Hey-o. Releasing a new chapter. Actually, I'm like 5 chapters ahead of whatever I release but I like going over the story with some of my "editors" first and see if the story makes sense and check for grammar. So don't expect a new chapter for a couple days, I still need my "editors" to look it over.
Chapter 2
"Kakashi? He actually has friends?" Naruto replied, "Ow!"
Sakura punched him on the head and smiled apologetically at the two.
"I'm sorry. He really doesn't know any manners. But if you're looking to see Kakashi, you can come with us. We were on our way to visit him."
The man smiled and shook his head.
"Sorry but we're on our way to check in at an inn first. But if you could tell us where he is, we'll visit him on our own time."
Sakura frowned, a bit put off but responded. "He's in the Konoha Hospital. The second floor recovery room."
"Hospital?" the man asked, his brows furrowed with worry, "He's injured?"
Sakura shook her head as Naruto stood up.
"No. Kakashi's just worn out from a mission. He'll be up and about in no time."
"Are you two ninja?" Naruto blurted out, "Ach!"
Sakura punched him again, this time in the stomach. "You twit! Stop pestering them!"
The man gave a small chuckle. "Not exactly. I just used to be a ninja."
Sai scrutinized the man's headband and then stepped forward. "You're a Konoha ninja. Retired?"
The woman nodded. "Mm. He left the ninja life to live a normal one. With me incidentally." She smiled.
Sakura smiled at them and bowed. "Well I'm sorry we took so much of your time. Thank you for answering our questions."
The man and woman nodded and turned away.
"You forgot one thing."
Sai stepped forward once more.
"Your names?"
The woman turned back and glanced at her partner once more.
"I'm Yasuko Hitomi. This is my husband, Shimizu Ko."
Sai nodded, satisfied, and bowed.
As the two walked away, Naruto stood up once again.
"What was that all about?" Naruto groaned, rubbing his stomach.
"You kept bothering them!" Sakura snapped.
Naruto flinched away. "Not you! Sai!"
Sai turned towards Naruto and paused before answering.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to know more about them."
Why does he wear a mask like Kakashi? Sai wondered.
Konoha Village – Late Afternoon
Motoko settled onto the bed in the apartment they rented out. It sank under him as he settled his weight.
"It'll do for now but we'll need to sterilize it before we leave the village. Otherwise we'll leave a scent for ANBU to use."
Hitomi nodded and sat down next to him.
"All we need to do now is get to him." She thought out loud.
Motoko nodded and stood up. He walked up to the window and looked out. The setting sun cast out red rays of light, making the entire village glow crimson. The Hokage faces carved into the mountain had fire for hair and ruddy faces.
"You gave them our names." He said, his back to Hitomi.
She looked up at the back of his head.
"Sorry but if I had lied, the quiet one might have noticed. He was more alert than the other two." She apologized, "and besides. I'm not from the village so they won't have records on me and I didn't give them your full name."
Motoko nodded, still facing the window. Her logic was flawless.
"It doesn't matter much. Even if they looked through the old records, they still won't know where we'll be after we leave." He replied.
Hitomi stood up and placed her cloak on the second bed. She was attired in a dark blue bodysuit and a dark green vest, Chuunin clothes. She pulled her pack off her back and rifled through it. Pulling out a wallet, she started out the door.
"I'll be back soon. We'll need some supplies for the night."
Motoko turned around and looked at her.
"Get some for tomorrow too. We'll see him tomorrow night. Can't do a mission on an empty stomach." He quipped.
Hitomi nodded and walked out. Motoko turned back towards the window and thought back as to why they needed Kakashi. They needed to see him; he was the only hope for Motoko and Konoha.
1 year ago…
"Damn!"
Motoko slammed his fist on the table. The latest trials had turned sour after a week. He flung the report down onto the tabletop, scattering the papers. Hitomi stood to the side, her eyes filled with worry.
"5 years…5 years and this is the furthest I've gotten." Motoko raged, "And now, we're short on material to continue!"
Motoko slammed his fists down onto the table once more and drew in a ragged breath. There was no way for him to get anymore materials, the source was all gone. All he had left was contained in the freezer.
Hitomi stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll volunteer. It's necessary." She spoke softly.
Motoko shook his head.
"No, it has to be pure or at least close."
Hitomi nodded and stepped to the side.
"Is there any other way?"
"No." He replied, "At least not without causing dilution to our current supply. And then it would cause a higher failure rate."
The current rate of failure was at 80. 98 if the partial successes were counted as failures. Motoko dropped into his chair and closed his eyes. He was so close. He already had one success; he just needed more to complete his experiments. But there was no one else who had what he needed. At least, not within his grasp. The survivor had disappeared, his spies told him, and the survivor's brother was gone as well.
Motoko looked at the papers scattered across his desk. His gaze scanned across the papers until they reached a framed picture. It was his ANBU initiation group picture. The people were all masked with white ceramic face masks, each one with unique symbols painted across them. He looked at himself in the picture. All he saw was his own mask, looking right back at him. And then he looked at the person next to him.
'That's it.' He thought, 'we have another source!'
Motoko stood in a flash and looked at Hitomi, who was still standing to the side.
"Tell Ryo that we're leaving on a mission. He's to keep everything stable until we get back."
Hitomi nodded and walked out of the office. Motoko looked back at the picture and the person standing next to him. Though the mask revealed nothing, it was the headband across the left eye that identified him. He had the Sharingan, Obito's Sharingan...
3...2...1...and Review!