Chapter Four

The Village of Sound

Orochimaru coming couldn't have been at a good timing. Ren was happy to see him, which was a nice change for once. It had been such a long time, if she hadn't said it enough.

The food arrived so that they all could talk, and that was when he presented the letter Kabuto wrote, which detailed people had been...very sick and lost the will to - he stopped there when he looked over at Ren who was enjoying a tuna rice ball. Hanaru decided that he couldn't hear about the topic of death, guessing what Kabuto's troubles were, but after losing his daddy, her boy didn't need to hear anymore.

Of course he insisted. "No, I wanna hear," he pleaded.

"Hanaru," Orochimaru added with a slight upturn to his mouth, "you're his mother, but I think he is old enough to start understanding these matters."

Resigned and sighing in defeat, she acquiesced.

Twelve people in Otogakure dead from a strange sickness, but no physical contribution or pattern? Nothing except one a month, not counting the four who died in Ame, with Itachi's symptoms...

Kabuto never said anything about an autopsy performed; in fact, he was extremely vague as if in a hurry or out of his mind after the experiences. And that he really needed help because he hit one too many dead ends that modern medicine couldn't aid. It was THAT serious.

Add in that it would be a great chance to see Manami again, and that was what Hanaru couldn't say no to. All that was left to do was break the news to everyone else that she and Ren would go out for a few days or so, and that Orochimaru was going with them.

And of course, ask someone to fill in for her classes, which wasn't hard, because surprisingly, Sasuke was going to. Saying that he needed something relaxing and help him function around other people, not that he was saying his fiancée and daughter weren't doing that.

"Please be careful up there, sis," Naruto told her before kissing her on the cheek and she returned it, then the same to Hinata and Boruto. "I heard that while small towns are safe, they are also filled with superstitious people and ruling upperclassmen like the old-school days."

Ren had no trouble saying bye to his aunts, uncles and cousins.

There was going to be trouble with traveling up north, and they were taking her car - all three of them - and going through lush countryside and plenty of smaller towns with inns on the way. They'd stayed in only two before finally crossing the border.

It was here that they saw what looked like a hunt, with four men on horses and chasing after none other than a fox which Ren squeaked and pointed out. "Mum, Mr. Orochimaru, why do they want to kill that poor animal?" That was her smart little boy to figure it out, but while it was normal in these parts to hunt a defenseless animal for food, for bloodlust alone was something else. "I heard some kids in school talking about that! Why doesn't anyone put a stop to the nasty sport?" Ren asked angrily, pouting and folding his arms across his chest.

Hanaru sighed behind the wheel while Orochimaru chuckled. While she agreed with her son, they did not come all the way out here to interfere with these people's customs just to satisfy sensitivity over the treatment of wild animals...but for his sake, she chose the latter over better judgment and hoped she wouldn't regret it.

This chance came when the men surrounded the car, and it would have caused them to run off the road had she not gotten control and screeched to a halt. Angrily, Orochimaru rolled down the window and shouted, "Excuse me, blast it all! Are you trying to kill us?"

"Shut up, old man," one of the men snapped, with average appearance and dark hair and eyes. "You happen to be driving on our roads. We are just wanting to know if you've seen a fox run by."

Hanaru leaned over her somewhat great-uncle figure and shouted, forcing a smile, "I might have seen him go due west." Far away from north where we are going. Hopefully that gets you beasts away. The guy looked her over and pondered her answer before taking it and not suspecting the trick. He thanked her and called her "young lady" before yelling orders to the others that they were going west.

"Mum, did you just -?" Ren started, having paid attention but kept quiet because he knew better than to get into grown-up business.

"Yes, young man, I lied to save that fox's life," she answered, rolling her window back up and starting the engine again. Orochimaru did the same, shaking his head.

"While I'm sure that fox will be grateful, I doubt the young man will be. Let's hope you never meet him again, dear Hanaru."

~o~

Just pray to the gods that those young men, who had to be part of the upper class who also took relish in making those beneath them feel like utter trash, wouldn't come across them if they discovered she fooled them for her child's sake, and that fox.

When they finally arrived at Oto, it wasn't even rundown, but fanciful enough for appearances' sake. Cottages and places to eat and shop for clothing, but no sign of an infirmary, which meant his son must have his work taken right to the house. It was saddening to see a small, seemingly warm and inviting place have so little yet enough to satisfy.

There was the sound of a bell and gong tolling, which indicated that services were in play - or a funeral procession. Hanaru pointed the latter out when she paused the car on the side enough to let them all pass by. There was the priest, incense carried by a couple hands, and four men carried the coffin while another, younger and somber, walked behind them. Utterly depressed. Must be the loved one of whoever died.

It was then that all halted just as there was the sound of galloping hooves, and every man - and both woman and man who stood by in the streets to just watch - whirled around to see the four men Orochimaru, Hanaru and Ren ran into before coming here. He bared his teeth in a hiss as he KNEW this would happen again...but it happened far too soon.

The people carrying the coffin were nearly run into - damn these horsemen and their lack of decency and respect! - and they dropped the great box over the bridge they were crossing. Thank God there was no water, or else the poor fellow would have been irretrievable! But that didn't stop Orochimaru from snapping, unbuckling himself and getting out of the car to inspect this devil of a disaster. Hanaru and her son both followed him, and the mother quickly covered his eyes so he didn't see the horrible vision.

The dead was a young man, with ebony hair cropped to a flap around his skull, but that look on his face was the most unnatural he had ever seen in his decades of living: eyes opened but rolled up into the skull, and the jaw slack to show a silent scream. Skin had a slight ashen highlight. Moaning, Hanaru closed her eyes and turned herself and Ren away. Orochimaru turned and glared at the surrounding horsemen, demanding what they thought they were doing - and what he feared transpired.

"So, the fox went west, did he, woman?" the leader sneered at Hanaru who only lifted her chin back in return. "You had better stay out of my sight from now on. We're the most unpleasant lot you've come across." Ren opened his mouth to shout back, but his mother covered it to not make it worse. The leader sniffed down at the young boy before barking that they were all going away.

"How horrible," Hanaru hissed. "They ought to be reported." They ought to be, but who would be on our side?

"Come on, get back into the car," Orochimaru told the child and his mother just as they were being approached by the young man who was in the far back of the procession - the lad was angrily slamming his fist against the stoned railing and comforted to no avail by the priest - and the holy man himself was next to him.

"Is there anything we can do, Priest?" Hanaru asked him kindly after opening the back door for her son to get in and buckle in, and the angry lad raised his voice.

"Yeah, bitch, you can keep away from us."

Orochimaru held in his breath at the vile name that was called on the woman when her own child was present. She huffed at his rebuttal. "Excuse me, but we didn't mean for that to happen! Those ruffians are to blame, and this is my child you just swore before!" she snapped, closing the door so that Ren didn't talk back.

"Shut it, and leave us alone," the man growled, spitting at the ground before her feet and stalking off.

Why, that boy's grief has clouded his judgment, and how dare he curse with a young boy present! Orochimaru scowled at that insufferable youth before looking back at the priest who reached out and took Hanaru's hand. "I know it wasn't your fault, my dear," he told her, kindly but sadly. "That was the poor lad's brother in the coffin." He released her and stepped back by one.

"The gods are punishing us for our sins."

~o~

And this was already the most unpleasant place she had been to! Those scoundrels, that angry man who lost his brother and didn't care that he called a woman a bitch with her little boy present - but she remembered something was going on in this place that was no one's fault.

Still, to be called a name that degraded you was enough to harden the female heart.

"I don't even know if I can drive now," she bitterly told Orochimaru, who nodded and rested his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it and offering to do it for her. After asking one person around, which was a kind elderly man on a cane who was otherwise in healthy shape, they were driving for the great residence which was Dr. Kabuto Yakushi's home and office.

"Mum, why did that man call you that word?" Ren mumbled finally, having not spoken a word the rest of the time, not that she blamed him, for she was still reeling at today's events. Thankfully we're not going to be here for long. The sooner this is resolved, the better.

Since Orochimaru was driving, she turned around and forced a smile. "Just was upset, and sometimes people blame others for no reason."

"Still, that was no excuse," he snapped, picking up his hand-held video game.

Tired from today and wishing it was over with, she chose not to respond to that, and Orochimaru said nothing either. They all got out of the car in silence and grabbed their duffel bags - choosing to travel light for only a few days - and made way for the front door which was crawling all about the frame with ivy. She held hers over one shoulder and pushed the ringer that she was glad was installed. They waited for a few moments before it was answered.

There she was: Manami Yakushi - or Manami Hashimoto now. Hanaru was surprised to see her here, since that husband of hers rarely let her out of his sights, from her recollection. Her dear friend was in a soft blue dress dotted all over with white. But despite the nice garment, her appearance was something else: there were dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept good for some time. Her silvery hair was held in a ponytail that was sticking up in places.

"I'm sorry," she said to them all, sounded haggard. "The doctor isn't in."

She didn't even recognize us! "Manami, you don't remember us?" Hanaru asked, shocked. "It's me, Hanaru, and Orochimaru and Ren."

Now recognition flashed across the other woman's face. "Oh, Hanaru!" Now she burst to life, accepting an embrace that was warm but felt feeble. Like she didn't know her own strength anymore. "Why didn't you write to let us know you were coming?" She knelt down and patted Ren on the head before hugging him, too.

"No computer," Ren told her, having not yet understood technology yet. And everyone in his generation didn't write letters and send through snail mail much anymore unless the device crashed or slowed.

"Yes, Manami, that is precisely why," Orochimaru told her, kissing her forehead. "Pity this town doesn't want to move forward. Kabuto wrote to us and asked us all to come." He then looked down and frowned. "What's this? I hope no one did this to my girl, or if who I think it is..." He narrowed his eyes to snake slits then and there.

Who I think it is...

Manami bit her bottom lip and put her hand to where he was talking about. Hanaru glanced to where he was talking about and what she indicated: a gauze bandage was taped around her right wrist. "Nothing. Just a cut. It was an accident some days ago, and Kabuto took care of it," she said, all in a rush that Orochimaru seemed suspicious.

Hanaru had never been fond of her friend's husband, given she didn't see him often and that he took Manami away from all of them. There was also that look on her face: worry and fright that she was fighting to hide. "Forgive me," Manami said quietly. "I'm sorry for sounding short. I feel a little untidy and haven't finishing tidying the house. And there's been some trouble here in Oto..."

Well, to hell with the house not being messy, because it couldn't be any worse than at home. Hardly a dust particle to be seen.

"Can we stay, Aunt Manami?" Ren asked, eyes wide and making her laugh and pat his head.

"Of course, you're all welcome to stay." She helped them get their bags inside, but all she did was keep the door open for them and then close it behind them. Orochimaru put his down first.

"Where's that brother of yours, my dear? I'll feel like a happier father if I can get him back here for a proper welcome - and see what all this trouble is."

~o~

So, here he was in the tavern after the loss of Jurou Matsuda, and he was too much of a coward to show his face at the funeral. Manami understood and chose to stay with him, but now she was at the house while he was here. He hadn't told her he would be here because she would just tell him drinking wouldn't solve his problems, but he knew that! A man had the right to have a drink to clear his head - anything to give answers!

And just like that: Toshio Matsuda came in, ready for a drink, too. "Doctor," he said as soon as he came near Kabuto's table, which he sat at alone and the other men had acknowledged him but otherwise ignored him when he first arrived.

"Toshio," Kabuto replied numbly after a sip of brandy. "Would you have a drink with me?"

"Thank you, but I'll buy my own. One large beer, Akiro," he said to the bartender who gave him his order, but he didn't sit down when he stood once again before Kabuto's table. "Well, it certainly wasn't good enough, was it?" Contempt dripped from his voice, which was a combination of grief, true loathing and lack of faith in him. Just like the others. "What do you suppose it was that killed him? That killed them ALL?"

Bitterly, Kabuto downed another swig before clearing his throat and answering. "I don't know."

"You...don't...know." Beer glass almost full was slammed down with force enough to get the attention of the entire tavern. "And you call yourself a doctor?"

He stood up in frustration, nearly knocking the table over. "I don't know," he ground out, "because you won't let me find out! If you had let me carry out one post-mortem -!"

"There's no sense cutting him open after he's dead. Too late then. Because of you, that's my brother lying dead out there - and twelve others like him. Twelve - that's one a month, not counting the four who went off to serve our country and this village," Toshio said angrily, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Not a very good record, is it?"

"You just admitted it," Kabuto returned heatedly, "that a handful died before I came here, and that was why I came out here: to use 'miracles' to find out what they died from. If I was to tell you without an autopsy that they died from a rain-stemmed illness from Ame, or even local swamp fever, the plague or whatever nonsense it is, it wouldn't even be the truth." He paused to take a few deep breaths and rubbed his eyes after taking off his glasses.

"It wouldn't be good enough to lie to you people in order to make you satisfied."

The response: to them, as far as they were concerned - but mostly to Toshio Matsuda, he wasn't good enough to them anymore, not that he ever was to begin with.

"Well, I've been looking for you, and it is a good thing you are here of all places."

He felt his eyes widen at the man who came in midst of the gathering, having heard the commotion? "Orochi - I mean, Dad," he said quickly, stunned that he actually came and that it had to be today of all days, but the time couldn't have been best or worst.

If you're here...that means Hanaru is also here. He really wanted to see her, too.

Orochimaru wrapped his arm around his shoulder, pulling him close and broadly smiling at all the men in the room - even at Toshio who was still scowling. "We've met before, but under...distressing circumstances," he said with a locked gaze with the one who was the most hostile. "But permit me to introduce myself: I am Orochimaru, professor at Konoha Medical University and doctor at the general hospital. This young man here is like a son I never had, and my best and most clever, able pupil." His face and tone both hardened.

"I hope you realize how lucky you are to have him."

"Dad, I didn't even think you would come - today of all times. I lost another," Kabuto told him as soon as they were away from that crowd, making way for the house where the women were waiting.

The older man nodded. "Hm, I saw upon arrival. There was a bit of an...unfortunate run-in when we pulled over to see. Damned privileged scoundrels who intruded and caused the casket to topple over the bridge." Kabuto held his breath as he could imagine how that made the victim's brother just as he was now.

The men of the man who runs this village... But he could say nothing. Right now, he wanted to catch up with the man who raised and taught him everything, and reconnect with Hanaru who was no doubt doing so with Manami.

"Well, you have no idea how grateful I am you are here. Too much trouble in this place, and I thought I could use both my hands since they DID count on me...until now."

"Oh, we can talk about that hocus-pocus later, my dear boy."

And when they did get back to the house, she was there, but so was her boy who shouted "Uncle Kabuto!" and ran up into him to be scooped up. His godson was a joy, and he really was growing into a spitting image of his father! But when he turned his attention to the mother, his breath was blown away at the beauty in her long white sweater and tight jeans, long sunlit hair in a tie, the crystal dangling around her neck pulsing with three different colors within.

It made him feel a little guilty to think of her like that, no matter if his best friend was dead. He was too respectful to think he deserved Itachi's family like that.

Seeing them both made the end of the day so much better, but the strain was going to come back unless the end to his worries was presented.

~o~

Not as many patients as they'd like, Kabuto said that evening, and that was an oddity in itself, but the damned issue with this epidemic without a name contributed to the villagers' loss of trust in Dr. Yakushi.

Manami interrupted, insisting they talk about pleasant things, and Hanaru did most of the talking about what happened in Konoha, which was also Ren speaking up and saying he was doing good in school - except making friends. But his Uncle Sasuke was right in that he would do that when he was ready. Everyone coped with death differently, but she wished the same could be said for that bastard who called her a bitch. She hoped she'd never see him again.

That was going to be a problem, same with those men on horses, since there was no telling what they would do to a woman like her for screwing up their hunt. It was a small village, after all.

But she was a gymnast, and that meant she could flip up and around, even throw punches to fight back. Don't get your ego too high, Hanaru.

Manami worked as a nurse with her brother, but Kabuto did most of the work since last week since she looked like she was in need of a holiday after they were both exhausted...except Kabuto had simply barely-there dark circles under his eyes. At least they looked like they were eating right -

No, she took that back. Manami barely had much on her plate tonight, worrying her, but the silver-haired woman insisted it was nothing.

Dinner consisted of a fantastic grilled fish and rice balls, and it was nothing short of heaven. "Yum, thanks, Aunt Manami!" Ren said when he put his fork down and wiped his mouth. "I loved it!" She laughed and reached to pat his head again.

"Thank your mom, too, for her help."

"Yeah, thanks to you, Mum!" he said, jumping up and running around to hug her. Smiling and feeling warm, Hanaru wrapped her arms around him.

Orochimaru snickered at the loving display that made her flush. "Well, that was indeed a fine meal, ladies." He then looked down at his watch. "Oh, goodness, the time. Not my place to suggest it, but is it time for young Ren to be off to bed - or is that for his mother to decide?"

Laughing, Hanaru answered since they were going to share one guest room and Orochimaru would have another. This house was so grand, but not opulent, and had more than enough rooms. Which meant there was no problem, but Ren wouldn't be able to sleep well in a strange place like this, and she wasn't going to take any chances, either, after today. "Night, mister," she told him jokingly, kissing him and letting Manami take him herself. That left her to help the boys clear the dishes.

"You want one?" she heard Kabuto ask, and looked up to see him offering her and his guardian a cup of sake, asking them both if they would join him after this. Oh, I could use one myself. Saying this, Hanaru took it and swallowed in a gulp, making him laugh. "Need to rush?"

"I had to. Besides those horsemen, there was an understatement of an issue," she spat. "The brother of that dead man called me a bitch in front of Ren and blamed us, told us to get the hell out of here."

His face tightened, looking like he wanted to say the worst things ever, but refrained. "Toshio Matsuda is his name, Hanaru. And I don't blame either of you." He bared his teeth. "But the nerve to treat us all like this. I did everything I could, but damn it, I got no answers." He stopped there, turning around to make sure Ren wasn't around, and if he was, Hanaru planned to give him more than an earful. Thankfully, her son wasn't there anymore.

Orochimaru frowned disapprovingly when he watched his former pupil take a cup of liquor for himself. "That's not the answer, you know."

"I know." Kabuto gulped. "I wish I did have the answer. But this disease seems to be more mental than physical. And psychology isn't my area of expertise."

Hanaru remembered that his letter was obscure, leaving out too many details - especially an autopsy. Though covered were indefinitely loss of skin color and appetite, as well as retarded movements...and that sounded not only like her late husband had endured, but also a certain someone who looked like she was in need of a break from all of this.

When this was suggested by her own tongue, Kabuto's eyes widened. "Y-you don't mean Manami, do you?" he asked, startled.

"No, no, no jumping to conclusions." Thank Orochimaru for stepping in and understanding her pointing everything out despite not being a doctor like them. He cleared his throat then. "But what did the autopsy show?" The answer wasn't what either of them expected, shocking them.

"I didn't make any."

"You didn't make any? What in the world had come over you?" Orochimaru demanded, more dismayed than angry.

For Hanaru, she was stunned because he had no time for dissection of Itachi after he died, because the body vanished, only now he had been surrounded by more than one who had the opportunity. "I wasn't permitted to make any," Kabuto insisted.

Now she was infuriated that a great doctor and a good man like him could be barred from a crucial part of his miracle work. "Who the hell stops you?" Hanaru asked.

"The villagers," he replied, voice dripping a little with resentment. "They don't want the bodies of their loved ones cut about."

Superstitions - but they're nothing like us. They're too scared, but I can't even give them a piece of my mind, damn it! And isn't there a coroner who supports him? Orochimaru read her mind and asked this, but Kabuto said there was no coroner, adding to the disbelief.

"This isn't Konoha, you two. It's a small village inhabited by simple country people riddled with supernatural and religious beliefs - and all dominated by a bailiff rather than the Prime Minister himself. He acts as not only magistrate, but coroner, judge and jury."

One man alone like the squire in Great Britain soils, was it? Orochimaru's brows formed one line as he scowled again. Hanaru felt she needed one more drink, but refrained because she had dishes to do, though the snake-like man insisted she go join her son and Manami now and leave the rest for him and Kabuto. Sighing and agreeing with how tired she was, feeling it in her bones, she left them both and said good night, but as soon as she was around the corner, she heard him ask Kabuto who the "jack of all trades" was...

...and the answer caused the world to spin altogether.

"My brother-in-law...Hideo Hashimoto."

Man, oh man, drama when they arrive in a strange, new place. Oh and yeah: Manami's husband plays a much bigger role. Wait and see what happens...