Well hello again my friends.
It pleases me to say that after a breif run in with reality, *Cough* Moving *Cough* , my stories are still where I left them and that the internet is now finally back up and running. Which means that you all get to enjoy my stories once again.
One formal announcement: REVIEW! REVIEW MUCH PLEASE!
Now A shout out to my old beta reader who was so kind enough to help me with this chapter.
L&T
Now on to the show.
Disclaimer: I'd be a old man if I invented and owned Marvel, Marvel Studio's or anything in the marvel Universe(I list this only because of what is in the name). I'd have to learn to speak Japanese to own anything in Japan. So no, I don't own either Naruto or the X-men. But I do own a pillow.
Falcon S. Kimeraki
Naruto And the X-men - Fall of a Hero
Chapter Three - Evidence
Sakura just ended up staring open mouthed at the large lizard who had just tossed her superior into the river, and began to shiver and shake as a large slited eye stared her down. The Great Scaled eyelid slid closed once, and Sakura felt she could breathe once again, before she found herself staring at the slitted eye once again. It watched her, every twitch, every breathe, it was taken in by the great eye that watched her. Up until the time when both she and the great eye heard something from the river. A grumbling of sorts. Sorata slowly pulled himself out of the rivers waters, and of course his blue eyes glared towards the large winged beast in front of them.
"Now was that really Necessary?" Sorata asked, before he shook his head like a dog, sprinkling water all over the dry ground and on Sakura.
~Do not blame me for the fact that you lack tact.~
"Lack Tact? I'm going to inflict serious harm upon you very, very soon. Now." Sorata replied, glaring daggers at the Dragon who altered her posture to look the pinnacle of Dragon innocence and humour.
~You would inflict harm upon me? My brothers and sisters would never have done that. And their more vicious than you are.~ Nightstalker mocked, before shaking her mighty head before she eyed Sakura one more time, and then nodded. ~The pinklette has power, and spirit. Un-nurtured though. Pity…. Now I shall go and see to the river.~ The largest of them stated before she slowly turned and waddled within the waters, before she disappeared below it's depths while Sorata just glared at the depths.
"For Some strange awful reason, her tone really pisses me off." Sorata growled out, before he shook his head and then looked towards Sakura, nodding his head towards her. "Alright. We check up stream and see if we can't find any sign of our target, Naruto. Questions? No? Good, let's go." Sorata stated in rapid succession before he began to move down the side of the riverbank, at a leisurely pace, however the swaying of his head and the darting of his eyes showed that he was not walking idly by choice.
And for a while Sakura and Sorata had been walked up the river side in silence, looking on both sides for any signs of Naruto. And they did see signs. Whatever had happened had spooked everything in the area. The only thing that was acting the way it should have been was the water in the river. Trail signs, evidence that the wildlife had left in a panic, and any wildlife that should have been in the area were no where to be seen. Even the birds weren't chirping and it was indeed concerning. Of course Sorata, as the veteran Ninja, was always alert, his head swivelling this way and that, watching for any sort of ambush, or that of their target. But when Sorata turned his head to look towards Sakura, he saw that she was so deep in thought that she didn't seem to be focusing on what she should have been.
"Hey. Check yourself woman. That air head nature of yours might get yourself killed." Sorata stated, Startling Sakura out of her thinking daze and stared at her travelling companion. The look upon her face was enough for Sorata to pause in the walk, and look down at her. "Alright. Let's take a break. Fifteen minutes. Break out your canteen and you can tell me what's on your mind."
"Why would I tell you?"
"Because I asked ever so nicely. And It's scientifically proven that when a person with a heavy mind needs someone to talk to, they often find themselves the nearest stranger and talk." Sorata replied as he took a seat upon the top of a large rock that was lying upon the ground. "Of course. If you need to see it as an order from a superior officer to make yourself talk, then do so. I want to know why you can't keep your mind on finding your team mate." Sorata asked as he reached behind him and pulled out his canteen and took a long swig from it, while Sakura thought about what to do about this blue haired stranger.
"I'm just trying to figure out why Sasuke killed Naruto."
"Oh? And it seems like your already drawing conclusions." Sorata replied, before he looked down to the canteen, swirling the contents with in. "What's on your mind?"
"I was just thinking about how Sasuke and Naruto were always at each others throats. A petty rivalry. Trying to beat each other. But that lead to a… strange friendship there. They could rely on one another and always be counted to watch each others back…. But that all changed at…." Sakura paused, biting her lip, as she took a seat on a river bed's side. The pause that Sakura had made when she began to think about it, had caught Sorata's attention, and the superior ninja raised an eyebrow.
"At?"
"At the Chunin Exams, during the second task."
"The second task. In the Forest of Death… That's right. You and your team were ambushed by Sound Ninja in there. Orochimaru's lackeys. Tough bit of business in there, or so the Report told me." Sorata stated, while sipping from the canteen once again. The Blue haired man could not help but seem confused by what she had told him. Why. According to the information tha the had gotten from the report, the ninja had been deftly defeated at the hands of Sasuke. Confirmed by that of Team Gai. So why would she link the exam to the present situation. But then another fact of that same report came to be, something that he remembered prior to the incident with the sound team happening. "And I remember reading something about entering in combat against a Grass Ninja as well… But what would that have to do with the Emo?"
"The Grass Ninja… I remember him. I remember seeing him at the Chunin Exams again, the picture of the man that killed the Third Hokage. During the invasion… With the Third Hokage on top of the building." That tid bit of information got Sorata's attention once again, only the narrowing of his eyes showed that she had his complete and undivided attention.
"I'm listening. I want to know what sort of information you've got."
"I only saw it in passing, but I remember the eerie white skin, and those amber eyes. I didn't think anything of it at the time. So much death and destruction and with the threat of Gaara." Sakura stated, sipping from her own canteen, before she looked at Sorata, who despite his fierce look upon his face looked thoughtful.
"Understandable. Imminent bodily harm would cause things to be forgotten, and other things to be overlooked. Especially in the light of the investigation... But. You still haven't answered the question. What does Orochimaru have to do with Sasuke's actions?" Sorata asked, setting his canteen down upon the ground, right beside the rock that he sat upon while he watched Sakura who sighed and shook her pink hair out of her face.
"At the end of the fight with Orochimaru in the middle of the forest, His neck extended and slid out from his body like a snake. Orochimaru bit Sasuke in the neck… And after that Sasuke screamed out in pain, before he passed out." Sakura stated as she breathed in, pausing to take a drink from her canteen, watching as her hand shook. And then a strong tattooed hand clasped over hers, giving a reassuring squeeze before the man nodded his head for her to continue.
"Take your time."
"Of course… Well, when we were attacked by the Sound Team in the Forest, I was on my own, fighting three on one. IT wasn't exactly the best decision. But just as I was about to be brutalized, Sasuke woke up. But he wasn't himself. There were marks on his arm, neck, and face. Black ones. A lot like your own." Sakura pointed out, peering at arm. Of course though Sorata looked down towards the marks upon his arm and he raised an eyebrow to it.
"Your telling me that Sasuke was marked by Orochimaru with the same sort of bonding principles with that of me and my familiar?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but ever since Orochimaru marked him, he has never been the same. And you said that your markings connect you with your familiar's mind so that way you can communicate with one another." Sakura replied. What Sakura implied though, was enough for Sorata's eyes to widen at the facts that she presented. And what more, he, the Heir to the Kimeraki clan had yet to hear of it. And he maintained the seat on the council with his father currently indisposed. So all files pertaining to the invasion were his to view at his leisure, and to which he did.
"The marking, What happened to it." Sorata asked, and Sakura thought about what he wanted answered, before she shook her head lightly.
"I don't know. I had brought it up with Kakashi Sensei, but He said that it had been taken care of and not to worry about it. I didn't give it a second thought up until now." Sakura replied, however when a heavy thud echoed throughout where they sat, she jumped slightly. Quickly, Sakura's head snapped up and she noticed that Sorata had planted his fist against the side of the tree, hard enough to pierce skin.
"Damn it… Woman do you know what you've done!" Sorata growled out, and Sakura paled as she stood up and slowly began to back away. However when Sorata turned his gaze to meet hers, she knew that she was in no danger, despite his mood. "I asked do you know what you've just done! Answer me." Sorata stated.
"I… I don't know."
"You just spared Sasuke's life." Sorata stated as he reached down and grabbed the canteen, and proceeded to drain it of it's contents, before walking to the rivers edge to refill it. "Fine bloody political mess that you and your sensei have now gotten us into. I don't imagine that there will be any sort of punishment for you, despite having this on your record. Kakashi isn't likely to be taking a Genin squad again, and Sasuke get's away with murder."
"We don't know that, Sorata." Sakura countered and Sorata just sighed as he capped the top and slid the canteen against his side, before he turned and gave her a half hearted glare at her.
"We don't? We've been walking along the river bank for over a hour, we've covered a lot of distance in that. We've turned over a lot of bushes for anything that doesn't belong to an animal, and there's been no sign of Naruto." Sorata stated as he crossed his arms before he sighed and shook his head looking to the forest. "But there is a lot of forest out there as well, I suppose. But Sakura. I suggest that you get used to the fact that we might not find your friend alive. I gave up on finding any sign of him a half hour ago." Sorata stated as he slid the canteen back to it's holding place before he turned to look towards Sakura. The look upon her face told him that she wasn't ready to give into that fact.
And Thus he gestured for her to come along with a simple wave of his hand. No more words needed to be exchanged between the two of them.
-The Very Next Day-
Anbu Black Operations Head Quarters. It was something that had been frowned upon by the Hokage's, however they all knew and deemed it a necessary action. These were the hardest of the hardcore. Those that were not afraid to lay it all on the line for a final war. The Shield that acted as a sword for that of the good of the village. Preventing greater threats to the village before they could even start. And it served for a double purpose. It doubled as the Interrogation centre where captured or traitorous shinobi were taken. Alas for those that came to be from that latter, it seemed that as of late, the room was used far to often. Ibiki and Anko had had no shortage of work, that was for sure.
Those that were currently there were spies that sent information about their ranks to other suppliers. There had been just under eighty. Far to many. Some reported to their allies, and had been sent along their way. Others worked for the Daimyo, and were locked up in the most luxurious suites that they had. Which were regular officer quarters until they could release them into the Daimyo's custody. But there were many that were feeding information to their enemies. The Enemies spies. They were being interrogated about everything they knew. From their handler to their third birthday crush. And since they arrived back at the Village with the prisoner, Sasuke Uchiha, Anko was enjoying creeping information out of them. And the recorders that were documenting everything with audio recordings, written pads and video feeds, so that way nothing was missed when the analysts came, the chief of the headquarters got half a dozen reports from different sources, along with all the original recordings.
And in the last Uchiha's cell that was where Ibiki was, glaring down at Sasuke, who glared back at him. Surprisingly enough, the walk back hadn't rattled the boy like the scarred man had thought. That was fine. Black eyes met black eyes. Of course the younger could try to activate the Sharingan, and attempt to escape. But would find it futile. The room that they used was used as a execution room as well. Should the prisoner get out of control, a deadly poison was flooded into the room. Escape was next to impossible.
"So here we are, Sasuke… So now you know what I'm going to ask. Have you got a reasonable explanation for the Hokage to spare your life?"
"She can't touch me. I'm…'
"The last Uchiha, who swore an oath to protect the village and to follow the orders of it's commander and chief. And you've done a stand up job of that." Ibiki stated, soundly cutting Sasuke off with his dark voice. "Now where is Naruto?"
"How should I know? When I left him, he was alive." Sasuke replied turning his head away. A clear cut sign that Sasuke was not telling the man the whole and entire truth. That was not going to be stood for. Not at all. Ibiki reached out and grabbed the young Uchiha's cheeks and forced him to turn and to look at him, while glaring down at the boy.
"When you left him? Then you know where he is. Don't you?"
"Not Really." Sasuke stated, before a dark smile appeared upon his face. With a quick jerk, Sasuke broke himself free of the grip that Ibiki had upon his jaw. Smacking his lips and flexing the muscles that had been forced to move against his will, Sasuke turned and regarded Ibiki. "You won't believe me, even if I told you anyways."
Now that answer got Ibiki to raise an eyebrow to him, before the scarred man shook his head. "In my line of work, if you eliminate all other possibilities. Whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." Ibiki stated before he returned to his chair, and took a seat glaring down towards the youth in front of him. "Now. Start talking."
"Alright. We were in the Valley of the Death, Charging at one another. Naruto using the Rasengan, and myself the Chidori. When the attacks collided, we were not longer at the Valley, but what seemed to be at a shopping district of some sort. The battle continued. When our attacks collided a second time, some sort of window back to the valley opened. I used a distraction in the form of a human shield to lure Naruto away, and force my way to the window and back to the window. Next thing I knew. I was at the Valley again. And then I took off to the border."
"Where you were caught. By Kakashi no less." Ibiki stated not bothering to look up from the pencil and paper that he was using to write down all the facts. And of course it did seem far fetched. To the point of which he found laughable. However. The look in the boy's eyes stirred something in him. And the thought occurred. What if the Uchiha brat was telling the truth?
"Told you, you wouldn't believe me." Sasuke stated as he closed his eyes and rested back with in the chair that he had. "Doesn't much matter now anyways. The building that we were in was beginning to collapse. The Woman that he was trying to save probably got him killed in the process." Sasuke stated, seemingly calm as a still pond. Of course though, Sasuke was anything but internally. What was it. Why were these things bothering him. Why did he feel so about leaving the enemy behind?
"And your not telling me everything." Ibiki stated looking down towards the pad before he shook his head. "That's alright. I'll be submitting this report as well as the recordings to the clan council and get permission to get a Yamanaka to collaborate your story. If pans out and it's the truth, then pray to whatever god you believe in that he grants you forgiveness and eternal peace. Because the Hokage will do far worse to you than dropping a building on you." Ibiki stated shaking his head lightly, as he looked down towards the pad once again. "Who were you supposed to meet? What was your meeting location?"
"I was to meet Orochimaru. But I didn't know the location. The escorts were the only ones that knew and they didn't' tell me. So I moved as quickly as I could to the border." Sasuke stated, calmly and with out remorse. But the answer, the answer was something that he didn't like hearing. Orochimaru. This was not good. Not good at all. And that meant that they would be seeing him again very soon, so long as this child still remained.
"You know. Your one sad little boy trying to fight in a man's world. What do you think you could have gained with Orochimaru?" Ibiki asked, looking down towards the pad writing down his suspicions for the actions taken as well.
"Power. Simple as that." Sasuke stated, snorting air through his nose, while Ibiki raised an eyebrow to it. Power? That was the excuse for deserting the post? Tsunade would be needing a power sander to get the blood and bone out of the marble floor her home. That much he was predicting. Peering down at the pad though, he nodded his head. He had enough for the time being to begin a hypothesis.
"So, Just power… You do realize that the Village hidden in the leaves is the most powerful village present, correct?"
"And yet, Orochimaru was one of the strongest, trained by the Third Hokage, and was rewarded the title of Sage for his efforts in the last war." Sasuke stated, surprising Ibiki with the amount of Knowledge that he possessed about the Snake master. And Ibiki noticed the dark grin upon the boys face and he had to wonder, what sort of deranged thinking that the boy was processing through his skull. "And he saw what this place was doing. It was limiting his development. His Power. So he left in search of more. Tell me, Is it so wrong that he seeks out more power?"
"For his own twisted schemes, boy." Ibiki stated as he slowly rose up, looking down upon the boy with a frown upon his face. "You should know this. You hate Itachi for what he did to your clan. For giving them all quick deaths…"
"Don't you dare mention his name! He is a traitor and he will die by my hand."
"Not in this world junior… But here's some food for thought while I go and get something to eat… Orochimaru didn't discriminate when he first conducted his experiments." Ibiki explained, watching as a confused look appeared upon Sasuke's face. And thus a deep rough chuckle escaped the lips of the Jounin interrogator. "You really don't know do you? In spite of everything that you know about Orochimaru, you still don't know what he did… That's a sad fact in and of itself."
"What are you talking about?"
"Sasuke… When the Third took a team and raided one of Orochimaru's laboratories with in the village, we discovered corpses from several clans. Including the Uchiha. And each had signs of genetic experimentation." Ibiki stated as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and proceeded to light one up, allowing Sasuke to assimilate the new information. "So tell me, who's the real demon here. The man that tortured your clan and took it's secrets, or the one that just simply killed it?"
"How do I know what your saying is the truth."
"Ask the Fifth Hokage when she returns. I'm sure that she'd love to torment you with that sort of information… How your supposed saviour and potential teacher took your family and raped it. After all, You did take Naruto away from her." Ibiki stated with a dark grin, before he turned and walked outside to make arrangements with that of a old war friend, Inochi Yamanaka.
-The Valley of the End-
Tsunade dropped to the ground at the edge of the cliff, surveying the damage at the site and her eyes widened at it. Of course she had sent Tsume's team along with Hinata Hyuuga and Sakura Hanaru. But nothing prepared her for the destruction that was there. What was once a memorable site between two great fighters was nothing more than a destroyed forest. The two great statues were but now shadows of their former historic glory. The landscape was ruined and with it countless rare herbs for medicine. The battles through out this one lush and green paradise were now scars upon the earth that may never truly heal.
But that was not what Tsunade cared for. Not in the slightest. No she wanted to know what had happened to Naruto. What had happened to the boy that had swore that he would succeed her as Hokage? What had happened to the boy that showed courage against all odds? This was what she wanted to know the answers to. Long blonde hair swayed with the wind as she glanced towards that of the team that she had dispatched as it approached from the rivers edge. All of them. All of them indeed came forth, and when they stopped in front of her, all but two bowed before her. Tsume Inuzuka and Sorata Kimeraki.
"Report."
"Believe it or not, The hounds of the Inuzuka weren't able to pick up on anything of Naruto's scent." Tsume stated before turning and looking towards the river bed, while petting her own personal summon. "We tracked everything past this point towards the border, and up to twelve kilometres in every direction. There was so much as a track to follow or a scent to sniff. It's as though he vanished here."
"Well I can say that I've made progress… Though not much in terms of it being positive." Sorata stated shrugging his massive shoulders while his long trench coat swaying this way and that, showing signs that there were bits of grass and twigs upon it. Evidence that he to got on his hands and knees and actually looked for everything that he need to as well. "Myself and my beautiful side kick, Sakura Haruna, trucked up the rivers edges looking for signs of our wayward soul. I even asked my familiar to swim down stream and see if she could spot anything in the water or on the shores there… Yeah. We struck out." Sorata said in a voice that said that he really didn't care. A tone that really pissed people off at times, but that was the way he was.
"You certainly don't sound to sad about it." Tsunade stated through gritted teeth. Of course as the Hokage, it would not have been appropriate for her to just break down in front of the men that she was leading there. But many knew how she was feeling. Asuma looked as though he wanted to slit Sorata's throat, Kureani looked livid. However Gai seemed oddly silent, as though he was contemplating on Sorata.
"What's the point in wasting time being negative? It's true I feel sad about it loss of your man, Hokage-sama. But it's the way I am. I don't put any more thought to the past than I absolutely need to." Sorata stated shrugging his shoulders.
"For some reason, that tone of yours really pisses me off." Tsunade stated, glaring at him through watery eyes. However Sorata just shook his head, spilling blue dread locks every way, chuckling lightly.
"Eh. In any case, what orders have you given Ibiki?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because there's something that's come to my attention that I want to have a look at. As well as Master Jariya and a older master of seals from with in my clan as well." Sorata stated, putting his hands into his pockets not bothering to hide the fact that he was saying that he was in possession of knowledge that could complicate a lot of things. Of course though that to made Tsunade ponder even more about it before she shook her head.
"Care to elaborate on that?"
"Not until I know more about the subject of the information. And we've no idea who might be listening in to boot." Sorata stated before he looked towards the side, glancing towards Sakura for a brief moment before he put his hands into his pockets. Of course everyone knew the discretion of such important items at that point in time. Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly, as though trying to guess at what game the Kimeraki Heir was playing at. He had hinted that Sakura knew something, they way he had glanced at her in passing, she knew in her gut that there was something she knew. "Now about the answer to my question?"
"I told Ibiki to interrogate Sasuke personally. All information gained is for the Hokage's eyes only. Any outside investigation was deemed to his discretion, should it be needed. However to outside personnel under senior Jounin, this is all considered classified."
"Ah. So the investigation is still afoot. Tell me. Were you aware of any changes in Sasuke's prior and current charts when you examined him not to long ago?" Sorata asked, and that irked Tsunade something fierce. Was the man questioning her ability as a healer? Tsunade's fist clenched at the thought of being talked down to by someone younger than she was, not to mention under her command. Of course though, Asuma reached out and touched her shoulder gently.
"No… I didn't notice anything the matter with him or his previous charts beyond that of what he had suffered at the hands of Itachi Uchiha." Tsunade stated. And she watched Sorata rubbed his chin before he turned and nodded his head. "Alright then. It's getting late. There might have been something out there that we might have missed, so you can start out first light. But I'll be needing to head back to the village. I don't suppose that you would be willing to allow a escort? Would you?" Sorata asked of her, giving her a all knowing grin.
And that was when she remembered. He had wanted to examine something with Jariya there. what was it? What would make him ask to head back to the village? And Sorata had mentioned something about a investigation. Sasuke came up several times. Was it about him? Possibly. Understanding everything that was going on in that boy's head, and the truth would be needed. And Jariya wouldn't be that well needed at this point, despite his skills. She had brought more than enough to cover up for his missing anyways. And after a long pause she nodded her head.
"Very well. Ino."
"Yes Lady Hokage."
"Track down Jariya, I've a mission for him." Tsunade stated before she turned and looked towards the Sand Siblings, Rock Lee and Shikamaru who slowly stepped out of the shade of the forest, allowing her to appraise them all. "Your getting slow, Nara."
"Man, what a drag…..Give me a break, would ya? That crazy chick with the flute took everything I had." Shikamaru stated, putting his uninjured hand into his free pocket and allowing the free one to remain at his side. A response that made Tsunade smile, despite the circumstances. She could always count on the Nara's not to coddle anything. They considered that to troublesome.
"What's your condition?" Tsunade asked, looking down to his hand, and watched as the Nara shook his head, looking down to his hand.
"Drained. Just Drained. The fight was over yesterday, and I still feel awful." Shikamaru stated, rubbing his neck, while Temari looked towards him, her green eyes widening slightly. He hadn't complained about anything on the way there. And he kept up with them as they moved onwards. But there he was, proving himself to be a true warrior. "Lady Tsunade, what's the status of my team?"
A question that gave every ninja in hearing distance sign for pause. Even Sorata who had been cheerful just a moment ago, seemed subdued. But that question also brought into the fact that Hinata and Sakura were wondering the exact same thing. What had happened to the others? They had been so busy, that they hadn't put much thought into it. But now, seeing that the rookie nine and Team Gai were missing people, it seemed as though things had not gone well for those on the mission. Of course though, Tsunade knew that the question was coming up.
"I'll tell you this now. It's not looking good. Neji Hyuuga has a hole through his chest. We stabilized his condition, but we had to send him back to the Village for Treatment… His odds of surviving are at fifty-fifty. However should he survive, he will still be able to retain his ninja career. Chouji Akmichi consumed the 'chilli pepper' pill and when we found him his body was being eaten from the inside out to produce chakra. I was thankfully able to balance out the effects of the pill, so With time and a bit of luck he should be up and on his feet in a few days." Tsunade stated before she chanced a glance towards Tsume who looked surprisingly anxious about the pause that the Hokage now had.
"Kiba Inuzuka and his partner, Akamaru, were fatally wounded. One of the wound's upon Kiba's body though, appears to have been self inflicted. We were not able to question him, but we were able to stabilize his condition as well, and send him off for treatment back at Konoha… .The last member. Naruto Uzumaki is currently Missing In Action. We've just arrived to commence a search and rescue to see if he is anywhere along here."
The news hit home as Shikamaru took in everything. His friends had been harmed and Naruto was now missing. How could that have been possible? All had known that Naruto had bounced back from many more harder things. From Fighting Jounin's and supposed gods, to freaks of nature and those that had mastered elements only to fall victim to his friend. Shikamaru just sighed before he ran a hand through his hair. His first mission as a commander, and he had blown it. Things had gotten so out of hand that he couldn't keep up with it right. Chouji and Neji were in critical, but as luck would have it, Kiba was out of the woods. His poor choices lead to this.
When a hand clapped down upon Shikamaru's shoulder, Temari was there with here green eyes locking upon his. She was calm, collected, and offered her support. "Get your head out of your ass, Nara. Do you think that that dumb blonde would want you to be mopping about when you could be doing something about it?" Temari stated, her tone clipped and her words so sharp that it had brought focus back to his mind. And then Shikamaru nodded his head, before he looked towards Gaara who was now walking off in some odd direction.
"Where are you going?" Kankuro asked, crossing his arms over the leather bindings that he used to carry his puppets upon his back, his forehead wrinkling slightly in confusion. It wasn't the way back to the Sand Village and they had met their mission directives. But what Irked Kankuro more was that Gaara, the shortest of their three man team and the most powerful, didn't bother to stop.
"To look for Naruto."
"And your certain he's alive?"
"He's like me. He wouldn't be killed by a weaker opponent." Garra stated, his soft voice revealing nothing about the emotions that he now felt inside. The odd actions of their youngest sibling caused both Temari and Kankuro to look at each other and shrug their shoulders. Tsunade on the other hand just planted her fist upon her hip and shook her head. She had to admit it. This newer generation had guts. And that was when Tsunade turned her head to look back towards the heir to the Kimeraki clan, and she nodded her head.
"When Jaraiya comes, I'll send him back with you to Konoha. I want a full report of everything that you discover on my desk by the time I get back."
"Yeah, Yeah, and the rest of the council as well." Sorata stated, waving her off before he looked towards Sakura and then Towards Kakashi who had remained silent through out the whole ordeal. The elder man sighed and shook his head, before he reached down and patted Sakura upon the shoulder. "You've had time to accept the truth, Sakura. Now go and help Hinata. I think she needs a friend right about now. And see to Shikamaru's hand while your at it. The last thing we need is for something to go wrong with it." Sorata stated, speaking louder so that way Temari could hear him.
"What was that! You think I don't know basic first aid?"
"It's not that. It's just in my opinion those that like flashy attacks, like what you demonstrated, really don't have a knack or delicate touch for that sort of thing."
"Are you saying that I'm not delicate or have a knack for healing?"
"I believe in that old tradition. 'All blondes are idiots'. I haven't been proven wrong yet." Sorata stated chuckling. Of course though that had struck a nerve. Temari's green eyes narrowed to jade coloured slits, her bones cracked as she wiggled her fingers. The look upon her face was pure sinister looking, with a creepy smile and a voice so sweet one could taste the venom of her words.
"Come hither dear. I want to show you some of my delicate administrations." Temari growled before she launched herself at him in full sprint, laughing like a lunatic. And Sorata stood there, grinning like a idiot, with his shoulders shaking from hidden laughter. When reached back puling her fist back for one vicious hay maker Sorata's hand latched on to the forearm protecting her front, and then he tugged her forwards while side stepping. With all the weight on the front foot, Temari desperately attempted to regain her balance. After three hops she went over the edge of the cliff that they were arguing about. And not a second later there was a loud splashing sound. And then a howl of rage from the canyon below.
"Well that was fun. We should do that again more often. Now Sakura see to Shikamaru and Hinata. Tsunade speak with Kakashi, he's got things that you might not be aware about." Sorata stated before he turned and moved to speak with a couple of friends who were holding a map attempting to see which routes were taken. Of course Tsunade took Sorata's Advice, as poorly worded as it was, and turned her honey brown hues towards that of Kakashi who was busy looking down towards the ground, as though finding it the most intriguing thing around.
"Well?"
"I'm not sure what he's referring to." Kakashi stated shrugging his shoulder his one visible brown eye showing obvious confusion. However Tsunade was not convinced, and thus she crossed her arms and glared down at him.
"Is that so? The Kimeraki Clan Heir seems to think that there is something that I don't know, and that you can shed some light upon the subject. What do you know about Sasuke, Naruto and the battle that was fought here." Tsunade questioned and Kakashi began to think. To think back how things between the team began to shift and change. It had happened just after the Chunin Exams. The seal!
"He's referring to the seal on Sasuke's neck. The one that was placed upon him at the Chunin exams…. Oh no." Kakashi stated shaking his head as he stood up and looked out to the valley. "The Third Hokage and I thought we had sealed away everything that it was supposed to do." Kakashi admitted, putting his hand into his pocket and looking out towards the destruction that could have been partially his fault. Of course Tsunade's eyes widened at the implications now, but she was still no closer to a actual answer to what Sorata had asked to leave with Jariya about.
"Tell me more."
-The next Day, Anbu Black Ops Headquarters.-
There they had traveled since first light that morning, and with luck Jiraiya and Sorata had arrived in the late afternoon. They had made good timing from the valley, as anyone would have if they had spent enough time on the front lines. Speed and Endurance were factors in any sort of engagement just as Power and Skills were needed. That and after what both men had discussed in the evening prior, it was thought that they would have to push it. And thus the two men passed through the doors, not bothering to report in to that of the Hokage's Stand-in. Both of them considered this to be far to important to put off. Upon Arrival though, Sorata had ordered one of the guards at the gate to head to the Kimeraki compound and seek out a man called Matsuo and to bring him to the Anbu black operations board..
When they arrived, both nodded towards the operating clerk, however it was Sorata that started the discussion. "We need to see Prisoner Sasuke Uchiha."
"I'm afraid that he is in interrogation with Ibiki and our orders are to ensure that they are not disturbed." The clerk stated looking down to the chart having a look at the orders that were issued and that were written down beside the said name.
"My dear. Your impeding the investigation on this matter. Your going to let us in. With or with out your co-operation. Though to do that will take infinitely longer. I am Sorata Kimeraki, Heir to the Kimeraki Clan, and hear by order you to open those doors and to escort us to the Uchiha's cell immediately." Sorata stated, narrowing his blue eyes as though daring the person to say no to him a second time. Of course the receptionist had gotten the point about their visit and turned to look down to her intercom system.
"Paging Ibiki Morino to Reception. I repeat. Paging Ibiki Morino to Reception." The Receptionist stated through it's megaphone before they turned and regarded the two men. "It's the best that I can do. I can't defy the orders on the board, however I can give you a meeting with the man in charge of the prisoner in question and in charge of the investigation as well."
"Of course." Sorata stated before he and Jiraiya took a seat, looking down towards some old magazines, thinking.
"So you think that this is important?" Jiraiya asked flipping through a piece on landscaping and then started to drool about picture that he was now staring at. Of course though Sorata looked towards the door and shook his head lightly towards the silver haired Sage.
"I don't know. But has to many links to what the Kimeraki Clan uses to be coincidence." Sorata stated, looking back down to his own book on cooking. "You know exactly what I'm talking about to, don't you?"
"The seal that the Kimeraki use to connect the summoner and Familiar? Of course I do. Quite the nifty trick to." Jiraiya commented before he turned the page and nodded his head in approval of something. Something that apparently should not have been in the book to begin with.
"With what Sakura had told me, a couple nights ago. I don't like what I heard. It wouldn't take much fooling around with the over all seal to affect the mind and to link it with another source." Sorata stated, looking up from his book to meet Jiraiya's eyes, which held a deadly edge to them. He evidently had gotten what Sorata may have been leaning towards.
"And you know what that might mean if it's true?"
"That Naruto's killer walks free."
"How does that help us in this situation exactly?" Jaraiya asked and the younger man just shook his head before he scratched his neck. Truth be told he wasn't sure how the village was going to take Naruto's death. Of course though, he knew how the older Generations treated him. His clan on the other had kept the utmost respect for their young friend. A person that had earned their trust completely. And he knew that there were going to be celebrations as well. But for the Kimeraki Clan. They knew they owed the boy a blood debt for what he stopped in the wilderness. Had Garra made it to the walls of the village, the Kimeraki would not have survived the first five minutes of that engagement.
"I don't know… I just don't know… But I know what I'm going to do. And I believe I know what the Kimeraki Clan will do. We shall grieve when Naruto is declared missing in action."
"You sound certain of that."
"Unfortunately, that might just be the case. Tsume couldn't pick up a scent and Nightstalker went up that river and into the ocean before she returned. She didn't find anything." Sorata stated, before he noticed the elevator open up, and out walked Ibiki Morino, his black eyes locking up on their two forms and he nodded his head towards them.
"Gentlemen. I hope that this is important. I was in the process of interrogating Sasuke." Ibiki stated crossing his arms over his monstrous chest, glaring down at them. And of course Sorata nodded his head towards the man.
"Yes. We're pursuing another factor in the case, and I need to examine the interrogated. I trust you haven't used any forms of poison or sedatives?" Sorata stated, taking the charge, knowing full well that he would take the blame for any inconvenience that this would cause should it not lead to what he thought it was… But something in his mind said that he wasn't wrong.
"Not yet. I'm still in the process of milking him for as much information as I can, before I resort to anything like that to get the information I need. However I have sent word to Inochi Yamanaka. I'm needing him to look into Sasuke's mind." Ibiki stated, shaking his head lightly before he gestured for them to come along, and entered the elevator. A invitation that both men in the receptionist area accepted with haste.
"Inochi? Something come up that you need confirmed?"
"Yeah… But I'm afraid that I won't discuss it. Do what you need to do, and then get out. I'll present the findings at the trial or at that of the Hokage's desk when she asks for them."
"Figured as much. Don't worry. We aren't going to be asking him anything that results at the battle at the valley, so you needn't worry. What we're here to do is to look at a seal. And I've asked that the Kimeraki Clan Seal Expert come as well. I've sent word to him, but he's old and it may take him a while to get here. If you would ensure that he would be let in?"
"No problem. Though, the same conditions apply." Ibiki stated as he ran a finger against his scarred forehead. A tell tale sign that the situation was beginning to give a headache, and yet his face didn't reflect any of the stress or that of the pain that he was experiencing. When the elevator doors opened again, Ibiki took charge and marched forwards leading the way down the pathways. Of course there were various Anbu Black Ops men there, standing outside of doors.
"Filled up quick didn't it?"
"Yes. It did. With the aftermath of the invasion, The Lady Hokage had ordered a secure sweep of the village. Even Civilians were questioned."
"I would imagine that there were a lot of bystanders that didn't understand what was going on." Jiraiya commented, chuckling as they walked on, bringing a faint smile to Ibiki's face.
"Quite. I spoke to a man that passed out in front of me immediately. He thought I was there to collect on a loan that he took out from the bank." Ibiki commented as he took a left, and headed down another corridor, while Jiraiya chuckled and Sorata snorted.
"Well your reputation does precede you more often than not, Ibiki. I'm told that there are storied that you hide under the beds of children late at night, watching them to snatch them up if they were being bad." Sorata stated, shaking his head with amusement as they walked on, and despite the situation Ibiki chuckled.
"Only the ones I don't like." He admitted before he paused in front of a door, and nodded his head towards the Anbu guard. "This is the cell that Sasuke Uchiha is being confined in. I expect a copy of anything that you discover to make my report more complete." A offer that both men accepted, before they walked in and watched as Sasuke's head snapped up from his confines and glared at them. Of course it was a look that just made Sorata raise an eyebrow before shaking his head.
"Glare all you want, you pampered palace brat. It isn't going to help you in this situation." Sorata stated as he walked forwards nodding his head towards Jiraiya. "Sakura said that the mark was on the neck. We'll look there. Though, If we have to, we might need to do a full body search as well." A statement that made the old man laugh and shake his head.
"You'd enjoy that to much." As both men approached and grabbed the Uchiha by the neck before twisting it around to get a good look at the mark that was there.
"Damn straight I would. Have me out working in the bush. I swear, I was out in that muck so long I thought I was going to mildew." Sorata stated as Jiraiya pointed out where the odd mark upon Sasuke's neck was, and both peered at it. The mark seemed to be sealed by something else.
"It's Kakashi's work. And it's not bad. However I don't think he realizes just how deep this thing can go. I've seen things like this before as well. Proto Types on abominations that I've been forced to kill." Jiraiya stated shaking his head lightly as he looked down towards it. And then he reached into his large red vest and pulled out a small scroll used for sealing information. And with the unrolling and the releasing of the symbol that Jiraiya wished, he nodded his head.
"So what do you have there?"
"A copy of some of the original notes for these seals. I found them in some of the old labs that Orochimaru used to use while he was still a leaf ninja." Jiraiya stated flipping through it and the man sighed. "We'll need to activate it."
"Yeah. That's going to be happening in a cold day in hell." Sorata stated looking towards the door. And Jiraiya nodded his head lightly.
"Not if we pull every Anbu officer in the hallway and bind the boys arms and legs to the floor." Jiraiya stated. A plan that was quickly put into motion. The Guards were pulled from their posts and into that small cell, Jiraiya summoned forth the great toad innards that he once used against Itachi and his partner Kisame. And then forced Sasuke to the floor where the innards wrapped around the boy's arms, legs, and stomach. Of course though, Ibiki was there with a huge katana, easily seven feet long, and poised right over the Uchiha's neck line. Should things get out of hand, a swift decapitation would end their problems completely. Matsuo arrived shortly after the preparations were complete, much to the amusement of both Jiraiya and Sorata.
"Well old man. Glad you could make it." Sorata commented, before the old man gave a very rude gesture to which Sorata just scoffed and took a bow. "I do aim to please. Now let's see what's all going on in here. Anbu, wire him up to the brain wave analyzer and we'll see what's all going on in this sick demented little mind of Sasuke's." And thus the Anbu medic rushed forwards, a small portable machine there. And with the connection of several wires to the captives temples and various other regions of the head they got the go ahead. "Alright old man. It's all your show now."
And thus with several quick moving hand signs, Jiraiya's hands glowed slightly before he touched the seal. The results were instantaneous. The original black marks multiplied began to expand past the seal that Kakashi had erected to contain it. The brainwave monitor recorded a huge boost in activity, as well as a shadow of another. As though a echo was there. And it was recorded. However when the markings encased Sasuke's entire boy, the boy began to struggle. To the point where Ibiki bowed down to end it.
"Cut it." Matsuo ordered and thus Jiraiya immediacy ceased the attempts, and watched as the markings receded much to the annoyance of Sasuke who glared at them in return.
"You think you can keep me here forever?"
"Nope. Not forever. Just until we run out of food or you die of old age. Which ever comes first." Matsuo replied evenly before he looked down to the recordings that they had. "You may secure the prisoner once again. And I suggest that you triple the guard as well." A suggestion that was immediately carried out with a bark of Ibiki's orders, as the three seal masters looked down towards where the seal was and what the results were.
"Fuck me, do I hate it when my hunches prove right." Sorata mumbled as he eyed the recording.
"Those markings. They're nearly identical to what the Kimeraki use, weren't they? When they spread out like that." Jiraiya questioned, knowing that the two Kimeraki members were worried about what they had just witnessed.
"Yes. Nearly so. Only what the Kimeraki use isn't like that. Our arm has the constant effect. And thus the link. But this…. This is something completely more. The brain wave patterns in Sasuke's report were… worrying. As a matter of fact. What we recorded when the seal was forced open was two brain waves in there. The larger being Sasuke's. The other of unknown origin… And since he wasn't bonded to a Dragon, we can assume that it isn't to anything that we know right now." Matsuo replied, looking down towards the recordings.
"So it's near exact to what the Kimeraki use on a basis level. However there were so many more additives. We will need to conduct more tests and recordings before anything can be truly measured though." Sorata stated, turning his head to look towards Sasuke who was now fastened to the chair that he had been sitting in before the tests. "You noticed it didn't you Jiraiya?"
"The Chakra spike, the sudden tenseness of the muscles? Yeah. And I don't like it any more than either of you." Jiraiya stated shaking his head lightly, before he looked down towards the book that he had. One that Sorata and Matsuo showed an interest in. "I would let you look at this to compare anything, however, you would need to get the Hokage's permission to look at the original copies. These are just some copies. The rest were confiscated by the third."
-Chapter End.-
Well there we got it. Those of you who want to flame me for attempting to keep Sasuke alive, please do so. I have plans for him. Oh yes. i've plans for him alright. *Insert evil cackle here.* oh how good it is to leave you thinking about the plots and the counter plots I come up with. Now to that pillow I mentioned earlier. It's late and I'm tired.
Please be kind, please Review
Falcon S. Kimeraki