince them he was right so the man continued without anything more. So much for loyalty among ninjas.
"Since the final exam isn't until a month away I want you three to keep an eye on Gaara. We need him to fight against the Uchiha in the last match. Kankuro, Temari you have your instructions on your matches. Akira, you need to keep Gaara as docile as possible. Understood?" I jerked once for yes even though I had no idea what was going on. Why would these guys be afraid of the Jinchuuriki? I mean there were rumors he wasn't quite right in the head but still, was he that bad? "-and in one month our forces will have entered the Fire Nation entirely. We will be able to take Konoha by surprise and attack with the aid of Oto."
"Muuufhnnkk nnnkkk mmaaahherr." I cursed. So that was Orochimaru's angle to including Oto in the exams. It was a coup de teat, not as big and scandalous as the Uchiha massacre but just as bloody.
"What Akira?" The man asked. Just as the door opened and in walked Akira and Gaara.
"What the hell?" The girl swore. Akira froze once she saw me.
'Oh sis, you got some explaining to do.' I thought to her.
"Akira?" Everyone looked at me. I rolled my eyes.
"Akana what are you doing here?" I huffed, activating my eyes. Akira's activated in response.
'I wouldn't be here if your cat boy hadn't ambushed me while I was trying to leave the Forest of Death. Seriously I was just minding my own business when suddenly I'm being forced to walk like a puppet.' I managed to grin at her. 'The question here dear sister, is why you are planning a coup against Konoha?'
"Kankuro release her and get behind Baki."
"What? But she heard everything."
"Akira who is this?" The man snapped. Akira groaned.
"That's my sister Baki. I told you she was here. I just thought since they'd seen her they would know there were two of me-"
'Watch it!'
"Us, two of us, walking around."
"She heard the plan."
'Well I only heard the gist of it, but it was very informing.' I looked to the cat boy with my eyes. He gulped as my eyes flashed gold. In the next instant a howl was heard as I summoned my pack.
"Kankuro let her go now!" Akira ordered. Sand came up just as my big girl came out of the shadows. The strings on me disappeared allowing me to get up. I looked at Akira.
"I must say dear sweet sister, I didn't think you had it in you to be bad. Tsk, tsk, such a naughty girl." Two more hell hounds appeared. "Shh baby's, mommy's alright. Good girls."
"Akana, if they attack-" I waved her concern off.
"Don't worry I won't let them." I came an innocent smile to the man. "Don't worry Baki, I'm not going to say anything to anyone. I could care less. Actually scratch that I have one demand. You hurt Naruto Uzumaki I will have my baby's hunt you down and I will kill you."
"The loudmouth blondie?" The girl asked.
"The very one and the same. He's a friend of mine. And he's important later on to me and my family." I looked at the red-haired Jinchuuriki. "As are you little one tails."
"Akana!" Akira snapped stepping in front of him. I smiled.
"We're done here. I'll be seeing you."
"You can't go." Baki commanded. "You know too much."
"Baki, you should know I'm a Higurashi. But I'm nothing like Akira." I held up my hand and a scorpion formed. I pet it while I met his eyes. "I don't deal in light and happy endings. I'm the opposite of Akira, the perfect demon of nightmares and death."
"Akana!" Akira warned me. "Don't make me hurt you."
"Just need to remind him who I am sis. Relax." And just like that I pulled back, the scorpion vanished and with a howl the hell hounds dove into the shadows around me, vanishing back to the nether world. "I don't care about your plans. I have my own mission Akira." I calmly turned by back on the ninja before I stopped at the door. 'You can't protect him forever Akira. I'm sorry.'
I exited with that. Walking down the hall to the stairs I contemplated. I really was sorry, but Pein-sama's orders were always followed. My poor sister. My poor broken sister.
Later that night after celebrating with Naruto on his passing the second exam and the preliminaries I made sure Naruto was passed out asleep before I contacted the Akatsuki to give them an update. I hadn't updated all week, no doubt some were getting antsy. I did the hand sign before I appeared in a hologram in the meeting room with the others.
'About damn time you bitch.' Hidan yelled. I rolled my eyes.
"Good to see you too you fucker."
'Are you okay Akana?' Sasori asked. I sighed, letting my shoulders slump.
"I have good news, bad news and worse news."
"What's the worse news?" Konan asked.
"Orochimaru is in Konoha. He has given a curse mark to the youngest Uchiha. For what I have no clue. I have a feeling he has bigger goals that I haven't uncovered but that's not even half of the worse news. Otogakure and Sunagakure have allied themselves and plan to attack Konoha in one months time. All competent ninja in the village will be under attack whether they fight with Konoha, against it or not at all."
'Including you.' Itachi murmured. I nodded once.
"Which brings me to the bad news. The Hokage has me under surveillance by ANBU. It limits my ability to move around but not by much."
'That doesn't seem like bad news.' Kisame offered. I grimaced.
"I wasn't done. There is… two things in the bad category. Another watcher has joined the ANBU in watching me. I have a feeling it's an Oto ninja but for now I'm keeping him at a distance until I have a better understanding of what he's looking for."
'I have faith you will not let these impede your mission.' Pein-sama intoned. I nodded. 'What is the other part?' I opened my mouth before closing it and fidgeting.
'Akana, un?' I knew I should tell them about the chills but I couldn't justify them myself and it made no sense. It was like telling a scary story. I deflated and just stated the other issue.
"My sister is here. She's allied herself with the Suna Jinchuuriki and I have no doubt it will be a pain in the ass to get her to mind her own business and not snoop into my mission. Why? because my fucking sister has the ability to read thoughts and lives and unfortunately I am not immune to her jutsus. Good news is she is not immune to my jutsus also."
'Did you just say 'sister'?' Kakuzu asked. 'There's more of you?' I shook my head.
"Only us. Akira is my twin. She's a Suna kunoichi and she's currently in the village. Which brings me to the good news. I found the Suna and Konoha Jinchuuriki. The Suna Jinchuuriki is Sabaku no Gaara, the youngest son of the dearly departed Kazekage."
'And the Konoha Jinchuuriki?' Itachi asked.
"Naruto Uzumaki. Orphan as far as I can tell. He's in a team with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and his sensei is Kakashi Hatake."
'Are you able to find out where the Konoha Jinchuuriki lives?' Pein asked. I snorted.
"I'm currently living with him."
'Whoa, you sleeping with a child?' Hidan cackled.
"Yes Hidan. I'm also sleeping with Hatake-sensei, watch out he's kinky." Deidera howled with laughter.
'Fuck you hoe.' Hidan yelled. Itachi and Sasori smacked his head. I laughed.
'Anything else to report?' Pein asked.
"The Chuunin Exams are currently on a break for 1 month. I guess they had a lot of competitors and had a preliminary match so they're giving the competitors 1 month to learn new jutsu's and train.' Pein nodded before he gave his next order.
'Akana, you are to stay in Konoha until the Chuunin final exam. Due to the new information regarding the Konoha coup I will be sending Itachi and Kisame to lend support you after they are done with their current mission near the end of this month. Keep an eye on the Jinchuuriki. Find any weak spots you can in Konoha's structure.'
"Understood Pein-Sama." I nodded before I pulled back to my own body. I lay down on my futon. I had my orders, but how would I go about spending the next month? I was too far for support and it's not like the guys could come help, they were wanted criminals who would attract too much attention. The impending attack was one thing that I didn't have to worry about as I could always leave in the ensuing conflict.
My gaze turned to Naruto thoughtfully before I enacted my kekkei genkai. Naruto's deepest fear was loneliness, this was a known fact ever since I had first laid eyes on him. His aura was so warm though which belied the fact that he was lonely. It was what had drawn me in. He was, arguably, my first friend. The Akatsuki didn't count as when Naruto and I had met, I was still a newbie and barely gaining their trust. With the Akatsuki plans, I knew what me turning him in meant. My loyalty was to the Akatsuki but I did feel so terribly sad for Naruto's future.
A chill ran down my spine making me look outside. This new feeling I was having was a new instinct. I didn't like it and it seemed to be here to stay. I would need to find out why this was triggered and what it meant. For now though, sleep was necessary. I had a long month to look forward to.