Chapter 8
The Art of Meditation
Wolf wasn't sure when he'd fallen asleep, but an unfamiliar weight on his body dragged him back to awareness – almost as much as the sound of thunder rolling in the sky. He took a deep breath and was hit with the strange combination of sweat and jasmine as it assaulted his nose. He cautiously opened his eye and saw a shock of silver hair pressed up against his face. Another loud crash of thunder echoed through the room and Wolf felt the strong arm draped across his stomach pull him tighter into an awkward embrace. At the same time, the head on his chest rose until Wolf was face to face with a sleepy-eyed Kurogane.
Wolf hardened his gaze into a glare. Each of his words was filled with all the loathing he could put into them. "Get...off...me."
A pout formed on the lunatic's face, and instead of removing himself from Wolf's body, he snuggled up closer to him. Wolf growled at his captor. The man chuckled.
"What's wrong, Nephew? Your father never tried to chase me away during a thunder storm."
Another clap of thunder rang through the room and Kurogane again hugged him tighter. Wolf's glare became more intense. "White Fang taught me not to be afraid of such things."
Surprise crossed the man's face and he pushed himself up on his arms to stare down at him. "Your father never comforted you?"
Wolf's gaze hardened farther. "He never needed to."
A smile of understanding crossed Kurogane's face. "Ah, of course. That was your mother's job!"
Wolf's words were barely above a whisper but held the promise of a painful death. "I had no mother."
Kurogane tipped his head back and laughed, making Wolf tense in his restraints. "Of courseyou had a mother, Kakashi. Everyone has a mother – even you! And yours was the most beautiful woman in the Five Countries."
Wolf growled again. "I never knew her."
That caused the grin to disappear off Kurogane's face and the man moved closer to Wolf. "What are you saying, boy?"
"My mother died when I was just a baby. Like I said – I never knew her."
Kurogane jumped to his feet, his face a mask of anger. "I should have known that bastard wouldn't keep her safe. If he was alive today I'd kill him!"
Wolf narrowed his eye at the man's outburst and watched him pace back and forth alongside the bed while he continued his rant. "She was too perfect for him. How could he ever understand how to take care of something so perfect. She'd still be here if only she hadn't said no to me. She could have left Sakumo and the two of us would have been happy."
Wolf's eye opened wide. This madman actually thought his mother would have left White Fang for him? He couldn't help but let a short laugh escape his lips. Kurogane spun towards the noise with venom in his gaze and placed his hands firmly around Wolf's neck – just below where the collar and chain sat.
"How dare you laugh at me, you little worm!" The words from Kurogane's lips rose to an unnaturally high pitch, and the pupils of his eyes became pinpoints within the backdrop of icy gray.
Wolf felt those cold fingertips squeeze tight around his throat, making it impossible for him to take any air in or out of his body. He saw the sheen of sweat covering the man's brow and the look of insane determination in his face, and for a moment Wolf thought he'd be choked to death there and then.
Boudachi's sane voice put an end to that hope. "Lord Kurogane, doesn't it defeat your purpose if you kill the boy?"
The fingers on Wolf's throat clenched tighter still for a moment before letting him go altogether, leaving Wolf gasping to take in a full breath. He saw Kurogane's eyelids flutter closed, and his body tremble while he regained control of himself. When the eyes reopened, they had regained what little sanity still resided there, and a small smile graced the man's lips. Wolf fought not to flinch when Kurogane's hand reached toward his face once more – this time he lifted it past Wolf's neck and used it to tenderly push the hair back that was covering the patch over his left eye.
Kurogane's voice was tight. "You're right, of course Boudachi. But you know how I can get when I start thinking about my brother."
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Wolf's brow – similar to what he'd done that first day – and pushed himself back up to standing. "We'll catch up later, Nephew."
With that, Wolf saw the man wave over his shoulder and walk out of the room. Boudachi moved to the side of the bed once Kurogane was gone. He sighed deeply and sat on the edge of the futon, taking a moment to physically inspect the damage to Wolf's throat.
"You're very lucky I came in when I did, Kakashi. Otherwise I think he would have succeeded in choking you to death. You're going to be sore and bruised for quite some time I fear."
Wolf narrowed his eye at the aide and pushed his words painfully out of his damaged throat. "Next time – don't do me any favors."
Boudachi shook his head and stood up. "You really shouldn't fight this, you know. Kurogane isn't someone who doesn't get exactly what he wants ... eventually."
Wolf growled. "Neither am I."
The aide smiled sadly at him, then he turned and left Wolf alone with the thoughts of White Fang and a mother he'd never known running through his head.
-- --
Team Gai tried to be inconspicuous in the streets of Lightning Village - a task made all the more difficult when two of the members had an affinity for green spandex and day-glo orange leg-warmers. Neji sighed and watched Gai shifting from foot to foot – the older man's need to do something at all times making this part of the mission the hardest part for him. Still, Neji knew Gai would never do anything to jeopardize this particular mission – not when it was Kakashi's life on the line. After all – Neji couldn't begin to imagine what the loss of the Green Beast's 'Eternal Rival' might do to him. For as long as he could remember, nearly everything Gai had done was compared – rather loudly – to the feats performed by Kakashi Hatake.
Neji frowned when he glanced over at Lee and saw the younger man nearly as agitated as Gai. These parts of the missions that required patience and stillness were always the hardest on the two tai-jutsu experts. If Shikamaru didn't return soon, these two would likely make a scene that would do nothing to strengthen the already shaky allegiance between Leaf and Lightning. Neji closed his eyes at the thought of the actions it took to solidify that truce so long ago.
He made it a point not to think on those events too often – after all – it was his father's death that was used to seal that truce. This was also why Shikamaru steadfastly refused to have Team Gai present when he delivered the Hokage's scroll to the Raikage. The last thing Leaf wanted to do right now was to remind Lightning of their failed attempt to kidnap Neji's cousin, Hinata, from the Hyuga compound.
Neji activated his Byakugan and scanned the surroundings once more. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary – still, Neji didn't like being here.
Tenten approached from his left. "Neji – are you okay?"
Her quiet voice was enough to calm his inner turmoil. He deactivated his Byakugan and met her dark brown eyes. A faint smile crossed his lips at the concern he saw in her gaze. She was one of very few people who could read his emotions.
"I'm fine, Tenten. I doubt the others will remain so for long, however."
Tenten rolled her eyes. "I'm actually surprised they haven't embarrassed us yet."
He watched as she shifted the large scroll that lay across her back and then she crossed her arms, much as she'd done back when they were still a genin team.
"Do you think Shikamaru can convince the Raikage to help, Neji?"
He took a deep breath and thought about it for a moment. "If anyone can find a way – it will be Shikamaru. He can see things that even I can miss with my Byakugan."
Neji surprised himself when those words were spoken out loud – recognizing he held a bit of envy toward the younger man. If Tenten picked up on it, she didn't say anything about it. Instead, she sighed.
"I still can't believe he's been captured."
Neji knew she was referring to Kakashi – after all – she'd made no secret of being an admirer of the silver-haired jonin's fighting style since their Academy days. In fact, she was the happiest he'd ever seen her during the week that Kakashi offered to help her refine her use of the Kusari-Gama. He'd been able to teach her the proper stance to wield the difficult sickle and weighted chain, and she excelled with that weapon ever since. Neji could still recall the sparkle in Tenten's eyes when the Copy-ninja commented on her excellent foundation for her other weapons' styles as well.
Neji frowned. Tenten was right. It was unfathomable that Kakashi Hatake would be captured, and it was harder still to believe he'd still be alive. But he couldn't bring himself to say those words to the young woman. Instead, he did what he could to give her hope.
"We'll find him, Tenten. And we'll bring him home."
She tipped her head back to look into his face, the sun basking the dark hair which was caught up in two symmetrical buns in a golden light. "I hope you're right Neji."
-- --
Iruka stood at the edge of the gathering, hardly daring to breathe. Crow warned him earlier in the day that once they entered the village, things would happen quickly and quietly. The ANBU hadn't lied. Every communication was done through hand signs – and before an hour had passed, Badger, Mouse, and Bear managed to take hold of two Lightning jonin. Iruka had to keep himself from making a sound when the three ANBU went into action.
Badger formed hand seals that brought his shadow to life and sent it shooting across the ground to snare the two enemy jonin in a shadow paralysis jutsu – guess there was no doubting Badger was one of the Nara clan. Iruka noted his build and height and wondered if perhaps it was Shikamaru's father – but he pushed the thought aside – after all, Shikaku wasn't known to be taking missions any longer.
Next, Mouse stepped forward and caused bands of wood to encircle the jonins' legs, waists, arms, and mouths – effectively immobilizing and silencing them, while allowing Badger to conserve some of his chakra for later use.
Iruka furrowed his brow in thought. He only knew of one man who could perform wood techniques – Yamato. Iruka smiled behind his mask. It made sense that Yamato would be on this mission – after all, he'd heard the man refer to Kakashi as senpai on more then one occasion – obviously they had a history. Iruka should have realized it was through the ANBU. And the man would be just as concerned for the welfare of Team Kakashi – seeing as he was just as much one of them as well.
Finally – Bear stepped forward and made a hand sign Iruka had seen before. It had been during some of the interrogations Ibiki allowed him to witness a few years back. Bear hadto be one of the Yamanako clan – no one else used that technique. Iruka's mind spun. This wasn't just a retrieval team – it was a team containing members of some of the major clan houses within Konoha. What the hell was he thinking when he signed up for this mission? He wasn't from some amazing clan full of wondrous techniques.
As though sensing Iruka's self-doubts, Crow stepped to his side and placed one hand on his shoulder. Iruka turned his head to meet the eyes behind the bird-mask. Crow motioned with his head for Iruka to follow him and then they jumped off to an area out of earshot of the prisoners.
"Iruka – I can tell something is on your mind. Out with it – before it ends up compromising our situation."
Iruka felt the heat of embarrassment rise in his cheeks – and was starting to truly be thankful for the blank mask covering his features. But then he became a bit angry. When he spoke, his anger colored every word – although he was very careful to keep his volume quiet.
"Can I point out something is always on my mind? I'm a teacher – it comes with the territory. I'm alwaysanalyzing my surroundings. It doesn't mean I'll compromise you or the mission, Genma. I would have thought you'd know that by now."
Crow took a step back and actually growled. Iruka blinked behind his mask. What did he do to set him off?
Crow's voice was tight. "Iruka Umino – when did you figure it out?"
Iruka shook his head in confusion. "Figure what out?"
Crow crossed his arms. "Who I am."
Iruka replayed his outburst in his mind and realized he'd used the name Genma in his ramblings. "You mean I was right?"
Crow reached out and gripped Iruka's shirt and pulled him in close. "Iruka – now isn't the time or place for this conversation. But we willhave this conversation when we'd finished here. Meanwhile – I need you to put that analytical mind of yours to use and help Bear interrogate those jonin."
Iruka swallowed deeply. "Me? What can I possibly do to help?"
Crow laughed softly. "You read people, Sensei. Incidentally, even better than I expected. I need you to tell me what you can read from those two jonin while we speak with them. Particularly when Bear confronts them with what he learns from their minds."
Iruka rubbed the back of his neck. "I thought I wasn't supposed to be involved in this."
"I never said that Iruka. I said you were to stay clear of the fighting."
Iruka watched Crow reach into his pouch and pull out a long, thin senbon. He pushed his mask up just far enough to allow part of his mouth to show, and slid the deadly needle between his teeth, confirming Iruka's deduction more then words could have.
"I'll do my best, Genma...I promise."
The senbon was placed back into the pouch and Crow's mask was replaced in a smooth movement. "I know you will, Iruka."
With that said, they went back to join the others. Iruka paid careful attention to everything about the two jonins – from the way they were breathing – to the dilation of their pupils while they listened to Bear's words – to the way they moved their fingers and hands within the restraints. Soon – he was able to tell when at least one of the two men were reacting to the truth being uttered. He fed that information to Crow through his own subtle signals – and by the end of the session, the retrieval team was confident they had finally found a lead to who was holding Kakashi Hatake and where they were keeping him.
-- --
Shikamaru and his team stood in the office of the Raikage waiting for the man to finish reading Lady Tsunade's scroll – again. He fought down the urge to yawn. He knew it would be taken as an insult by the temperamental leader of the shinobi of the Lightning Village. But really – did the man have to reread the scroll before discussing it with them?
Finally – after what felt like forever – the Raikage lifted his head until his dark eyes met Shikamaru's. The ends of his white mustache twitched before he spoke, and Shikamaru noticed his dark skin was glistening with sweat, even though the climate in the room was rather comfortable.
"What makes your Hokage so sure that there's a coup being planned, hmmm?" His eyes narrowed. "Has she been spying on us then?"
Shikamaru knew the man's mind would go this way. Everything he'd read about the Raikage showed that he was overly suspicious by nature, and very quick to anger. Still, he was Kage of the village – which meant he needed to be shown respect...even when he was being so troublesome.
Shikamaru straightened a bit and slowly explained. "Lord Raikage, the Hokage had this information sent to her by a long time friend who lived near your borders - and it was only after seeing some irregularities." He paused before continuing, seeing the doubt solidify in the Raikage's eyes. "The man knew the particular information he'd uncovered concerned Konoha and wanted to make sure we learned of it."
The Raikage leaned his fists on his desk and partially stood. "What information about a potential coup in my village could possibly concern the Hokage - unless she was planning to be a part of it?"
The older man's voice was loud enough to challenge even Gai in volume, but Shikamaru simply shrugged it off and continued to supply the additional information Lady Tsunade provided him at the start of the mission.
"The fact that you were not the only target." He waited for the words to sink into the Raikage's mind.
The dark-skinned man sat back down in his chair and tipped his head to one side. "Another target? Who? Is this person going to attempt to attack Konoha as well?"
Shikamaru smiled at the way the Raikage's line of thought went precisely as he had predicted. "Lord Raikage, the other target was the Copy-ninja...and I'm afraid he has succeeded in obtaining him."
The Raikage's eyes went wide. He glanced back down at the scroll and then back up to Shikamaru's face. "Tsunade states that you know who the traitor is. Tell me."
Shikamaru scratched at his cheek. "Kurogane Hatake."
The Raikage shut his eyes at the name and his body tensed somewhat. "That explains why Kakashi was the other target. Dammit! I'd hoped the rumors of Kurogane's death in the Asylum had been true."
Shikamaru frowned. "You didn't verify the rumors?"
The Raikage's eyes snapped open and his anger was palpable in the air. "Do you think I have nothing else to do with my time than respond to every rumor that passes my desk? Who do you think you're talking to?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "The Raikage of a village where jonin are failing to show up for assigned missions and where whispers even this far into the village speak of a coming uprising."
The Raikage's face twisted into a scowl. "If you already know so much, then why are you here at all Leaf Ninja?"
Shikamaru sighed. "Because you are still an ally to Konoha – and you can provide us with the information we need to extract our comrade and potentially end the uprising...if you'd like us to. This is the Hokage's official offer of aide to our ally."
The Raikage's shoulders relaxed a fraction, and Shikamaru knew what his answer would be even before he spoke. "The Hokage is wise. Her offer is accepted."
Shikamaru bowed formally. "She will be pleased. Now – if you would be so kind as to show us where the Hatake clan once lived, we can begin to make our plans."
-- --
Boudachi pushed open the door to the observation room expecting to find Kurogane in a foul mood. After all – it had been three days since the...ladies...began their task of ensuring the continuation of the Hatake bloodline – and so far the results had been less than stellar. Somehow, Kakashi was able to resist all of their attempts – and some of those were rather...imaginative.
Kurogane was systematically chewing on his fingernails while watching the latest attempts. Although not happy, by any means, the man looked more pensive than angry. Boudachi was about to clear his throat to announce his presence when Kurogane's voice filled the silence.
"Don't you find it intriguing, Boudachi?"
"What might that be, Lord Kurogane?"
Kurogane turned to face him. He had the trace of a smile on his lips. "How my Nephew has managed to use his shinobi training to put such a wrinkle in my time-line, of course."
Boudachi raised his eyebrows slightly. "How exactly is he managing that, my Lord?"
The silver-haired man laughed. "Ah – that's right – I forget you aren't a shinobi, Boudachi."
Kurogane waved him over to the viewing window. "Can you see his face, hmmm?"
Boudachi leaned forward and tried to ignore what the ladies were doing to the young man, and focused on Kakashi's face instead. There was a definite sheen of sweat on his pale skin, and his eye was shut – blocking the others in the room from his sight. But what struck Boudachi most was the almost bored look on the young man's face. It looked as though he was in the middle of a very dull conversation rather than strapped to a bed, being ravaged by strange women.
"What's he doing?"
Kurogane chuckled. "He's meditating."
Boudachi turned back to look at him and saw he'd returned to chewing on his fingertips. "Meditating? With all that going on? Impossible!"
"Not when you're Sakumo Hatake's son." Kurogane's gaze hardened slightly and then became a bit unfocused.
"My brother used to brag about how he could endure any form of torture by separating himself from what was happening to him. Our Father taught the process to him – they called it a form of extreme meditation."
Kurogane's face twisted into a frown. "Father refused to teach me his precious technique – even after I begged him. He said my mind wasn't disciplined enough for it."
Boudachi wondered if the elder Hatake knew, even then, that Kurogane's sanity wasn't quite stable. "So is there any way to break through this technique?"
Kurogane's mouth twitched into a grin. "His arm."
Boudachi blinked. "His...arm?"
"Yes – his arm. Watch and learn Boudachi."
With that, Kurogane left the observation room and a moment later appeared inside Kakashi's room. The man walked over to his nephew's side – although Kakashi seemed unaware of his presence. Kurogane looked up to where Boudachi was watching him and then back down at the younger man. In a flash of movement, Kurogane raised his hand up and then slammed the base of his palm into Kakashi's outstretched arm. The resounding crack of bones breaking rang through the air – followed by the scream of pain from Kakashi's throat.
Kurogane turned toward the women and smiled at their surprised faces. Boudachi shifted his gaze from Kurogane to the women and saw that they were quite obviously now getting the desired reaction from Kakashi's body. He focused back on the young Hatake's face again and saw his eye wide open – pain etched on his face – along with disgust at how his body failed him.
Boudachi hadn't realized Kurogane left that room until the man's voice whispered in his ear, causing him to jump. "I figured the boy wasn't really around Sakumo long enough to learn all of the secrets to that technique – so with the proper extreme in stimuli – he was bound to lose control."
Kurogane moved closer to get a better view of the scene below. He chuckled.
"You'll need to send a medic in as soon as the ladies finish."
Boudachi's brow furrowed. "Why is that, my Lord?"
Kurogane grinned while he traced patterns on the glass of the viewing window. "I'm afraid I was a bit enthusiastic in my application of force. His bones have pushed through in a few places."
Boudachi's eyes widened and he turned his attention back to Kakashi's body. Sure enough, he could just see a wide stain of red spreading out from under the young man's oddly bent arm. By the speed the stain was growing, it was clear Kakashi would be in serious trouble without medical attention in the next fifteen minutes.
He swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat. No wonder Kakashi was brought out of his trance – the pain of that break must have been immense. Boudachi stood and bowed stiffly to Kurogane.
"I'll see to it right away, Lord Kurogane."
As he hurried out of the room, two thoughts crossed Boudachi's mind; did they have a sufficiently skilled medic for such an injury? And if this is how Kurogane treats family, what would he do to someone unrelated?
Boudachi pushed the thoughts away and ran at full speed toward the medics quarters.
