"Nagadachi," Shisui's voice is barely audible as he holds his brother in his arms and tears roll down his face. "Nagadachi…nagadachi…nagadachi…H-hey!" his voice cracks more and more as he holds the bloody form of his taller, lankier brother. He stares at his face and then looks up to his eyes, covered by his eyelids. Nagadachi hadn't even cried when Fugaku had branded him with that seal, preventing him from ever being able to deactivate his sharingan. Shisui is sure that Nagadachi still held some sort of bitter grudge against him, because he, the younger brother, was able to achieve everything he wanted from helping his country win the War to becoming a Jōnin to having a family. Friends and family, especially Kagami, surrounded Shisui while Nagadachi toiled in darkness in Black Ops.
The ANBU doesn't move. The Raikage drops to a knee as he visibly winces from a tiny pinprick, but it isn't like the Uchiha notices. To the Kage, it's obvious in the heat of the battle the gloves must've been covering a syringe filled with poison and pushing down his fist to prevent it from going through the ANBU's entire abdomen had pushed down the plunger and nearly all the poison went in. The Kage quickly loses consciousness before the Uchiha. Shisui looks from his brother to the Kage in complete shock. Shisui doesn't quite process the unconscious Kage. His body still shakes with sobs and involuntary whispers of 'I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry'. But, what wakes him up is the ANBU teams coming from behind. Shisui holds his brother tightly and sprints off. A trail of blood is left behind from his wound and the ANBU quickly take advantage of it, gaining on the two Uchiha.
"Again."
Like machines, the children go through their stances again. Their eyes no longer shine with memories of going up and down slides and playing ninja and their smile lines had faded completely. Instead, a glaze set over their sunken eyes. As he knows, there are two reasons for this. One is that the children have fallen into line with ANBU Black Ops—most were ROOT candidates, really—training and lifestyle of no band-aids or Kaa-san holding your hand. The other is the slow increase on drugs. The children are already being kept within the barracks all day every day and have no way to access outside food. The only food and water they get is from the refectories—as Hound liked to put it—and that in the beginning was barely laced with much of anything, but after nearly a year the children had been slowly addicted to it. The way he sees it, drugging the children is more useful than not. Danzō wouldn't do it if it weren't. The children are, unconsciously or not, addicted to the drugs, which are obtained from the food in the barracks. After such a long time, the children are unlikely to trust any outside food. This will prevent against any accidental deaths, like poisonings. The children would only eat the food from the barracks or the food in their packs, ensuring a higher rate of mission success. The other was to tie them to Black Ops more firmly. It's not hard to understand how food, regardless of the drug aspect, can create trusting connotations regarding the place of origin of the food. Drugs and its subsequent addiction only made the tie stronger. Plus, it made any bad memories of harsh training or the killing of one of the recruits to be a hazy outline at the least or completely forgotten at the most.
Hawk watches them carefully before a boy slips and his partner sends him flying. Hawk watches in mild amusement as the boy arcs through the air and slams into Danzō's office. The sliding doors snap and he shakes his head as he faintly hears a few bones in the boy's body break.
Danzō materializes out of thin air, fuming, "Hawk. Come here."
"Yes, sir," Hawk says and strides over before kneeling.
"Clean that up. Replace my doors before I come back from Post 20," Danzō orders, "And, before this happens again, you will train your recruits better or so help me I will order agent Hound back here to electrocute you so slowly you'd wish you died!"
"…Yes, sir," Hawk says in monotone, unsure of how to respond to Danzō's sudden mention of a dishonorably discharged agent. He turns on a heel and walks away, leaving Hawk to jump up to the traditional-style office and plucks his bleeding student up. The boy groans in pain before passing out. Hawk shakes his head, remembering him as the boy who had survived Hound's brutal weeding out of the recruits.
As he organizes the scrolls and papers, rolling and stacking them up, he snickers softly. Post 20 is the closest ANBU outpost to Kumogakure, and by default the farthest Post there from to Konoha. If Danzō himself has to go out in person somewhere, Hawk can only imagine what had happened.
Ten minutes later, Hawk watches his clones for a moment as they repair the doors and looks around to check for more debris to pick up, but finds none. The boy stirs slightly and a scroll falls from his pocket. Hawk snatches it from him before he can take it back. The boy panics and leaps out of the office and back to the other recruits. Hawk looks after him, but ends up looking the open scroll. He would've normally refrained from looking at it; he probably hadn't the kind of clearance needed to look at much of anything in Danzō's office. Although, since he trusted me to do this, I probably have high enough clearance. The scroll beckons him to look and his eyes catch a name: Hatake Sakumo. Mildly intrigued, he begins to read, starting from the word 'betrayal'. It isn't long before his smirk fades away to a grimace.
I noticed a friend of yours entered the compound. Care to elaborate? Kagami writes on a piece of paper and slides it over to his adopted grandson. Kagami's black eyes shine with amusement when he sees Sasuke's surprised expression, but Kagami had told him that he presided over the barrier. The barrier was such that it would be stronger with Uchiha within the compound than without, although for security purposes it wouldn't completely disappear. It was always strong enough to keep out stray Senju that lacked an escort, which was the main use at the time of its creation. Now, it kept out most shinobi except for ANBU stationed there or skilled fūinjutsu shinobi.
"He's not my friend," Sasuke scowls, "Just an ally. He was looking for an alliance because he couldn't trust his teammates and because we 'have the same goal'."
Which would be? Kagami arches a brow, hoping Sasuke had changed his mind since the funeral.
"I will kill Itachi," Sasuke says seriously, "And he wants to kill Shisui, for coming into his village and causing their Kage and his ANBU to go after him and leave the village virtually unprotected. Simply put, Shisui greatly weakened their village."
I see. Kagami doesn't want to egg him on with the knowledge that Shisui and the Raikage were still fighting afar. He'd only been briefed on the potential security hazard regarding his compound (especially Sasuke) this morning.
Then Sasuke scratches his face and looks away, "Sorry…to bring him up."
I'm surprised you didn't catch yourself earlier. I think to myself: 'What does that mean?' Sasuke, I know my words will not stop you, but you must think this through: killing Itachi may bring you momentary peace but what will you sacrifice in killing him? I can see you abandoning your friends and becoming miserable just to kill an even more miserable boy.
"Miserable boy?" Sasuke repeats, holding the paper in his hand, "What, you pity Itachi? Do you sympathize with that murderer?" his voice remains calm; he isn't about to explode in front of his grandfather. That would kick him out of the compound.
Kagami shakes his head and takes the paper back.
I just worry about you. Ever since I lost Shirusu and Yūko, I haven't anyone to dote on, except you.
Sasuke gives him a skeptical look but sighs, not wanting to argue with the sad old man.
"Sorry, but," Saisho smiles at his team as he hands them their Exam tickets, "I'm afraid I have something to do. I can't watch you three compete, but I know you'll do well. Even you, Aiko," he smiles and pats her head. She beams and grins wider as he gives her a lollipop, "Before I go, however, there's something I want you two to know."
His gaze turns to Chojūro and Suigetsu, "I want you two to make it your mission to obliterate the Kumo teams. Both of them. Even if you can't kill all six, I want the black-haired boys dead. I'm not supposed to say this, but those boys are spies from Kumo. After the war scare last year at the iron deposits in the Land of Iron, Kumo and Iwa have strengthened their ties. No one in the Konoha, Kiri, Suna, Ame, or any country knows what they plan to do but there's a strong possibility they plan to seize control of Kiri's fertile waters and Konoha's rich land. In the process, this would cause a war. Together, those two countries are nearly unstoppable. I'm no ANBU and I'm not assigned to missions with ANBU, but I've read reports of two figures, around the ages of Genin, often lurking around the restricted areas of Kiri. If you do this, you'll be given a field promotion to Chūnin, regardless if you do become Chūnin here."
"Understood, sensei," Chojūro and Suigetsu say, sharing a look of glee. To Saisho, it's heartwarming to see two of Kiri's most promising swordsmen (boys, really) get along so easily.
To Aiko, Saisho hands a piece of paper folded in half. She takes it and continues to crunch on the pieces of the lollipop. Saisho waves before vanishing into the trees. Aiko finishes munching on the candy and looks up, feeling a gaze. She peers with hand to keep the sunlight out of her eyes into the trees. Quickly but quietly, she takes out shuriken and throws it into the tree's bushy leaves. It rustles, but no one screams or hisses.
Maybe it was just my imagination that someone was watching.
"You too, huh Aiko?" Suigetsu glances over at her serious face, "The hairs on the back of my neck have been standing on end lately. I doubt it's just the ANBU, but even they're just as fierce. I saw an Iwa girl being dragged back to her room yesterday."
"Why?" Chojūro adjusts the sword on his back as he looks around, suddenly keenly aware of the tall trees surrounding them on three sides. He peers nervously into the foliage, not wanting an ANBU to pop out.
"I guess it was Black Ops because the ANBU were really stiff and stated her crime—misdemeanor I guess—in a clipped tone. She had not only glued the doors to several rooms of other Genin in the Exams shut, but also had planted light bombs around the market. She was let go after her sensei stepped in, but the ANBU wouldn't let up. He ended up giving her a temporary chakra burn to mark her and said that 'this infraction will affect your ability to become a Chūnin' and 'the only way for you to become a Chūnin now is to get first place in the Finals; I will make sure of this'," Suigetsu says.
"Tsuji," Toyo's eyes flit over at his sister's matching black ones.
"I know," she says, her voice edged with annoyance. She pulls back her silver hair and inserts a silver pin to hold the bun in place. A rustle in the trees silences the twins' breath and heartbeat. A figure, dressed in Iwa garb, appears before them in a showy performance. Before landing, he does a backflip with two twists in the air and even puts on a smile. When his feet touch the ground, he kicks up some dirt and the twins use their sleeves to breath through. They narrow their eyes and fall into defensive stances.
"What do you want?" Toyo demands.
The man straightens up before flicking his wrist. Something squeaks before the twins find themselves unable to move and the rough bark of the surrounding trees digging into their clothes and backs. Tsuji glares openly at the man, unafraid of the wrath his eyes promise.
"What do you think I want? You two are barely on the cusp of being teenagers—a mere 14 years old—but that is no longer a card you can pull from your hand. You're adults now. Do you have any idea how many people you've killed?" his eyes turn cold as his smile remains.
"Why should that—" Tsuji starts.
"Tsuji, don't engage him," Toyo hisses. He turns to the silver-haired man, "What are you getting at?"
"Simply put, it's this: you two blew up an estate, murdering over a hundred people. While my insides churn in disgust, I can rest my heart in the knowledge that despite your special training in the Royal Guard you were unable to kill Lady Leader," he says.
"I told you we should've gone back," Tsuji sends her brother a dark look.
"I won't pry into your lives, but you should at least hear our cause out," he steps closer towards Tsuji and uses the tip of a finger to raise her chin. Her fiery look burns holes into him.
"You're a pretty girl. Can't you spare a moment to listen?" he tilts his head a little.
"Get away from her, you creep!" Toyo strains against the wire. His skin breaks under the wire and blood drips down.
"Say it!" Tsuji yells, "Say it and leave!"
"Right," his eyes form two crescents in joy, "Before the start of the Third War, there was a woman called 'Rakuko'. She was a master in the art of making remedies for anything, especially things for depression, sadness, and loneliness. All that she met, including people in the shinobi nations loved her. She brought nothing but happiness to everyone and she even became well known in the Royal Court—you know, the place where that old geezer Sakumo lolls around in. She wanted to share this with other Hatake and she wanted these Hatake to share these skills with the shinobi nations. In this way, she believed that the horrors of the Second War could be avoided. She warned that the embers of war were being stoked once more by the distant shinobi nations and that not acting would harm the Hatake Clan. No one, not even Sakumo, believed her. At first, the Royal Court tolerated her words as she passionately argued before the Court, thinking her to be a strange woman. However, when she realized that none were taking her seriously, she began to reach out to the Clan, specifically those who believed that an exodus from the Clan to the shinobi lands would save them from their poverty. Perhaps you don't know, but those in poverty with green eyes are a distinct branch of the Clan. The Royal Court feverishly denies this, however. Because of their eye color, they are discriminated against and forced to live in certain areas only. They are unable to speak to, look at, share food, water, or necessities with, go to the same schools—if they go to school at all—, or marry, among other things, with those Hatake with black eyes. The police often charge them for petty crimes and beat them until they die or starve them in prison. It's illegal for them to have a trial, much less a fair one. It's a little hard for privileged kids like you to understand, with your pure black eyes and all, but they are suffering."
"What happened when the Third War began?" Tsuji asks despite herself.
"Don't ask that," Toyo warns, "He wants your sympathy!"
The man tightens his grip on the boy's restrains and he lets out a small gasp. His skin bleeds more.
"Well…" the man sighs, "Sakumo reinforced the borders and barriers around our clan himself. No shinobi could enter, he said. Rakuko completely disappeared and the Court claimed they had put down the heretic, a disgrace to her clan for interacting with the green-eyed people. For most of the duration of the War, the clan was safe. However, in the last year of it, a shinobi slipped in. I don't know who he was, why he did it, or if he is still alive, but he slaughtered over a thousand people, both those with green and black eyes that lived in the land surrounding the tallest snow-capped mountain. If you go into the countryside, you can hear a lot of stories about this killer, but even the old people say that they wouldn't be alive if they had seen him; only people who never saw his face are still alive. Despite what the Court says, and despite what Sakumo says, I know Sakumo knows who this man was. After prying, blackmail, and genjutsu, he finally told me. It was some 'Mikata' person. Yet, he refuses to tell anyone because he's a filthy coward. He fears that uttering even the name of the killer will incite him to come back and annihilate the entire clan."
"You fight because you despise Sakumo-sama," Tsuji says, "And that's a common interest between you, a man with privileged eyes, and the green-eyed Hatake. The green-eyed Hatake don't like the Royal Court or Sakumo because they are oppressed and discriminated against. They want to be treated equally, so they're rebelling?"
He grins, "So Sakumo told you about the rebellion? Makes sense, I suppose. You two are part of his Royal Guard."
"Enough," Toyo growls, "You've said enough. Now leave."
"Not quite yet," he says, "I want to know something. Why are you two undercover, acting like Genin? What kind of order did Sakumo give you? Some sort of spying thing to keep an eye on me?"
"Like I'll tell you!" Tsuji says defiantly, her obsidian eyes shining with bravery. He chuckles and shifts his weight from one foot to the other.
"Well, I suppose that's fine. I'll keep a very," his breath tickles her ear as he leans close, too close for Toyo's comfort.
"Hey!" Toyo barks, "Get away from her!"
"very, close eye on you two. I'll find out sooner or later," he says and disappears in a blur.
The wire loosens and Toyo grasps his bloody arms. Tsuji rubs her ear, to rid the feeling of his breath. She digs in her pocket and produces a roll of white bandages. As she wordlessly wraps her brother's wounds with the cotton strip, she feels his glare boring holes into her head. She ties it off and he jerks away from her.
"You're welcome," she says, annoyed.
"Why did you even humor him? We're part of the Royal Guard!" Toyo grips her shoulders and scowls, "What on earth were you thinking?! If we can't do our job with him watching, why did we leave home to come here at all? He'll try his damnedest to stop us. Why did you help him? Have you forgotten what we're here for?" his eyes search hers for an answer.
"No, I haven't. I was the one who volunteered, remember?" Tsuji pushes him away, "I wanted to know why he, a former head of the Royal Guard, would turn his back against Sakumo-sama. What he told us might be falsified, but at least we know our enemy. We have to know our enemy to fight, Toyo," she says, "And, don't ever tell me what I can and can't do again. Have you forgotten our childhood, how everyone told us and pitied us for being orphans with no future? Just how many Hatake get the chance to venture out and show off their skills in front of leaders of the shinobi nations? This is an honor, Toyo. We've achieved so much and I'll be damned if anyone tries to stop us. We promised Mother and Father that we'd make them proud," she places a hand on his shoulder, "Let's make them proud, shall we?"
"Y-yeah," Toyo says, scratching his face. His stomach growls, "But let's get lunch before that, okay?"
"You're paying," Tsuji says, grinning.
"What?" his eyes widen and his head snaps up, "I paid last time!"
"You yelled at me and," she places a hand over her heart and the back of her other hand on her forehead and closes her eyes dramatically, "Hurt my heart."
"Oh, shut up," he smacks her head.
"Ow!" she cries before punching his wounds.
He hisses in pain, "Fine, fine, I'll pay!" he grumbles.
She beams with joy, "Now that's the kind brother I know! Let's get ramen!"
"More noodles…" he groans, feeling nauseous at the very thought of the warm worms in a bowl. "Really?"
"I…I was attacked," Rin swallows back a sob, "I was so scared."
Kosari sits in a chair with a carefully blank face as she listens to Rin's story.
"They demanded to get some medications. I told them that those kinds of medications, some of them lethal if you take one pill too many, are heavily restricted and take several months to prepare. They didn't like that answer and began to break my bones, threatening to kill me if I didn't hand them over right then and there. Somehow, they knew I was the only one with the key to unlock the seal that binds the case with the ingredients for it. I…I think there's some mole in the hospital that's supplying them with information," she grips Kosari's cold hand tightly, "Maybe they even report to Orochimaru. I'm sure you've heard about all his experiments and medical monstrosities."
"Yes, I have," Kosari says. Well, this is…interesting.
"You're the only one I can trust," tears roll down Rin's face, "Please. I need you to find them and find out whom they work for. The thought that they could still be around while I lay here in the hospital terrifies me. They might just change their mind and kill me."
"Don't worry," Kosari says, "If you'd like, I can request additional ANBU to guard your room."
"There are already enough ANBU," Rin says and closes her eyes.
"Well…" Kosari cups her chin thoughtfully, "I can put up a barrier. It is strong enough to keep away most ANBU. I can set it up so that only a select few can come in. I'll need them to come here to give blood samples, though."
"T-that sounds better," Rin says. Kosari gives Rin an ANBU smile and leans over to hug her. Without Rin's noticing, she slips a bug on the underside of the woman's gurney and puts a genjutsu over it, concealing it completely. Rin sobs a little, "I'm so glad you're still here."
"Still?" Kosari repeats as she straightens up, "What do you mean? Am I going somewhere?"
"N-no," Rin smiles, "It's just…your father and then Kakashi…"
Kosari narrows her eyes, "My father?"
"Sorry, sensitive subject, I get it," Rin says, with her hands up in a placating fashion, "I'll send for the others to come. One of the administrators is doing a slew of surgeries so it might take a while so you can come back later after they give some samples. Five milliliters should be enough, right?"
"Yes," Kosari says as she strides towards the door, "It was nice seeing you. Get better soon, Nohara-san."
"Yeah, thanks," Rin says as Kosari closes the door behind her. She gives a nod to the ANBU guarding Rin's door and walks out of the sterile-smelling hospital.
"You sure you want to stick around?" she stirs a pot of tasteless soup for the millionth time.
The old woman has the face of a bulldog and wrinkly features that make a raisin look as smooth as a peach. Her skin was a pinkish color, but had a luster of being dug up from her grave after a couple centuries. She sported a shiny silver band around her finger, but that was the only sign of wealth she had in her tiny thatched hut. Numerous times, ants darted in and out of the shadows underneath the tatami mats and yellow larvae of some sort of bug crawled slowly, visible in the holes in the mats. The woman does have a cat, but the cat seemed to be somewhere else and constantly thirsty; it leapt from its perch by the window to the large bowl of water next to the woman's feet. Then, it would make its way haphazardly, risking falling a few times, back to the sill. There, it would simply sit and gaze out of the window, not intrigued at all by the buzzing fly slamming itself against the dirty glass again and again.
"Not that I mind, but," she continues.
The cat leaps again and this time it doesn't land correctly. It slams its bony body against the unforgiving floor and something snaps. When its musty orange fur, probably once quite beautiful and soft, hits the floor, a layer of dust is lifted and a small tsunami wave ripples outward. Weightless, the tsunami carries the dust for several feet. The cat pushes forward and with a slight limp, it reaches the bowl of water. Upon closer inspection, the bowl's water is too shiny and viscous. The woman reaches down with speed and nimbleness that is just impossible for a hag like her and takes away the bowl. The cat blinks very slowly before making a strange mew. It sounds nothing like a cat's mew; it sounds like a cough. Then, the cat walks away and sits outside the doorway to the hut.
"These here kids aren't yours," she says, "And by the looks of you, I'd reckon you'd be busy and have some sort of business elsewhere. But, there's plenty of rice I can stew up and you seem to be comfy leanin' against that wall. What's mine is yours."
"Thanks," Bee mutters.
The woman wipes down a ladle with an equally dirty cloth and ladles some soup out into a bowl that Bee would feel more comfortable eating off the ground. He knows that with the tailed beast within him any illness he could get from the soup, ladle, bowl, and less likely the ground would be taken care of easily, but he still doesn't like the prospect of vomiting the rest of the night.
The woman offers the bowl to girl, who shies away and sticks her tongue out disrespectfully. Bee looks at her and shakes his head, "She's just a kid. I'm sure she'll come around sooner or later."
The woman nods slowly before setting it down on the floor and taking a seat next to the boy. Earlier, after getting angry in the rubble, he'd fainted. Bee supposed bringing him somewhere would be better than the destroyed mansion he laid in. He slowly opens his eyes and moans in pain. The woman frowns and for a moment, Bee is sure that part of her face will just fall off. Only, it doesn't, and she gets up. She shuffles over to a cabinet full of glass jars filled with herbs and takes out a few. She takes out a weathered wheel mortar and begins grinding up herbs. The boy falls back into unconsciousness but his brows still furrow in pain. After a time, the girl walks over to him and curls up beside him, quickly asleep.
The ANBU quickly apprehend the wounded Uchiha Shisui. With low chakra, his hands full with another and unable to weave seals, and a body cut up and bruised and battered from fighting the Raikage, there was a slim chance he could've kept up running away. The ANBU were in much better shape chakra and stamina wise, and unless he killed himself by using up the remainder of his chakra, he couldn't have gotten away.
Their rough gloved hands first force him face-first into the ground and he spits out dirt. When he does cough, the ANBU are quick to pull him to his feet, and then sucker punch him in the chest. He dry heaves in pain and would've fallen back down if the ANBU hadn't decided to tie him to a particularly rough tree and slapped on several chakra suppressors. The bark threatens to break his skin. With his worsening back and aching body and mouth full of grit and self-loathing due to having been caught by ANBU, Shisui finds thinking a way of out of the mess he's in rather difficult. One ANBU decides to patch up Nagadachi's wounds and Shisui barely pays him any attention.
"What do you think Hokage-sama will say?" one ANBU says. Shisui can just hear the smirk behind the blue-accented mask. Normally something like that would've just slid off his back but in his weakened and painful state the words sting. Even as a rogue shinobi, he has his pride.
"Maybe he'll congratulate us. I bet we'll all get promoted," another ANBU laughs.
Beside Shisui, although less restrained, without chakra suppressors, and tied to another tree is Nagadachi. His torso is completely covered in white bandages and Shisui can already see the beginnings of a fever on his face. Nagadachi never had a good immune system. Every cut was a concern, but that was why he trained harder than I did. He wanted to be strong enough not to get hurt. I never understood why he had to leave the clan, though. ANBU is cutthroat enough, but Black Ops? That division is inhumane. I always wanted to ask, but…
"What about this guy?" an ANBU jerks a thumb at Nagadachi, "He jumped in to save this murderer. That's treason. Uchiha Shisui is an S-Ranked rogue. We should just kill them both."
"…whatever happened to…" Nagadachi whispers, his voice barely audible. The ANBU look over and cross their arms. Nagadachi would've smiled after getting the arrogant and, to him, soft and coddled regular ANBU members to listen to him, but pain razes his mind, "T&I? Wouldn't you like to know…why Shisui killed his clan…and his children?"
"Children?" one ANBU repeats. Then he narrows his eyes at Shisui, "That's beyond cruel. Children can't fight. I bet a sick murderer like you made them suffer a slow death."
"And killed their mother right in front of them," another ANBU hisses, "Bastard. You don't deserve to live."
"But, this Black Ops agent does pose an intriguing notion," another ANBU says thoughtfully, "I've been reading a lot of these crime stories and while the detail of the killing is interesting, finding out the motive is what keeps me hooked," he places a hand on his hip, "Well? Just why did you do all this?"
Shisui slowly raises his eyes to meet the twin holes in their masks, "Why would you want to know a lie?" his black eyes slide over to burn holes in Nagadachi's head.
"You deny your own children and wife's deaths?" an ANBU scowls.
Shisui remains silent, glaring harshly at Nagadachi. Ever since Nagadachi graduated early from the Academy and joined ANBU and then Black Ops a few years later, Shisui had never talked to him. He couldn't, theoretically. He could track him down on a mission and find him, but with increasing pressure from Fugaku and the clan and Itachi needing his help, he hadn't any time to look for his brother. To be honest, I was bitter too. He left Tou-san and Kaa-san and I without saying goodbye. Nagadachi was little more than a stranger, to some extent.
"What's that look for?" Nagadachi's words slur, "I'm not afraid of you, Shisui."
"For what?" Shisui demands, "Leaving?"
Nagadachi doesn't look at him, "I'm not afraid of an emotional Uchiha. I just wish that—"
"That's enough out of you," one ANBU says and steps on Nagadachi's toes, grinding them into the ground until a few sickening snaps reaches Shisui's ears. Nagadachi's face goes blank and he shuts his eyes tightly.
"Damn Black Ops agents," the ANBU mutters, "I hate them."
"So arrogant," another sighs, "Acting like they're better than us regular ANBU."
"Did you hear about that one Black Ops agent?" another ANBU leans against a tree and nonchalantly crosses his arms.
"What agent?" the blue-masked ANBU shifts from leaning on his left to his right foot, intrigued.
"I saw it with my own eyes. In front of Danzō and all these Jōnin like Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, and Anko, Hokage-sama dishonorably discharged one of the Black Ops agents. I'm not supposed to talk about it, but I can in front of two dead men and you all. We all have the same clearance," he glances over at Shisui and Nagadachi before continuing, "Anyway, he not only didn't give Hatake Kakashi the Genin team he wanted, but forced the top agent of Black Ops to lead them. A few moments later, he burned her contract right in front of her. She broke. Lightning burst out from not her hands like I thought it would, but everywhere around her. My hair stood out on end as she tried to attack Hokage-sama. It was a show of skilled chakra control, but she failed. As tears rolled down her face, she voiced her anger, saying how Hokage-sama had taken away everything she cherished while she risked her life on S-Ranked missions, only to find out that the people she cared for were dead. She blamed Hokage-sama for not having protected them," he sighs.
"The way that sounds is that Black Ops is weak. Just what I thought. Especially that agent you're talking about. She, a top agent, couldn't protect the people she cared about? Just what kind of agent is that? Hasn't Hokage-sama realized this? She should be demoted, or maybe even forced out of the shinobi ranks. She's the definition of unfit for duty. What a disgrace," another ANBU remarks.
"You pieces of shit," Nagadachi's voice shakes with ire, "You understand nothing. You're to show respect to Hound! Not only was she your superior as a Black Ops agent but…" he coughs, "As an Elite Jōnin is your equal. She's stronger than you, or me, or Shisui. She sacrificed a happy life with the people she loved for the village. She was always on a mission, or training, and unlike any other agent never kept her paycheck. She always deposited it and never withdrew. She starved herself and only bought new uniforms when they were ripped into shreds and couldn't be sewed together. She barely slept. What kept her going was the belief that the people she cared about were alive. She risked her life every day, knowing that that day could be her last. Stupidly, she pushed herself, not realizing how sad they would be if she died. But, she would be a hero. An unrecognized, unknown hero. Forgotten. She didn't care about petty promotions like you weak ANBU do. She cares about this village more than any of you could understand!"
"W-what?" Shisui mutters, "The people she cared about…are dead?"
Nagadachi keeps his eyes closed, "Why would Hound lie about something like that? I respect her; I didn't pry into her life, but something awful must've happened for her to blame the Hokage for it."
"What happened?" Shisui demands, a hint of panic in his voice.
"So you know her too?" an ANBU grabs Shisui's collar, "Is she some sort of accomplice? Is she a spy?"
"There's been a rather surprising report," Hiruzen laces his fingers together, "I'd like for all of you to go on behalf of this report. I don't want to take any chances."
"What's this report?" Asuma pinches the end of his cigarette. With the Exams so soon and almost all of the Elite Jōnin in his office, he can only fear the worst. Had Iwa and Kumo done something?
"Uchiha Shisui has been spotted fighting the Raikage. He fled pursuing ANBU, but in his weakened state he is likely to be captured and detained. Danzō has already left to pursue him, but I'd like for you all to go as reinforcements. Kurenai, Kosari; I'll be counting on you two to deflect Shisui's genjutsu. Ko, you'll be everyone's eyes. The rest of you are on the defensive. I'll be counting on Gai to lead them. Your job is to ensure that Uchiha Shisui makes it to Konoha to be detained for questioning. A few of you are likely to be assigned to ensure he doesn't escape his holding cell."
"Fighting the Raikage? Just…how? Why?" Kurenai asks.
"I'm not entirely sure, but Shisui and Itachi had gone to Kumogakure before Shisui was pursued by the Raikage. I suppose Shisui must've teleported over a long distance to be within the Land of Fire's borders," Hiruzen says, "Do not waste any more time. Go!"
"Yes, sir," the Jōnin say before vanishing from his office.
Before the Chūnin at the gates can recognize most of the faces, the Jōnin have already flown past them. Gai quickly takes a headcount of the Jōnin in the group. We've got myself, Asuma, Kurenai, Hayate, Ebisu, Ko and Kosari. We might just be able to stand up to Shisui.
After two hours of traveling in silence at top speed, Ko exclaims, "I see Danzō, some ANBU, and Uchiha Shisui three miles ahead!"
"Good," Gai says, "Kurenai, is there any genjutsu?"
"Not that I can see," Kurenai's hands are pressed together in a seal, "Kosari-chan?"
"I do not sense any disturbance in our chakra systems," Kosari says formally.
Ko purses his lips and looks over at Kosari for a third time since they'd lost sight of Konoha behind them. She ignores him. He can't help but worry for her, especially after he learned she knew of Kakashi's death. He feels around in his pocket for a sedative, not wanting to use it, but knowing he might to prevent Kosari from murdering Shisui. Shisui might be a terrible person, but he's going to be useful if we're going to catch Itachi.
Asuma notices Ko feeling around in his pocket, "I have extra soldier pills if you need."
"Thank you, but I'm f—"
Out of nowhere, a silver light shines. Everyone stops, digging their heels into the bark. Ko turns his attention to the source and his eyes widen when he sees Kosari surrounded by the light. She examines her hands and glowing body in confusion and surprise. Then, in mere milliseconds, she is gone in a puff of smoke.
Ebisu scowls, "That was a summoning contract."
"Humans can be summoned?" Asuma mutters, his eyes wide.
"I don't really understand it all that well, but Yondaime-sama once mentioned it very quietly once. But, yes. Only animals are supposed to be used because their bodies can withstand moving so quickly. Humans are more fragile. Seals that can do this are most often forbidden seals. From what I could tell, Kosari-san doesn't have a large chakra capacity like Gai-san does. Animals don't lose much chakra from being summoned, but humans are said to lose more than half of their chakra from being summoned even over short distances."
"So…" Gai says seriously, "It could kill her?"
"Theoretically," Hayate says, "Ko-san, do you see her?"
"Y-yes," he says, "I think Danzō must've summoned her. She's over there now."
"Let's hurry then," Kurenai says and pushes forward.
In a serious silence, the Jōnin race towards where Ko leads them. They jump down to the trees where Danzō and the ANBU are, unprepared for the scene displayed under the bright green foliage.
Danzō holds a kunai in his hand, his attack stopped by Kosari. Blood drips from the sides of her mouth and her legs shake. Anger flashes in her eyes as Shisui, behind her, stares in shock. How did she appear here? The Seijō should be deactivated by now. Kosari grips her sword so hard her knuckles turn white. Around the hilt of the sword are two bands of metal, one gold and one silver. She grits her teeth as she strains against Danzō's kunai and the force behind it.
"Why are you protecting him? He's the one that took everything away from you!" Danzō exclaims, irate.
"It's my order, Danzō-sama. I—" Kosari says.
"Don't say another word," Shisui orders, glaring angrily at Danzō. He tried to take my and Nagadachi's eyes and kill us! To Danzō's surprise and then anger, Kosari complies, her voice instantly dying in her throat. Ko is frozen in place and horror strips his face of color. The rest of the Jōnin make a wide circle around the ANBU and Danzō and Shisui, ready to take on Danzō's orders.
"Don't ever," Shisui raises his voice as his blood boils over, "Try to hurt him again. He's almost dead, and yet you have no respect for your own agent that you'd try to harm him?! You have no right to call yourself a Konoha shinobi!"
"Neither do you," Danzō's glare turns into a twisted smirk, "You're the one who killed your clan, son, and tried to even kill the woman protecting you now."
Kosari grits her teeth as her face heats up in shame. Danzō turns his attention to Kosari once more, "Tell me: did you appear here because of your past ties as an ANBU to the Uchiha clan? I'm referring to the fact I can sense some sort of seal restricting your free will. This is an order."
"Don't say anything," Shisui orders. Kosari's hands shake as the seal on her tongue and the seal on her back fight for dominance. Within moments, Kosari drops to the ground as black markings snake around her body. Around the markings, her skin turns red and she hisses in pain.
"Kosari!" Shisui exclaims, "What's—"
Before he can blink, Kosari has formed several seals and Danzō becomes immobilized along with two of the ANBU behind him. Ko takes a hesitant step back as Kosari's eyes turn into a shining silver color and Danzō's body begins to twist and contort slightly unnaturally. He gasps in pain and it isn't long before the Jōnin start to form his or her own ideas about what is happening.
"That's a suiton technique seal," Asuma says.
"She's…using Danzō-sama's blood…" Kurenai mutters, horrified.
"Just what…" Ebisu says, "Is she?"
"S-stop this," Danzō growls, his eyes disdainful. Then, blood starts to drip out from under his fingernails and out of one ear. He screams out in pain and can't even move from his spot. The blood condenses and forms red senbon that rise and rest between Kosari's fingers. The ANBU too scream in terror and pain as blood drips from their feet or mouths. Kosari forms several other seals and their bodies go rigid and their screams stop.
"Kosari…" Shisui utters, in shock and confusion, "What is this?"
Kosari blinks. Her eyes turn back to their normal obsidian color and she lets go of the seal her hands form and the ANBU faint or fall unconscious immediately and Danzō drops to his knees, panting heavily.
Kosari too drops to her knees as the markings recede on her body. She holds her head in her hands and Nagadachi watches her critically, barely able to keep himself conscious.
Shisui watches her and sees tears rolling down her cheeks, "Kosari—"
"Don't you dare!" Kosari yells as tears stream freely from her face, "Don't you dare order me again! I wanted nothing to do with you! You killed your clan, your family, and tried to kill me! You tried to kill my brother and dared give me these!" she rips off the bands of silver and gold from the sword and hurls them at him, "You are what my nightmares are made of! Even if you're far away, you're still killing me in my dreams! No matter how far I tried to get from you, you still hurt me! Don't humiliate me more by showing how you have power over me! I've lost everything and yet you want to take away even my dignity?!"
"Power…" Shisui says to himself, "Does that mean that…" The Seijō?!
Kosari pushes herself to her feet and punches Shisui in the face. Before he can tell her to stop—forcing her to do so—she slugs him harder. Her hands turn red with his blood and with each succeeding punch she screams, partly in fear and partly in anger.
"I hate you," she says as she pants, drained from the summoning and drained from whatever monstrous power had overtaken her and controlled Danzō's blood and drained from yelling. She leans against the tree trunk with her head bowed. Her vision goes fuzzy and Ko catches her as she falls after fainting.
He glares at Shisui and sneers, "Kushina-sensei would be more than ashamed of how low you've fallen."
"Ko, I—" Shisui starts.
"Shut it," Ko growls, "Whatever you did to her I will never forgive you for."
Gai watches the three Jōnin for a moment before he calls out an order, "Asuma, Ko, Kurenai, bring Kosari, Shisui, and the ANBU beside him back to Konoha. The rest of you help the other ANBU and Danzō. Let's head back to Konoha."