Chapter Six
It was the day of the third and final exam. The day of the Konoha Invasion. The day Otogakure and Sunagakure would invade Konohagakure. The day I put my trust in my sister to not fail me, or maybe that was the other way around.
I sat in the stands waiting for the fighting to begin. My eyes roamed the stands as I watched unfamiliar faces and some semi-familiar faces milled about. I may have been an ambassador to Amegakure but I was still not trusted, so with the public I sat. Not that I minded since I was pretty sure the Hokage and the Oto/Kazekage sat together in the Kage box.
My talk with Akira fresh in my mind I wondered not for the first time, what the hell I was doing here. Karasu hadn't come back yet so my chakra was still under restrictions. His bone ornament was safely tucked into my hair, pinning it into a messy bun. Besides his no show I was also anxious for Itachi and Kisame. They hadn't shown up yet either and I hoped they were okay.
Looking around the arena and the stands I realized, there were a lot of people here dressed in black clothing just like Karasu. I guess our hunch was right and more Reapers had shown up to take the souls of the soon to be departed. I chanced a glance up to the Hokage again and, there, just behind him was a man dressed in the black clothing. Oh joy, the Hokage was going to die. None of the Reapers seemed to have noticed me and Akira yet which was a good thing. I guess Kubo and Karasu hadn't really told many others about us, or they weren't interested.
The crowd around me started cheering, pulling me from my thoughts. Down below in the arena I saw orange and yellow coloring on a small boy. Naruto, I smiled. He had been so fired up for this fight to show Neji who was boss. Naruto's sense of justice was practically roaring when he woke up this morning. I assessed his opponent. Long dark hair, neutral colored clothing. What a Hyuuga. I worried about Naruto briefly before reminding myself he could handle himself. I leaned forward and watched the fight.
In the end Naruto triumphed. His several surprises along with Neji's own fighting prowess was something to behold. Naruto was pretty good at that Kage Bunshin jutsu. No doubt he would master that jutsu in time. The next was supposed to have been Akira's team puppet but he forfeited leaving his opponent in the ring the winner. Coward. I was sorely disappointed in his 'match' if you could even call it that. The next match was between Akira's other teammate, the blond girl and a Konoha ninja I guessed was a Nara. It was pretty boring since he was leading her around for most of the fight and dodging every now and then. In the end he gave up just as he was about to win.
There was an intermission as everyone waited for Sasuke and Gaara's fight. I got up at this time to stretch my legs and check on Akira. As I walked down the hallway and up the stairs I saw Gaara coming down them. I kept my eyes forward until just as we had past each other.
"Good luck Gaara." He didn't say anything, just kept walking. I kept walking until I got to the Competitors box. Akira's eyes met mine before he gave a single nod. I stayed in the shadows, not saying anything once the fight finally began. Watching Sasuke I couldn't help but compare him to Itachi. Where Sasuke was all about brute strength and fast moves, Itachi was the opposite. He wasted none of his moves when fighting and used his genjutsu skills to his advantage. He was a prodigy while his brother was a raging inferno. How Orochimaru actually expected to control him was a mystery to me.
When Gaara formed his sand ball Akira finally spoke to me.
'It's time.' I came out of the shadows to see Sasuke penetrating Gaara's sand with a lightning jutsu that was very loud. Akira tensed as Sasuke pulled back with blood on his hand. I grabbed Akira's wrist to prevent her from going to Gaara's defense. No doubt as his friend/body guard he felt the urge to kick that Uchiha's ass for harming her charge.
Above us, white feathers fell. My eyes changed to the Reaper Eyes at the same moment Akira's did. The rush of chakra was heavenly but in this moment I shoved those feelings away in revulsion as I knew what they meant.
'Akana…'
'I know sis. Be careful okay?' She nodded, taking one last look at me, before she vaulted over the railing into the arena to help the Sand Siblings.
"And here I thought she would never leave." Kabuto. His pompous voice broke me from my thoughts just as a whistling sound reached my ears. My hand came up and caught the kunai before I went into a low leg sweep causing Kabuto to jump back. His kunai went flying back at him. I jumped out of the box and ran up the walls just as the bomb tag exploded. I doubted it would kill him but for the time being I was free.
Once I was standing atop the stadium I had a good view of the invasion. Konoha Shinobi were trying to rally while fighting off Oto and Suna ninja. I did the shadow clone jutsu and three copies came into existence.
"You know what to do." I stated. They nodded. "Go." All three did a shunshin to help the Konoha shinobi while I turned to the Hokage's box. A purple rectangle had been formed on top of the roof. Outside it shinobi gathered. I debated with myself before figuring I was already screwed enough and headed over to see what was going on. The pulse of pleasure twisting in my gut should have been enough warning for me as it got stronger the closer I got to the fighting.
"We cannot break through, It is a barrier." The ANBU around cried. They were trying to break through the barrier. Inside I saw the Hokage fighting against Orochimaru. In the corner of the barrier I saw a person meditating. No doubt there were four others holding this barrier in place. But would it work if one was not in place? Hmm. Ignoring my own predicament for the moment, I focused on a way to get in.
I walked to the girl that was meditating in the closest corner to me. The ANBU I saw were too busy trying to use force against the barrier to notice me. This gave me enough time to assess my target a moment before I reactivated my eyes. Her aura was revealed to me as well as her deepest fears. And this was interesting, she did fear one man.
"Walking Nightmares: Arise!" I ordered. The chakra that this produced almost brought me to my knees just from how good it felt to be letting all the pent up emotions and chakra go. It was freeing. The air darkened considerably around me as a figure formed in smoke before solidifying as a man with white hair and light purple clothing.
"Tayuya!" Her eyes snapped open in surprise. "Let me in, I must help Lord Orochimaru."
"K-Kimimaro! What the hell are you doing here? You should be resting back at base."
"I said, let me through!" White bony spikes started to come up from the ground. She yelped falling backward in fear. The barrier flickered as her portion of the barrier dissolved. I moved quickly leaving the image of the man behind to haunt her. Up a head Orochimaru was fighting against the Hokage with what looked like two stone caskets. Wonder what that was about.
Another pulse of heavenly pleasure went through me that I suddenly realized with horror, was exactly what I had been chasing. The closer I got to Orochimaru, the stronger and more frequent the bursts were. Which was part of Orochimaru's plan I was guessing from how he turned to face me.
"Ah my dear. You gave in to the seal?" His smile widened as I came closer. My body was in control now, my mind a haze of pleasure that only wanted to writhe in this feeling more. "I take it you've met right master? Another of my little experiments I was hoping to collect before I had left."
"What did you do to her Orochimaru?" I barely acknowledged the Hokage as a katana entered my hand.
"I merely allowed her the freedom to be herself and let herself go. It is wonderful when a plan comes to fruition. Now Akana, show us what you can do." The next moment was a blur as I was guessing my body fought the Hokage and managed to stay on parr, or he wasn't taking me seriously. That sparked my competitive side and my swigs became more sure of themselves.
"Akana, this is not who you are. Do not let him manipulate you."
"No one controls me." I growled before I shoved him back. Two male figures joined me. One look and I saw they weren't alive, merely souls inhabiting a clay doll. "No one will ever control me again."
"It is helpless to defend yourself old man. If she doesn't kill you, your predecessors will." I let out a yell as I brought down my leg. The Kage who were joining me let loose a spray of water and trees started to grow causing me to jump high into the roots to keep an eye advantage. Together the three of us drove the Third Hokage on the defensive. Entwining the Water from the Second Hokage and the Wood from the First Hokage the foliage around us kept growing which allowed more shadows to appear. Howling started to sound from the depths of the shadows as Hellhounds came out to play. Any time Lord Third got too close to them, they snapped at his ankles until he was shoved back to the three of us. Eventually, Lord Third gave in and used a summoning jutsu. A huge age appeared to aid Lord Third. The Hell hounds gre excited at seeing him. I chuckled darkly as I knew, without a doubt the Hokage would die.
He surprised me though. With one kick he had managed to shove the Second Hokage back and launched his large bamboo stick at me. I wasn't expecting the weight that came with it and was shoved backwards through the trees and pinned down. The trees kept growing lifting me higher. The higher I rose, the more I realized the bursts were getting fainter. I fought to free myself of the large pole and only managed to get it off me at the last second before I rolled off the tree's trunk and fell down into the darkness. I jumped down to keep this feeling in my body alive. I needed to get back to Lord Orochimaru.
When I did rejoin the Hokage and Lord Orochimaru, the Kage were gone and the ape was holding a metal rod that had a light piercing into the Third Hokage. The Hokage himself had his hands flying through motions. I jumped down to stop him. Just as I reached Orochimaru to defend him, the Hokage had finished his hand signs. Behind him a ghastly visage of a Reaper with a knife in his mouth and jagged teeth clenched on the knife handle appeared, stopping me in my tracks. A powerful chill entered my body making me gasp and shudder as I fell to my knees. This, this was not just any Reaper. I knew without a doubt he was so much stronger and dangerous than I was.
My eyes couldn't leave his own black and gold eyes. Whoever this was, he was very powerful. When his clawed hands reached up to take his knife from his mouth I shuddered.
'Reaper, why are you bound to this lowly human?' His voice alone was enough to clear my haze. I was deeply aware of my body. I bowed down low.
'I have no excuse my Lord Shinigami. I am bound against my will.'
'Hmm…' The growl had me flinching.
"What are you doing? Protect me!" The order caused another burst to coarse through me but this time I felt no haze. My body was responding to Orochimaru's demands but my mind was clear.
'How vulgar, to be a Reaper bound to a human.'
'Yes.'
'Stand up.' I did as told and met the black and golden gaze of the Shinigami Lord. He was pulling Orochimaru's soul out and getting ready to pull the Hokage's also. His knife at the ready to cut them both and eat them. 'A drop of blood split in two, borne to conquer she who defies Death. I aide you this once child of Death. Do not let this happen again.' He slashed with his knife through my raised hand that I hadn't known was rising. I yanked my hand back to see the seal on my hand shrinking down as it released my chakra. I looked up at the Shinigami Lord but he was already eating the Hokage's soul and what looked like Orochimaru's arms.
With that knowledge I stumbled away just as the trees began to crash down. I'm not too clear on how I got away but once I was a good mile away I reverted back to not using chakra. My clone memories came back but instead of processing them I retreated to Naruto's apartment. I needed to get this through my head before I could even attempt to organize those other memories.
When Naruto found me I didn't say anything and neither did he. I suspect he was in shock from hearing the Hokage was dead. I was still processing but I had thankfully gotten through most of my memories and thoughts so I got up and started to make tea and noodle for both of us.
For once, Naruto wasn't hungry for ramen. He barely ate half before I convinced him to sleep, dropping some sleeping tablets into his soup helped. When I was just me awake I got up and went outside. The clouds were rolling in this evening. No doubt a storm was going to roll in tonight.
I didn't want to be still so I ended up getting up and walking around. There were hardly people about due to the invasion casualties and the Hokage's death taking a toll on everyone. Somehow I ended up back in my favorite training ground. I know it was stupid to be alone but after all that had happened I doubted Orochimaru and Kabuto were still in the village. Reapers were still going about their business from what I saw but I should have been able to be alone. I say should have because after about ten minutes of sitting among the grass, someone in black clothing sat down beside me.
"Hard day huh?" Karasu's voice was low and somber. "Hard to ever get through seeing the village attacked, especially when I can't do anything to help it."
"I wouldn't know." I muttered. The wind blew through the trees and the grass. My dark hair was caught by the wind, small strands fluttering into my face. I left it to fall in my face as I was suddenly too tired to move. "Did you meet with your friend?"
"Yeah, she was able to give me some advice but it's only temporary."
"She couldn't undo it?"
"I mean she probably can but she said she needs to see you in person. And that's not going to happen unless you can get to the Society."
"Not going to happen."
"I figured. Shinobi tend to be too busy to go on a mission to save themselves. Am I right?" I snorted.
"It's not that, it's just… I can't just up and go. At least not right now."
"Hmm, your friends are still coming huh?" I nodded. "I understand. I could wait if you wanted?" I looked at him, thankful that my hair finally moved out of my face. He was resting on he hands, leaning back like he had no cares in the world.
"Don't you have souls to collect?" I asked.
"Not at the moment." He grinned at me. "Kubo cleared me from duty so I could have more time to help you and your sister since you both seem to like me more than him. He's going to take my work load for a while."
"And he doesn't mind?" I raised an eyebrow at his conspiratorial wink.
"Nope. Which is good because this gives me time to get you and your sister prepared to come to Reaper Society. Between you and me, Kubo is such a workaholic. Never stops to smell the roses and all that jazz you know? This is going to be such fun. So where is your sister?"
"She left." I answered, going back to looking at the trees and sky. The smell of rain was imminent. "She is a Suna kunoichi and sided with her village during the invasion. I doubt she'll be welcome in Suna for a while yet."
"Well that makes things harder. No problem, I can just split my time with you two. Like how a married man goes between his wife and his mistress." I scoffed.
"And what does that make me in this little analogy?" I asked.
"Well since you are currently waiting on two other guys and are also living with other guys, that makes you my Mistress." He winked while I rolled my eyes. A small smile was tugging at my lips.
"Akira is going to kill you when she hears that."
"Good thing neither of us are snitches." We fell quiet at the point and just sat in the fields as the wind continued to breeze through the trees like waves crashing upon a shore. The sky got darker and darker as evening approached. No stars were lit and no houses had any lights on in them. The world was covered in darkness and the sound of a howling storm approaching. My kind of storm.