You can shoot me for taking so long to update...but then, that will delay the next update. Wait until the end to shoot me. I promise not to drag this out too much longer. Many, many thanks for reading, and to those of you kind enough to do so, for reviewing.
Chapter 23
It was quiet in the Hatake Estate. That, in itself, was perfectly normal. Kakashi was given to occasional bouts of humming, a fit here and there of cursing and throwing things, and in the extremely rare moment singing to himself - usually after a night out with the boys. But unless the dogs were there, the prevailing noise level was set at dead silence.
The silence was the only thing normal about this morning.
He had been prepared for something a little more disruptive, given everything that had taken place prior to their arrival here. But Iruka was quiet, outwardly motionless but for the act of breathing.
The rise and fall of the dark, damaged chest armor was the very first thing Kakashi looked for when he forced himself upright off the insufficient padding of the quilt on the hard floor. Far too quiet, he had immediately feared the worst, even though his strained chakra would have told him if something that dire had come to pass. Iruka had slept soundly through Kakashi's unsuccessful attempt to rise at the break of dawn. From the cast of light outside, it appeared that at least another hour had passed since he had collapsed back onto the quilt in semi-consciousness.
You couldn't mistake Iruka's state for slumber now. Nor could it be mistaken for peacefulness or inner calm. His eyes were locked open; his jaw was clenched tight and the veins roped in his neck. But his stare was sightless, and he hadn't made a sound.
Kakashi sensed the rampant activity within rather than saw it. He was a human shape filled with a billion disrupted ants, hidden within was almost inconceivable turmoil.
But the brown eyes were open and unblinking, giving none of those secrets away.
The copy-nin took a moment to regroup and rest his forehead on the edge of the soft pad, near the still armor-clad forearm. Once his mind was clear enough he mustered his strength and rose to his knees, joints protesting with every change in position. The dogs had done their best with first aid, and they were experienced at removing their master's fatigues to treat his wounds, but it took opposable thumbs the remove the armor. Kakashi proceeded to examine the unfamiliar uniform, seeking the release points in order to free it from his charge.
"Boss," Pakkun said quietly, head cocked to one side. "Tsunade? Now?"
"Not yet," Kakashi said.
The little dog frowned deeply. Not only was Kakashi in need of healing and recovery, he sounded odd, a certain lack of strength in his voice that the pug had seldom witnessed. His master's chakra was taxed dangerously, and worse, he didn't seem to care.
Before he could take a breath to continue, he was silenced with a wave of the half-gloved hand.
An odd, hollow snap echoed in the room, then another, and one arm section of the uniform came free. Kakashi had puzzled out the hidden releases to the armor. He methodically divested Iruka of the blood-crusted leather bindings and hard plating. His body was slightly thin and wiry underneath, oddly unfamiliar. The tan flesh was split deeply across the chest, from shoulder to shoulder just below the base of his throat. The dogs' handiwork had been somewhat successful. The bleeding had stopped, the wound was clean, and a dozen adhesive butterflies held the edges together sufficiently so long as Iruka remained this still.
Since his body was neither limp nor rigid, it was surprisingly easy to accomplish the task of undressing him. Kakashi could not detect any change in the level of tumult that he sensed within. It raged unaffected by his actions.
Kakashi got to his feet with great difficulty. He tried to carry the ROOT garb out of the room but ended up dropping it on the floor and just shoving it out of their immediate area with his feet. Just that bit of activity made him breathe hard, and he had to stop for a moment with his hands on his knees, bent over waiting for his vertigo to pass. Adrenaline, and his personal feelings, had led him to underestimate how far past the safety zone he had gone when he had been using his chakra. This was about as bad as he had ever misjudged it. He had never gotten this far into depletion without ending up in lengthy recovery confined to bed under medical supervision. That meant there would be no quick bounce-back and associated rise in his abilities. He would be useless in restoring Iruka for weeks at this rate.
He had promised Iruka that he would not hand him over to Tsunade. He'd broken far more reasonable promises that he'd made to Iruka before, with far less excuse. This time it would be more than justifiable.
But he had made this promise to himself as well. Promised not to go back on his word for once. To make this one count, to prove something to them both. He was a genius, according to legend. There should be some way to make good on his word with doing more harm than good.
A vision of Iruka fulfilling on one of his promises, willing to pay the ultimate cost, flashed in Kakashi's memory. He had resorted to soldier pills at the risk of his own life to fulfill his ROOT mission. As dangerous as they were, the copy-nin was now toying with the possibility of using them himself. It was a decision fraught with conflict; he knew better than to do something so reckless and self-destructive; yet Iruka had not been shy about taking this route - maybe it was a sign that this once, it was time to step up to the plate. Maybe it was sheer madness. But he would have to decide soon. Iruka could not be left in this condition much longer; and it was just a matter of time before the other interested parties began to seek them out.
Kakashi sat heavily on his rear and made the uncomfortable stretch to retrieve his utility vest. From the third section of the divided pouched pocket, four small black orbs of power rolled into his open palm.
xxx
Their arrival at the Hatake estate, and ensuing physical collapse, did bring a few hours of quiet to Iruka's nightmare inner landscape. The truce of unconsciousness took down the battle for a time. But it wasn't long before the chains rattled, the temperature rose, and the conflicts were set in motion again.
Even was not giving up. He'd lost active control of the body but he was still firmly entrenched in the mindscape. He would not allow the screaming, the crying, the self-destructive behavior to surface again. He was unable to generate actions now, true; but he could veto them. As all of Iruka's intended actions seemed unacceptable to him, he kept him fully immobile.
Some emotion was creeping back into Even despite his fierce fight against it. Anger continued to seep into his otherwise level, logical thinking. But his perception was getting clearer, despite the growing instability of his realm. By blocking out the lion's share of the emotional elements, he was buffered against the worst of the ongoing destruction. It had been impossible to avoid at first, but once regrouped, he was holding his own.
Iruka's undeserved control of their world angered him the most. Like letting the indigent rule the kingdom, it simply should not be allowed in a civilized world. He wanted his place back, his master, his missions, his katas, his fucking mask. He didn't want this face, this filthy weakness, the pathetic loneliness and pandering for crumbs of affection. This was war, and he was a warrior; confidence in his ability to battle back was beginning to grow.
But it wasn't as if Iruka had any real say in it. His dominance was a function of many things, but mostly because the pressure of his released illness was so invasive and powerful. That, and because the overwhelming flow of energy was attempting to heal him back into the dominant places where these elements belonged naturally. It was not his fault that his other elements, this 'Even' factor of his personality, fought it as though they were two separate beings. It was only making things worse for Iruka.
He could use some of that logic and cool judgment right now. The pain and fear were embarrassing things, not to be shown to the world. The shame and self-doubt were the only tools at his disposal to try and force himself to behave as he should. As Even exerted his power to interfere with his overt actions, he was grateful and mortified at once, grateful that he hadn't made a disgusting display and mortified that it was only because the ability to express himself had been shut down by another.
And his sense that another presence was within him had solidified into belief. If he could talk to Kakashi he could relay this information and ask for help in identifying this intruder. He could not tell, from his place reeling in sickness and confusion, if this was a foreign presence. He had thought that his 'ROOT' mindset had been destroyed when he had been so violently reconstituted.
The ROOT persona should not be capable of the mortal hatred he felt radiating from this other entity. It wanted him destroyed and removed with a very emotional vengeance. He might not be an elite of ROOT, but Iruka was no quitter, and he was not about to give up and let some enemy intruder possess his body and steal his identity.
His heart, full of pain and fear as it was, swelled in protective loyalty and compassion for his countrymen, and gained strength in the resolve to stop whatever evil plan this might be.
The gloves were off and the true fighting began.
The outer world was quiet and by comparison went unnoticed, no longer something with which he was worried. The slight familiar pressure of Kakashi's presence came and went nearby, but was always at least detectable within range. In a situation like this, he would never have doubted that Kakashi could be depended upon as a comrade in arms to assist him in his fight for survival. A small part of his mind felt more reassured on a more personal level now as well, after the linking of their minds. If he ever got free of this mess, things would be different between the two of them, if only because he now understood and knew how to react to the strange behavior the man exhibited. Better still, Kakashi might have picked up a clue as to how to be more well-behaved. It would have been interesting to contemplate, if he had the mental energy to spare for it; for now that distraction was not going to be allowed.
Iruka struggled fiercely, if ineffectively, through the gauntlet of mental pressure in his attempt to regain enough control to see his surroundings, to hear and to speak so that he might alert Kakashi to this threat he felt within. But the use of his faculties was still denied him. He kept trying again and again, in every way he could desperately conceive of. Wherever he succeeded in working free, a resulting slam of restraining force would lock him back down tight again.
Even held fast. He was beginning to suspect that, if he held out long enough, the rebel forces would lose resolve and once again sicken, growing weaker with their inability to re-establish in their former rightful places. If he could just continue to strengthen, and keep them at bay, his chance to re-emerge as controlling factor was looking much more promising. Eventually his master might find his way clear to intervene. Despite his betrayal, Danzou was the closest thing to a worthy leader that Even knew. Iruka's continued attachment to Hatake disgusted him to no end. That unprincipled jounin was no better than the enemy, he saw that now. Danzou had simply been wiser about the nin's true nature; to eliminate him would not have been the affront to the village that Even had been so convinced of earlier. He had been instrumental with Ibiki in terminating his ROOT enlistment for no reason other than their jealousy. He was clearly on Iruka's side, an unforgivable sign of weak thinking and emotionalism.
The bits of illogic and anger that had seeded those thoughts were embedded so seamlessly he no longer detected them.
He just needed to regain voluntary control of the body. He could then seek out his master, who would help him prevail. They would eliminate Iruka once and for all; the pathetic, emotional, sentimental wretch would never be missed. It was his duty to take the reins to best be of service to Danzou and Konoha.
xxx
Having slipped the pills in the deep pocket of the old sleeping pants the dogs had selected for him to convalesce in, Kakashi made constructive use of the time that he needed to convince himself that taking them was the right move. It was a few hours past dawn now. With the help of his four-legged summons, Kakashi had managed to get both himself and Iruka cleaned up and treated well enough for their wounds to stay closed and hopefully not get infected. It took a number of attempts before they finally got Iruka in a real bed; the hallway had grown a mile in length somehow since the last time Kakashi had walked it. The pups had to do most of the work, and after a night of little sleep, they began to pop away as their strength faded and the connection that held them there weakened.
With no chakra, he had not wasted the effort to attempt healing; but the task of providing their first aid had taken nearly everything out of him again. When he sensed the approach to his front gate, he was not surprised. But he groaned anyway, because he was in no way up for this yet. At least it seemed to be just the one person. No reinforcements yet.
He let Pakkun release the door.
"I know he's here," grumbled a voice that was rough and challenging in tone.
"We all know who's where. What can I do for you, Morino-san?"
"Listen, dog, there's only one thing you can do for me. Let me in."
Pakkun nodded and stepped back. Ibiki entered cautiously, watching for traps or tags. From the entry, he could see the blood stains on the futon, and used medical wipes on the floor. Further down the hall, a figure slumped out of one of the rooms. In dimly lit silhouette, Kakashi was every bit as identifiable as he was in full illumination. He stood with a shoulder against the wall for support. Ibiki eyed him narrowly, deciding if his posture was irreverent or infirm. Infirm, he decided, although that did not assure that Kakashi was not going to be disrespectful as well.
"Where is he, damn it?" Ibiki said, with less volume than he had initially planned. Kakashi was in very bad shape, he could see that now, as he approached the leaning figure slowly. The chakra burnout was a stink in his sensing chi. He needed to be hospitalized, and soon.
Kakashi shook his head slowly.
"Don't tell me you plan to keep him here. Is this some sort of suicide pact? He needs Tsunade's help. And not that I care that much, but so do you. Do you realize your own condition?" Ibiki stared into the semi-darkness of the hallway, still approaching gradually.
"I promised. I gave him my w…"
"Don't even say it. You of all people. You decide to grow a conscience now, of all times? When it's the worst possible thing for all concerned?"
"Guess so."
"You are so fucking lucky I'm knee-deep in this. Tsunade wants blood, Kakashi. I heard from my ANBU that Danzou's already sent her a message asking when he can visit his man in the hospital. I've managed to avoid her so far today, but I can't delay much longer. I have to report in with what I know. Unless you want to be up on charges, when I come back you need to let me take Umino. We'll get you both admitted. It wouldn't be the first time chakra-depletion affected a man's judgment adversely; she'd never hold it against you, as bad-off as you are right now."
"He's stable. Just give me a day, at least. And even at that, I'm hedging. I said I'd give him some time, and I'm going to do just that."
"And just what is he doing with his time, Kakashi? Talking it all out with you? Is he feeling better? I don't hear anything, and the things I'm sensing from him right now are pretty damned disturbing. You're not making any sense. Its not right to delay treatment over some idiot promise you never should have made; not if you actually care about his survival."
"What do you know about it? He asked me for that promise because it's what he wanted. It was what he needed in order to return of his own free will. Yeah, it wouldn't have been any problem to take him back, willing or not. But he's already broken enough without dragging him back without his consent."
"Listen to yourself. Think about what his illness is right now. What he wants? He's near to, if not already, incapacitated from this. He needs to be healed. Get him the help he needs, then be his little handmaiden for all I care, but until his mind is healed, you can't rely on what he says he wants."
Kakashi looked down, for once not quick with an argument. He knew this, he knew this all along. But he also felt Iruka's need for this isolation, deeper than the confusion and mess that his current situation had fomented. He couldn't express it logically, couldn't defend it to Ibiki or Tsunade, not in words. But if they had felt the core-deep desperation of Iruka's request, they would understand why he had to do this.
"I can't make you understand. But this is how it has to be."
"I could stand here until you fall down and take you both in, one over each shoulder. You've got nothing, Hatake, you're as burnt as I've ever seen a man get and still live. I was just trying to do this the easy way, for both of you. Now we have a different situation altogether."
Kakashi reached into his baggy sleep pants and extracted something small, something he had been about to use before Ibiki's arrival.
"You idiot."
"You said he won't get any help here. You're wrong."
"Don't do it. In your state it can shorten your lifespan ten years or more. You know what? Fuck it."
A throwing star materialized, wedged into the back of Kakashi's hand, the point protruding out of his palm and touching the soldier pill with a honed, blood-tinted point. Still, he managed to keep his grip, forcing his slightly dazed concentration to focus on retaining the small black orb. Ibiki's ability to launch the weapon unseen was testament to Kakashi's critical state of depletion. His reactions were as poor as his perception, and delayed the decision to sweep his hand to his mouth.
A second star, just as precisely thrown, hit the back of his thumb before he could recover his thoughts and make an evasive move; the pill flew as the bone split easily from the expert hit. The pain shot through his entire arm, stunning in its severity.
Ibiki strode forward and snatched the pill off the floor, putting a rough hand on Kakashi's pants, patting him down to check for more, confiscating the lot. The man looked to be helpless, pathetically unable to do more than watch and barely maintain his upright position. Blood ran off the copy-nin's elbow and fell in dark beaded splatters on the polished wood floor. The torture specialist retrieved the stars with two quick, less than gentle motions, lip curling in disdain.
"You are just not thinking clearly. You're ill. Give me your word that you'll come with me when I return, or I'm taking over now."
Pakkun had watched the whole exchange nervously. He sort of sided with Ibiki. The boss was just not himself, and the whole situation stunk to high heaven. He found it hard to believe that Ibiki was allowing this to go on a minute longer now that he'd seen what was happening.
But he'd like the take a chunk out of the arrogant bastard's ass for throwing those stars. In Kakashi's state, Ibiki could have used his advantage of speed to snatch the pill from his hand instead. Pakkun sensed that the taller man felt justified in punishing the already battered shinobi. It was intensely personal between the two of them, as always.
Kakashi clutched his bleeding hand, trying to think fast, but with his mind was trying to shut down on him now. Without chakra or pills he was hard pressed to think of a way to fight off someone of Ibiki's level. And Ibiki was working off of a robust chakra supply. He'd conserved all his while Kakashi had spent his nearly to death.
"Okay, you win. I'll bring him in myself, later today. Just give me a chance to get him ready."
Ibiki's look clearly said that he didn't believe a word of it. His attitude indicated that he was willing to let the game play out just a bit longer. Pak didn't trust that look.
"Kakashi. You really want it that way?"
"Yeah."
"I'm going to report in as late as I can today, then. You're going to be one sorry son of a bitch if you aren't there when I finish my story."
"I get it. All right? I get it."
Ibiki flicked a hand to sling the majority of the blood off his small weapons and let his glare drop down to meet Pakkun's beady eyes.
"Talk some sense into him, dog. Watch him for the next couple of hours. And if he collapses, you report in immediately." Ibiki's boots clumped down the hall, across the great room and took on a softer note as he tread across the woven jute mats in the entry. The door closed with a solid thump, and the interior of the large estate was quiet once more.
Pakkun was halfway to the first aid kit, still open on the floor of the great room, when Kakashi called him back.
"It's nothing, Pak. Nothing. Don't bother." The silver-haired nin staggered into the bedroom and sagged against the wall near the foot of the bed. Ibiki had allowed him to keep Iruka and had left far too easily, but he didn't have the ability to ponder the possible reasons why that might have been. Iruka was unchanged: still, silent, and staring with wide open, sightless eyes.
If it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest, Kakashi thought that his expression looked exactly like the majority of the fresh dead he'd seen over the years.
He was wringing his mind for all it was worth to come up with his next move. Nothing seemed to be working. The soldier pills were about the only thing he had come up with. Even if he'd taken them, there was no way to be sure that they would have recharged his energy in such a way that it could be used to help Iruka.
He swayed like a drunk and glared at Pakkun, considering whether the little insubordinate would fetch him more pills if he ordered it.
Pakkun shook his collar hard and glared back; knowing what Kakashi was probably thinking, he was not one bit receptive . For once, he was going to follow Ibiki's orders.
xxxxxxxxxx
Ibiki stomped down the path and out of the courtyard, flinging the gate shut with obvious annoyance, and began making tracks in the direction of the Hokage tower.
As soon as he was well out of sight from the Hatake estate, he went straight up into the near stand of tall pines and scanned the treetops, making a small hand motion in the air.
Three masked ANBU flanked him immediately.
"He followed you, just as Lady Tsunade predicted," Tiger said. "Then eavesdropped from the perimeter - a spying jutsu using a clay bird. He observed your departure without moving. He now lies in wait just past the approach."
"Good. We'll cloak now and return to observe. You take the closest point; I want as much detail as you can manage, but we must be completely undetected. Kakashi is maybe two percent at best, so don't be surprised when you analyze his energy level. It's the perfect opening for someone to give in to the urge to cross the line. Just make damned sure you get every detail when he takes the bait. Fall out, now."
They slipped back into position unseen, monitoring the estate inside and out from their posts in the yard and in the trees, arriving just in time to see the tall, robed figure emerge from hiding. After slipping through the gate and gliding swiftly through the courtyard, it entered stealthily without knocking through the unlocked front door.
Ibiki settled in for the show, nestled in the shadow of the garden wall. He'd given the copy-nin what he hoped were sufficient complications to distract him from throwing up traps to keep out intruders; it looked like he hadn't even thought to throw the lock. From the look of things, he had been quite successful.
xxxxxxxxx
The front door squeaked again, and Kakashi groaned inwardly. He should have directed Pak to secure the door; what a childish, inexcusable error on both of their parts. Now he was in for more shit; Ibiki must have changed his mind.
"I hope you don't mind too terribly that I let myself in," Danzou called. "Kakashi-san, please. I know my soldier is here with you. I need to reclaim him before his condition becomes too dire to address."
He was moving deeper into the house as he spoke. He was already in the hallway, curiously regarding the newly spilled blood when Kakashi stepped out with all the energy he could muster and raised a hand in warning.
"Leave," he growled, suppressing his startle reaction, nerves on alert at the audacity of this man to intrude in his home. Danzou was capable of anything, in his estimation. This bold act of trespassing was a very bad sign.
"You don't look to me to be in any sort of condition to be giving orders," Danzou smiled, his voice creamy with confidence. He was delighted to have happened on such a perfect circumstance. How many had seen this man in challenge and lost their lives? And here he was, helpless as a newborn kitten that was one heavy tread of his heel away from extinction. It was exhilarating. " I'm here from pure concern for my man. You had no right, you know, taking him from me like that. Morino-san was mistaken, our Hokage tells me it was some sort of misunderstanding. Even is still under my command, ROOT or not."
"Iruka's not going anywhere with you."
"Look at you, Hatake. You're bleeding all over your own floor. Why, I think you might be ready to pass out. Yes, as a matter of fact - I'm sure of it." The hood of his robe may have shadowed his face, but the grin was evident in the inflection of his words, nearly mocking in tone.
Pakkun stepped up with a growl. Danzou raised a hand and made swift signs; the pug disappeared with a loud pop.
"Careless, letting your pet misbehave like that. No matter. Stand aside now. I really don't have to ask how Even is doing. He's nearly catatonic, isn't he? There isn't much hope for him. Still, I have to try, don't I? I won't abandon my soldier."
"Leave…him…alone."
Danzou's smile grew wider as he made slow, complex signs with his youthful hand hidden beneath the flowing sleeve of his robe. Kakashi neither saw not felt the subtle, subdued release of chakra as it formed. The tiny, catalytic force rested on the tip of a covered finger, invisible, and he appeared to merely point at the pale chest when he sent it unseen on its cruel task.
"You look awful," he purred. "I'd almost guess that it's the strain on your heart, isn't it? That tight feeling, the sharp pain…I can read it all on your face, no matter how little of it you try to show. How is your respiration, Kakashi? Getting difficult? It looks so painful. There just isn't enough air, is there. Who knew that you would overtax your chakra and your body to the point of no return, and be so foolish as to go home instead of to your Hokage's skillful healing? Now look at you. When you succumb, the streets will be full of whispers about your embarrassing mistake. On the bright side, it will take some of the sting out of your loss for the good citizens of Konoha. They will console themselves with the fact that you must have been nearing the end of your usefulness as a shinobi, to have been done in by your own lack of basic good judgment."
There were tags secreted here and there that would take the whole house down…but Kakashi did not dare set them off with Iruka inside. He had no chakra for defense, not even enough to fight against the jutsu slowly squeezing his heart to a stop. He went to his knees, but lifted his head in defiance.
"You talk too fucking much," he wheezed, belligerent in spite of the terrifying implications of the increasing chest pain.
"I would rush you in for treatment, but I sense there is no point to it. It's fate that I should be here to soothe you in your dying hour, Kakashi. It was your own man that made this possible. Quite frankly, If Morino hadn't barged in without getting capped, I would not have felt so confident about letting myself in. I'm a bit disappointed in you for being so defenseless in your own home. But I suppose a man like you relies on himself to be the biggest deterrent to intruders. Don't you, oh legendary Shinobi of a Thousand Jutsu?"
Kakashi was doubling over now, forehead nearly touching the blood-spattered wood floor. The world was spinning from the dwindling ability to take in oxygen. He should have been able to do something, somehow, to fight back and defend Iruka. Instead, each breath was a struggle, threatening to be his last.
"This is simply tragic. Here, let me assist you to your deathbed, Kakashi. A noble ninja like yourself shouldn't have to expire face-down in the hall."
Danzou's strong, youthful body lifted the decimated figure easily. He took him to the bloodied futon in the great room instead of searching out a bed, and set him down carefully.
He brushed the sweat from around the exposed eye. "Shall I lower your mask, Kakashi-kun? It would make it easier for you to breathe." Danzou considered it, tempted, smiling wryly. He toyed with the edge and watched with amusement as a spasm wracked the weakened nin. His finger slipped underneath and lightly traced the lips tight with pain.
"Even has no use for you, you know," he murmured, pulling down on Kakashi's lower lip, trying to insert his thumb into the mouth despite the clenched teeth. "You don't fool me. You think he needs you somehow. That all ends today, I'm afraid. I am taking him back. It's not like you'll miss him, since you're going to die anyway."
The copy-nin writhed and managed a low, guttural outcry.
"Of course, I will not lift a hand against you. Only a traitor would do such a thing. I admire you, for the most part. You just never seemed to know your place, that's all. Oh, no. Look there. Your lips. Now I'll never know how you truly look, Kakashi. Your lips are so blue, they don't even look real. Let's leave the mask on, then. I'll give you that much dignity."
A small noise from the end of the hall caught Danzou's attention, reminding him that he was getting off-task.
"Even?" he asked himself. It wasn't likely that he was waking up, but was he capable of motion still?
Kakashi was a tenacious fellow, Danzou would have thought the small chakra-leeching jutsu he'd sent into the man's heart would have done him in instantly in his condition. But it was working slowly, making the progress more subtle, and as natural causes went, it was a bit more believable this way. There wasn't any real need to watch him now, other than sheer amusement. He certainly wasn't going anywhere in the midst of an impending full cardiac arrest.
Danzou walked away without a second look and passed cautiously down the hallway. When he stepped in the bedroom near its end, he did a double-take. Even was on the bed, as inert as a toppled statue. There was no thrashing; nor was he curled up solid in catatonic withdrawal. His face was nearly healed, his complexion nearing its original tone now. For a moment, Danzou lost himself in the sight of Even's emotionless expression, finally worn by his comely natural face.
"Even. Is that you I detect, battling for your survival?" Danzou asked softly, tracing the unique scar with the pad of his forefinger. "We can go now. Time to take you back where you belong."
Behind the mask-like paralysis of his face, Danzou's words hit home, ramping up the battle. As Iruka reacted to the threat of having to go up against the ROOT master and this other presence, Even's confidence soared with the knowledge that victory was now assured and in sight.
The robed figure leaned over the bed to gather up his damaged property for transport.
The ANBU were growing restless at being forced to wait despite detecting the dire turn that Kakashi's condition had taken, irritating their leader with the lapse in professionalism. He supposed that using the small projectiles had been a mistake now, much as he hated to admit it. The light coating of mild paralytic routinely dusting the stars, meant to slow an opponent, was so weak it was considered safe for Academy-level sparring matches, and he hadn't really been concerned about that aspect of sticking it to Hatake. Actually, he hadn't really thought about it - until Kakashi's life pressure began to take a nose dive.
It was a possibility, however slight, that in his condition it could cause some more serious side effects. It only served to bring reasonable doubt as to whether Danzou's exchange with Kakashi might have harmed him.
The fact was that the ROOT leader had trespassed, and if he now left without summoning aid for a dying shinobi, it should still be serious enough to get him some kind of adverse action…but it wasn't the easy slam-dunk of the attempted murder they were watching for.
Men were stationed at the entrance to Danzou's compound, and they stood under orders to take him into custody and deliver Iruka with all possible speed to the infirmary.
Ibiki had to reconsider whether the arrest could be warranted now. In any case, the removal of Umino from his master's possession and subsequent hospitalization was not in question - he would not call that segment of the operation off.
His attention was split when Tiger appeared and reported on Kakashi's condition.
Their exchange was cut short. A shock-wave of force from the house brought his rumination to a standstill.
The old man's chakra depletion should have precluded such a strong release; unless he'd been faking it when they found him, supposedly too overtaxed to complete Iruka's restoration. This soon afterward he should have been relatively harmless, easily misled, capable of only smaller jutsu, or clumsy acts of manual assault - similar to Kakashi's condition, although not as severe.
But it sure as hell couldn't have been the copy-nin, and Iruka was equally impotent at this point.
It appeared that they had underestimated the old weasel once again.
tbc