Leaves in the Wind

Chapter Twenty-Four: Mother Bird, Your Chicks Have Gone

After Kakashi had left Iruka and Yasuo in the woods, both ninja decided it would be wise to return to Iruka's apartment and lay low until Kakashi returned to them. It was ten o' clock at night by the time Yasuo opened his door to the Jounin's knocking, and the boy ushered him in. Both Chuunin took one glance at Kakashi's posture and immediately knew something terrible had happened.

Kakashi hadn't bothered to utter a simple 'Yo' before he wearily trudged past them and into the bathroom. The door clicked shut behind him and the sound of running water came from the shower. Iruka and Yasuo's anticipation grew thicker over the half an hour they waited for Kakashi to finally decide to show his face. It had been a long time for the Jounin, and it left the two other ninja to talk in hushed whispers, contemplating what could have possibly happened. However, despite their conjectures, neither of them was, in any way, expecting or prepared to hear the news.

The Jounin had taken a seat on Iruka's couch, remaining silent and staring at his hands deep in thought. Iruka had prepared tea, more to calm his own nerves than his companion's, and offered it to Kakashi. The man took it without protest. With that offering, Kakashi began to relay the events of the Konoha Hospital.

"-nin dogs and I managed to recover three patients and two staff members by the time reinforcements came…" the weary Jounin muttered, staring down at the cup gripped firmly in his hands. He shifted on the couch, letting his weight sink into it further. "But by that time, any other potential survivors had bled to death or suffocated under bodies. We lost all thirty-nine ninja other than myself."

Yasuo and Iruka sat in stunned silence, unable to fully grasp the devastation. They had taken two chairs from the kitchen and set them down in front of the couch. It was for the best; their knees would have given out had they been standing.

Kakashi continued. "I was part of clean up and recovery, and afterwards, the other Jounin and I had a meeting with the Hokage. The posted ninja teams are being reorganized and replaced immediately. A massive search is on, comprised of selected shinobi who weren't involved in the hospital work today. We've locked down the gates. No one enters and no one leaves until the entire town has been searched and it has been concluded that the Kuro brothers are captured, killed, or escaped from Konoha." Kakashi sighed, finally shifting to lift a hand to his head. A massive headache was starting to form in the front of his mind. "Also, we are temporarily refusing all missions from outside of Konoha." Iruka looked as though he was about to say something, but Kakashi cut him off. "I know the other villages will think we're weak, but as it is our forces are being spread too thin. Konoha will fall apart if we don't have the strength at home."

The boy beside Iruka was trembling from fear, nerves, and anger. His teeth clenched and he bowed his head further, trying to get a grip on his own feelings. Konoha had really lost that many ninja over the past few days? So much so that they had to refuse missions, risk -no- accept the tension between the villages? And what about those at the hospital? What were they going to do? Finally, he spoke. "Kakashi-san… Arina-chan-?"

"I'm sorry…" Kakashi said softly, still staring down at his rippling reflection on the tea. "Among the dead are three Academy students."

Iruka turned his head away from them. Kakashi, out of the corner of his eye, watched a droplet of blood drip down into the man's tea cup. Iruka was biting his lip so hard it had broke skin. The knuckles of the hand clutching the little china cup were paled. Three academy students. Two of which had been his. Arina-chan and Yuuto-kun…

Carefully Iruka set his cup in his lap, pressing a finger to his lips.

"Fly with purpose, fly with rage…"

Both eyes were closed.

After a few moments of stunned silence, the steadily louder rattling of china on china drew their attention to Iruka. The Chuunin had the plate in a death grip, droplets of tea spilling onto skin or smoothed china surface.

Yasuo looked over in concern and placed his hand on Iruka's, slowly prying the fingers away and taking the cup from him. He remained silent as he stood and brought took the dish into the kitchen. The sink water turned on.

Kakashi's eyes tore from the brown liquid in his own steaming glass. "Iruka?" he asked softly.

"Fly with rage."

"It's fine Kakashi. I'm fine."

Kakashi stood and placed a hand on Iruka's shoulder before he slipped into the kitchen with Yasuo. The boy was absently staring down at rushing water in the sink. Kakashi set his cup on the counter and turned off the tap.

"I didn't know." Yasuo's soft voice was easily heard in the hushed apartment. "I wish I had known that it was Harogami Kuro I saw. I would have done something sooner…"

"Fly with rage."

Iruka gripped the side of his chair. Fingers dug at fabric, digging at seams. "But you didn't know, Yasuo-kun," he murmured, attempting to keep control over his voice. "And you wouldn't have been able to stop him on your own. There can be no blame on you."

"I know…" Yasuo muttered. "I… I think I'm going to head back to the apartment…. I need to think, calm down a bit."

"Will you be alright getting there on your own?"

"Yeah," the boy said softly. "It's not that far. I'll go straight there." He bit at his index finger, fighting back swelling emotions. Arina-chan… Yasuo quickly started for the door. He paused with his hand on the door knob, and turned slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality today, Iruka-sensei…"

The sensei nodded, face blank. "Goodbye."

The door clicked shut.

Kakashi leaned against the kitchen counter, staring through the entryway to Iruka. Soon, the Chuunin felt warm hands on his shoulders. They squeezed gently and slipped away as Kakashi walked around and sat on the couch. He said nothing.

The Jounin watched Iruka stand and turn toward the window. He did not speak but the older ninja could feel the tension radiate from Iruka. Kakashi's eyes flickered to the window. "Iruka, what's wrong?

"Fly with rage."

Tanned fists clenched. Unclenched. Iruka's voice was low and toneless. "This is because of me."

"This is because of the Harogami brothers, Matsuhara Tekki, their sensei, and any other accomplices we haven't uncovered yet," Kakashi corrected.

"Rage," cooed the voice in only his mind.

Iruka turned, fixing Kakashi with a blank stare. "Which is a result of a plan centered on-" On what? It wasn't his death. Of his capture? They could have done that long ago. "They murdered my students, Kakashi. It is my duty as an Academy teacher to protect my students. All of them." Fingernails dug into flesh. "What the hell am I going to tell their parents?"

"Birds are prey; they are predator. They feel lust, they feel rage."

Iruka gritted his teeth together.

"You won't have to tell them anything. The bodies have all been identified. The families will all be informed by early morning." Kakashi patted the spot beside him on the couch. "Come."

The Chuunin kept his back to Kakashi.

Kakashi retrieved Iruka, sitting the man down on the couch. He pressed his thumbs into Iruka's shoulder muscles, making them twitch before reluctantly relaxing. "Calm yourself, Iruka."

Iruka grimaced, hesitantly rising. "I can't," he said simply.

"Mother bird, your chicks have gone."

Kakashi sighed, leaning back on the couch and crossing his arms lazily. If Iruka had made up his mind to freak out, then there was nothing Kakashi could do about it. The Jounin closed his eye, meditating silently.

He heard a thud, opening his eye to see Iruka crouched down on his floor, hands uselessly clutching at the wood, head bowed and chin pressed against his chest. Tiny droplets of tears glistened beneath him.

Kakashi watched in silence as silent sobs flowed. Tears glistened and fell to the carpet, soaking up as dark circles. His grey eye flickered away. "Sorry…" the Jounin said softly. "I wish there was something I could do for you…"

"Birds sing; sometimes they sing for life, others, they sing for death. They kill."

Iruka shuddered. "There's nothing you can do." The bitterness didn't suite his voice. "S-sorry…" He stood, swayed, righted himself, and swung his gaze toward the ceiling. "You did what you could."

"You can't feel responsible for this, Iruka." Normally, Kakashi wouldn't have bothered to say that to another ninja, but this time it was different. Iruka was killing himself with guilt. "It's not your fault."

"Thank you, Kakashi-san." A slow, sad smile was sent his way. "I appreciate the concern." Of course with Iruka, while the words were true, the true meaning was hidden under layers of pleasantries.

Kakashi looked back at Iruka.

In response, the Chuunin hoisted both chairs out of the living room, setting them in their respective places around the kitchen table. He settled down on the opposite end of the couch, pressing into the furniture as far as he could, absently swiping a hand over his eyes.

Kakashi pulled his feet up onto the couch, leaning back on the arm rest so he could watch Iruka. He offered a comforting smile when Iruka glanced over to him. It couldn't be completely seen, for the mask was in the way, but it had reached his eye.

Iruka suddenly reached over and grabbed Kakashi's sleeve, yanking and pulling him into a desperate hug. The younger man hid his face in Kakashi's shoulder. Silent sobs wracked Iruka's body and Kakashi felt arms tighten around his torso, then loosen as the Chuunin slipped and sobbed into his chest.

Kakashi's hands lifted and wrapped around Iruka, holding him tightly. He placed his face in the man's hair, whispering words of comfort. He didn't know where it came from. He'd always been socially inept, but here it was. The words came easily whenever he was around the Chuunin. Kakashi had found he wanted to help Iruka, be there for him.

He never let go.

---

Harogami Kuro regretted the temporary loss of their cousin, but already sensei had reassured them that Tekki Matsuhara would be released soon. 'How' wasn't specified, but they were certain sensei would do it in that peculiar and superbly effective way that was uniquely his. Until then, they would wait and do as their master ordered. Manage the birds, send them out, receive them. Communication through the fowl to the Infected in the other countries was hard for Elder Kuro. Younger Kuro devoted his energy to that job. Elder Kuro would take over seals while his brother managed the outside, attending to the man's wants and needs effortlessly. It was how they'd been working and how they would continue to work unless ordered to deviate.

However, today, Elder Kuro's whirlwind of a mind kept interrupting valuable thought transmissions. A series of smacks on the missing nin's head only resulted in a more disjointed attack on his concentration. "Kuro-kun, you need to keep your head out of mine. I'm trying to talk to-"

"Nii-san, it was rather unfair to attack the civilians wasn't it? Shouldn't sensei have punished us for it?"

"Weren't you paying attention? I'm not the one who sent them after the civilians. They went rogue. Now shut up, I need to focus."

"I want to see him," Kuro persisted, hanging off his brother until he was forcefully pushed away. He plucked at his loose pants. "Nii-san!"

Here they were, in their room once again, one twin half dressed, the other completely nude, lying in a heap of blankets with a scowl permeating his face. With a thick army of birds lurking in the woods around their home, ANBU was of little concern. As one feathered beast squawked loudly, Elder Kuro dived at the fleshy lump. He vanished beneath the blankets and yanked him out, pulling Younger Kuro into a tight, painful hug.

"I want to see him!"

"What? That kid? Why?" He wondered why he bothered asking; he already knew the answer.

"All we've done lately is kill, sleep, play, spy. I want to talk to someone again but Isamu-kun is so busy now!"

"Talk to me."

"You already know what I'm going to say and vice versa. There's no enjoyment in that." Kuro whined, burying his nose in his brother's hair, inhaling deeply. "And I think he's upset because his little friend died."

"His own problem. Death happens."

"Kuro-kun, I'll agree that blood, and spilling blood, is thrilling, but there is a line."

"Crossed it." Younger Kuro murmured, slamming Kuro into the futon. He glared, golden eyes flashing. "Shut up and we'll see about visiting this kid, alright?"

"And Iruka-sensei? I'd like to see-"

"That will have to wait." Kuro raised a brow at his older sibling. "As he is currently being guarded by Sharingan no Kakashi."

A moment passed between them before they burst into raucous laughter; Kuro couldn't resist, it was just too damn funny. "Guarding is one way of putting it, Kuro-kun."

Smack! He recoiled as he was hit again.

Laughter was gone, the scowl was back. "Now shut up! This is important! We'll go when I'm finished."

Elder Kuro chuckled lowly, rolling across the futon, gaze rising to their window. He smiled out at the birds watching them, and he reveled in the sweet mixture of bird song and Kuro song. Kuro was more precious than Tekki-san or Isamu-kun, than even their sensei and his birds. On their trip he'd been forced to take several hits for his brother. He'd take several more from his fellow Shinobi if need be, and the birds were telling him that the time would come when confrontation would be inevitable. The kind of confrontation where running would no longer be an option to them.

He cast a steady, affectionate gaze on his brother, taking in the furrowed brows and bitten lip. As long as he had Kuro-kun, they would win.

Kuro-kun would always be there.

Granted, it would nice to have someone who'd watch the birds with him…

---

Soft, silent tears spilled into the white pillow. Yasuo sat on the futon, alone in Kakashi's apartment, mourning for those lost. His fingers curled into the cotton as he whimpered and sobbed. Arina had been so happy to see him that afternoon. She had bright eyes, hair pulled back into pigtails as always. The little girl had a terrible cough that restricted her breathing, and she had a low fever, but despite that she'd been so optimistic. Arina would have been released at six o' clock that day after taking some antibiotics and having a good rest.

Yasuo folded into his knees, mutely cursing himself. He'd used Arina as a cover today. A cover for talking to Matsuhara Tekki. His conversation with her had been brief, filled with laughter and small talk. He wished he'd said more. Yasuo wished he'd be able to tell her that he thought of her as a little sister. As the sibling and family member he'd never had.

The boy sat up slowly, trying to calm his breathing. Tears flowed unhindered down his red cheeks. Shinobi were never supposed to cry. They weren't supposed to express emotions so freely. Yasuo lightly hit the back of his head on the wall behind him, clenching his teeth and squeezing his eyes tightly shut. The grip on the pillow lessened as he let himself relax. He couldn't regret what he didn't say to Arina. He should be thankful for having the chance to tell her good bye. Yasuo knew plenty of people who never had such luck as to give a final farewell to someone they cared about.

A long sigh escaped his lungs, and he let his mind fall into a deep, solitary darkness. No thoughts passed through, no images or voices of the people at the hospital he'd greeted. The tears began to stem themselves, and finally he was left with moist cheeks. He lifted a sleeve to his face and wiped them away, careful not to think about something that could renew them.

"Hush child, no need to cry; the cuckoo's come to say goodbye. Close your eyes and sleep away, welcome in another day."

It took a moment for Yasuo to recognize this as a spoken voice and not some horrible concoction of his mind. The voice was sad, soft, apologetic. And close by.

Yasuo's eyes snapped open and his head lifted from the wall. He looked around, finding no one there. He rolled off of the futon and opened the bedroom door, peering out into the living room and kitchen area. No one was there. "What the hell?" Perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him. He turned around.

On his futon sat identical men, one obviously irritated, the other sorrowful. The sad one titled his head to the side, offering a slight smile.

"I am very sorry for your loss," Harogami Kuro murmured gently.

The boy Chuunin gasped and stumbled backward, bumping into the wall with a soft thud. He stared with wide eyes. "Wh-what? When- how- why-"

The irritated twin pressed a finger to his lips as his brother stood with palms out to show he had no weapons -at least, not in his hands. "Shh. I just wanted to say 'hello' and offer my condolences. We got here five minutes ago, Kuro-kun and I."

Yasuo's frazzled nerves betrayed him, and he began to tremble. "F-five minutes?" He instinctively brought up his hands as Elder Kuro took another step towards him. His umber eyes were locked on them. "Y-you two were responsible for all the birds today…."

"Well, in a way…our sensei was mainly responsible for the birds." Kuro silently urged his brother to smile as well. The man merely grunted, crossing his arms over his chest.

This resulted in tears welling up in Yasuo's eyes again. They were quite involuntary and half-way out of fear this time. Yasuo forced himself stay alert, careful to detect any suspicious movements. "Your sensei killed hundreds of people…." Yasuo said softly. He squeezed his eyes tightly and reopened them. A tear drop slipped down his left cheek. "He destroyed countless families within minutes. H-he's taken everything away!"

"That is true but we must follow him. It is what we must do." Kuro kept sending him sympathetic glances. "Please, don't be afraid of the birds. Not all of them are killers. There is still beauty in them."

"Is that what this is about?" The twin still seated rolled his golden eyes. "You're trying to reinstate his faith in the birds?"

"Yes, Nii-san. If it's all the same to you." He turned his attention back on Yasuo. "We, that is, I truly am sorry for the loss. We used to be medical ninja, you know. We understand death and it can be very cruel."

"Yeah, well…" Yasuo swallowed hard. "I've been told about your birds by Kakashi-san and Iruka-sensei. They're dangerous."

"Not in nature," Kuro countered quietly.

Yasuo quieted, and his gaze flickered over the Elder Kuro. He instinctively bit at his index finger, trying to calm himself. His voice finally came as a soft whisper. "You never wanted to hurt anyone, did you…"

"Not at first, no. But after a while, the thrill pervades your mind. You regret what you did but it cannot be changed."

"You yourself will change." The Younger twin stated, piercing eyes pinning Yasuo in place.

"We merely wanted to help our village."

"We found a different way to do that."

"Help us?" Yasuo's heart leapt and his cheeks flushed with anger. "How are you helping us?"

"We cannot say," Kuro murmured, stepping back toward his brother.

"Why not?" Yasuo's voice cracked. He still kept his back to the wall, and his hands were now balled into fists. "Kuro-san, how are you helping us? What in god's name could be worth the price we've paid?" Tears welled up in his eyes again, and this time there was no stopping them. "Please, why are you doing this? Why, Kuro-san?"

They answered simply. "For freedom."

"Freedom!" Yasuo shouted, more distraught and confused than he'd ever been before. "What freedom!" His body shook with the tension. The boy had completely given up on holding back his emotions. To hell with it all, this was the only chance he'd ever have to tell someone exactly what he felt, exactly what was on his mind. "How is it freedom to be enslaved by your own grief! We're working day in and day out trying to protect and save the people we love." Angry, grieving tears streamed down his face with amazing ease. "That should be freedom enough for any ninja who has carried the name of Konoha!"

Harogami Kuro, both of them, met his gaze. Emotion, intense, rich, yet unidentifiable, struck him hard and to the core. "Sensei wishes not for the freedom of Shinobi-"

"-sensei wishes for freedom from Shinobi."

Yasuo's brow furrowed and he shook his head quickly. "I-I don't understand. I don't think I could ever understand, Kuro-san." His pulse was pounding in his ears. The day had been too long, and his distress was starting to gain power over him. His legs weakened. "Freedom from Shinobi?" he couldn't even imagine life without being surrounded by Shinobi. "Is your sensei from Konoha?" He couldn't be.

"We do not know," Younger Kuro muttered, carefully observing Yasuo's movements.

His brother held up a hand. "We have never seen sensei."

Yasuo's body slackened against the wall as he gained control over himself. "Never… never seen him?" he whispered, looking to the ground. "How do you take orders from him? From the birds? But… how did you find out about him? How- why do you trust what he tells you?"

"Because we share the most sacred of bonds," both men responded confidently, voices merging as one. "Why do you take orders for Konoha?"

"Loyalty…" Yasuo murmured, pleading in his eyes as he looked to them. "I love the people who are here. I'd risk my life, and I'd die for them. I-I don't have anyone else."

Hope flickered and died with a brief light in the eyes of the elder Harogami. Even his sibling seemed marginally moved. "We would die for sensei. If he wished us to, we would slit each other's throats." Again, sorrow fell heavily on Kuro's features, softening his voice. "Just as you take life in the name of your village and your friends. We are not so different, you and I."

"Please…" Yasuo's eyes fell away, shaking his head. He bit his bottom lip, slowly slipping further down the wall. "Please, go," he whispered softly.

The twins bowed lowly. One shyly peered out through long white lashes, offering him a miniscule smile. "Bye-bye, Yasuo-kun."

They vanished after a singular blink. One moment there, the next, gone; the traditional departure of a ninja.

---

Birds, Isamu had long ago decided, were his only friends. Humans were good for listening to, but the birds were phenomenal observers. He'd found that through the years, his attachment for the creatures began to border something beyond obsession; he couldn't get enough of their grace, speed and instincts. There never seemed to be a day where they bored him, and he could never see a day coming where he'd ever fear their cruel nails, talons or beaks.

He certainly saw it now.

A hawk savagely ripped at his bow, barely missing his head as Isamu dived under the stair well. After being rudely rejected to visit his cousin -apparently, the fact that the man had helped orchestrate the brutal attack on Konoha hospital didn't bother him- he'd decided on visiting Yasuo that morning. He made it as far as the front doors before being even more rudely attacked by a flock of various avian species. Annoyed, he'd tried to swat them away without causing much damage. By now, he didn't care as long as his face was still in tact and the nasty things were gone.

Hawk and human regarded one another for brevity of time.

The predator relented and retreated, flapping its powerful wings and soaring away on warm thermal air. Isamu watched it wearily, scanning the skies before he chanced ascending. The damn things…they'd torn at his kimono and good heavens, his hair!

By the time Iruka opened his door, Isamu was reduced to muttering obscenities under his breath; loud enough to induce laughter from the Jounin residing within the Chuunin's apartment.

"Isamu-san?"

"Birds," the man grunted, gesturing to the skies. "They attacked me, the damned things!"

Iruka stared skeptically. "They've been attacking everyone, Isamu-san." When the man fell silent, expectant aura emanating from his features, Iruka finally offered hesitantly, "Would you please come in?"

"Thank you! I was hoping you'd ask." Isamu slid past him, instantaneously brightening at the sight of Kakashi lounging on the couch. "Kakashi-san! Hello!"

"Yo," Kakashi lifted a single hand as the apartment door shut behind Isamu. He was lounging on Iruka's couch, feet, of course, pulled up into the cushions. He offered a lazy grin in his visible eye. "You look distressed, Isamu-san," a sarcastic statement. The birds pecking at Iruka's window had left him in a rather cynical mood, yet somehow he had been able to retain his lackadaisical disposition. "What's the problem? Besides the birds, that is."

"They wouldn't let me see Matsuhara-kun and I couldn't see Yasuo-kun."

"Isamu-san, they wouldn't let anyone, related or otherwise, visit Tekki-san. You know that."

After a brief pause, Isamu answered truthfully, "Oh yes. I'd forgotten about that!" He laughed lightly, smoothing down the front of his kimono.

Iruka's eyes had settled on the chime suspended by thick locks of ebony hair. The same design, the same style as the Harogami brothers…

Kakashi had eyed it as well. For some reason, the chimes looked as though they belonged dangling from the end of Isamu's long hair. "You couldn't see Yasuo-kun? Why not? He'd said he was going directly back to the apartment."

"The birds wouldn't allow it." Isamu automatically glanced over his shoulder, searching for the object that had garnered their attention. "Is there something wrong? Another rip in my kimono?"

"No, no." Iruka shook his head with nervous politeness. "I just noticed your, um, chime."

"Lovely isn't it?"

Kakashi seemed to blend into his surroundings, though he did nothing he wasn't doing before.

Iruka's gaze hadn't lifted from the chimes. "I didn't hear them when you were coming."

Isamu chuckled, shaking his head back and forth, hair swinging with the movement. The chimes shifted yet no sound was made. "I silence them with jutsu. They can only be heard if I want them to be heard."

"Who's fashion idea was it?" Kakashi spoke up. "Yours or the Harogami brothers?"

"What? Kuro-kun wears chimes? I had no idea." The former Jounin regarded Kakashi with open sincerity. "Perhaps they liked what they saw me wearing one visit and decided to try it themselves."

This response did not stem the Jounin's suspicion. "Yeah," Kakashi started, waving a hand in the air conversationally. "Their chimes predict death. They only ring when someone is going to die by their hand."

"Isamu-san. You're related to the Kuro brothers aren't you?"

The man flinched under Iruka's intense scrutiny and Kakashi's obvious disbelief. For once, the confidence in his golden eyes died and he turned his face toward the floor. "…Perhaps…"

"It isn't perhaps," Kakashi said softly. "I'm not sure if you know, but Yasuo had been spending some time with Matsuhara Tekki. He found out about the bloodline limit." He watched Isamu's very, very subtle twitch. It had been so quick that Iruka didn't see it, though he was standing right next to the man. "Afterward he was walking away from the hospital and came into contact with a Harogami Kuro. Yasuo made the connection." Kakashi's expression shifted, but to what emotion, no one could be sure. "Ibiki-san confirmed it during the first round of interrogations."

Iruka nodded. "The trust the brothers had, enough to frequently come to a man they supposedly barely knew to tell him everything they planned and felt-"

"Yes, yes. You've found us out. Harogami Kuro and myself are half brothers." They watched a sardonic half-smile tug at Isamu's lips. "And yes, my family carries with it a bloodline limit. When Tekki-san introduced us two years ago, he revealed our lineage. It seems strange that I'd never run into either of them before, but then, I have many siblings in many countries. Or at least, I can assume such." He laughed again, though softly. "And both of you suspect me as being involved with their plot, whatever that may be?"

"Essentially," Kakashi confirmed.

Isamu pointed to the chime hanging behind him. "In my family line, all members, male and female, grow their hair to an impressive length in order to hang chimes at the end. Most use them for decoration, but the original purpose is to honor the Ninja of the Chimes. My ancestor and the first head of our clan. He was the man who used the chimes for divination."

"And Tekki-san?" Iruka asked hesitantly. "Was he trying to differentiate himself from your clan?"

"Why yes, Iruka-sensei! He refused to grow his hair long in the traditional manner."

"And what is the full capacity of your bloodline limit?" Kakashi asked with startling bluntness.

"Dear me, Kakashi-san! A ninja never reveals his -or her- secrets!"

"Don't give me your bullshit, Isamu-san." The Jounin had said the words without malice, but both other ninja instinctively felt it. "The Kuro Brothers share your capabilities, and if I have to torture it out of you, I'm going to find out what they are."

Kazahaya Isamu shifted uncomfortably at Kakashi's threat. "Our limit has given us an abnormal chakara flow and various protective elements and enhancements. That is all I am capable of divulging."

"The inability to feel pain?" Iruka's eyes narrowed. "Does that apply to Tekki-san and yourself?"

"…Of course. Any gestures to indicate pain have been deceptions." He sighed. "Please, I ask you, no more. I don't think my body could handle any more stress."

"Damn it, Isamu-san," Kakashi now allowed his voice to be sharp, biting at him with every word. "You say that as if by now I didn't know they couldn't feel pain." A harsh glare from Iruka made Kakashi relax his tone. "Fine," Kakashi muttered and lifted his hitae-ate to expose the Sharingan eye. "Abnormal flow, huh?"

There was a depth to Isamu that Kakashi had rarely- if ever- seen in another Shinobi, but no high reserves or abnormalities of the actual chakara were detected. Aside from a potential to house an extreme amount of chakara, Isamu appeared fairly mediocre. "Yes…our systems constantly evolved."

"Evolve? How does-?"

Isamu shook his head, a lethargic look coming to his features. "I'm quite serious when I say any more stress will incapacitate me."

Kakashi lowered the hitae-ate and gave a short nod. He was done with his interrogation for now. The Jounin had come to a relatively reliable conclusion that Isamu meant well for Konoha. The relationship to the Harogami Brothers would probably come in use some time later.

"Iruka-sensei, I hate to impose," Isamu's voice had wilted and he gently swayed on his feet, "but if I could possibly rest somewhere? I feel unwell and I'm too far from my apartment…"

The Chuunin gestured down his hall, and Isamu vanished without another word. Both men heard a loud thud and a heavy, depressed sigh.

Iruka sighed himself. "I can't believe we didn't see a connection sooner…"

Kakashi had his arms tucked across his chest in thought. He looked upward to the ceiling. "Well, I must say at the very least, Isamu training Yasuo has proven its worth." Speaking of the boy…. Kakashi's brows furrowed.

His companion immediately voiced his thoughts. "Kakashi, why would the birds be adamant on keeping someone out of Yasuo-kun's apartment?" Iruka was already opening his door. "We need to go. Now."

Kakashi stood. "Agreed."

---

Images flashed in a dazzling, terrifying display of color and sound. His father's screams in his ears, ringing through his mind. Children he knew from the Academy dashed in and out of his vision. Arina-chan bounced across an open field. Then Iruka's tanned, scarred face appeared, soon swallowed whole by Tekki, quickly shifting to the hospital.

Howling. Screaming and ringing filled his ears.

Scratches, tapping. A cacophony of bird screeches. Feathers swooped down upon Konoha. The massive black wave destroyed all it touched. Loud, clanging chimes. Golden eyes. "Fly."

Yasuo screamed, eyes snapping open as he shot forward, panic stricken. He sucked in a desperate gasp of air, and gagged on it as his throat clamped up on itself. He let out a slow breath. The boy lifted his pale hands to watch them tremble. His skin was slick with a thin layer of cold sweat.

"Damn it…" Yasuo murmured, placing his face in his hands. His breath came harsh and rattled. "A nightmare… Damn it… Calm down…"

His brown eyes lifted to take account of his surroundings. He quickly pulled free of the sheets that had tangled around his legs. The room was bright. His eyes traveled to the window to see a clear sky. It was nearing afternoon. Yasuo couldn't remember the last time he had slept in so late.

Two minutes later, the familiar presence of two distinct Shinobi neared, and frantic knocking and a shout confirmed it. "Yasuo-kun!"

He blinked wearily and rolled out of bed. The boy struggled to his feet and swayed, finding balance. Yasuo didn't remember falling asleep, and that nightmare left him quite disoriented. More pounding on the door ushered him on, and he dug his fingers into his head to fight back nausea. "Coming…" he murmured, though he was sure they didn't hear him.

The boy leaned against the wall and opened the door with one clammy hand. His face was ghostly pale and his hands trembled weakly.

Iruka's face was contorted in a mixture of relief and panic. "Yasuo-kun!" The younger Chuunin suddenly found himself enveloped in warm, strong arms.

Yasuo leaned into him without question or comment.

"You're sick," Kakashi murmured, walking in and taking a good look around the apartment.

"No…" he shook his head slowly. "Nightmare is all. I overslept I think. Stress."

"Did they come here?" Iruka asked nearly franticly. "Did the Kuro brothers come here?"

The boy stiffened, then nodded. "Yeah."

"What did they say?" Kakashi peered out the window. He and Iruka hadn't had the trouble Isamu did when they'd tried to visit. There had been no birds…

Yasuo clamped hold of Iruka's sleeve, muscles tensing up as it all seeped back into his groggy mind. "They've never seen their sensei. They're taking orders from the birds."

"They're taking orders from a phantom…" Iruka glanced at Kakashi, smoothing Yasuo's hair with a gentle hand. "The more I hear about it, the more I suspect genjutsu. But…"

"It is unusual, but-"

"Un uh," Yasuo shook his head. "Their sensei is real, he's powerful, and they're completely in control of their own actions. I could tell." The boy willed his fingers to release Iruka's shirt, but they refused. Since yesterday, Yasuo had been finding it harder and harder to keep control over his own body. "They're loyal to this guy. They may have known him from some time before, or perhaps he some how proved his worth to them. Same organization, good friend, blood relation, whatever it may be. They're really, truly, deeply loyal."

"To a man they've never met…" Iruka shook his head. "And they didn't hurt you?" Worried eyes scanned Yasuo's form. "If they weren't here to kill you then why come here at all?" The Chuunin's frown deepened. "Unless they were here for tea." And he meant this seriously. "Yasuo-kun? Did they give you a reason?"

"They didn't give me a reason," Yasuo murmured. Then he added, "Specifically…"

"What do you mean?" Kakashi turned to look at the boy.

"I think they… they figure they relate to me, or at the very least the older brother does." He shivered. His fingers had grown sore from the grip on Iruka's sleeve. "They're lonely. He wants to be my friend. Watch the birds fly…"

"After what they've done, it's hard to believe they have any humanity left in them." Iruka closed his eyes. "So they feel connected to you. Did you feel any hostility from them? Any homicidal intentions towards you?"

Yasuo shook his head. "No. The younger one was rather cross towards being dragged here, but the other was just… sympathetic," he mumbled the last few words. "I kinda…yelled at him…."

"And they didn't harm you." Iruka shook his head, relieved and worried at the same time. "Yasuo-kun, please. The next time you meet these men, don't yell at them. For my sake."

"Sorry, Iruka-sensei…" Yasuo's left hand stiffly unclenched from the older Chuunin's shirt. "I really…need to wash up. If you'll excuse me."

Kakashi watched the boy vanish into the bathroom. "You know," the Jounin finally spoke up. "We could use this to our advantage."

He was met with extreme disapproval. "No. No, Kakashi. We will not."

The silver-haired ninja stared back. "But if they don't intend to kill him, we can use him."

"We're not putting Yasuo-kun at risk."

"Iruka, you're forgetting that it's his job to put his life at risk for the good of Konoha." Kakashi locked gazes with Iruka. "They trust Yasuo-kun. If they trust him, they'll tell him things and follow him places. He's gotten much better at assimilating information, and he's in a better position to do so."

Yasuo's former sensei kept his gaze steady. "I-I'm aware of that. But these men are far above his skill level. It's like handing a bone to a dog and expecting the animal not to eat it." It had little to do with Iruka's emotional attachment to his students… Really…

"We'll ask Yasuo-kun." Kakashi said, cocking his head to the side once.

"Kakashi!"

Yasuo walked out of the bathroom with full uniform sans the vest. He had that folded over one arm. The boy seemed to have gained a bit of his normal complexion back, but it was apparent that whatever nightmare he had suffered through was still lingering within him. Both older ninja were staring at him, and he immediately noted this. "What?"

"I've got a mission for you, Ya-"

"Goodbye! We were just leaving." Iruka began herding the Jounin toward the door. "If anything else happens, please let us know." He smiled broadly as he and Kakashi vanished from Yasuo's sight, apartment door shutting on them with a slight click.

"Iruka!" Kakashi snapped at him, turning and facing the Chuunin in the hallway. "What kind of half-ass tactic was that?"

"An effective one," he retorted, half-heartedly glaring at the man. "Yasuo-kun will make his own decisions on his own time."

Their voices fell to whispering argument. "He'll make his decisions when he has his options, and he's got one now. All be damned if you're not doing this because of your sentiment towards him."

"Yes, he has options. Let him choose on his own time."

"And that's precisely what I'm going to do," Kakashi hissed lowly. "I'm going to tell him-"

Iruka's glare intensified. "If you say anything," His voice became nearly inaudible, "You can start sleeping in your own apartment."

This seemed to affect the Jounin, but his stubbornness drove him forward with an equally near inaudible voice. "Yasuo-kun," he started very, very slowly as if he were talking to a foreigner, "has the opportunity to gain the Kuro Brother's trust, and that is a very -very- valuable thing to have. It's time you let go of your student, Iruka. He's grown up."

The Chuunin's eye twitched. "And I'm telling you, Kakashi, if he's grown up, he can think it through and act on his own." Both locked in a dangerous glare towards each other.

Both ninja jumped slightly when the door cracked open and Yasuo's eye peered through the crack. "Actually…" the boy said quietly, "I was already…thinking about it myself."

"Yasuo-kun…" Iruka turned around to face his student.

The door pushed open further, Yasuo's eyes flickered between Iruka and Kakashi. "I'll do it," he mumbled. "Sorry, Iruka-sensei, I don't mean to upset you…"

The sensei's face fell and he shot a sideways glare towards the Jounin. "It's your choice," Iruka murmured.

Kakashi pocketed his hands, waiting patiently.

"I'll do it, but know it isn't because Kakashi-san pressured me into it in any way." Yasuo then smiled at Iruka. "It's the best way to help Konoha in a time of need, and that's all I've ever really wanted. You know that, Iruka-sensei." His words were an attempt to comfort both himself and his worried former teacher. If he hadn't been training with Isamu, it wouldn't have worked. However, it did.

A hand was offered to Yasuo, beyond it shone a reluctant, but prideful smile. "Yes, I know. Please, be careful Yasuo."

Yasuo clasped Iruka's hand with his own. "Right-o."