Stage 13: Remorse
Neji woke in the usual morning haze. He sat up in bed to get his blood flowing again, feeling the fatigue of another night wasted to tormenting dreams. He looked around his room. His lilac eyes fell on the small photo of Tsuki on his dresser, next to the one of his team mates, Guy, Lee, and Tenten. Sorrow and despair seeped into his mind and permeated to his soul. Would he ever get her back? He finally activated his Byakugan and looked around in search of his familiar shadow.
A realization dawned upon him after a moment of sleepiness. He dressed in a frenzy, impatient to see the Hokage. When his clothing was covering the appropriate body parts after several attempts, he grabbed his forehead protector plate and departed into the early morning mist. Hardly anyone was in the streets as he pelted down them. Shops were just starting to open, their sleepy keepers greeting him as he passed.
He entered the Hokage's office building, finally slowing down. There were still too few people in the building for him to be terribly oppressed. He forced himself to appear calm as he stepped in front of the Hokage's door. A deep breath was inhaled, then he stepped inside. She looked up at him with curiosity.
"Zetsu has vanished," he reported with staccato words as he crossed the room. "There isn't a sign of him anywhere within the village."
Tsunade brought her fingers together below her chin. "This may be our only chance to act. She must be retrieved. Be ready to depart in an hour."
"Yes, Lady Hokage," he complied, standing before her desk.
"I will assemble a team to accompany you," she informed him. "You will find her, Neji. You don't have a choice." Fire illuminated her brown eyes as she formulated a tactical attack, realizing what Zetsu's absence implied.
The massive weight of the task settled on his shoulders. How was he supposed to find her, when the Akatsuki could be anywhere? "Where should I start?" he asked. The world felt so large with her gone, and he felt so small.
"You were with Lord Kazekage's retrieval squad in the land of Rivers," she reminded him. "Combine that with Tsuki's report of continuous rain, and I believe we have an answer: Amegakure. You'll start there."
He chastised himself for not making the connection sooner. His sleep deprivation was starting to effect his cognitive abilities. "Yes, Tsunade-sama." He looked out the window to the people slowly filing the streets. "I feel it would be best if you sent trackers. Kiba and Shino, if you can spare them. Having Hinata wouldn't hurt, either," he suggested. They were going to search for her, and these people he trusted to do the job, and keep her safe.
"Done," she declared. "I'm also going to ask Shikamaru to accompany you, if he feels up to it. He has valuable knowledge on the enemy's tactical abilities. If it comes down to a fight, I want you to have him to formulate a strategy." She began filling out the mission papers, reporting in detail what she was asking them to do.
Neji nodded, satisfied. He was more than apprehensive about leading Hinata into the lair in to the enemy, but he was confident that he and her comrades would be able to keep Hinata safe. Two Byakugan users would ensure no one would sneak up on them, and it kept their squad together. Their dynamic was efficient and effective. "I will leave in one hour," he stated. "Not a moment sooner. They can meet me at the gate, or they'll catch up."
He turned on his heels and walked out of her office. Back on the street, he stopped for a quick cup of tea. It served to primarily wake him up, sharpening his senses. He watched as team 8 walked by, suddenly in a hurry to go to the Hokage's office. Hinata glanced at him momentarily, and he nodded in acknowledgement. They would know momentarily why they were being summoned so urgently.
He paid his tab and prowled back to the Hyuga compound. He passed various family members and mumbled his hello. He passed Hiashi, who looked at him quizzically. "Where are you in a hurry to, Neji?" he asked.
A rift was created in his mind. On one hand, Tsunade had asked he let the village assume that Tsuki was rogue, and on the other, it was the leader of his clan. Does blood run thicker than village loyalty? He thought of what Hiashi thought of Tsuki before she disappeared. It wasn't a good opinion. "Tsuki was taken by the Akatsuki," he stated calmly. "They left behind a sleeper agent to make sure I didn't go after her immediately. That agent has, for some reason, disappeared. I have twenty minutes to meet the extracting squadron before leaving."
Hiashi listened to his explanation in silence until he finished. "You really care about this outsider," he stated. Neji's fury started to rise. "Make sure to bring her home safely."
Neji's ire deflated as he watched Hiashi retreat. Never before had he shown any sort of approval toward Tsuki. Why, all of a sudden, did he believe Neji that she hadn't vanished on her own accord? The change in Hiashi gave Neji hope for their future. It was a sign that she was beginning to be accepted.
He walked onto the exterior deck of his house, leaving his sandals at the porch staircase. Upon reaching the master bedroom, he poked inside. On his bedroom floor was a sack already filled with the essentials for his trip. He threw it over his shoulder before crossing over to the pictures on his dresser. Holding Tsuki's picture in his hands, he whispered, "I'm finally on my way. Please, be waiting for me." He preyed that she was unharmed.
-XxX-
Tsuki woke from the beautiful dreams with a smile. She looked up at her bedmate, only to be shocked at the Rinnegan eyes that gazed back at her. Sinking guilt took her in its clutches as she realized what had happened. He was mildly hung over. She was still partially drunk. When she moved, her muscles reminded her of the painful coitus they had engaged in. Having woken up sore in more places than one, she was constantly reminded and shamed about what she had done. She wanted to get away from him, as far away as was possible. Disgust gripped her, though she tried to hide it from him.
He had kissed her softly, eliminating the possibility it had just been a realistic dream. She refrained from returning the kiss, though he didn't seem to notice. He was still nude when he walked to the bathroom. She had quickly looked away, though she couldn't stem the flood of memories that washed over her.
When he was gone, she had retreated to his rooftop balcony, standing in the rain. She leaned against the railing, consumed by her own thoughts and succumbing to the gnawing pit in her stomach. She was riddled with guilt that took her hangover to the next level of torture. Her first thought that morning had been Neji, and how she had betrayed him in a drunken bought of greed. Focusing on what he would have said, or how disappointed he would have been, she drowned herself in self loathing.
Before him, loyalty had meant nothing. She could do whatever she wanted, with whom she wanted, all without a care in the world. Now, she wanted to run her sword through the man who had the audacity to mark her as his. What was worse, she didn't immediately heal his branding. It was set to scar in her flesh, forever in her skin. Someday, she would have to explain it to Neji. She only hoped he would understand.
A single tear escaped her eye, a symbol of how distressed she was. She never cried. She knew Pein was watching her, observing her. Nothing could make her care any less. Let him watch. He was to blame. What kind of man doesn't want her belligerently drunk? A liar. Within him, she placed all the blame; it eased her distress.
Pein had walked out to join her long before she noticed. He could sense her tension, and longed to comfort her. Joining her at the railing, he finally worked up the nerve to ask her what was wrong. Perhaps he had done something to anger her?
She looked at him with irritation. "Last night never should have happened," she stated with aggression. "It was a lapse in judgement, and will not happen again."
The statement took him by shock. Attempting to caress her shoulder, to break down her walls, he inquired, "Was it not to your liking?"
Turning around to lean against the railing on her elbows, she had avoided his touch. "It was wrong to engage you," she answered cynically.
"Because of your standing with Konoha," he assumed. "I am an enemy of the village."
"No," she corrected. "To hell with Konohagakure; I have no loyalty to them."
Realization hit him as though he had ran into a steel wall. "It's because of Neji, isn't it?" She nodded as she returned her gaze to the city. "You two are quite serious, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you mean by 'serious'," she stated. "If you're wondering if we're dating, then the answer is no."
Once more, surprise threatened to kick him in the chest. "Then what's your problem?" he asked. He faced her openly, stepping toward her. Like repelling magnets, she took a step backward. "If you're not dating him, then why does he have anything to do with what you do with me?"
Eyes rolling, she looked away from him. "His honour is on the line. Everything that I do reflects on him," she explained. "He has probably spent the last month convincing the village I didn't run away on my own. The last thing he needs is for this to get into the public."
Enclosing the space between her and the far railing, he had her pinned. "Since when do you care what the masses think of you?"
She didn't give a damn what anyone in the village thought of her, other than Neji. She did, however, care what they thought of him. The direct correlation between her actions and his reputation stopped her from doing many things she otherwise wouldn't have given a second thought to. "I've cared for the last two years," she answered.
He grunted through his nose, obviously upset by her rejection. They were talking in circles. "You must love this man a great deal," he stated. The words stabbed through the rain. He looked directly into her eyes with piercing venom. "You deny it, but your actions say otherwise."
She wanted to run, but he had her pinned in a corner. "I don't care what you think," she stated. "It's no business of yours whom I would love, if I did at all."
A snide smirk crossed his face. "It is my business when I've spent the last day courting you, and woke up to you in my bed," he growled. All softness was gone from his voice, turning him from gentle to formidable. "You can't make it easy for anyone to get close to you. I hate to think what he's had to endure for the last several years."
Reminding herself to remain calm and collected, she forced herself to allow his jibes to go unanswered. After all, this was Pein. No matter which embodiment, they were all bound to be powerful. She turned her back on him, returning her gaze to the city. Though she refused to comment on it, he was right. What hurdles did Neji have to overcome? She recoiled in her mind at the frustration she undoubtedly caused him.
Behind her, Pein sighed, submitting. "I can only hope you'll change your mind, Princess," he stated softly. He was forcing himself to calm down. He was not going to win her over by fighting.
She rolled her eyes. Let him try all he wanted to, she was stubborn and proud. "Are you done with the bathroom?" she asked, changing the subject.
A nod was her reply. She accepted it, and left him in the rain. Finally, she could allow herself to hate this Pein. He had given her his fatal flaw that made him despicable. She could sense it. He was proud, and in losing to Neji, it was as though had thrust a knife into him. There was nothing Pein could do to make her turn her back on what Neji had given her. If anything, he was partially to blame for the necessity. Their nerves were spread thin trying to prepare themselves for the attacks of two highly organized criminals whom would wish her harm. Without Pein, without the Akatsuki, they could focus all their efforts on Orochimaru.
Anger broiled within her as she turned the water on. The shower was still warm from Pein's use, spewing steam along with the droplets of water. She ripped her clothing off, paying no mind to the damage she was causing to the fabric. Pein had bought the items for her, and she could see that act for what it was: a strategic move on the chess board.
Stepping into the streams of water, she felt her skin searing. She decided to leave Amegakure. Her deal was made; he no longer had a reason to hold her against her will. She would wait for Itachi to return to say her good bye, explain her actions, and then leave.
Anger and shame were washed away as she lathered her hair and body. Cleansing herself of the residue of Pein, the bubbles turned pink with the blood that was still covering her skin. She turned her attention to the wound he had created, the word he carved in her skin. Hoping it wasn't too late, she tore the wound open, staining the basin of the shower red. Violet chakra shone from her fingertips as she worked to heal the incisions.
When she finished, she noticed a faint outline of the newly formed flesh. Like any scar, it would fade with time. She hoped there would be no trace when she next found herself with Neji in a hot spring.
Reaching for a towel, she stepped out of the shower. The water was then shut off. She shifted, wrapping herself so that nothing would show before she crossed into the hallway. Once in her designated room, she approached the wardrobe. Clothes were selected, and she was dressed. As soon as she had, there was a knock at her door.
When she opened it, Pein was there. "I made breakfast," he declared. There was no hint of the argument they had just endured in his voice. He had resumed his calm and gentle demeanour, though he kept his distance as he leaned against the wall.
"Thank you." The tone was flat. She didn't make eye contact, though she knew his gaze lingered upon her.
He watched her as she crossed to brush her hair, still dripping from the shower. Her eyes would occasionally glare at him through the mirror, though she didn't say anything. His mind raced, trying to devise a plan to calm her, to win back her affections. Crossing to her, he sighed. She turned to look at him, waiting for him to speak. He leaned against her vanity, careful to not obstruct her view of the mirror. "Would you care to dine with me?" he asked.
Considering the question, she took a moment to answer as she continued to brush her tresses. "I suppose it would be rude to refuse your request."
He analysed her response. It was formal, impersonal, and direct. As she finished grooming, she rose to her feet. They walked to the door together, and he let her pass through the hallway. Her walk was a steady prowl as she sauntered into the dining room.
There she found the table set with a variety of dishes: miso soup, natto, grilled fish, steamed rice, and raw eggs. Tsuki sat down and waited for him before muttering "Itadakimasu," under her breath. She reached for the natto and poured it over her rice, then cracked the egg into the bowl.
"Would you like tea?" she asked, offering to pour it for him. He nodded, accepting the steaming cup. He poured hers, as was traditional.
She ate in silence, politely keeping her eyes on the food before her. Instinctively, she knew he was still watching her. Of course, he always was. Once more, the irritation of being fascinating to others returned to her. What she wouldn't give to just be ignored, another common face in the masses.
When they finished, she did away with her dishes and returned to the balcony on the rooftop. When Pein didn't join her, she exhaled a breath of relief. Finally, she could have a moment to herself.
Dozing off in her own thoughts, she stared down at the streets below. People came and went, going about their own business, completely unaware they were being observed. Shinobi and civilians alike were darting about their ways.
-XxX-
The next day, Pein took her out to the streets below them. He had left her alone the day prior, to appease her anger. Now, they stood, facing the entire city, and he intended to work out what rage was left. After all, wild animals couldn't be caged. It would not do well to have her abilities dulled by inactivity. He led her back into the pipes. She stood beside him fully equipped with her kunai pouch, her sword on her back.
"What are we doing?" she asked, bored.
He smirked at her. "Think of this as training, Princess," he answered. "Surely, you must be dying to stretch, to move."
Of course, he was right. She hated being pent up with too much energy to do anything with. That's probably why she had the horrible habit of engaging relations within the Akatsuki. She watched him carefully, unsure of what sort of training he had in mind.
Entering a fighting stance, he continued to smirk at her. She mirrored him, forming her own battle position. "Now, let's see what you can do, shall we?" He lunged at her, charging at her straight on.
She allowed him to get close to her before she moved. Jumping, she landed to stand on the roof of the pipe before thrusting herself back at him. He turned, angling toward her, but she was already adapting. She redirected to the side, forcing herself to contort. The heel of her boot caught his chest and threw him backwards, deeper into the tunnel.
He twisted mid fall to land on his feet. When he looked up at her, she was already standing before him. It was worth admitting, she was quite the aerial acrobat. There was only ten feet from floor to ceiling. Once more he came at her, pulling senbon needles. She ran to close the distance between them. The needles were thrown at her, and she deflected them all with the steel plated gloves she always wore. He thrust his palm into her shoulder, and she immediately shifted backward to accommodate the shock of his blow. They grappled, throwing blows at an alarming rate. Several of them landed. She took hits to her ribs, left shoulder, and sternum. He had his collarbone cracked, and she was near fatally accurate at hitting his organs. It appeared to him that her training with a gentle fist using Hyuga was paying off.
They disengaged, falling back. Though they weren't panting with exhaustion yet, their breathing had become heavier. He chuckled, the sound echoing off the metal tube they were occupying. It was time to see how well she could pursue.
Watching him for the next onslaught of attacks, she was startled when he turned tail and ran. She formed several hand seals before releasing a dragon's blast of fire down the pipeline. Another jutsu was formed, and she blasted an oxygen rich air current into the inferno, accelerating its speed. When the smoke and fire cleared, she was shocked to see the charred carcass of a large lizard blocking the tunnel. It disintegrated before her.
She bolted down the corridor, following the scent of Pein. He wove in and out of the tunnels, trying to confuse her, but her nose could not be fooled. She surged forward, her footfalls sounding like rapid fire through the pipeline. With each step the scent got stronger; she was gaining on him.
It took her less than a minute to catch him. His own foot steps gave away his position. She pulled shuriken from her pouch and threw them into the darkness at her opponent. She packed rage into the throw, sending them off at high speeds. They hit their target with expert precision. The Pein before her exploded as the clone jutsu released.
She whirled around, realizing that the real Pein had hidden in his own scent trail to throw her off. He emerged from the wall of the tunnel beside her, his hand at her throat. Kunai in hand, she turned to thrust it into his shoulder. He blocked her, pulling the blade out of her grasp with disregard for the deep cut he had given himself.
It was hard for her to breathe. He was slowly blocking off her air passage. From experience with Orochimaru, she knew she had two minutes before she blacked out. She mustered all the strength she could into a kick to his sternum.
The wind was knocked out of him as he fell to the ground. Gaining the upper hand, she gripped his right shoulder, pinching a pressure point Neji had shown her. His entire arm went limp at his side.
Alarm was in his eyes when he looked at her. It came as a surprise that she could completely disable him. Jutsu was no longer an option; he couldn't make the necessary hand signs. He wasn't as adept fighting with his left hand, but it would have to suffice.
Her breathing was still heavy when he found his footing again. He surged forward, goading her to strike him. She took the bait, and when she jabbed at his left shoulder, he took her by the wrist and dislocated her shoulder with a twist to her arm. They were on level ground now, her right arm was just as useless as his.
Anger boiled within her. She had learned to adapt to dislocated joints long ago, but she did not appreciate the reminder of her past. Now, he was no longer contending with her irritation toward him, but her eleven years of volatile hatred toward Orochimaru as well. Waves of rage consumed her as she poured every emotion into her next attack.
Drawing her sword, she prepared to annihilate Pein. The blade pulsated with fire chakra as she struggled to keep her own energy contained. She waited. The fire burned, both inside of her and along the contours of her blade.
He stared her down, weary of what she was capable of doing. It had dawned on him that he disabled the wrong hand; she was a leftie. The murderous intent in her eyes unsettled him. He stepped forward cautiously, formulating a plan.
Responding, she shifted to put her left side toward him, preparing for their next clash. A sudden burst of energy charged through her and with it, she surged toward him. She swung at him, jabbing and slicing through the air as he dodged her every hit. She cursed his Rinnegan eyes.
He had to get the sword out of her hands. It had taken the lives of dozens of shinobi, and her charged flames made it all the more fearsome. Their training session went from a good start to judging her abilities, to a bad turn of emotions. This wild female was hostile, volatile, and willing to slay him.
She continued her barrage. All she had accomplished was a singe to his cloak. The Rinnegan allowed him to see her movements, as fast as she was. Orochimaru had trained this one well. Swiping from right to left, diagonally across his chest, she tore the cloak open, revealing the mesh shirt beneath. Red blood swelled as the burning sensation rose to the surface. Taking the hit, he pinned her hand to the wall of the pipe before she could do any more damage. "I think we're done here, Princess," he declared.
With the exertion of her breathing, her chest heaved. Waves of white hot hatred rolled off of her, filling him with her intense and powerful heat. His palm tingled with the chakra she had sealed inside him as it reacted to her rage. His muscles were screaming, though his chakra was nearly full; he had hardly used any of it.
Deflecting her glare, he looked away from her. "I'm sorry if I angered you," he appeased. "It was not my intention."
Once more his honeyed words set to worked to ease her mind. She still seethed; it would take more than an apology to ease the beast within her. Apologizing was a weakness; it showed inferior self control. She focused on this line of thinking, allowing the ire to be ignited once more.
He could sense her thoughts were turning sour, and attempted to stroke her cheek to distract her. Instead of calming down as he expected, she bit his hand until he bled. A spark of wrath hit him, but was quickly dismissed. She wasn't really angry at him, after all; she was angry with herself. "I wouldn't continue, Princess," he cautioned quietly. "You've made it clear you don't want to go down that road again." His eyes flashed arousal into hers as he channelled the pain into pleasure.
Burning with anger, she forced him off of her. She was observed by him as she sheathed her sword, which only served to irritate her more. "I don't suppose we're done yet, are we?" she growled.
He shook his head subtly. "No, I'm afraid not," he professed. Too much energy was coursing inside her, as well as her murderous rage. "You're going to run with me; burn off your excess energy."
They tore the city up under their feet, returning to his office in a sweaty, exhausted haze. He worked for a few hours, and she curled up in the chair with a book. Their days continued like that, him pushing her to her limits, then returning to their own devices in each other's company.
Advances were made by him, but they landed him nowhere. The guilt was strong in her, and she was relentless. Every night at nine of the clock, she would stop what ever they were doing, shoot a double shot of whiskey, and turn in to bed. No care was given if she was seen as rude. She didn't give in to him.
On their third day, she spotted the first arrivals at dawn. She couldn't make out their identities, due to the relentless downpour of rain combined with the height of Pein's rooftop. She watched them make their way through the streets, toward his office building when Pein stepped outside to join her.
He stood directly behind her. She felt the gentle pressure of his hand on her shoulder. "Deidara and Tobi are returning," he informed her.
"That was quick," she commented. "They must have stayed close."
He confirmed her assumption. "They didn't go far. Come inside, Princess. We'll meet them at my office."
Turning on her heels, she followed Pein inside. He had already entered the living room when she found him. He donned a cloak and straw hat, and held hers out to be received. She accepted the article and shrugged into it before pulling her boots on.
When they entered his office after climbing the endless flights of stairs, she took her seat. From behind his desk, Pein glanced up at her with interest. "Comfortable, my dear?" he asked, amused.
She merely answered with a quick dart of the eyes. Though she had done her best to stay at a distance, she had to admit that the last few days with him had gone by quickly. Under different circumstances, she would enjoy his company. As it was, he would have to accept that she was bound by blood, and not emotional attachment.
It wasn't long before Deidara and Tobi entered the office through the shoji. Deidara's eyes flashed to her, smouldering with relief and adoration. His shoulders eased, and he breathed a gentle sigh.
Tobi followed; for once, he was solemn and silent. It was then Tsuki realized something had gone terribly wrong. The tangible shift in Pein's chakra confirmed her suspicions. A moment of silence pressed upon their ears, weighing down their shoulders
"Report," Pein barked after a moment of unbearable tension. His demeanour shifted, which alarmed her greatly. He lapsed back into anger, acting more like he were the Deva path than she was comfortable with.
Tobi spoke with sobriety. "We have suffered casualties," he stated. "Hidan and Kakuzu have fallen to Konohagakure."
Deidara produced Hidan's signature scythe from within a scroll. In that moment, Tsuki felt the weight of the situation on her chest. Her parent's killer had been eradicated. She never quested for vengeance herself; it was dishonourable to allow her rage to control her. All the while, his death brought about a cathartic sense of release and sorrow. There was no longer a need to guard herself; the tension eased; it was replaced with an unexpected grief in her heart.
Pein's eyes narrowed. "The news is unexpected, but we must proceed as planned. Their deaths come as a shock, but serve to remind us of our purpose." The weapon was handed over to Pein, who examined it for a moment. After careful regard, he turned the scythe to Tsuki.
When she looked at him with shock and inquisition, he explained. "You are, technically, his next of kin. "You may do with this as you see fit. I will go through the remainder of his personal effects and release what I can to you."
Nodding was the only response she could muster. He had been her god father, after all. She was closer to him than her sister had been; Yahara only wanted to kill him herself. Unlike Tsuki, her quest for vengeance was strong. Tsuki would have to tell her somehow; the last thing she needed was her sister marching into Amegakure with the intention to destroy a man who was already dead.
Deidara had been looking at her with inquiry, watching her as she accepted the scythe. Her relationship with Hidan had always been unstable, but the news of its nature was shocking to him. He never imagined he was her guardian. The man had killed her parents, and was very proud about it.
Tobi stepped forward. "We also recovered their rings," he added. An orange ring with the symbol for three, and a green ring with the symbol for north were passed to Pein.
"Very well," he sighed. The orange ring, Hidan's ring, was also passed to Tsuki. "You may not be a full member, but your oath allows me to give this to you until our purpose has been realized," he stated. "Hidan would have wanted you to wear it."
Deidara's expression had changed from quizzical to pure confusion. She could tell he had questions, but they would have to wait.
Pein then listened to their entire report without interruption. After they were finished, he dismissed them and turned to her. "We are at a critical conjuncture, you and I," he stated. "On one had, you are no longer our prisoner, and free to go. You have been for some time now. On the other hand, we have Hidan's death and your briefing to discuss. You should know what you're getting into."
She raised a hand to stop him. "The less I know, the safer we both are. Please, leave it where it lies until the time comes when you need me."
"Fair enough," he conceded. "I appreciate your caution." He rose from his desk and walked to the door. "As you suggested, the less you know the safer I am. I will bring what I can to you. I would appreciate it if you stayed within the city."
She nodded to affirm his order. He turned and left her behind in the office. Dropping to her knees, she buried her head in her hands out of despair and confusion. If Hidan and Kakuzu were dead, then how many fresh graves awaited her when she returned home? Which comrades would she mourn?
Her last guardian was now dead, as meaningless as that bond had been. Isolation washed over her, adding to the apprehension she was already feeling. Hidan had always been abrasive, abusive, and violent. Why did she feel such agony for his destruction? He strove to stand in her way, often pushing the limits of her tolerance. She had hated him in life. Now, she mourned for him in death. Grief washed over her in waves, drowning her heart. How many more would she watch die?
Many times before, she thought she was cursed. It was easy to feel that everyone close to her was doomed to die. The evidence was mounting against her. It had started with her parents, slaughtered before her eyes. Her comrades at the Chunin exams dropped like flies, because she wasn't there to help them. The sound five fell, taking the only sound Ninja she had ever been close to with them: Kimimaro. Deidara took Gaara down; he was resurrected, but had she not seen his corpse? Itachi was destined to die at Sasuke's hands. How Hidan fell to her curse.
His alleged immortality spun her curiosity into a web of questions. If he was truly immortal, how could he be dead? She had torn him apart, bit by bit; yet somehow he was now pronounced dead? She punched the floor. It didn't make sense. There wasn't a solution to be found. Rising to her feet, she allowed the anger to fuel her. The questions needed answers. She thirsted for information, and knew someone who might be able to give it to her.