Chapter 6: The First Believer and the Lost Love
Disclaimer: No matter how hard I wish, I will never own Naruto and the others, they all belong to Kishimoto. I only own Kai and my little OC village!
Leave it Naruto wanting to go on some type of revenge justice mission that had Team 7, Team 10, and Team 8 up at the ass crack of dawn. Normally, they wouldn't have this many people on a mission, pregnant Kurenai and late Asuma excluded, but Team 10 refused to not be a part of the Akatsuki Search mission and well Team 8 was full of tracker and sensory ninjas that they desperately needed if they wanted to find this infamous Kai Miashi.
Sakura Haruno was against this mission for the most part. She thought Naruto was getting in over his head again and this time there was no turning back. Obviously this woman was strong. She was advanced far beyond any of their levels and if Naruto couldn't use his strongest jutsu, just what in the world was he gonna possibly do to defend himself if a fight ensued? And if she used her dojutsu? Well, they were all done for. Either way, like a good teammate, she stuck by his side and agreed to go. She imagined they would probably need her medical expertise and her strength even. She would make herself useful on this mission.
The last that any of them had heard was of a mysterious murder of two Kumogakure ninja who were on border duty. The tell-tale straw hat of the Akatsuki was left behind and this is what put the Leaf shinobi enroute to the land of lightning. It also helped knowing that one of their jinchuriki had been taken weeks prior.
Sakura had never really been to land of lightning, but she'd always heard it was a beautiful place. Full of clouds and the ninja there were skilled. Although, in her opinion, no place would ever be as powerful or as amazing as Konoha, but this wasn't the time to input her opinions on village decency.
By the time the 11 of them arrived it was late evening and no one was surprised to see the added security. After Kakashi and Yamato exchanged brief words with one of the guards, they were all led to Raikage's tower. The Raikage himself was a big man. All Sakura really saw were muscles, muscles everywhere. He wore a long white cloak with heavy gold weights around his arms and a gold belt around his waist. He had on black pants were adorned with a hunter green sash and he wore red and white leg warmers under them with black sandals. He really was an intimidating figure.
"Lord Raikage, we thank you for allowing us to come and speak with you." Kakashi spoke.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan," the Raikage began, "I have to say that I'm surprised you all requested to see me. A group of Tsugakure ninja came through here the other day in regards to the murder of kidnapping of my people. If you're also tracking this Tsugakure traitor, then why aren't you with them?"
"Well, you see Lord Fourth, Naruto here believes that there may be more to the assassination of Tsugakure's third Kikage."
"More to it huh? You, boy! Naruto, come and tell me what more you believe there is." He exclaimed pointing a mighty finger towards Naruto. Said boy hesitated for a moment, before moving himself forwards to the bigger man. Steeling his facial expression and making sure that what was preparing to come out of his mouth were actual words and not vomit, he spoke.
"I don't actually know what's going or what happened all that time ago, but I know that something isn't right. And it may sound stupid or far-fetched because I have no actual proof except for what I've seen and heard, but I don't believe she's guilty of committing an actual crime." Naruto said. The Raikage stared at the boy before picking up a stray weight on his desk and proceeding to do arm curls.
"No actual proof?" He muttered. "But you believe, she's innocent. Are you suggesting…some type of scandal is going on in Tsugakure boy?" Naruto gulped.
"Well, would you kill a whole clan for the wrong doings on two people? Because I wouldn't, unless I was trying to hide something." The Raikage's arm stopped and his face formed a hard expression. Naruto matched his gaze. He wasn't going to back down no matter what.
"Do you know what happened in Tsu seven months ago?" Naruto and many others, except Kakashi and Yamato, shook their heads. "Nine months ago. A man. Shiori Miashi, was executed for treason and attempting to start a war between the five, now six, great shinobi nations. His executor was the second Kikage, the older brother to the third and now active Kikage. Seven months ago, the second Kikage disappeared. It wasn't until they recovered his body that they realized he'd gone to rendezvous with the accused, Kai Miashi, where he lost his battle and was killed. After examining his body, they discovered that what led to his death was a rare type of poison. A poison that kills it's victims within 5 minutes of exposure.
This poison has only ever been found on the tip of a steel spike that sits on a wooden pillar and is a part of the Miashi clan's '5 Pillars of Death' forbidden jutsu. Now, it's said that this woman, the niece of the man that was executed killed the Kikage in revenge of her uncle's death. My questions is, if she was so powerful to have taken down the Kikage, all by herself, then why did she not just carry out his plan and begin with the destruction of Tsu? And if her whole clan was involved, why didn't they begin the destruction while she was fighting the Kage?"
Sakura gasped. "B-because they weren't."
"My thoughts exactly." The Raikage said while shifting in his seat. "It never sat right with me. The whole Tsugakure thing. That or their village. Bringing down that shield after all that time and wanting to converge with the rest of us. I met the second once before and he seemed like a two-timing bastard."
"So-so you believe me!?" Naruto exclaimed feeling relief wash over his body.
"It's not a matter of whether I, just one Kage believe you. If you want action and an investigation you'll need the other five Kage's to agree that something in the land of energy is fishy. I am calling a summit to discuss the Akatsuki matters and how to deal with them now that Yugito Nii, one of our Jinchuriki's has been taken and two of our shinobi murdered. I have no problems bringing up the matter there."
"Alright!" Naruto cheered. He couldn't help but to feel some type of happiness. After all his strife during these last few weeks, something good was finally happening.
"Naruto. I figure, you aim to save this woman. Correct?" The man asked.
"Well-yeah. She's innocent if the Kikage was a bad guy."
"That may be true. She may be innocent in that aspect," Sakura spoke now, "but do not forget, she's aligned herself with the Akatsuki. She's killed innocent people Naruto. She can't be forgiven for those crimes."
"But that-," Naruto stopped, he didn't know how to defend that one. He didn't think it was fair. If her village had never been up to dirty tricks, she would have never been put in that position.
"Fine, so you've got a point, but all I'm asking is that you keep in mind, that she possibly saved all of us from a war that we could have lost." That was what he was going to hang onto. She was innocent, Tsu was sketch, and he would help her find justice.
XXX
Have you ever found yourself in a position so awkward that you start dreaming about how death is such a better option than continuing on the path you're currently taking? That was me, right now. As soon as Itachi and I had reached the lair I took him to his room and put him to sleep. Then I immediately went after Deidara and Hidan to start my mission. Mission, prove my love to Itachi by righting my wrongs. Of course I couldn't make myself an actual virgin again, but I could become a born again virgin by being celibate.
What I didn't expect was for them to actually care. No, I expected Dei to care, just not as much, and I just didn't expect Hidan to care at all. Yet, here they were. Deidara looked on the verge of tears and Hidan was currently looking for his pike to go and perform a ritual on Itachi.
"Hidan," I sighed again, "please just, calm down. You're blowing this all out of proportion. Itachi isn't making me do this. I'm choosing to do this."
"So you're actually choosing Itachi over me, hn?" Deidara asked. I was starting to actually feel bad for him. He looked like the cutest little heartbroken puppy.
"Deidara, I, I'm sorry. You'll always be special to me, but I just, I feel more of a connection with him." I apologize. "One that doesn't involve his penis anywhere near my person." I added when he opened his mouth to object.
"Kai, I swear to Lord Jashin, if I find out you hid my fucking pike I will sacrifice the both of you!"
"Hidan!" I exclaimed.
"No! You don't get the privilege of screaming my name anymore you bitch!" The Jashinist screamed at me before storming off, hopefully not to Itachi's room. I looked back at Deidara whose expression had gone from solemn to hateful.
"I can't believe you, hn. All the time we spent together. If you knew you didn't feel the same way about me, why did you let me fall for you? Kind of a jackass move Kai!" The blonde boy yelled.
"Deidara please wait." But it was too late. He was already gone. I sighed and turned around to come face to face with Pein. Great.
"What now?"
"You left your hat." He said in his deep monotone voice.
"What?"
"Your straw hat. The one you killed that Kumo nin with. You left it."
"Ugh, fuck, look, I'm sorry alright. I was just trying to get Itachi-"
"Kai. When you join a criminal organization filled with men who sometimes go without sex for months, and sleep with them on a regular basis, you can't just expect them to handle the…'break-up' well."
"Are you serious right now?" I just stared at him, and he just stared at me.
"Yes." He finally said. "If Itachi sets Hidan on fire…and he melts away…or if he traps Deidara in a Tsukuyomi…it's on your head. Now, Zetsu has been following the Leaf shinobi and they're after you along with a team from Tsugakure. Come with me and Konan to Amegakure for the time being. I don't want them finding you."
"I understand. I guess I deserve the break and it would be nice to see Konan again."
XXX
Deidara was baffled to say the least. How could this have happened? He saw all the signs, he felt the connection. Then again, that was probably the problem. It was all one sided. She didn't see anything. She didn't feel anything. She didn't love him the way he loved her. It was all about Itachi. Itachi this and Itachi that. And all this business about Sasuke killing Orochimaru? Well, fuck them both. Damn those Uchiha's to Hell.
He wanted Itachi to suffer, to pay. He knew it was Itachi's goal in life to fight his younger brother to the death. So why not steal it from him the way Itachi stole his woman? He was on his way to find the young boy now, unfortunately, Tobi had tagged along. The annoying man wouldn't stop babbling about how excited he was to be along on this journey to kill an Uchiha. Deidara was trying to refrain from blowing him to pieces. He needed to save all his clay for his battle. He would not lose to another Uchiha.
XXX
Hidan stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him, and sprawled himself out on his bed. When he joined the Akatsuki he hadn't planned on falling for anyone yet here he was feeling shitty about himself for losing Kai.
At first it had just been a sexual thing, but as time progressed with her, he realized it wasn't just about the sex anymore. He found solace in her company. He found more things to like about her than just her body or the way she shivered at his touch. It was more than her moaning and mewling. It was the sound of her voice. It was always raspy and scratchy sounding and on anyone else he would have hated it. He probably would have killed them for it. But on her, it sounded natural and attractive. It was the adorable way her cute little nose would scrunch up when she smiled. The way her cheeks would go red when she got cold and she'd snuggle up next to him for his warmth.
He'd fallen for her random moments of complete insanity or her random moments of utter bitchiness. He reveled in her philosophical outlook on life. The fact that she was so complex, that there were so many sides of her and Hidan just wanted to love them all. He wanted them to love him. It was hard to find someone to accept you, let alone love you when you worship a God that required an almost daily sacrifice to grant you his powers of immortality.
With Kai, when he would talk to her about Jashin, she would listen. She found it interesting and strangely beautiful. Not in the sense that she herself would ever become a worshipper of that religion, but it didn't bother her. Or at least that's what he thought. Itachi, didn't go around killing people for someone he had never and would never meet. Itachi was smart. Itachi, didn't always spew sentences with curse words in all of them. Itachi, wasn't the silver haired, massacring, dumbass, psychotic, unlovable, loud mouth that Hidan was. And he never would be.
XXX
Naruto and his team had settled in a small village for the night to rest. He was exhausted. Trying to find all the Akatsuki hideouts was ridiculous and time consuming. Luckily for them, the Raikage had already had quite a few of them searched in order to find Yugito. Unfortunately for him, he never found her and after searching almost six of them, they pulled out.
Now Naruto found himself staring at the window and looking down onto the people walking around. As if these people would just one by one look up at him and give him all the answers he needed. Like, what could Tsugakure possibly be trying to keep the Miashi's quiet about? Or, why didn't Kai just run to the next biggest village and scream liar? Or maybe even, what the hell was that bright light from earlier? It was almost blinding.
Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd be playing detective, but if one thing was for sure, he didn't necessarily like it. Not to mention, he could just tell how annoying Sakura found this whole thing. It was side tracking him from Sasuke and that meant that it would only be a longer wait before she saw him again. Held him again.
Naruto sighed and plopped back down onto his mattress. Today had been a long day and he was so tired. All this thinking could wait, for now, all he wanted to do was sleep.