Four Letter Words
Story Thus Far- Those without capable teachers seek training elsewhere. Those with willing teachers work for their approval. Sakura works toward her goal, for all is fair in love and war. Zabuza takes the first, and most important step, toward his. Naruto lets insanity was over and through him, hopefully leaving him stronger for it, for he now knows that demons and spirits are everywhere hiding in the world. He is just one of many. The demons themselves wait for the opportune moment when a child will lead them.
A/N- Has anyone else noticed how Kurenai is portrayed awefully underpowered? I mean, she's like the only female jounin that gets any screen time but though she's seen as 'smart' in fanfics she doesn't kick near as much ass as she should. So. Here we have kickass!Kurenai. Enjoy.
Chapter Fourteen: Wait
Kin made a few notes with her pen, detected the distinct sound of something heavy sliding against the carpet, and spun in her seat. Her eyes narrowed at the suspicious pair of bells sitting innocently on the floor. I knew it. They've moved at least three inches from where they were last! Her room had a soft beige carpet which made tracking the movement of anything that went across it easy. A soft line of disturbed material lead from the corner where she had placed the, once again, fist sized bronze bells to where they now sat at least a foot from the wall.
Kin squashed the urge to scratch her bandages and sat her brush down carefully so as not to smudge the ink. With her chakra at deadly lows she'd been unconscious for a week and healing from burns and now that she was up and about she wanted to study sealing in more depth, but the bells! Something needed to be done about the spirits. As it was daytime they didn't move much, for some reason they were only really active at night, but they still followed her around. She was grateful for the help back in Shikyo and told them so but they were such a distraction!
"This has to stop." Kin uttered in all seriousness. No matter where they went or how far they traveled, sure enough, by the next morning the two spirits were there. Lurking. The first morning she woke up to find them cuddled up to her side whining. 'Oh, You know Kin-chan. We ran them off the first few times, but they're persistent. And, well, they aren't hurting anyone.' "I mean it! I have duties, studies, I can't be entertaining you two all the time."
In response to the chastisement the bells slouched, their handles dipping marginally. Kin sighed and began wiping ink spots from her fingers with a rag. She didn't know what to do with them. She tried ignoring them but they didn't go away. Every time she turned around they were there. Waiting for something.
Zabuza didn't care so long as they didn't cause trouble, and actually found them entertaining to some degree. Kin couldn't tell if Haku liked them or not but Naruto loved them and they seemed to listen to the little blonde. She couldn't just run away, and she couldn't seal them.
Kin rubbed her head and sighed as the bells zipped across the floor to sit at her feet. She still wasn't used to them and the odd warmth they radiated bungled her senses. It wasn't evil, per say, but it wasn't good either. She didn't even feel right calling it chakra. It was more like anti-chakra if such a thing was possible.
Her dark eyes drifted to the pages of notes littering her desk. Sealing was a complicated art; a simple storage seal could be used to theoretically store anything, but often failed for reasons unknown. Certain objects would decay at faster rates when sealed, and some would be completely absorbed into the seal to never come out. As disturbing as they could be, she couldn't just shut them up. She had to figure out a purpose for the tsukumogami.
The kunoichi was at an impasse. She couldn't improve any further on lock picking without experience, and she couldn't study sealing any further without new books or outside tutelage but she didn't know anyone. Her glyphs were better, she wasn't smudging strokes into each other anymore, but her knowledge was limited and she didn't dare experiment. Why are all the great seal masters dead or paranoid?
A dull knock came from her feet as the clapper inside one bell knocked against the wall while it rubbed her feet. Great. Now it's acting like a bloody cat. Kin shook it off her leg and began pacing the room in thought. Back to the current problem; what could she do about them? They did pretty well against the ghost guy, but how many times am I going to fight something like that? They can't be used as musical instruments, for obvious reasons. The girl turned and noted that the pair was following her steps, the sanded handles bobbing back and forth as they moved. It was kind of cute. Kind of. Can't be used as messengers. Anyone not acquainted with them would freak out. I would have. They're monster bells! Kin stopped as realization hit her. She wasn't sure if it would work, using something that was semi-living as a medium, but it worked with her old silver bells. Then again, there was no reason to try and switch tools when her genjutsu worked just fine with the small ringers.
Kin slowly lowered herself to the floor and patted her thigh. A few muscle groups protested at her crouching but she could care less; it wasn't near as bad as it had been three days ago. That's what happens when you overload the body with chakra. "Alright you two," the bells surged forward but slowed enough to gently lower themselves into her lap. Couple of dogs indeed. "Here's the proposal. I can't have a couple of useless pets, and that's exactly what you've been acting like! So, I'm willing to try fighting with you. How would you like that?"
The girl was surprised at the answer as she hadn't expected one. The two bells disappeared from her lap and positioned themselves among her scattered kunai and ninja pouch. Even as she walked towards the door to get more muscle relaxant they didn't move from the spot. So that's that then. I wonder what kind of attacks I can make with a spirit.
It would be several years before Kin understood that ultimately all things wish to be useful, and this holds true even more to the realm of household items. A spoon exists to scoop and if it doesn't it has no reason to be. Tsukumogami may be twisted, but they still hold onto their purposes from before awakening. To be used, to be valued, is one desire that never dies. The bells may not be used to make music anymore but for the one that cared about them, they could still be useful. They would be weapons.
Pure water is neutral. That was Hinata's first lesson about her element affinity. Her second lesson was that while she could use her own body fluids and what could easily be pulled from her environment using someone else's was near impossible. It was all about different chakra as everyone's was unique. The saturation of the others chakra prevented her from directing the water in their bodies, even the sweat dripping off during a fight was off limits.
Hinata really hated that fact.
She flipped to the side and kept her distance from the attacker trying to decide which style would be better suited to the situation. Her team had gotten it's first C-rank, a simple border patrol along the Fire-Rice line that was intended more to familiarize them with the territory than anything else, but then they saw the bandits.
It was a smaller group than usual, Kurenai-sensei claimed, but what they lacked in numbers they made up for in skill. A nuke-nin from grass lead them and made sure they all had rudimentary chakra training. What resulted from that was a group of thieves and murderers that were faster, stronger, and utterly unexpected. While sensei went after the renegade Grass shinobi -ten thousand Ryo bounty!- Kiba, Shino, and Hinata were to take out the bandits.
Five converged on Hinata and she was able to take one out immediately with well placed jyuken strikes, but the others saw what happened and changed tactics. They're much smarter than the stories I've heard.
The bandits moved sloppily using hit and run tactics. She had no problem keeping track of them through the dense trees and dodged all their weapons with the aid of her eyes. Her left hand weaved through a series of half hand seals, her other was occupied with a kunai for deflection, and settled on tiger. Water burst out of the gourd on her hip and twirled out forming a snake like whip.
Not many people appreciated how strong water could become, and when the next bandit leapt out swinging his sword wildly he didn't expect the water whip to do much damage. Hinata groaned with the exertion of the control and amount of chakra necessary to maintain the jutsu, it was similar to the advanced jounin-level water dragon, but she needed to lower their numbers fast.
A bandit lunged, face twisted in a leer, and swiped with his sword. Hinata flicked her wrist as the stream of water crashed against the man. The water rebounded off the bandit's skin and clothing as if they were oil and snaked around. Within seconds lines of liquid spilt off forming tiny chains which Hinata used to pull the bandit, now cursing, toward her while she went in for a jyuken strike to his temple. As he fell so too did his liquid binds. The Hyuuga couldn't maintain the jutsu and expel chakra for her family technique at the same time.
Dirt crunched beneath her sandals as she moved around the large man to use him as a shield. Two more attacked together and she kicked her unconscious captive at a dagger wielding boy. He ducked to the side and released a throwing knife that sliced her cheek, dangerously close to her eye.
Hinata pushed chakra to her feet and jumped up with one hand covering the cut. She was forced to deactivate her byakugan as the cut had hit one of the outer veins, allowing far too much blood to spill out. The three remaining bandits followed her, their movements in the trees clumsy and loud compared to her, and they continued their barrage of throwing weapons.
How many do they have?? Of course she clearly remembered the bandoliers of shuriken and kunai two of them had strung about their torsos. The small knives embedded themselves into the bark at her feet as she front flipped downward to dodge the shoddy attacks. She used the hang time to fish a roll of bandages from her pouch and hit the ground running, her hands working furiously to wrap the small injury. Unless it was sealed she wouldn't be able to use her eyes, and without them they had the advantage in the trees. I used too much chakra on the water rope.
"Now, now, girl. Calm down. We wouldn't want to scar that face of yours any more than it already is." A bandit with a slash across his forehead joked while hefting a chipped battle axe.
Hinata swallowed, tired and nervous, as the remaining trio circled her. Too late she saw what had happened; they'd corralled her. They wouldn't try for direct hand-to-hand, and the area they'd lured her to was far too dry to attempt drawing water form it.
The one to her right was spinning a kunai around his finger. "You can't last much longer little sister."
Little. Weak. I'm so useless. Her shoulders sagged and her lip trembled. A sound came from the left, a soft jingle of metal on metal, and her head whipped to the side to see the third inching closer. At this rate, at this rate... I can't win. Her fathers comments flashed in her head. No one at home would miss her. Oh, they might mourn the loss of her unsealed eyes to the enemy, but they wouldn't miss her. Shino and Kiba probably already defeated their opponents. Shino... and Kiba. Kiba had a nice family. His mother had really acted like she liked her. They would miss me. Wouldn't they? Yes. We're a team now. I'm part of a team, my strength is their strength.
Hinata calmed her nerves and took a few steps back, attempting to regain her bearings. Briefly she recalled the time when a short blonde, blue eyed boy out witted and outran an entire team of ANBU. He certainly wouldn't have given up. If you lose here, Hinata, who will find him? The petite girl wiped the thin line of sweat and blood from her face and took her traditional fighting stance, arms held away from her body and feet parallel as if in a line. She glared at the presumed leader.
"I-I'm not done yet."
The cave had been thoroughly searched, and Onna as well as her team were appalled at Konoha's lax security. No less than twenty three corpses had been discovered as well as one malnourished and scared little boy that didn't talk; he yowled and tried to claw at anyone who came close. Clearly illegal experimentation had been going on and kidnapped children had been used.
Onna's memory connected one strawberry blonde corpse to a missing persons report that had been lodged by a minor trader three years ago. Mizuki, and whoever worked with him, had been working for an unknown amount of time. She'd get them, eventually. Already clues to who it could be were found in the hidden lab, and she a number of people analyzing the data with shinobi profiles active and non.
"Looks like he had a penchant for blondes." Her commander commented as he reviewed the coded report. The code utilized was one used only for classified levels and had no written key; everyone that would need to read it either memorized the code or had someone else decode it for them.
"It appears so, though the survivors natural hair color is undetermined." Onna only added that bit as it wasn't in the report. She stood at attention and waited as Ibiki continued reading. For a moment she wondered if he was part of the conspiracy, before discarding the idea. Ibiki had a history of violent outbursts but extreme loyalty. His threat level was high but unlikely.
Ibiki leaned back in his desk and propped his boots up on the table. It'd been several weeks since he sent Onna on her ferreting mission and only now she was reporting in. Of course she didn't like to report unless she had substantial information. "Has the boy showed any signs of lucidity?"
"Yuuhi-san is the only one that has been able to have any meaningful interaction with him using her genjutsu, but he has yet to give any information."
Ibiki thought. The kid was a lost cause. Whatever process that was used had been intended to bestow the user with a stronger body and quicker reflexes, and judging for the child and the remaining skeletons the power was animal based. At least one cause of death had been simple organ failure as the animal traits shifted important bits out of alignment and fused things together that ought not be.
Trial and error was quick, but often resulted in dead test subjects.
So young, and so tragic. Ibiki sighed as he thought about the one survivor. The boy's skeleton had somehow lengthened and his eyes had a permanent cat slit to them. The doctor on hand claimed he had the beginning of a tail growing and his vocal cords were so stretched and scarred it was amazing he could make any sound at all. He was only six, and with all the physical changes it was impossible to ID him.
It was times like this that Ibiki hated being commander. It was his decision to make, and he didn't want to make it, but it was practical. They lacked the resources to reverse the transformation and doing so would likely prove fatal in any case. They couldn't take care of a half human, half tiger child. Not without risking revealing our suspicions and possibly warning the culprit. "Onna, what would you say to the... risk factor of the boy?"
The woman narrowed her eyes marginally. "I do not understand the question."
"His combat effectiveness."
"He has unusually good reflexes and situational awareness for his age. Likely due to the experimentation. His strength changes on mood, his chakra level varies but has been seen to cap at upper genin level. He uses it to enhance his own movements much like the Inuzuka."
"Interesting." Ibiki flipped to the back of the report to see a picture of the child in question. He was under sedation for the photo, lips held back to show the unnatural sharp teeth and jaw line. He'd been found in a cramped chakra-enforced cage and when placed in enclosed rooms he went berserk. Ibiki clicked his pen to get the tip out and began filling out a form. In code of course. "Have him moved to training area 44 and introduced to the tigers there. If he manages to make a place for himself, great, if not?" Ibiki checked a box and signed his name.
The jounin wasn't afraid of blood and though he had a soft spot for children it never hampered his work. Not when Konoha was at stake, and not when traitors were running about free, but there were more factors to consider. The Hokage was getting soft and would no doubt balk at the thought of killing a child as he had with the jinchurriki. The tiger herd in the forest of death was known for taking full fledged jounin on occasion; they'd give anyone after Mizuki's atrocious method of power trouble. Until we know who it is the cells aren't safe, and he'd be happier outside. If the boy didn't get along with the animals he'd have to be put down as they would have no other option.
Onna gave a respectful nod, gathered the required forms, and left. Ibiki rubbed his chin, felt the stubble from too many all-nighters reading through the reports, and took his razor from a drawer. Normally reserved for interrogating with flare, the blade might actually see it's original purpose. Meeting with the Hokage in an hour. Shit. Ibiki really hated having to explain his reasoning to men that knew jutsu's for flaying a human alive in three seconds flat.
Haku's room looked nothing at all like a bedroom, probably because there was no clear bed. There also was a noticeable lack of closet. The ice user preferred it that way, and had moved several pieces of furniture from the various sitting rooms of their temporary base.
An array of glass plates and vials stood at attention, as well as a plate of cookies. Haku tucked a strand of hair that had escaped from his pony tail behind his ear and continued grinding away at the chunks of bark in his mortar and pestle while nibbling on a cookie. All was well in his world. A purple syrup was slowing coming to boil on a hot plate, a mixture with bits of tuber still floating around made from the roots acquired in Takara. The medicines were coming along nicely and the cookies that Saiga-dono's servants made were excellent. Almost like the ones his mother used to make.
"Hey, Haku-kun." A voice sounding like a pained blonde Haku had come to love came from the door. Strange. Naruto's injuries healed tended to heal quickly and the boy had claimed to never get sick. At least, not that he can remember.
"Yes, Naruto-kun?" Haku turned, his back cracking as he twisted, and looked to see what he surmised to be a clone. There was certain, something, in the demeanor of Naruto's clones that gave them away. It was hard for him to put a name to it but if he had to he'd call it a vicious devotion.
The clone's eyes were shielded with a hand as he entered the brightly lit room. "Naruto-kun isn't feeling well. Do you have anything for head pains?"
That was another weird thing about Naruto's clones. Zabuza learned the Kage Bushin easily though he didn't have the chakra capacity to make in the sheer amounts Naruto did, but his were exact copies. Sure, all clones looked like the original but they all acted as if they were the original; barely giving difference to their creator. Haku had only been able to manage one clone, and it wasn't nearly as obstinate as Zabuza's had been. Privately, the effeminate boy thought it was a personality issue.
Still, it didn't explain the discrepancies between the blonde and his clones. The scroll warned about the hazards of the Kage Bushin, mutiny and chakra exhaustion foremost, but said nothing about the odd behavior Naruto's clones exhibited. The only explanation Haku could come up with was that there was something else mixed in. But of course, that was impossible. Right?
"You mean headache? I'm sure if Naruto-kun takes a nap it will leave on it's own. He has been staying up rather late, recently." Haku shrugged and added a few drop of water into the mortar as he ground the bark down.
"Well," the clone fidgeted. "It's really really bad. Makes it hard to think."
"A migraine then." Haku set his instruments down and grabbed another cookie. Pain reliever to increase blood flow might work. Brown eyes looked over the coffee table turned lab desk. Several glass vials stood empty, waiting. I have been meaning to get some samples. "All right. I should have something here, where is he?"
For the sake of expediency, Kiba had used the shikyaku jutsu, four legs technique, immediately before going into battle with the four bandits that decided to take him on. With the boost of sped and unexpected claws the bandits had a hard time deciding how to engage him, not to mention Akamaru. Evidently they'd never fought an Inuzuka before, or any one that used animal partners.
Kiba charged into battle, jumped over a slash aimed at his feet, and brutally clawed at his opponents eyes. The screams resounded in his now sensitive ears forcing him back, briefly, before the Inuzuka crouched and bounded upwards to think. The bandit was kneeling on the ground and clutching at his face screaming bloody murder as a white gel leaked between his fingers. "You fucking brat! I'm going to fucking kill you!"
Kiba smirked and twisted away from a wildly thrown dagger. I think I got his eye. He ducked and ran again, this time using the tree trunks as spring boards to confuse the three remaining. Akamaru caught on and did the same, his small white form an even harder target, before diving in and biting at any exposed skin he could.
Chakra coursed through the ninja's body as he moved around his opponents in a chaotic series of dodges that brought him closer to the enemy. He was surprised by the minimal level of chakra manipulation the bandits showed but it didn't bother him. He palmed a kunai and passed it to Akamaru who easily caught the handle in his mouth before leaping to engage his opponent.
Two left for me. Kiba blocked a sudden punch at his face, and barked out a laugh as the veiled man retracted his now bloodied arm. Kiba's claws shredded the fabric of his shirt and cut the skin easily. He couldn't help gloating as he paused long enough to hold up his hand. "What do you think? If you want to disarm me, you'll have to disarm me!"
"It would be my pleasure."
They clashed again, two on one, and Kiba loved it. He took a kick to the ribs but with the chakra running through him from his family jutsu the damage done was ignorable for the time being. He taunted them as he fought, imagined the hair on their necks standing up in indignation, and laughed as he ducked an attack and kicked up into the man's solar plexus. They were getting angry, and angry bandits made stupid bandits. Stupid bandits made mistakes.
"What?!" A bandit screamed in pain as Akamaru broke from his cover, kunai bloody but still sharp, and ran through the fight staying low. The small blade cut through the bandits Achilles causing him to fall to one side which Kiba immediately took advantage of to knock him out with a solid blow to the head.
"Good work boy!" Kiba saluted the small animal as he turned all his attention to the final member of the bandits. He clapped his hands together, "Tsuuga!"
A spinning ball of Kiba broke through the bandits defense and drilled into him, cracking bone and bruising. As the man finally collapsed to the ground Kiba spun out, swaying for a moment in the after effect of the high-speed jutsu. Akamaru whined in question as Kiba dropped to the ground and patted his friend on the hand. "Mom was right. We're going to have to practice this, the world keeps spinning!"
"Rarf Rarf!"
"Yeah, they were pretty stupid. And you need a bath."
"Raaarf!"
"Don't blame me when all that blood starts matting."
"Rarf."
"I guess you're right. I think I can stand up now." Kiba jumped up and sniffed at the air. He grinned and jumped to the trees, his four legs technique still active, and followed Hinata's scent. She had the largest number of bandits to deal with and would no doubt appreciate a little help. The Inuzuka popped half a solider pill in his mouth. He'd be sore as hell in the morning with low chakra reserves, but better then than now.
He motioned with a hand calling for the puppy to circle around before bursting from the tree line and running flat out into the back of a short-sword wielding bandit. He heard something snap. "Yo, Hinata!" He waved and climbed off the moaning man.
The girl blinked before waving slowly back as if unsure. "Hello, Kiba-kun."
The bandits steamed and charged, one for each genin. Kiba jumped up, kicked his opponent in the head, back flipped, and dug a kunai into the man's thigh. Akamaru teamed up with Hinata and helped distract the man long enough for kunoichi to get in close and hit his lungs. Unable to breath properly he dropped to one knee gasping.
"T-thank you, Kiba-kun, Akamaru-kun." Hinata called while kicking away the bandit's main weapon; a battle axe.
Kiba relaxed as he tied up the still living bandits and his jutsu dropped. He groaned as a thousand little hurts made themselves known without the chakra buffer blocking them out. "It was no problem. I mean," wince, "we're a team."
Hinata nodded.
"Let's go find sensei and Shino."
She nodded again and made to follow her teammate, but she paused long enough to send a swift kick to the unconscious bandit's ribs. Unprofessional, but satisfying.
Shino quickly dispatched the bandits 'assigned' to him. His bugs dispersed into the environment and quickly drained the wandering criminals. They had more energy than the average bandit, at least if what his father had told him was any indication, but they still went down. It wasn't until there was only two left that they realized what was happening and by then the Kakai were drifting from their unconscious comrades to swarm the remaining combatants.
It had been a quick battle but served as a good exercise in controlling his allies while dealing with multiple targets.
Now he walked toward where his allies told him Kurenai-sensei was dealing with the Grass nuke-nin. Shino adjusted his glasses as he noticed a burnt patch of earth. Fire jutsu. Shino increased his pace, but he was in no hurry. Sensei is a jounin, fully capable of handling herself.
As the last of his hive returned to his body he took to the faster mode of travel, tree hopping, and soon heard the sounds of shouting. He concealed himself among the leaves and watched as the dark haired beauty of a kunoichi crouch close to the ground. The air was hazy, the tale-tell sign of a genjutsu, and the Grass nin was failing around attacking imagined opponents.
Kurenai occasionally flicked out a shuriken to add real pain to the illusion and keep the foreign ninja on his toes. She danced out of range as if playing cat and mouse with him. It was cruel in a way how she dragged out the death; Kurenai already told them she intended to collect the bounty on his head.
The ninja weaved his fingers together creating a storm of leaves that swirled through the air like a hurricane. He's realized it's a genjutsu- he's hoping to get her in an area attack. The jounin shrugged off the attack and slipped out of the storm with a replacement, appearing behind the run-away.
Just as he broke the genjutsu she cast on him, Kurenai shoved a thin blade into the back of his neck and up into his brain stem. He dropped to the ground as a cooling corpse.
"Shino-kun."
"Yes, sensei?"
Kurenai cleaned off her blade and replaced it in the holster hidden under her sleeve. "Please find your teammates."
"Yes, sensei." Shino listened to the instructions his bugs passed back to him on the location of his teammates, and tuned out the sounds behind him of his teacher gutting the corpse for transport.
Naruto groaned and fumbled through the kitchen in their new house. Saiga-sama had given it to them for the duration of their stay in the area as a show of appreciation, but it was a little on the big side. Naruto wasn't used to big houses. At least not living in them.
"Where's the damn milk." He muttered as a pulled open the fridge. Various juices stared back at him, but the milk was elusive. He squinted and groaned digging his knuckles into the side of his head. He'd been having headaches off and on for the past few weeks, and for the most part he ignored them, but now they'd reached epic proportions.
He made a clone and sent it off for pain killers.
The heels of his palms pressed into his closed eyes in an attempt to relieve the hated throbbing. Colors exploded behind his eyelids. He saw trees, and it filled him with peace. Konoha will be getting nice breezes about now.
"But it's still filled with shit." The voice angrily halted his thoughts and the pain increased. Naruto groaned as his clone returned with Haku, who shined a light in his eyes and clucked his tongue in disapproval. Naruto watched as Haku sorted out some small white pills from a bag. The blonde watched the other boy work at crushing the pills as an overwhelming urge built up to go home.
But Konoha wasn't his home, was it? He liked living with Haku, and Kin, and even Zabuza despite his aloof attitude. The missing-nin was a good teacher and actually appreciated him. So why did he want to go home? No one liked him there.
Haku took out a scalpel and bowl. "Naruto-kun, I would like to take a sample of your blood. Would you mind?"
The younger boy narrowed his eyes in suspicion. The headache marginally lessened. Could he really trust them, it seemed to be asking. But he had no reason not to. "You aren't going to use a needle like the doctors, are you?"
"No. I'm going to make a small cut here," Haku tapped the small surgical knife against his arm close the wrist. "and catch the blood with this."
"Okay." Naruto held out his arm, giving only a small flinch as the knife cut through his skin. As the blood flowed over his skin Naruto giggled. It felt like warm silk was running out of him and into the bowl. "That feels weird."
"I would expect so." Haku set the bowl on the table and handed Naruto the drink he had prepared only moments earlier. The dark haired boy turned the already healing wrist this way and that, eyes bright with fascination. "It seems as though your skin isn't wholly immune to the corrosive properties in your blood. A thin layer is dissolved, but the healing factor of your bloodline more than makes up for it."
Naruto chugged the drink, smacked his lips at the chalky after taste, and shrugged. "So what does that mean?"
"I'm not sure, exactly. I'll run a few tests. Meanwhile you should get some rest." Brown eyes softened. "I know you've been working hard, but it won't help anyone if you collapse on us."
Naruto smiled and nodded, his eyes drooping with exhaustion as he wandered back to his room. He just wanted to get better! Stronger! Faster! Then again, no one ever told him to take care of himself before; he had always trained until he dropped. But he didn't know why he was getting headaches. Still, I can't let them down! I'll take a nap, and then, look over those techniques. Naruto burrowed under the covers of his bed, easily ignoring the annoyed whispers of his conscience as it grumbled about meddlesome humans and contingency plans.
They danced and laughed around the room as the music played. As always the mood was light in The Angels Blessing. If someone was to enter the simple modest door and see the various men and women dancing barefoot to the soft jingle of tambourines and whisper of flutes, and the steady notes singing out from a single harp it would be hard to guess the true nature of the business. Walking into the newly renovated rooms was akin to passing through a portal to another world.
A small girl dressed in white silks with silver ribbons wound through her hair stood near the musicians, all women, and began singing. With her small hands clasped together as if in prayer and her eyes fluttering softly she resembled the contemporary angel. "Fendia queti melia, Dufarius quenti formi, Lemidius lundwe...". None of them were of the caliber to play professionally, but with a little wine the music spilling from their hobby transformed for their listeners into performances given only by the great masters.
Those lounging around the perimeter of the room on couches and chairs looked up from their drinks appreciatively. Leslie raised her own glass of light wine toward the young girl. She had been wasted in the kitchens.
The red haired woman watched with a smile as her dream played out. Clients sat or danced with her girls to the music. She watched as a shapely body swayed back and forth making the tiny bells sewn into belt chime. It was the ideal atmosphere to relax and forget the world; to let troubles drift back.
The harp began to dim down drawing her attention back to the stage area. One of the younger clients was whispering into the harp players ear and toying with her hair. The player giggled and finished the line before drawing the man off to the bedrooms. The rest of the players continued as if she was still there, not feeling at all upset about being abandoned. They would have done the same.
"Miss Fujiko." One of her newer employees spoke as she slid sinuously into the seat next to Leslie. "There is a man at the door."
Leslie hmmed to signal she heard while continuing to listen to Rakka's baby. The little girl loved the attention and she sung beautifully. Most prostitutes in a controlled brothel didn't have children; they had to use IUD's to prevent conception, so when a child was conceived it was rare. Those carried to term, even fewer than conceived, were often kept out of sight. A brothel filled with children did not attract clients.
"Faquana belinga, belinga, aaaaah. Faquana belinga. belinga. Aaaaaaaah. Berque ti us..."
Leslie moved to the music, her favorite song, weaving and bobbing her head in time to the soft notes. "Who is it?"
The woman shrugged. "Some guy representing someone else. Though," the woman paused as if unsure of herself. She had yet to determine the level of familiarity Leslie expected and didn't want to step out of line. The Angels Blessing was one of the best places she'd worked at for a variety of reasons. Sighing, she continued. "I don't like him. He's one of those guys you just want to get done and out of the house as soon as possible."
"I understand." The Madame peered into her drink, and downed it. "I'll handle it." She stood and moved through the crowd of people, absently noting how the number of people had decreased, and entered the short hallway that lead to the foyer. Her shadow appeared at her side.
"Eitsuko is keeping him company." Samuari-san commented. One hand was resting on his swords. Leslie adjusted her shirt and smoothed her skirt. She flung a thin shawl around her shoulders and stopped at a mirror to check her hair. Nothing was mussed any more than expected.
"What do you think of him, Samurai-san?"
"I wouldn't miss him."
That can mean many things. She opened the door slowly and stepped harder than necessary. The wooden boards under her feet let out soft thumps loud enough to alert the two occupants. Eitsuko was an older woman but had been blessed with good genes and had taken care of herself. She looked twenty years younger than she was and gave off a cheerful smile of surprise at Leslie's footsteps.
Eitsuko climbed out of the man's lap and giggled. "Ne! Fujiko-san, you're here early." Late.
"I couldn't keep my best girl tied up, could I?" Would you want to deal with trash like this? The red head entered and selected a seat at the small table near the wall rather than the recently vacated couch. She was followed closely by the samurai who took up a position in the corner.
The brunette skipped out, shutting the door behind her. Leslie turned her attention to the man sitting calmly on the loveseat; dress shirt halfway unbuttoned, and immediately disliked him. She easily covered her animosity with years of practice and smiled slyly. His hair was too neat. His clothing to professional. The blue leather briefcase sitting innocently at his feet annoyed her.
"Would you join me?" Leslie asked while taking a teapot off its small electric warning plate. She scooped some leaves from their jar and placed them in the strainer as he moved over to the little table. He took the briefcase with him.
"If you don't mind." The words rolled of his tongue easily. He was a man used to getting what he wanted. Used to being in control. He pulled out his chair and sat comfortably. "I represent Yuuri Etou. He owns quite a few hotels in Takara and several in other nations as well."
Is that supposed to make me impressed? Intimidate me? Leslie glanced about the room to convey her disinterest, she was only there to get him out of her establishment, when her eyes settled on the stuffed sanbi that she'd placed on an improvised shrine. Donna thought it would make an interesting conversation piece is nothing else.
The man followed her gaze to the doll but then ignored it. "It has recently come to my employer's attention that you have been sheltering a young girl, poor lost little thing, and he would like to award you with a small sum for taking care of her." The man placed the briefcase on the table. "He has been worried about her, you see, for her parents left her in his care before they tragically passed away."
"I see." She poured the tea and lifted the sugar bowl in askance. He pointed to the cream. She added the extra's in silence, thinking. The girl her friend had brought in was doing better, she could stand to be in the presence of men, but she didn't talk and she only really interacted with Donna or the young girl singing in the welcome chambers. "I was under the impression that the, poor thing, had been injured. We've been trying to nurse her back to health."
"Which my employer thanks you deeply for. She had been so heart broken when her parents died, but he would like to have the matter settled quickly. You understand?" He opened the case and pushed it toward her before sipping from his cup. He was so composed Leslie had no doubt that he'd done the same in similar situations. She ran her hands over the bills, throat constricting at the sheer amount present.
It was enough to erase all her debt from the renovations, and then some. She could like off of it for several months even if she didn't get a single customer. No. This is a test. The grey-green bills stared up at her.
She snapped shut the case, still staring at the blue leather. "I'm afraid," she picked up her cup and shifted her gaze to the steaming liquid. I have a duty to these girls. I will do it. This is the path I've been put on. "I cannot accept this." She held the cup to her lips and closed her eyes.
There was a thud. When she opened her eyes she found herself sitting across from headless corpse of the unknown man. Blood trickled from his neck. Leslie's cup settled back into its saucer with a clatter as her hands shook. She took a breath, counting in her head.
"Please. Strip the body, dump both him and the money." She was regaining control of her emotions. Her angel wouldn't have balked at killing. So shouldn't she. It was necessary; she didn't yet have the ability to openly fight the stronger power. Murders were common in Takara, nothing out of the ordinary would be expected from the messenger going missing.
The samurai watched her with an expression less gaze and nodded.
Leslie looked at the makeshift shrine across the room. The plush stared back at her. She whispered to no one in particular, "I think. I think I want to go to the coast. Soon."
They stuck to the shadows as was the habit of the lithe rodents. Traveling along the thick wires they tried to keep out of sight, though it was unlikely anyone would look at them anyway, but no chances would be taken. Squirrels and rats seldom associated beyond calling each other names and stealing food stashes; to see a trail of no less than twenty squirrels silently following a set of thin tailed guides would have caused any human to stop and think. At least that's what Squash said.
One rat closer to the back with a shortened tail quickly leapt off the electrical line and scrabbled for purchase against a cement building. A quatrain of squirrels followed suit. Their tiny claws suited perfectly for finding the hairline cracks that covered the buildings and using them as footholds. They didn't even need chakra as human did, though all of them could use it.
As the group of five continued on their course up the building the larger force headed for their own destinations. Two more groups split off on the way, one entering an abandoned house and another diving into a sewer entrance. The last lead rat left the line and dropped down onto the roof street stand and dived into the bushes. The squirrels paused for a moment at the ledge of the roof before breaking formation and running about. They chittered and tagged each other causing a few civilians to look up in surprise and see the group of squirrels chasing each other.
They zipped down the wall and jumped before ducking towards the small park. Laughter followed them as they ran their distraction.
The rat watched from a thin blanket of dead leaves as a raccoon slunk down a tree. "Certainly are energetic, aren't they."
"It's a little annoying." The female rat admitted. "Did you get that thing that you needed?"
"'Course." Squash replied with a sneer, although it would have been hard to tell under all the fur, and turned to cut through the bushes into an alley. Fickle shot after him, without her unborn weighing her down and the advantage of chakra she was nothing but a black blur. The squirrels played their game, distracting the humans from the pair as they made their way up a nondescript building.
The squirrels snuck away from their game of distraction one at time and joined the pair on the roof. The animals surrounded a grate marveling at the heated air passing out of it. "What what?" The squirrels queried. They had not been told the details of their mission mainly because those in charge didn't feel like explaining it to the excitable creatures.
Fickle twisted in agitation. She didn't like being out in the open on the roof, didn't like the sun highlighting her position, and turned her nose up at the metal grating. "I could get through that easily."
Squash brought out a screwdriver from where he had hidden it and shrugged. Typical self-absorbed rat. "You can. We can't. Not everyone has freaking noodles for bones." The raccoon then proceeded to fit the crosshead into the indentation on the screw and turn. It was a slow process mainly because his hands were so small.
The squirrels chittered happily. They watched the ring tail work, fascinated, and asked questions. Squash answered them lazily and put the grate aside before lifting the loosened bolts. "Remember, be quiet. I don't want any of you getting 'ur heads blown off. And try to keep claws in! You wouldn't believe how well metal carries sound."
They vanished into the vent.
Zabuza slouched on the leather couch relaxed but ready, his clever within easy reach. He watched as the ceiling fan made slow circles against the emotionless white background. "Everything went according to plan." It was more of a statement than a question, the ninja doubted that with all they went through to get the document Saiga's plan would end up failing.
"As best as can be expected." The now official Lord gave an uncharacteristic smirk of smugness. "They didn't want to admit it, it was like pulling teeth, but the seal was there. Once they corroborated the tree on the scroll with their own documents they had no leg to stand on denying me my place."
"I always hated bureaucrats and red tape."
"Necessary evil." Saiga replied coolly as he motioned for the blinds to be raised. A servant girl in a soft pink kimono stood and went to the wall. She twisted the thin cord allowing sun to stream in the room. "And you're plans, Zabuza-san?"
"You know my plans." Zabuza moved from his slumped posture into a straighter one, cold eyes staring at the older man. "I trust I have your backing."
"Of course, I owe you a debt of gratitude." Saiga nodded and raised a small cup of sake to his guest. "But you've tried it before. What can you do differently that will ensure success?"
"I didn't activate all my contacts last time; they will come to my side if I call. Besides, I have new tools this time, one's that he won't expect."
"Then I cannot convince you otherwise? As a fledging lord," Saiga's brow creased showing what he thought of that phrase -he'd been running his fiefdom for years!- and glanced out the window at the descending sun. "Having a shinobi clan, as much as you are, on staff would be highly beneficiary."
"If you truly believe that then I'll send some over as soon as I've consolidated my power. As a gesture of trust and friendship of course." Zabuza's gruff voice gave way to humor. Saiga let out a snort and held up a finger. A man waiting near the door rose and brought forward a stack of papers.
Saiga took them and glanced over them once before laying them out on the table. "I've booked passage for you on a shipping vessel, the Dream Eater. It will not land for another week, so you will have to wait, but it will then travel directly to Water. It should pass close enough to Mist to make hiring another ship unnecessary." Saiga continued answering an unvoiced question. "You could leave tomorrow, but then you would have to change vessels twice. Also, there is the danger of running into a ship belonging to the Gato Corporation. They have been expanding using a small country as their base, as I'm sure you are aware of, and tend to harass the smaller ships that enter their waters. Dream Eater is rather big."
"I see." Zabuza reached for the papers, forged travel documents as well as the schematics for the ship they would be taking. "It's been four years. I suppose a few more days wouldn't hurt."
"Is there anything else, Zabuza-san?"
"Not that I can think of." The two men sat in comfortable silence enjoying the sunset, each pondering what it meant to have power. Servants came and left with diner, but neither spoke through the meal.
There will be blood. Zabuza grinned at the thought. Blood was one of those necessary evils. To truly gain control of Mist, there would be blood. The traitors would die, and Mist would be his again. The Village hidden in the Bloody Mist. The way it was meant to be.
Oh, Sasuke-kun. Of course I'll bear your children. What's that? You wouldn't mind if they had my eyes instead of yours? You flirt. Sakura giggled as her dream started to fade with the approach of the waking world. She'd fallen asleep training. It was a little depressing that her team didn't find her, but then it wasn't like the D-ranks they had planned required that much man-power.
Her green eyes opened to a dark sky filled with stars, which was strange as it had seemed brighter with them shut. And now that she thought about it she heard the distinct crackling of a fire.
"Good morning, kunoichi-chan."
Sakura bolted up red with embarrassment. Oh my god! Sai would never stop teasing me if he found out about this. I can't believe I let my guard down so bad. The pinkette blinked her eyes, her sleepy mind fully expecting some chunin or jounin on patrol that would admonish her. Instead as she stared across the small fire she found a girl not much older than herself.
"Um. Hi."
The girl gave her a bright smile and shrug while lifting a food bearing stick out of the fire. "Sweet potato?"
Her stomach growled reminding her of the brutal, to her, training session she'd undergone before taking her nap. A nap that had lengthened itself to take up the rest of her afternoon and part of the night. "If you don't mind…?"
"Tenten. Don't worry, I used to fall asleep out here myself. Still do, sometimes."
END.
A/N- There are three chapters till this Arch ends. Woot woot. Also, contest!
Write a 'Story Thus Far' for the next chapter, basically a short summary of this chapter. Deadline will be when I get around to writing the next one. Winner will have their summary entered and a picture by me of Haku eating cookies. Though I will warn you lovely people right now I'm not the best artist, still, Haku eating cookies amuses me so.
Happy MLK Day…. It's milk day!!!! Love your cows!!!