Hey all! What, two chapters in one day?? Winged Winter Night, what are you thinking?! Well, I think you guys deserved more than the little blurb that was Chapter 13. So, this is me making it up to you guys. And one more announcement: Snow Falling on Konoha is almost done. It's sad, I know, but there are only about 5 chapters left. It's been fun and I'm glad that everyone has liked the story so far. Fear not, for there will be a sequel! That's all…Happy Reading!
14. The Akatsuki
"Boring!" Yuki yawned as she stared out the window. It has been a few weeks since the attack on Konoha. Everyone was out helping to restore the Village that suffered moderate damage. Yuki had just gotten home from helping to rebuild Ino's flower shop and was waiting for Kocha and Kakashi's return. Yuki grew tired of waiting and decided to look for more odd jobs to help out with. While she walked around, everyone seemed to have all the help that they needed. When Yuki was about to turn around and return home, she noticed a restaurant and realized that she was hungry. She opened a flap and saw Kakashi and Kocha eating together. The two of them were laughing and having the time of their lives. Yuki had never seen Kocha so happy before. Yuki smiled and decided to eat elsewhere.
As Yuki turned the corner Asuma and Kurenai rushed into the restaurant in a slight panic. They rushed into the establishment and stopped at Kakashi and Kocha's table. The two of them looked at Kurenai and Asuma in shock and wonder.
"What is it?" asked Kakashi. "Want to double date?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" said Kurenai blushing.
"This is serious!" said Asuma.
"Alright then, what is it?" asked Kocha.
"We spotted three suspicious characters in town." Asuma answered. "One was carrying a large sword. Do you think it's Kisame?"
"Perhaps." Said Kakashi contemplating.
"Who's that?" Kocha asked.
"A rouge ninja." Said Kakashi. "He's an S-class criminal."
"Wow." Said Kocha. She expressed an evil grin and said, "I wonder if his sword skills are as good as mine."
"Who were the other three?" said Kakashi.
"We don't know." Kurenai answered. "We should keep our eyes on them in case they cause any trouble."
"Right." Said Kakashi. "Kocha, the three of us will keep our eyes on these 'newcomers.' You find Yuki and Sasuke. If Naruto hasn't left yet, you'd better find him too. Keep them within your sights at all times."
"Got it." Kocha nodded. She walked out of the building and watched as the other three took off toward the village waterway. Please, be careful, Kakashi.
After seeing Kocha and Kakashi at the restaurant, Yuki decided to find Sasuke and help out with whatever he was doing. As she walked around the town she could find no traces of him. Her search finally led her to the park where she found Naruto walking around as well. When he spotted Yuki he ran toward her. "Hey, Yuki!" He called out.
"Hi, Naruto!" Yuki smiled. "What's up?"
"I was looking for you!"
"What for? Do you need help with something?"
"Not really." Naruto smiled. "I'm going to learn an awesome jutsu from Jiraiya!"
"Jiraiya!?" said Yuki shocked. "You mean one of the Sanin?! The Toad Sage?"
"Yeah! He asked me to find you. He's going to train both of us! Plus, we have to find this Tsunade woman."
"Tsunade?!" Things were now getting too weird for Yuki. Kakashi would always tell stories about the three Sanin and she always wanted to meet them. Orochimaru, however, was the only one that she disliked.
"So?" asked Naruto. "Are you coming with us?"
"Sure!" said Yuki. "Let me grab my things and tell Kakashi."
"Kakashi already knows." Jiraiya came out from behind a building. "I told him I would be taking both of you with me."
"Jiraiya-sama!" Yuki bowed in respect. "I would be greatly honored to join you!"
"Easy, kid!" said Jiraiya. "Not many people know I'm here so it'd be best if we left right away. As soon as you've gotten your things meet us at the front gate."
"Okay!" Yuki bowed again and took off toward her house. She grabbed all of her necessary gear and ran to the Village gate. Once she made it the small squad walked out of the village, just barely missing the danger within.
Kocha had been searching for hours but could find none of the young ninja. Kocha leaned up against a wall to catch her breath when she noticed Kurenai and Asuma racing toward the town waterway. She ran after them asking, "What's going on?"
"They were spotted near the waterway!" Kurenai answered. "We are to confront them and question their presence."
"If they meet us with force, we will act in kind!" Asuma added.
"What of Kakashi?" Kocha asked putting her hand on her sword.
"He must not have gotten the word yet." Said Asuma. "He'll know soon enough."
The squad arrived at the waterway and there on the sidewalk stood two characters garbed in black robes with red clouds on them. They also wore straw hats with cloth tethers covering their faces. One was taller and carried a giant sword while the other held no weapon from what Kocha could see.
"Stop right there!" said Asuma. "State your business! Why are you in Konoha?" The figures stopped and said nothing.
"Answer us, or we will use force." Warned Kurenai.
"Do you think you can actually force us to answer to the likes of you?" said the taller character. His voice was hiss-like as if he was a snake. Kocha recognized it straight away. Now I remember. I thought the name 'Kisame' was familiar!
"Kisame." Growled Kocha. "Now I remember you."
"Ah," said the taller one removing his hat. His skin was blue leathery like a shark and his teeth matched the characteristics of a shark as well. "I thought I saw you somewhere, before."
"You know her, Kisame?" Said the shorter one. His voice was dark yet calm like that of one in his twenties.
"One of my earlier endeavors." Kisame answered. "She's quite skilled with that sword of hers. She was one of my favorite challengers."
"I see." Said the other. "So she is the other."
Kocha drew her sword as she continued to eye both of them. The blue opals shined mysteriously as the sun hit their smooth surface. Kocha placed the Buru-yami in both of her hands and slowly moved into a battle-ready stance. "Why are you two here?"
"I don't see any reason to answer that question," said Kisame. "Do you, Itachi?"
The three ninja stood stunned at the name. The smaller one removed his hat to reveal a handsome face hidden behind strands of black hair that was tied into a small ponytail. His eyes were red with the Sharingan. Kocha had heard the rumors of the Uchiha clan but she never thought for an instant that she would meet him…again.
"Itachi Uchiha!" Kocha hissed again. "Have you come to take Yuki again?"
"What do you mean?" asked Asuma.
"I met him years ago." Said Kocha. "He destroyed our village and tried to take Yuki away."
"Yuki?" asked Asuma. "These two destroyed Yuki's homeland?"
"There were more of them though." Kocha told them. "I can't remember it all clearly. I was knocked out by something. I don't remember."
"We do not wish to fight you." Said Itachi. "In fact, we were on our way out."
"Not until you answer our questions!" asked Asuma. "You're both wanted criminals here and you're lucky we didn't arrest you already."
"Then, we have no choice." Said Itachi.
Kisame lifted his sword from his back and brought it to his side. "This will be fun!" He laughed. Kisame leaped into the air and attempted to bring his sword down on Asuma. Kocha shoved Asuma out of the way and brought her sword up over her head to block the attack. The swords clashed in a fury of sparks from the amount of force. Kocha used this chance to remove her arm as the support for her blade and thrust her palm into Kisame's face. While he was stunned, Kocha was able to jump and kick Kisame back towards Itachi. Kisame got up looking like nothing happened to him as he laughed, "You've gotten a lot stronger since we last met."
"I'm honored." Kocha said readying herself once more. "Too bad I can't say the same thing about you."
"Ha!" Kisame chuckled. "You're just as cocky as your sister."
"What?" Kocha was suddenly hit from the side by a water dragon jutsu. Kocha slammed into a tree and fell to the ground. "Kocha!" Asuma shouted as he tried to help her.
"Asuma, behind you!" Kocha spotted two pillars of water that formed behind him. As Asuma turned around one of the pillars countered the other and cancelled the attack. Kocha looked around confused and found Kakashi standing where she once was. Kocha felt a small wave of relief as she stood again, soaked. "It's about time you showed up!" she mocked.
"I thought you all would be enough to handle it." Said Kakashi. "I just didn't know that it was going to be Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigake."
"So you knew who we were all along." Laughed Kisame. "Very insightful."
"Move over, Kakashi." Said Kocha walking up next to him. "I can hold off Kisame. You focus on Uchiha."
"I've got it covered." Kakashi tilted his head toward Kurenai and Itachi. Another Kakashi held a knife to Itachi's throat. "Now," Kakashi continued. "Why have you all come here?"
"If he didn't answer you the first time he's not gonna answer you again." A familiar voice came from further down the river. Kakashi and Kocha turned their heads to see another figure garbed in the same attire. The character removed their hat to reveal Keeta's face. "Long time, no see, sister."
"Keeta!" Kocha hissed. "So you're with them now?"
"Keeta," said Itachi. "Were you able to locate the target?"
"Negative." Keeta shook her head. "They're not in the village."
"What are you looking for?" asked Kakashi.
"You must be kidding." Laughed Keeta. "You think you can just keep asking us and get somewhere? You're a fool."
"Then, I'll force it from you!!" In the blink of an eye, Kocha ran towards Keeta and clashed blades with her. Kocha noticed something in her sister's eyes, a beastly glare that grew more and more intense with each second. Kocha suddenly felt her shoulder burn and she backed away immediately. Keeta's chakra grew all around her and was now visible to the naked eye. Kocha watched in horror as her sister grew a tail, pointed ears, and fur all over her body. Her nails grew into a sharp point as her feet developed an anatomy perfect for long jumps. When her transformation was finished, Keeta charged at Kocha with amazing speed and kicked her into Asuma and Kurenai.
"What the hell?" said Kakashi.
"You shouldn't let your guard down, Copy Ninja!" Kisame sliced through Kakashi but Kisame watched as his target turned into water. "A water clone, huh?" He growled.
"Give it up, Kocha!" Keeta growled. Her voice now had a strange growl to it as if she was possessed.
"Never!" Kocha got up and tried to attack her sister again but Keeta was too quick. Again, she managed to knock back Kocha into the forest. Kocha used her sword for support to stand up once more. She looked around trying to find her target. Great. She thought. Am I going to have to use that to beat her? She shook off her pain and tried to run back to Kakashi and the others when another force threw her to the side. Kocha slid on the coarse ground and stuck her sword into the ground to stop herself. When she stopped, she heard a ruckus back towards the river. Kakashi must be fighting Itachi. She concluded. Hang on, Kakashi. I'm on my way. Kocha looked around her then tried to dart for the exit again. Once more Keeta prevented her leave by coming up from the ground and making contact with Kocha's chin. Kocha flew high into the air and landed flat on her back.
She's not letting me leave. I have to realize that now. I have no choice but to fight her. Kocha picked up her sword from the ground and looked around herself once more. She closed her eyes and made a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Kocha created three copies of herself and she tried heading toward the exit. Within milliseconds her clones were defeated and Kocha was sliced across the torso. Kocha applied pressure to her wound by putting her hand over it. Damn it! She's the tiger so she has stealth as her advantage. I've got to get her out into the open. Her shoulder pulsed and she moved her hand from her scar to her shoulder. I don't want to have to resort to that. I've come this far without it.
"You can't win, Kocha!" yelled Keeta's demonic voice. "The forest is my protector. You have no way out of here other than death!"
She wants me to us it! Kocha realized. I see it now. She wants everyone to see what we truly are. She's trying to separate me from the village. Hated by the people I love most. Hated by… "No!" Kocha hissed. "I will not let you win, Keeta! I'm going to beat you at your own game and help Kakashi!"
"Forget about him, Kocha." Keeta mocked. "He'll never love you for what you are. Besides, he's probably dead by now thanks to Itachi."
"You're wrong, Keeta." Kocha argued. "I've seen the kindness of Konoha's people. They can overcome any differences that come their way. I saw it with my own eyes during Naruto's match. People cheered for him as if they never knew what he really was."
"That fox will never be accepted by anyone!" Keeta charged and slashed Kocha across the arm. Keeta was crouched down like a cat and slowly rose up saying, "He will always be hunted. I'll make sure of that. That brat will always live his miserable life in fear and sadness. Just as I have! The Nine-Tailed Fox will know what true pain is!"
"Don't you think he already knows?" Kocha charged at Keeta and the two clashed swords again. "He's lived his life hated by people, despised by them! He never even knew his own parents!! At least we have memories of them, Keeta! That boy has nothing! Now, you want to make him feel as if he has less than nothing? My Keeta would have never thought of such things!"
"You're right." Said Keeta. "Your Keeta would have never thought of such things. She was powerless and stupid. She was weak until she met Lord Orochimaru. He gave us a wonderful gift, Kocha. He gave us the gift to avenge our family! You threw away that power and for what? A man and child to call your own? You are a fool." Keeta pushed Kocha off of her and threw a poisoned kunai at her. Kocha blocked the attack and came at Keeta again. The tiger-woman dodged the attack and landed on a tree limb.
"If you think so highly of Orochimaru, then why did you leave him and join Itachi and Kisame?" Kocha barked.
"Because they had the same goal as I did." Keeta stood and looked off into the distance. "He found me and took me into his organization. I found a new way to live, other than become Orochimaru pawn. Here, I have my own ideals and everyone shares them with me. We all want the power to avenge our friends and family."
"And the Akatsuki are just that?" Kocha said. "A group of Avengers looking for more power? Just what is it that you came here for?"
"We came for the Legacy of their Fourth Hokage." Keeta sneered. Kocha's eyes widened. "We're also looking for the Elemental Sage." Keeta continued. "Together, with them, we will be unstoppable."
They've come for Naruto and Yuki! Kocha's heart began to beat faster and faster. Her blood turned hot and she began to feel an immense strength and power surge through her. She could not control herself. There was no turning back. Kocha felt two extra limbs sprout from her back and another, flexible, limb sprout at her tailbone. Her feet became arched like Keeta's and her incisors grew into k-nines. Her ears were pointed and somewhat webbed. Keeta stared in horror at the Kocha before her now. She had never seen Kocha's alter-form.
"Now, do you see what Orochimaru has done to us?" said Kocha in a demonic voice. "He made us nothing but monstrous pets! I will kill him for what he has done to us but first, I will kill all of you before you even lay a finger on Naruto and Yuki!" Kocha flexed her wings and dashed through the air. Keeta back-flipped onto the ground to safety, however, Kocha appeared behind her and hit Keeta with enough force that it sent her flying out of the forest and back out into the river. Kocha landed in a cat-like way with her wings bent inward. The feathers of her wings reflected the sunlight brilliantly as did the silver scales on her tail. Kocha turned her head to see Kakashi bend over and breathing heavily. Although he could not express it, he was shocked by the marvel.
Keeta climbed back onto the water's surface and stared at her draconic sister. After a while Kakashi asked, "You are all here for Naruto and Yuki aren't you!" Itachi and Kisame stared at the weakened Copy Ninja. "You're after the Nine-Tailed Fox spirit within Naruto and Yuki's Soshigan ability."
"So you knew, huh?" Mocked Kisame.
"I know all about you and your organization." Kakashi continued. "You call yourselves the Akatsuki, rouge ninjas who kill others for your own gain and power."
Keeta, Kisame, and Itachi stared at Kakashi in somewhat shock. After a while Itachi spoke. "Kisame, Keeta. We will take Kakashi with us. We have no need for the others."
"Alright then!" Kisame smiled. Keeta took a quick glance at Kocha and took off towards Kakashi. Before Keeta could even grab him Kocha flew over and kicked Keeta back towards the other direction. Kocha turned to her left and saw that Kisame had his sword raised above his head ready to cut Kocha in half. Kocha immediately wrapped her wings around Kakashi and braced for an attack that never came. A pillar of water kicked Kisame back towards Itachi as it shouted, "Leaf Hurricane!"
When the water settled Gai stood in its wake in his usual battle stance. Asuma and Kurenai were clueless to the action around them due to the fact that they had their eyes closed. "What's going on?" asked Asuma.
"It's alright." Said Gai. "You two can open your eyes."
"Isn't that dangerous?" asked Asuma. "Kakashi just told us not to look into Itachi's eyes."
"Don't worry." Said Gai. "I've spent many years studying the Sharingan and about how to deal with it. Focus on his feet. You can always tell what an opponent is going to do by his feet."
"Alright but that's easier said than done." Said Kurenai opening her eyes. Both she and Asuma were shocked when they noticed the state that Kocha and Keeta were in.
"Kocha," said Gai. "Take Kakashi to the medical corps. We'll discuss your form later."
"R-right." Said Kocha strangely. Damn it! I'm not used to being in this form for so long. Kocha managed to grab Kakashi by his collar before he sank into the water. She threw him onto her back as if he were a backpack and began to levitate with one flap of her wings. Asuma and Kurenai stared in awe as she looked like a draconic guardian angel. "You be careful, Gai-kun." She told him. Gai gave her a thumbs-up and she took off toward the hospital. As Kocha flew, she knew that people could see her but she did not care. She believed that the people could see past her difference just as they did for Naruto. When she landed at the hospital she knew that the staff would not come near her. Instead of going to them, Kocha gently placed the unconscious Kakashi on the ground and flew away.
She flew back to their home and reverted back to her normal form. She fell to the floor breathing heavily and starting to sweat. That was dangerous. She thought. I've never stayed in that form for so long. I almost lost it. I just hope that Yuki is safe.
A few days later the hospital staff was able to bring Kakashi home, however he was still unconscious so Kurenai, and Asuma volunteered to watch him until he woke up. After they settled him in and the staff left, Kocha swung in through the window and landed on Kakashi's desk cross legged. The two jounin looked at her questioningly.
"I guess I owe a few ninja some answers." She joked.
"That was no transformation jutsu you used." Said Kurenai. "I would like to ask you where you got such a strange power but…"
"But…?" repeated Kocha.
"But I think he deserves to hear it more than anyone." Said Asuma in a gentle tone. Kocha turned her head and looked solemnly at Kakashi. "You're right." She said. She moved her gaze back to Asuma and asked, "Were you able to finish off the Akatsuki?"
"No." he answered. "Gai took off after them after Sasuke found out that Itachi had returned. They could use your backup."
"I can't." Kocha said truthfully. "I used up too much of my chakra in my fight with Keeta. However…" Kocha made a few hand signs and breathed on her right hand. A puff of smoke appeared and when it slowly left Yoru was in its place. Kocha knelt down on one knee and stared into Yoru's golden eyes.
"You look like crap." He purred.
"And you're as blunt as ever." She laughed. "Yoru, I have a very important mission for you."
"Just say the word!" The kitten jumped up excited to hear it.
"I need you to follow Gai and find Yuki, Naruto, and Sasuke." Said Kocha. "Keeta does not know about you so you are the only one who can help them now."
"Got it!" said Yoru. He jumped onto the window sill and jumped down into the city. Kocha watched as a black dot darted out of the village. You can do it, Yoru.
"We'll leave Kakashi to you then." Said Asuma. "Don't go outside just now. We're trying to calm everyone down saying you used a transformation jutsu."
"Very well." Said Kocha. "But the truth must come out sooner or later."
"Now's not the best time for something like this." Said Kurenai. "Without a Hokage to rely on the people go into a panic very easily."
"Alright." Said Kocha.
"We'll knock when we come back." Said Asuma.
When they left Kocha stared for a long time at Kakashi. She walked over to him and grabbed his hand as she lay down beside him. I can't imagine the nightmare that put you here. She thought to him. You were very brave to stand up against Itachi. Yuki is very lucky to have a father who cares for her so. Before she fell asleep she felt an urge to do something that she never thought she would be able to do. Before closing her eyes, she moved closer to Kakashi and kissed his cheek.