Orochimaru's 5th Hideout (abandoned)
Riyu opened his eyes. It took him a moment to realize exactly where he was. He sat up painfully still feeling the poison from that sand shinobi's dart work through his system. Though Airi was an excellent medic-nin she had never delved much in the area of poisons. She told him the only thing she was going to be able to do was treat him with a serum for a few days and, as far as he understood, it would make him puke up the poison from his system. Not the most desirable method in the world, but when he had expressed this she simply told him, "Your choices are deal with it or die, and since no one here wants you six feet under you can put on your big boy pants and deal with it." Riyu sighed at the memory. There was something degrading about being told off by a short, sixteen-year old with a bouncy braid.
Riyu looked around scanning the medical room. It wasn't an overly impressive room. They were underground so everything was either concrete or brick to keep the dirt out. The room was grey with a wood cabinet for Airi's medical supplies and two beds that served as operating tables. There was a bookshelf and one single light on the ceiling. He didn't like staying in here. It reminded him to much of the punishment rooms in Orochimaru's underground prison. He shook his head driving the thought from his mind.
He looked up again as his eyes finally adjusted to the light and realized he wasn't alone in the room. Al(1) was sitting across from him in a corner. Riyu smirked as he realized the kid was completely immersed in some book he was reading. That's pretty much what Al was known for: getting lost in a book and making bombs. Riyu thanked God he wasn't as eccentric with those things as Deidara. That guy had been nuts. Looking at him you wouldn't be able to tell Al was such a master with bombs. He looked as harmless as they came with his dirty-blonde hair tied back in a pony tail and his matching eyes totally absorbed in his book. "What are you doing in here?" he asked the boy bluntly. Ugh. He sounded like he had a stick shoved down his throat. Al looked up from his book startled. "Oh, Riyu you're up. Sorry I didn't realize." He gave an apologetic smile closing the book.
Riyu snorted trying to sit up. "I know how you get when you're reading. Don't worry I haven't been up that long. You didn't answer my question." Al scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Airi asked me to give you another shot when you woke up. She told me it would probably be the last one and to try to take it easy as much as you could because you'd be hugging the toilet later." Riyu grimaced then looked around curiously. "Where is she anyway? I thought she was coming back with you after you got the dud bomb."
Al nodded. "She was, but she said she wanted to make sure Fae was ok since she was late getting back. You feeling alright?" Riyu rubbed his head as he moved into a somewhat upright position. "Aside from the pain shooting through my body and the annoying headache I'd say I'm doing fine." He said sarcastically. Al chuckled. "Touché." Then he got serious all of the sudden. "You hate it in here don't you?" Riyu was caught off guard by the sudden question, but he didn't have to ask what he meant. "…Yes" Al shifted his eyes to the floor. "Sorry." Riyu looked at the ceiling focusing on trying to block out the pain again. Al spoke up again. "You and Ryu and Fae scream a lot in your sleep." Riyu frowned. "You seriously go out of your way to cross the bridge everybody else avoids don't you Al?" He could see Al smirk out of the corner of his eye. "It's just another way of learning something new to me."
Riyu rolled his eyes. "Ok in all seriousness get off your butt and give me the stupid shot. I think I'd rather be puking than staying here any longer."Al scowled at that declaration and got up to get the needle and formula. He surprised Riyu by pausing before giving him the shot. "What's up?"Al shook his head giving the shot to Riyu and putting it in the sink for Airi to sterilize. Riyu was surprised when he sat back down against the wall. "You ok Al?" he asked.
Al sighed. "Look I've tried not to think about what we're doing with all the thefts but we've been stealing these stupid gems for over a year now. We're basically fugitives in almost every Land. I know this is important, but do we even have a Plan B if Naruto can't get his memories back?" Riyu blinked at him. "You know we do Al. Fae has one." Al scratched the back of his head again. "Yeah, but she's not telling anyone what it is. It's not like her to shut everyone out like she has been. Even you have to admit there's something wrong with this picture."
Riyu was silent. What could he say? He was honestly pissed at Fae. He thought they had all long passed the point they kept secrets from each other. Then they started stealing these gems and it was like she had slammed up a wall. He and Al sat in silence until he heard a door open. He recognized the chakra signature at the same time Al did.
The room opened revealing a very exhausted and very agitated Fae. She stood there in her sand-nin garb sporting several bruises. The thing that alarmed Riyu though was her arm was out of its bandage and she acted like she was guilty about something. Al looked like he was trying to figure out how to blend into the wall. Nobody enjoyed it whenever something was bothering the 5'3 sixteen-year old. She was like a mix between a kicked puppy and a feisty panther. Al, wanting to leave the room yet avoid being rude said the first thing that popped in his head. "You look like a bird used you for target practice. What happened?" Riyu face palmed while the raven-haired girl just stared at him.
After a minute, she looked at Riyu and pointing at Al asked, "Can we make a live action story about a bomb maker who tests his material out on himself?" Al sweat dropped and Riyu sighed. He knew very well she would never actually hurt Al. Besides he was still pissed at her. "No we can't." He said from the medical bed. "It's not Al's fault you decided to take the scenic route through the forest. Take your anger out on something else. Besides," he said looking her square in the face. "We need to talk."
Fae's uncomfortable expression clearly said she did not want to talk, but she sat down on the other bed anyway. Al chose that moment to leave the room giving them some much needed space. Riyu faced his best friend who was still glaring at him defiantly. She didn't look like she had gotten any rest at all and you could tell she had been in a fight. "What happened?" he asked. She glanced at him smirking slightly. "Want the long story or the short?" Riyu smirked right back knowing she was being a smart-aleck. "Short please, and if you can manage I prefer you keep it down to a single sentence." The girl sighed. "You spoil all my fun." She said. Riyu made a get on with it motion with his hand. "The female ninja from Konoha tried to tail me and we had a fight." She finally said. Riyu raised an eyebrow. "What did you do during the fight that drained half your chakra?" Fae fidgeted uncomfortably. "…Memory suppression."
Riyu widened his eyes keeping his temper in check. "Was that really necessary?" Fae crossed her arms and looked away from him. "All taking her hostage would've accomplished is more ninja on our tail." Riyu rolled his eyes. "That wouldn't be an issue if we weren't stealing from them." She stared at the wall defiantly refusing to acknowledge his point. Riyu sighed. "Are you ready to explain why you and Tallah are refusing to share our plan B or are you going to be an ass about that too?" Fae snapped her head up and gave him one of the iciest glares he had seen in a while. "…I am not doing this right now."
Riyu looked at her eyes. Lately they were a blank wall he kept banging on that wouldn't budge no matter how hard he tried to knock it down. He scoffed at her. "Yeah, whatever Fae. Just go to bed. You look like you need the sleep. Obviously, Tallah doesn't agree with you sneaking around and keeping secrets either." She stood up and probably would've argued back if she hadn't been so worn out. "What she thinks doesn't matter right now. And don't call me Fae anymore. I hate that stupid nickname you and your brother gave me." She said harshly storming out of the room. Riyu narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Goodnight Lori." He winced as she slammed the door causing his headache to flare back up. "She did that on purpose." He grumbled laying back.
He was definitely worried about whatever she was planning, but they did have priorities that needed to be worked out first. He got up with some difficulty and left the medical room. He traveled down the long hallway toward Tia's room. He hated to ask the ex-assassin for anything, but it was necessary since Lori was bent on getting that stupid green gem. He sighed and knocked. "What!" Tia yelled from the other side of the door. She seriously needed to work on her people skills. "Can I come in?" Riyu called.
"Who the **** is it?!"
He sweat dropped. "Riyu."
"…long hair?" she said after a pause.
Riyu face palmed. "Yes."
"You can come in."
Riyu sighed and opened her door just a crack to make sure she wasn't armed. He eyed the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl sitting on the edge of the bed. "You're not gonna throw anything at me right?" he asked. "By the way, it's sad that you've been traveling with us for over a year and you still can't tell the difference between me and my brother." She frowned at him. "I wasn't gonna throw anything, and you're identical twins so **** you." Riyu frowned at her. The room was a mess. Tia realized his train or thought and glared at him.
"I'm going stir crazy!" she yelled. "First they lock me up in prison, now I get locked down here!"
Riyu sighed in exasperation. "You know you and Airi have to stay down here because the Sand Shinobi know your faces."
"And yet Airi isn't here." She said angrily.
"Which is why I'm in here if you would shut up and listen for two seconds." He replied.
Tia finally looked up at him. She sat up straight and faced him looking him right in the eyes. "You have my attention." She said. Riyu shivered and nodded. "Ok." He said. "Obviously the theft at the archives failed and I'm gonna be puking in a couple of hours. Airi and Ryu still aren't back, Al needs to work on the bombs for our next target, and Lori's chakra reserves are exhausted for the moment." Tia looked at him curiously. "What was she doing?" Riyu sighed not caring to justify any of the raven's actions at this point. "Right now it doesn't matter. What does matter is that I need you to go finish my job for me before they hike up security any higher. Can you do that?" Tia gave him one of those grins that made your hair stand on end. "Any excuse to get above ground for awhile." She said cracking her knuckles. Riyu nodded. "No casualties please." He reminded her. "No worries." She replied offhandedly.
Riyu nodded and got up to leave. "You know we don't have to deal with her otherworldly ****." She said making him pause. It was easy to forget how in tune the woman could be. "If you hate what we're doing so much why are we still here?" She questioned. Riyu's mind went back to a shaggy, raven haired girl taking the whip for him in the mines. "She's my family." He said. Tia shifted her gaze to him chilling his very bones. "Family can break you and everything you love in the most painful way. Lori's living proof of that." She said simply. Riyu straightened up shaking the assassin's hold on him. "No one's asking you to stay. You know where the door is." He said leaving the room. He smiled as he heard Tia's reply. "I'll get the stupid thing in the morning."
Yore paced back and forth in her apartment. The lines of the floor were starting to blur together. Red flooded her vision again and she whimpered watching someone who wasn't there get stabbed through the stomach. "Don't you ever get tired of tutoring me?!" she yelled at no one. She was in no mood to be crippled by Truths petty idea of justice. She was assaulted again with the image of a brown haired girl she knew all too well staring at her as the blood ran down her slit throat. Yore growled. "You may as well give up Truth!" she yelled again. "I don't feel guilty!"
The image came back again from the girl's perspective and Yore winced as she watched herself slice the girl's throat. Not enough to kill, but definitely enough to maim and spill blood. "You wouldn't understand." She rambled to the air. "They didn't care about me. They were my family and they were going to let me die! I don't feel guilty. I don't!" Yore tore her hands through her hair. It was the Dragon's fault. One stupid moment in time, and she had managed to completely and royally screw her over.
Yore drove her fist into the wall in a random fit of rage. "That ***** Tallah! I'll kill her! I swear I will!" The blood entered her vision again. "I DON'T FEEL GUILTY!" She yelled as loud as she could. She had made her decision. Danzo did not rule her, and she was going after the escort they were sending for Naruto whether he wanted her to or not. Besides, she was bound to find information that would be of use to her other friend as well.
Yore exited swiftly through the window. She quickly maneuvered through the village to where the escort was being sent out. She followed after him escaping anyone's notice. She grinned. Danzo hadn't made her his ally for no reason after all. She remembered the day she had arrived here four years ago very clearly. The gate had left her weak when she passed over. It was always harder on the body when the bridge builder wasn't building willingly. She shook off the blood that filled her vision again. She had ended up in his academy and several of his students had tried to attack her. She grinned remembering the surprise on their faces when she had clapped her hands together and electrocuted most of them. They were perfectly humiliated being beaten by a twelve-year old. Danzo hungered after her power and was as easy to manipulate as a dog and his chew toy.
She had become his right hand woman in short period of time and was in a position to further her own goals. She grinned. How she had enjoyed the Keeper of the Gate of Darkness' screams. She stopped her reverie as she saw the sand village's wall loom up ahead. She slipped with the escort through the gate undetected. Safely inside the sand village, she wondered how she would get the information she needed out of the blonde. It would be too hard inside the village since they were already on high alert from the thefts. She tracked his signature to one of the hotels. She watched his sleeping form only to be frustrated when she could no longer feel the signature she had been looking for. It took all of her willpower not to screech with theory. She was so close to finding the little tramp. In the end, she decided she would tail him on the way back to Konoha and search for the source. Just a little longer.
Naruto woke up feeling refreshed for once. He looked out the window to see the sun streaming in. He found it strange that despite the fact his body had been suffering from the dreamscape he kind of missed talking to Alien. He thought back to what had happened last time. When the mirror shattered a new path had appeared that lead to what he assumed was the end of the maze. Then everything had started shaking and Alien had yelled something before Naruto woke up. He had played the scene through his mind over and over again, but he still couldn't figure out what had happened. He would confirm his other suspicions after he confronted the Sasuke problem back in Konoha.
The hospital here had already transferred Sakura to Shizune back in the leaf village. He looked at the clock on the wall. It was about time to head over to the gate and meet up with the leaf-shinobi they had sent to escort him back to Konoha. He didn't know why he needed one, but Shizune had insisted on it. Just as he was about to head out Kankuro suddenly burst through his door.
"Kankuro? What's going on?" he said surprised.
"You have to hurry with me to the Archives now!" Kankuro shouted.
Naruto stood abruptly knocking over the table. "The Archives? Why? What's happened?"
"They sent Tia, the girl we gave you the file on, to finish the job!" he panted out.
"What?!"
Naruto followed him without another question and they booked it toward the Archives. When they arrived Naruto couldn't help but marvel at the scene before him. The girl had completely broken open the newly repaired gate and ripped a new hole in the west wing. He followed the row of scurrying guards and his eyes landed on the thief in question. She was wearing black fishnet tights with knee high brown boots and a dark green skirt similar to Sakura's pink one. She wore a maroon tank top, and her blonde hair was down blowing wildly behind her. "Her primary jutsu is Wind, but she can use earth too." Warned Kankuro. "She's an ex-assassin so be careful. She probably has a few hidden weapons." Naruto nodded.
After getting into a formation that gave Naruto an edge in case he missed his hit, Kankuro rushed the girl using his puppet crow. "Dodge this!" he yelled aiming a few dozen poison darts at the girl. Tia laughed and whipped out two small fans. She stuck them together as one and used them as a shield against the darts. She then threw one at Crow breaking him in half with the spikes they realized framed the edge of it. Naruto, thinking he could get a hit, tried to rush her at her side only to have her elbow connect with his spine a few seconds later. He crashed to the floor, but rolled out of the way just as her foot was about to come down on his shoulder. Her foot left a nice hole where his shoulder had just been on the ground. She suddenly made several hand signs and a wall of earth came up blocking off the rest of their back up. The wall caused rubble from the ceiling to cave in knocking out Kankuro.
Naruto drew his kunai intending to catch her in her other side. He found himself suddenly locked in an unrelenting stand still with the girl's own kunai. "You must be getting pretty desperate to get this over with if you came out in broad daylight." He told her. She just grinned at him. "I got what we wanted anyway so I don't see how it matters. You should just take your nose out of this before you get killed Blondie." Naruto growled. "Suna is our ally, and Gaara is a trusted friend! Don't tell me it doesn't matter!" He yelled at her breaking the force between the two kunai and throwing her back.
To Naruto's surprise the girl's fist was suddenly in his face and he went flying. He ended up crashing into some rubble. "You've detained me long enough." She said turning to escape. Naruto got up and was about to give chase when he suddenly noticed the pack on her back. There was something glinting inside it. It looked like a gem. Naruto was surprised as he felt an almost familiar wave pass over him when he looked at it. He didn't know why, but he knew it was important somehow. He couldn't let her get away with it. Before the girl could react He was suddenly on his feet with a shadow clone to his left shaping his chakra for his favorite move. "Ransengan!" he yelled rushing her. Tia attempted to block him from her stomach and was surprised when he hit her leg instead. She gave a cry and doubled over. Naruto used this moment to grad the gem without her noticing. Before he knew it she was up again and had a concealed kunai from her boot slashing him across the face.
He was about to retaliate when the sand around him began moving. He looked up to see Gaara beside him with his sand at the ready. He addressed Tia, who had moved back several feet at the Kazekage's arrival on the scene. "I believe you have caused enough trouble for my people. Surrender or I'll take you by force." Tia glared at him defiantly. Gaara and Naruto tensed ready for her retaliation. Gaara began moving his Sand in place for a Sand Coffin, but she surprised them. Tia grinned widely. "Like I'm stupid enough to pick a fight with the Kazekage." She said throwing down a smoke bomb. Naruto covered his mouth while Gaara used his sand to get above it. When the smoke cleared she was gone.
A revived Kankuro suddenly burst through the wall with half the guards behind him. "Naruto! Gaara!" he called. "Are you both alright?" Naruto nodded and faced Gaara. "She may have gotten away, but I managed to get this without her noticing." Kankuro looked at the green gem. "What is it?" he asked. Naruto shrugged. "I was hoping Gaara could tell me." He looked at gem and held it to the sun. The light caught it making it glisten. Those familiar waves Naruto had felt when he had broken the seals rocked through him again as he stared at it. "I think I found what they've been stealing this whole time." He said.
(1) Yes this is Al from Full Metal Alchemist/ Full Metal Alchimist Brotherhood. However, since my story is dealing with parallel universe's I tried to make him a little different yet similar at the same time to the Al in the FMAB universe. In addition, some of the names I have used in the story are from the two other universes I attached to this fanfiction, Elemental Gelade and Blazeblue.
On a side note, I enjoy Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood more than the original because it follows the manga and it's a tad bit more serious and darker. So when I bring Truth into the story Naruto will be in that version of the gate.
P.S. Please do not use the review board to comment on my preferences. The last thing I want is someone telling me I'm stupid because I like one version over the other.