Oh my gosh, I can't believe I finally have this chapter done xDDD It's been kicking my butt.
Anyways, I forgot to mention some things for the last chapter xD That thing with Kisame is just a theory I've always had. -shrugs- XDD I'm so evil. I nearly named that chapter "One fish, two fish, nuke nin blue fish" xDDD I love Kisame though xD
"That" group comes up again, here. The people who are never really named, except for Misao? xDD I think this is the last chapter where it's still vague, but it should be totally possible to know who they are, now xDD
Oh, and I totally screwed up XDD I was reading through a fanguide, and apparently, Mizu no kuni is really mountainous xD;; So I'm going to go back and fix where it said it was mostly flat.
And guys! Pleeease n.n If something totally doesn't make sense, or if you just have a question, please feel free to send me a message n.n I seriously don't bite (I leave that to Kotone) and totally wanna make sure I have eveything making sense n.n So, yeah! :D
Ok, this is really, REALLY important:
SPOILERS FOR MANGA CHAPTER 404!!
I have no choice but to assume that EVERYTHING Kisame said in chapter 404 is TOTALLY true. The thing about Tobi. so, yeah. I'm writing with THAT in mind now. So... uh xD;; yeah. That actually changes the story alot, and ruins the plans I had for a sequel-type thing xD;; anyways, I don't want to make it more AU than it already is.
Thank you for reading, thank you for reviewing, and I really hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
Aoyama Naoko and Tsubasa belong to Nobukane (go read his fiiiiics n.n)
"Y-you're Sure?"
"Definitely: he was already in the hall when I got there. You were listened in on, Misao Senpai; I'm sure of it." The lanky figure sighed, and brushed chestnut hair from his dark eyes. The smallest member of their party had resumed her pacing, and his gaze followed her shadow across the far wall.
"I... I'm so sorry about him." The petite woman shook her head slowly, and let out a deep sigh. "He doesn't know any better. He honestly believes that it's right... I think so, anyways."
"Hey, cut that out!" The taller, brown haired woman who had been seated by the fire stood, and crossed the hallway to the similarly constructed man who had spoken not long ago. She smirked, and pulled him into a mock-headlock. "If I took the time to apologize for all the stupid things this knucklehead does, I'd never catch my breath."
"Whaa?! Sis-"
"What were they talking about anyways? What would the little twerp have heard?" The man's sister interrupted again. Arms folding across her chest.
"Nothing too incriminating." The old man sighed. "That's half the trouble. He didn't actually say anything useful. She's as in the dark as ever, and I doubt that's going to change."
"Why's that?" Squeaked the civilian girl seated on the stairs.
"I've noticed it too, Senpai." The boy nodded. "The assassination squad's schedule's been weird. For some reason, Mizukage Sama seems to think we're all incapable of doing anything without Zabuza Senpai. And I mean anything."
"Not to mention that when the tracker unit doesn't need their captain outside of the village, the interrogations captain needs to be. Lovely coincidence, that. They haven't had time to speak in weeks." The boy spat, falling with a thud cross legged on the cold, hard floor, warm in places where the fire's light fell.
"He knows he's up to something." Misao sighed. "But not what; or he'd be dead."
"'Course he knows." The brown haired girl grinned sourly. "He has his lap dog spying for him."
"Speaking of that..." The room's oldest occupant groaned.
"Are things not going well?" The small woman stopped her aimless wandering, and fixed the aged swordsman with a careful gaze.
"I'm trying to undo a lifetime's worth of brainwashing. It's not easy." He chuckled to himself, green eyes twinkling in the dim light. "The 'psychotic' one seems to have more sense. But nonetheless! I'm
determined." He stood, and adjusting the weapon on his back, excused himself and started up the stairs.
"I'll get that poor creature thinking for herself if it's the last thing I do."
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
"Ah, there you are."
"Sir?"
"Please, come in."
The jonin bowed, and did as he'd asked, stepping into the darkened office. Shadows obscured his face, eyes hidden by dimness and dark hair, though his smile was still visible. She stood stalk still as he rose from his seat, and crossed the patch of light stretched across the floor. "I suppose you're wondering why I didn't assign you to that mission?"
"No sir. It's not my place to question your orders."
"Ah." The man laughed, black eyes glinting. "Good answer. But really, Kotone chan. I have a reason for keeping you in the village, you see. It's nothing against your talent, I assure you, but simply a service I need you to perform for me here."
"A... A service, sir?"
"Yes." The kage beamed malevolently. "Hoshigaki Kisame's defection last night... There are no leads as to his whereabouts. Someone must have known something. I'd like you to question the other swordsmen."
"Interrogate them?" The dark haired woman echoed flatly.
"Skies above, no! Nothing like that." His grin became something slyer as he approached, and rested a possessive hand on her shoulder. "I'd simply like you to speak with them. However; If you just happen to employ those talents of yours, and analyze them while doing so, simply out of habit...?"
"Sir, that seems rather-" She looked up to meet his black eyes, and ... nothing. She blinked, eyes roving around the office as she reminded herself where she was. The situation, and conversation came back to her slowly. She nodded, and smiled as her instinctive answer met the request. "Yes sir. Consider it done."
"That's a good girl." He nodded approvingly, and slipped a hand under her chin, tilting her face to examine it. The kunoichi did not react, and kept her eyes foreward as he turned her head this way and that, studying. "You don't look much like him, do you?"
"Sir?"
"Your father." The girl's eyes widened a fraction, but she remembered herself- and the hours she'd spent as a child with the other kunoichis-in-training- and kept still. "He'd have been so proud of you. I'm very proud of you. You're an excellent ninja, Kotone chan."
"Th-thank you sir!"
The kage sighed, and relinquished his grip, and dismissed her. Then with a bow, she was gone.
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
The muddy, half- starved kunoichi collapsed on the couch with a heavy sigh, a clawed hand resting on her pounding head: nothing. Three days of questioning civilians all over the country with virtually no rest had turned up nothing. The ones that always hear things but somehow 'don't know anything' were honestly in the dark, and the ones who claimed to know something of the shark-nin's activities and location had proven to be either mistaken, or full of shit.
She could never remember wasting this much time speaking with civilians and common criminals in any previous case. This was, however, a special case for which there was no precedent. It had been weeks since the murders and the inhumanly powerful ninja's fleeing, and no leads or hints were to be found anywhere. As he'd asked, she'd spent the two days after the incident in the village, trying to weasel her way into a conversation with any of the other swordsmen. This was much easier said than done.
Misao Sensei was as always, perfectly willing to socialize. Her training continued, though she grew distracted easily now, as thoughts of the ANBU's difficulty occupied much of her time.
Risu was easy enough to get a hold of, but there was nothing suspicious about him. He was a slimy, unpleasant, son of a bitch, but apparently, a loyal one. His allegiance was purely with their kage, if only for his own profit, and the Nezumi clan's honor.
Speaking with a sober Raiga was an experience she was not inclined to repeat; ever. He'd seemed amiable enough at first, but within seconds of mentioning Hoshigaki Kisame's name, his expression had darkened, and he had informed her in no subtle way that he hated the man, and wished he'd drop dead. Just as he wished that she would, along with else in the shichinin. It didn't take the interrogations captain to see that the man was unstable, and she'd found herself excusing her leaving, and abandoning that 'target' much sooner than she would usually have liked.
She'd yet to see hide or hair of whoever number seven was, and Tsubasa... Tsubasa was loyalty incarnate. There was no way around it: the blond hadn't a traitorous bone in his body. It was hopeless; none of them knew anything. It was as though Kisame had simply vanished into thin air.
Until, of course, he had appeared in the small village nearby, in a noble family's home a day ago. A team had been dispatched immediately to capture and eliminate the nuke nin; there was only one survivor.
"Honestly," She muttered aloud. "Where the fuck do you hide a blue, six foot something, shark man with a weapon the size of a grown man?"
"Hey! That's no way to speak about Kisame Senpai, Hikyuu!"
She'd have recognized the infuriating little smirk anywhere. Why hadn't she locked the stupid door? She let the hand over her eyes fall away, having been much too distracted by her weariness, pounding headache, rumbling stomach, and generally unpleasant feeling of dirtiness to have heard his approach. And that stupid nickname! She wasn't sure who it was who'd thought to call her 'leopardess' but the image of a certain smug bastard with a cigarette always came to mind. As much as she hated it, the name seem to have stuck, much to her dismay. "Zabuza's not here, Suigetsu. Go home."
The mission he'd been assigned to the eastern coast had been a flop, and he'd be returning any day now; her pulse quickened at the thought. She hadn't seen him since their interrupted talk; the subject of which had never really become clear, and still had her quite muddled.
"He's never here. And I don't want to; so shove it." Suigetsu asserted, interrupting her thoughts, and she found herself at a loss. How exactly did one deal with children? Could she simply order him away? He was a ninja, and she outranked him- surely that would be a clear method. But still... As a Hozooki, His position in their village's society would perhaps give him that sense of entitlement. Analyzing opponents was one thing: Determining lies, spotting nervousness, or fear, exploiting anger. That was easy enough. But children...? She found them interesting, that was true. She'd spent many long hours watching over, and instructing the children at the academy during her period of... incapacitation. She'd instructed some of the classes on analysis, overseen taijutsu practice... But actually socializing with them had never been an issue. You had to be fairly gentle with them, she supposed. She tried to remember how her father had dealt with her... But nothing tender ever really came to mind.
Suigetsu was, technically, a cold blooded murderer...so she supposed she could speak to him as she liked. She moved to reply, but he cut her off. "I'm using your shower, lady. "
"No you aren't." She cringed at her own town. Speaking casually with strangers always came out awkward. Thankfully, a rustling outside saved her from an argument, and Kotone sat up, arms sinking into the couch's sagging cushions as she suppressed a yawn.
The door was thrown open, rattling on it's rusting hinges as the other ninja stepped inside. The pale child grinned, and began to let out an enthused welcome, but a cold, clipped hiss from the man in the doorway silenced him. "Suigetsu; get out now."
"Whaa? But Zabuza Senpai-"
"Leave." His eyes narrowed, and the boy squeaked. Fury was apparent in his every movement as he stormed inside; Suigetsu fled.
"What the hell were you thinking?" The tone was nearly a snarl, and had Kotone any idea what he was referring to she would probably have been enraged. As it happened, his behavior was completely unexplained, and she could only blink at him.
"Well hello to you too." She replied; eyebrow raised, and voice wry.
"Six of my men are dead." He snapped, punctuated by the click of sharp teeth behind cloth wrappings. "Wet behind the ears, all of them. There wasn't a seasoned tracker in the group. What kind of idiot puts together a team like that to track down Hoshigaki Kisame? I thought you, of all people, would have more sense."
It took the Kunoichi a moment to recognize what she was being accused of. Kotone stood, and drew herself to her full height, icy eyes locked resolutely on his darker ones. The gesture was far from intimidating, as her stature was considerably less than the demon's, but his anger wavered noticeably under her well trained gaze. "Zabuza," She replied, voice set in her full practiced interrogator's tone. "Had I any hand in the composition of that team," She raised an arm without breaking eye contact, motioning towards a window, and the misty village beyond. "You would have been destroying my carcass with the rest of them." She'd only noticed it upon standing, but a thin plume of grey smoke was rising from the valley. She knew that somewhere, civilians were gawking and choking at the grisly scene set somewhere open, and well ventilated; most likely a square that would normally have been teeming with village activity. A ninja's corpse was far too dangerous to be left in tact, and so, friend or foe, all mist ninja were obliterated after their death.
He blinked, anger apparently diffused by her calm, and the casual tone with which she'd given her own, however hypothetical, remains; she smiled, playfully. "The thought of taking me apart makes you happy. Should I be concerned? "
"Not happy, per se." He muttered, tearing his eyes away from the kunoichi's careful study. He scowled, and shook the silly little thought from his head, and returned to the more important matter at hand. "If you didn't organize that team, who did?"
"I was away on Mizukage Sama's orders at the time; Raiga San was as well. So I guess Mizukage Sama did. That's what I heard, at least."
"From?" He crossed his arms, and assumed his typical disinterested posture.
"Nezumi Momonga."
"Hatsuka's sister?"
Kotone nodded. "One of her genin broke his wrist, and she ran into Shinju at the hospital. Shinju sent her to come and get me, and she basically filled me in. I only just got home."
"Why the hospital?"
She smiled at the twinge of worry masked carelessly by his excessive nonchalance. "One of my subordinates was injured, she felt I'd want to know the extent."
"Who?"
Kotone sighed, and her smile soured. "Three guesses." Judging by the groan, widening of his eyes, he had a good idea who.
"He sent her after Kisame?"
"Apparently. She was the only survivor; there was barely a scratch on her."
He collapsed on the worn sofa, head lolling over the back wearily. Kotone giggled, and retook her spot, now beside him. "What's so funny?" He mumbled, still slumped.
"You know you sit like a arrogant jackass, right?"
Her stupid mind games, again. He resisted the urge to growl at her; it would take far too much energy, and the demon found himself drained by the whole mess. "And how is it you sit?"
The impish little grin is still apparently in her tone when she answers; he can picture it perfectly: catlike and irritating, a tiny hint of a fang visible between pale lips. "Like someone who can read body language." She shifts in her seat, but he doesn't bother to look up. "I sit however best fits the situation."
"That's how you do everything. Kunoichi," He scoffs. "Always playing a part, aren't you?"
She flinches. The parts she's required to play are often far from pleasant, and to keep them separate from herself is a near-constant chore. She took a deep breath, and sorted away everything that fell outside of her 'self.'
At least, she thought it was herself. It had been getting harder, recently. Too many situations; too many 'selves' to keep track of. To act naturally was becoming an act all in itself. But with him... With Zabuza, it felt alright. She didn't think she was pretending. Things to say, and do came with without thought, and she often found herself behaving in ways no self respecting kunoichi would ever allow.
But when they were together, she didn't particularly care.
Kotone let out a breath, and rested her head on his chest; he was too tired to put up much of a fight, and so lets her rest there. "Have you no dignity?" Was his lazy reply when she snuggled against him in earnest.
"I'm too tired for dignity." He said nothing, but made no move to shove her away, and that was good enough for the kunoichi. To be honest, so was he.
Both were damp and cold from the snow blanketing the higher mountain regions they'd crossed on their way home. He glanced down, toying idly with a strand of Kotone's unusually disheveled hair; still damp in places from the melted snowflakes that had been caught there. He inhaled, and groaned: unsurprisingly, she reeked of sweat, and dirt, and blood, and cat; he was just as bad, so neither really minded.
His soldier's mind trailed from the kunoichi near-dozing against him. "Mizukage Sama..." He remembered his present company, and kept the malice from his voice. "I've never known his information to be faulty. We've never been sent out so pointlessly. Especially not at a time of 'crisis' like this."
"My leads were all bad too." She replied. "Nothing. I had wanted to question the survivors from the daimyou's household- Stable boys, gardeners, anyone who might have seen something. He said it was a waste of time." He knows the hint of accusation is his own mind's creation; he wants it to be there, but it isn't.
"So you, I, and Raiga were all absent when the attack happened?"
"Risu's been deployed down south. Tsubasa's in the mountains farther north. I'm not sure what they're doing; it's very hush-hush."
"Ogakuzu?"
"Misao Sensei was with me." Her voice was weary; disinterested. Clearly it was only his own suspicion that had been stirred. "He wasn't needed anywhere else, and didn't want my training to be interrupted." A grunt recognized the statement. He hadn't understood how a simple questioning assignment had left her so exhausted.
"So we were all gone?" He echoed flatly. Something was beginning to make sense, and he did not like it one bit. He felt, rather than see, her nod. "Everyone that could possibly have fought Hoshigaki Kisame was elsewhere?"
"Yes," She sighed impatiently, before yawning. "I think you need to rest, Zabuza kun: you're repeating yourself."
From behind cloth bandages, words form, then die. There was a longing and a dread grappling for possession of his attention, and he was suddenly reminded of one very important fact: it was an enemy curled in his lap. A lovely little enemy. Her mind and body would always belong to their kage.Her heart, however... She sighs happily, eyes closed, and nestles a bit closer.
Always playing a part.
A sharp tooth sunk in to his lip, and she'd have seen red dotting the bandages if she'd looked up. What was he thinking? She had no heart worth speaking of. No ninja did; no ninja should. Still though..
He could share his grim assumption, his ambition, his plans. Her dedication to their leader was unwavering, but it had never really been weighed against whatever loyalty she may have had for him. Her choice could easily go either way.
A part of him wanted to pull her closer, as the boy he hated to admit had once been himself would have done; perhaps pull that stupid ribbon free, and resume playing with the dark strands of her hair. The part of him that didn't see an enemy, but the pale, lifeless creature he'd spirited home; bloodied and helpless; the same one he'd kept warm as a child; the same that had cared for him when it was he flirting with death. He was tired, and she was practically asleep already, and he felt a strong pull to stay put, drift off where he was.
But there was another twinge of craving at the back of his mind. There was a kunai in his sleeve, and the metal felt cold against his skin. It was there, begging to be used, and his fingers twitched at the thought; memory of past battles and other torn throats making them ready, and expectant. She had made it so easy. She was trusting; oblivious to any ill-intent, and she'd barely notice the motion it would take to draw the weapon. A quick stroke across the throat; that's all it would take...She'd never feel a thing... Her pale skin leaves the blue streams of veins easy to see, and he can practically feel the hot blood spilling over his hands...
He couldn't decide which was more tempting.
He grit his teeth, and shoved the girl away from himself. Either course of action could have led to disaster, so the demon was forced to resist both impulses. He said nothing when she squeaked, and barely saved herself from rolling off the couch. He remembered the promise he'd made to himself over the mangled remains of dandelions, a promise he'd broken at Ogakuzu Misao's careful prompting; he set his resolve once more, and cursed whatever need he had for warm skin, and human contact, or affection. Those things were trivial; he had no use for them.
He kept his eyes away, and slammed his door rather unnecessarily, thoughts returning to the futile manhunt he'd been forced to lead.
Every ninja capable of fighting Hoshigaki Kisame had conveniently been absent when he had appeared.
In the world of shinobi, there was no such thing as a coincidence.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Misao looked calmly from the smirk, and pale eyes of the girl in front of him to the weapon laying a few meters away, and finally to the kunai pressed against his throat. She'd disarmed him. This was the fourth time today.
"Well done." Her eyes light up at the praise, and she smiles in earnest. She wasn't used to the praise, or the attention her sensei has provided; but she was pretty sure she liked it. She lowers the weapon, and he strides past, kneeling down to take hold of Kiyoshi's red thread-wrapped hilt. He extends his arm, and offers it to the kunoichi. "You're ready. You can start learning with this now."
Her eyes went wide, as a hesitant hand closed around the handle. "Y-you really mean it, sensei?" He nodded. She's had teachers before; nameless jonin and black ops. members charged with her instruction; but never one she looked up to this way. Misao was bizarre. He was amazingly easy going, clever, friendly and stronger than his age let on. Never underestimate old ninja, he had told her. If they've managed to live that long, there's usually a reason for it.
She let her eyes trail over the oversized weapon reverently. The metal was polished, and reflected the grey sky above. The odd gold-hued thread had been braided in with the scarlet, and bobbed between the plaits. "Kotone chan," She looked up, and was met with her teacher's most grave expression. "You have to promise me something. Swear it on everything that's dear to you."
"What's that, Sensei?"
Ogakuzu sighed, and ran his hand over the flat of the blade, along the sharpened edge. "Kiyoshi is not a kind weapon. It has to be used with the utmost care."
"Kind?" He could see her confusion, and continued.
"Think of Risu's katana, or Tsubasa San's rapier, or even your Zabuza's Kubikiri Hocho." He started. "The blade is flat; the cut is clean. My- our sword is much less merciful. It tears, Kotone. Two motions are required: the initial swing, and a stroke to rip it free. It's the second motion that kills. With practice, however, you can reduce it to one motion." He paused, and then demonstrated, and his tone darkened. "Each of those teeth drags the cut a bit deeper. If the swing is two slow, it's agony. If the cut is too shallow, you could tear an opponent open, but leave him alive. I've never employed such a tactic, but my predecessor did; I saw, it was... there's no words for it." He shook his head. "Screaming, clutching at entrails spilling out of the gash... the victim lasts quite a while. It's hellish. Kotone chan, you have to swear to me..." He clapped a hand on her shoulder, green eyes fixed on blue. "If the stroke feels wrong... If you know you can't kill them in one stroke, pull back. One; only ever one; do you understand? You have to promise."
"I- I promise, sensei. I swear it on everything I've ever held dear." She nodded fervently; resolute.
The shadow passed from his face, and he smiled. "I know you will. I've always known you'd never abuse Kiyoshi. I just needed to hear you say it."
"But how did you know?"
He took hold of one of her arms, motioning towards the harlequin-patterned, metal mesh hiding the ghostly paths her wounds had once occupied. "Strength aside, this is why I wanted you to be my apprentice." His smile softened.
"You know how it feels to be ripped apart."
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
"That's very good!" Her sensei stood from the spot he'd landed at the edge of the training ground, his ever present smile bright as ever. She smiled, and set down the heavy blade, watching intently as he crossed the clearing. "There's still a problem though. You've stayed right there the whole fight."
"Oh," She sighed; she hadn't been paying attention to her movement, or lack thereof. She was all over the place with taijutsu, but the weapon's size and weight made stationary fighting easier.
"I know it's difficult." Misao acknowledged. It had been a month since her training had begun, and she still had a fair bit to learn. There was still a chill in the valley air, but summer was indeed in it's prime. "Kotone chan, I need you to understand something: picking a place and defending it will all you have... It may seem noble, but it's not always the right course of action." His voice was wary, and heavy with a message that escaped her. "Sometimes... Sometimes- even though it seems like cowardice- you have to leave- run away, to really get anywhere. You make a target of yourself, but..." He rested a hand on her shoulder, and continued slowly, one word at a time, watching for any dawning comprehension in her eyes.
"Staying still for the sake of stating still won't accomplish anything. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
She nodded cheerily. "Of course. I have to move more when I'm fighting."
He sighed, and pulled away. "You don't understand." He muttered to himself, before tersely informing her to pick the weapon back up, and start the sparring drill again.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Her teacher had called a break in the day's training, and had invited her to his home for something to eat. Misao had apparently taken up residence in the Kaguya quarter, as he led her back to the foggy, desolate corner of the village.
He was chatting pleasantly, but the words melted into something fuzzy, and dull behind the preoccupation currently dominating her thoughts. It had been bothering her since their conversation in the armory. "Ogakuzu Sensei?"
He glanced over his shoulder as they made their way over the cracked cobblestones, and rotting houses. "Hm?"
"Why did you lie about your teammate?"
He stopped, and sighed, grinning all the while. "I suppose... I shouldn't have tried to pull one over on the head of the Interrogations unit, eh?" He jerked his head in the direction they were moving. "I'll explain once we get there."
She followed past the decaying homes of the slaughtered clan, and the well kept training rings that seemed out of place among the wreckage. He entered a small, repaired home at back of the compound. It was small; plain, and cleaner than their normal rendez vous point. The lit bulbs overhead, and the lack of broken glass and dust made it friendlier. "This was her home." The instructor had paused quite abruptly in one hallway. His voice was lower than she'd heard it before, weighted with loss, and sorrow. "It's... creepy, I guess... Or perhaps heartless. I've set up in my dead friend's home, that can't be normal. But..." He turned, and there was still a bitter smile pulling at his lips; one that didn't reach his bright forest eyes. "I hate seeing this place empty; dead."
Kotone's eyes widened, and her breath caught. "Your teammate was...?"
"Kaguya Hinageshi was her full name." He nodded, expression softening fondly. "We just called her Hina chan. The name 'Kaguya' was as frightening to the civilians then as it is today- oh, by all means, sit down." She took the offer, and the two sat opposite each other at his kitchen table- or, more accurately, Hinageshi's kitchen table.
"Kotone chan, how much do you know about bloodline users?"
"Well..." She made a face; pensive. "They're monsters, aren't they?"
Misao sighed, slumping forward slightly against the polished wood. "I thought you might say that. Is that what Mizukage Sama taught you?" She nodded, and he sighed again, more forcefully. "Have you ever actually met one?" She resumed her thinking, before nodding.
"Foreign ones, yeah. They're a bitch to fight."
"Kotone... That's..." He grit his teeth, and shook his head. "With all the civil wars, and coups, and uprisings... the villagers needed someone to blame. Everyone needed a common enemy. The kekkei genkai users were...different. They were an easy target. They became the country's scapegoat. Over the years, that hatred grew stronger, and stronger...And so, eventually, they were all murdered." He took a deep, shaking breath, and met her eyes. "Hinageshi wasn't even sixteen. She'd never hurt anyone, but she was branded as 'less than human' because no one wanted to take responsibility for the state of things. Hina Chan... Hina chan meant the world to me."
Kotone felt her stomach knot guiltily. "Oh."
"And it didn't start with the killing." He folded his arms, and shook his head. "It started with a curfew, and amazingly strict access to areas outside the village. Next, they needed special permission to reproduce, more so than most kunoichi. They made her cut her hair, dress "like the rest of us", hide her clan's markings... Eventually the missions assigned to all Kaguya, and Hyoton ninja became incredibly difficult. And it was one, after another, after another. They were worked to death."
Misao's voice had tensed, and his hands had clenched into fists during the talk. Now, though, his head dropped, and his back slackened dejectedly, and it was with this defeated tone that he continued his story.
He and Kaijya had been made jonin at age fifteen, and although Hinageshi had been every bit as strong- if not stronger- than they were, her promotion was always denied. Returning from a mission one day, they were stopped by a group of black ops ninja, who had grabbed the kunoichi, and spewing some lies about 'treason' (the official charge for which the bloodline users had been executed) arrested her.
"What... what did you do?" The kunoichi's voice met the air as a whisper, as she bit her lip, hand curling until her nails dug into the heel of her palm.
"I ran at them." Her teacher's admission was unusually rueful. "We both did. Of course, we were no match for them. I was stabbed straight through the chest; they got Kajiya's knee. When I woke up... " He shook his head, and the girl nearly gasped at the unusual shine in his eyes. Was he...? No, no... Ninja didn't shed tears...
"When I came to, Kajia had lost his leg, and Hinageshi... her entire clan... was long dead. They said it was a miracle that I'd lived but..." There it was. A shadow of his usual smirk. "I know better. I was kept alive for a reason. There's something I have to do."
"A reason, sensei? What is it?"
Misao just smiled.
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
A brief pause in her training was necessary as the genin exam approached, and Misao's other duty became obligatory. Other than that, between missions, she worked tirelessly, and her improvement was rapid. She adjusted to the sword's awkward size, and weight, mastered the single killing stroke, and every other trick, and technique he could think to teach her.
The now nineteen year old handled Kiyoshi with a skill that rivaled his own, and he smiled at the thought. She'd surpass him in no time, as she was meant to. It was the natural order of things. "I have nothing left to teach you." He sighed, at the end of a training session one morning, barely half a year after taking her under his wing.
She'd nearly fallen over. "Wh-what? But sensei-"
He beamed. "Not 'sensei' anymore. We're on equal footing now."
She shook her head, and returned the smile fondly. "I'll always think of you as my sensei, Sensei."
"And you say you're not sentimental." He smirked, landing a playful punch to his student's shoulder. Kotone laughed, and rubbed the spot absently. She'd never known anyone quite like her teacher. Sometimes, in her weaker moments... She'd even catch herself wondering if this was what having a father was like. What it was usually like, anyways.
"So it's settled. I'd be more than happy to spar you if you want, but your training has officially ended. When I... retire, Kiyoshi is yours."
"I..." Kotone's gaze dropped, as she struggled to put a name to the uneasy feeling just below the surface of her more perceivable happiness. "Thank you!"
His grin widened. "No need to thank me, kunoichi. You earned this yourself." He ruffled her hair, and motioned towards the shadow lurking on the snowy field's edge. "Momochi's back from his mission. Didn't Mizukage Sama want a word with you three? Run along then. I'll... I'll see you later, kid." She nodded, and took off.
Her brow furrowed, and she turned back as she darted away. There was something wrong with his smile just then. She wasn't sure what... Perhaps it was her imagination, and she'd have needed a better look to see for sure, but...She was sure his grin had waivered. She shook her head, and ignored the doubt, continuing to the Mizukage's office. He had asked that she pop in early for a word, before the other two captains.
The two exchanged nods of the head as a greeting, as the demon crossed the snowy clearing. "You realize," Zabuza started after a chilled silence. "That you've now made yourself useless?"
Misao beamed, and nodded. "Yes. I know. Is that why you won't train Hozooki kun?" Zabuza nodded curtly. Zabuza eyed him suspiciously: there was an odd quality to his eyes the younger man couldn't quite read. "It's really alright. I know what I've done." The older swordsman assured, staring off into the grey sky. He was speaking more to himself now. "I think... I've done all I can. It's all in her hands now."
"Ogakuzu san-"
"You'll look after Kotone, won't you?" The other interrupted, quickly. "When I'm gone?"
"I can't promise that."
"But you'd try...?"
Zabuza grunted, shaking his head brusquely. "I'm afraid, Ogakuzu san, that you are mistaken. You appear to have misjudged what kind of man I am." A smirk formed behind cloth bandages. "If Ume Kotone stands between myself and my goals, I will kill her."
"If you insist." Misao's face fell, and he returned his attention to the blanket of hazy clouds overhead; the odd snowflake floated past, as the wind had the delicate flakes at it's mercy, and carried them where it would. "You've never failed to surprise me, little one." He smiled. "Please don't let me down."
vvvvvvvvvvvv
"I'll ask again." Zabuza paused, and flattened himself against the hallway's cold stone wall, craning his well trained ears for what he could discern of the conversation now underway in the kage's office. His voice was terse; he was displeased.
"They don't know anything about Hoshigaki sir." He frowned. It was Kotone's voice, but there was something very wrong with her tone; not even, or level but... soulless; dazed.
"And?" He was angry now. "There's rumours of another small group acting against me. Did they know anything of that?"
"No sir." Still sleepy. He crept forward, stealing a lance inside of the darkened room. They were standing not far away; the kunoichi's back was too him, but the kage's face was visible. His hand cupped the girl's chin, keeping her pale eyes level with his own-
They were red.
He blinked in disbelief, but whirled around at the distraction of a greeting, and glared at the approaching reconnaissance captain. "Ssshh!" He hissed.
Raiga went livid instantly. "Why you-" He returned the glower as he reached for the hilts of his swords
"Ah! There you are!"
The two men turned, at the lead ninja poking his head out from the office door; his grin was a bit too pleasant for Zabuza's tastes. His black eyes were glinting furiously despite his smile, and the captains followed warily, standing beside the third, who was blinking rather stupidly, and scanning the office as one disoriented.
"How long has it been since Hoshigaki defected? Months. And you three have yet to turn up anything. I'm surprised at you; I'm not used to such failure, such incompetence!"
The lecture that followed left the Interrogations and torture captain shamed, and the Recon. unit head fidgeting angrily in place. The undertaker squad leader, however, was much more interested in his own thoughts.
Their kage's eyes were black, he knew that all too well; but he would swear on every god, and all eighteen hells that the man's irises had been a deep crimson. A trick of the light, maybe, but a trick that did not sit well with the demon by any means. Those red eyes were setting off little red flags in some forgotten part of his memory...
"And Zabuza?" He snapped back to the tangible world at the mention of his name. "Tell Nezumi Kun I'd like a word with him."
They were dismissed, and each captain wandered off to their own office to continue their day's work.
The puddle of water in the shadows of the room, however, made no move to leave. What it did do was far more interesting.
The small pool of liquid churned, and strained until it took human form: limbs, and a torso all shaping from the water, though the bluish tint never faded from his skin.
"That's awfully cruel, don't you think?" The kage smiled. It was true: he was being awfully hard on the ANBU.
It was difficult to find a man who had never really left.
"Thank you again Kisame San, for eliminating those pesky Diamyo."
"It was nothing, sir." Kisaem grinned, sharp teeth clicking together. "I enjoyed every second."
The kage folded his fingers in his lap, and nodded. "Without those feudal lords cutting into the village profits, the organization will have more funding. I doubt the people will be the wiser... I'd say it's time you left. Things have quieted down sufficiently. You have the location for the meeting, yes? Good. Ask for man named 'Kakuzu'. If he has a good side, find it and stay on it; for your own sake."
The man nodded, and secured his precious weapon to his back, Samehada wriggling in response to it's master's chakra. He threw open a window, and paused, before darting out into the unsuspecting village, and away. "Please, sir." The shark-nin started, a bit more softly than any jonin of his calibre would have permitted themselves. "You'll see that Naoko is looked after?"
"I assure you: she'll be taken good care of." Kisame nodded, and disappeared into the night.
"Thank you, Madara Sama."
vvvvvvvvvvvv
Snow drifted lazily from the darkened sky, as the grim party crossed the haunted grounds with death once more on their minds. The youngest of them shuddered, practically feeling the groans of the shades trapped in this place, at the feeling of such a murderous intent.
They reached the condemned destination, and filed inside, their leader making no move to mask his presence. The brown haired boy shook, the tiny companions that accompanied him huddled in his sleeves, reading his dread and reacting.
They found their target facing away, bent over something on his kitchen table. "I've been expecting you." There was a smirk in his voice. Always a smirk.
"This is the end, old man." Scathed the leader.
"I expect no less," He whirled with a speed that belied his age, whipping a kunai across the room. It struck true, shattering the mask of a nameless assassin, and felling him instantly. "If you thought I was going down without a fight, though, I'm afraid you are greatly mistaken."
The others launched themselves at the target; the picture of blind obedience, and were thrown, or slashed, and let to fall to the ground. The boy's hands trembled, kunai rattling as he sprang as well. He had faced death before, unblinking, but this was another matter entirely.
His friend, the enemy caught him, and he froze in place; anticipating the death blow; welcoming it.
"It's all right, Hatsuka kun." His opposing ally's voice was below a whisper; air passed through the mouth without real words, but he heard them. "Everything's alright. Tell the others 'goodbye' for me." A fist sunk into his stomach; he collapsed against the older ninja's arm .
And then everything went black.
So... there it is!
To me, that thing with Madara makes sense now xD;; Maybe I'm just imagining things now, but to me, Zabuza seemed alot more interested in beating Kakashi's sharingan than he did Kakashi himself. And, though Haku could probably have killed Kakashi as easily as he 'killed' Zabuza, he fought Hatake himself, and had Haku analyse everything. And since his ultimate goal was to take down the Mizukage... Anyways xD;; I'm probably way off.
n.n I really hope you liked it, and I REALLY hope it made sense O.o;; Thank you so much for reading it, please review, and have an awesome day! (Yay summer now! xD)