Chapter 17

Mindscape

Ibiki watched the small swarm of beetles stop their forward movement and circle and ebb for almost a full minute before changing direction and picking up speed. This could only mean they were nearing their target. He felt a wave of apprehension crawl up his spine and promptly pushed it back. It wouldn't do anyone any good if he entered into this situation with preconceived notions.

Badger and Locust stood in the path to greet them just a mile from where their path was diverted. Ibiki could tell, just in how they were carrying themselves, that things weren't going smoothly. As such – he wasted no times in pleasantries once they reached the two ANBU.

"What's the situation?" Ibiki managed to keep his own fears out of his voice.

Badger's body language was not the usual lackadaisical attitude he was used to. This put a frown as his face as surely as the man's answer. "It's worse than we feared, Ibiki. Wolf has attempted to take Iruka-sensei's life...twice."

"Dammit! Bear you're with me. Badger lead the way. The rest of you set up perimeter. No one gets in...or out."

The others quickly carried out his orders – recognizing his authority in the current situation without his needing to present the Hokage's orders. As they raced toward the destination, Ibiki tried to get a better idea of what was going on. "Where do you have him?"

"They're located in a small shack just over the next rise."

Ibiki frowned. "What can I expect when I get there, Badger?"

Badger glanced toward him. "Crow and Iruka have sedated Wolf – but we don't have enough meds to keep him out for the entire trip back to Konoha."

Ibiki marveled at Tsunade's foresight. "Luckily Shizune has her own supply if it comes to that."

Badger nodded. "Chuutetsu has already reset Wolf's arm – with the aide of Neji and Iruka – but her healing chakra is needed to finish the fusing."

Ibiki tipped his head slightly. "Chuutetsu?"

Badger nodded again. "The medic from across the sea."

That's right. Crow's report mentioned something about the man. Ibiki grunted in acknowledgment. "Anything else I need to know?"

Badger was silent for a few strides before he turned his head to face Ibiki once more. His words sounded strained through the porcelain mask. "Wolf's figured out how to cancel the shadow jutsu."

"Dammit!" That ruled out Ibiki's hopes for using the Nara's for keeping Wolf under control. They reached the small shack and entered to find a handful of Leaf shinobi standing near the fire while Crow and Iruka were talking with a gray-haired man who was sitting on the edge of the bed Wolf was lying on. He paused to send those by the fire out to help set up the perimeter. Once they left his focus shifted to a Lightning chunin and a young girl who sat in the far corner – with two Leaf shinobi guarding them.

"What's that about?" He motioned toward the chunin and the girl.

Badger sighed and shrugged. "It'll take too long to explain it – so I'll leave it to Iruka-sensei to fill you in on that one."

Ibiki frowned but made no further comment, choosing to join Crow, Iruka and the man he assumed was Chuutetsu. Ibiki shoved his hands into the pockets of his overcoat and schooled his expression to be unreadable. Crow turned toward him as he approached.

"Ibiki – I see you've received my request."

He nodded and turned his eyes toward the supposed medic. Iruka smiled and made the introductions. "Ibiki Morino, this is Chuutetsu – Senior Medic from the City of Hyoukai Yobou, located across the sea. He's patched Wolf up enough now that we're thinking of assigning him permanently to his care."

Ibiki watched the medic smile at the Academy Teacher's attempt at humor, but that cheery expression disappeared when he noticed Ibiki's stern stare focused on him.

"Chuutetsu, report to Shizune about any injuries you have treated on any Leaf personnel."

The man looked up at him with a thoroughly professional look on his face. "Certainly...if you could be so kind as to point out who Shizune is, that is."

One of Ibiki's eyebrows raised ever so slightly. So, the medic wasn't easily intimidated – which explained how he could treat Wolf...no wonder he wasn't dead yet. He pulled one hand out of his pocket and pointed toward where Shizune was just entering the building.

"That's her – coming in the door now."

Chuutetsu stood up and headed for the diminutive jonin, leaving Ibiki with Crow and Iruka. He turned a critical eye toward the chunin and made it obvious he was inspecting the damage. Iruka averted his gaze at the attention, while Crow spoke.

"The leg wound was caused by the enemy during extraction."

Ibiki turned toward the ANBU Captain and leveled one of his more serious looks at the man. "And the neck wound?"

Crow chuckled nervously and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Ah – well that...that was Wolf's handiwork."

Ibiki sighed. "From your report I was expecting much worse."

Iruka finally seemed to find his voice. "Well maybe next time I'll just let him Chidori my ass, Ibiki...would that be worth calling you in?"

Ibiki widened his eyes and stared from the chunin, to Crow, and then finally to Wolf's still form. His voice was tight.

"He tried to use the Chidori on Iruka?"

Crow sighed. "Yeah, well – Iruka was standing in between Wolf and his target."

"What was the target?"

Crow pointed one thumb toward the man and women cowering by the wall. "Them."

Ibiki's gaze shifted to the man and girl and he narrowed his eyes. "Iruka – explain yourself."

"What?!? Explain myself?" Iruka's face had turned bright read.

Ibiki took a slow breath. "Iruka – why would you want to stop Wolf from eliminating the enemy?"

Iruka sputtered a bit before replying. "He would have 'eliminated' more than just the enemy, Ibiki. He would have killed his children!"

Ibiki shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

Crow stepped in. "Ibiki – the young woman there is carrying Wolf's offspring."

Ibiki rubbed his fingers against his temple – trying to push back his growing headache. "Wolf didn't know she was pregnant?"

Iruka growled. "Yes – he did!"

"And he still tried to kill her?"

Now Iruka crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Ibiki. "That's what I've been telling you all along."

"Dammit."

Crow sighed wearily. "Exactly. But it gets a little worse than that, Ibiki."

He met Crow's masked gaze. "How could it possibly get worse?"

Crow's voice was quiet. "Shikamaru stopped Wolf from killing them – and I used my senbon to knock him out."

Ibiki closed his eyes and groaned. "Please tell me he didn't realize it."

"Sorry – but he knew."

"You certainly aren't making my job any easier, Crow."

-- --


Akuma cursed the rain for the two hundredth time while he waited for his cousin's lackey to let him into the building housing one of many locations for the Sound Village's infamous Snake Sannin. It had taken him three long days to track down the contact – and another day before he was allowed to know Orochimaru was coming to see him to discuss his purchase of Akuma's recent acquisition.

He should have known it would be the wettest day of the year that would find him at the man's doorstep. All hopes of presenting a calm and collected presence to his cousin were left behind when at last the door opened and Akuma was ushered inside the dimly lit room by a young white-haired boy wearing a white sash around the waist of his dark clothing. His face held a smug expression on thin lips and he pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up his nose in obvious annoyance as he pulled the door shut again.

"Wait here."

Akuma watched the boy turn and walk away without waiting for any reply from him, and he narrowed his eyes at the thought of how much he would enjoy torturing the smug little bastard. But he needed to keep on Orochimaru's good side – at least for now – if he was going to turn a profit on what had to be his worst contract to date.

He used the time waiting to his advantage and wrung some of the excess moisture out of his hair. That simple act managed to make him feel like less of a drowned rat – and more like a man who was capable of matching wits with Orochimaru.

"Ah – cousin. I haven't laid eyes on you in so long I was beginning to think you'd forgotten all about me." Orochimaru's words hissed through the shadows.

Akuma smirked. "How could anyone ever forget you Orochimaru?"

Laughter reached his ears – sounding like it was coming from all around him. It reminded Akuma of the times he'd visited his cousin's house in the past – when Orochimaru would use this very trick to try and get under his skin while he waited for his father to finish his business.

Akuma learned ways to see past his senses when dealing with the Snake Sannin. And because of that – he was able to walk straight to where the man was leaning against the wall – watching him.

"Thank you for taking the time to see me, cousin. I know how busy you can be."

Orochimaru's lips turned up into a twisted grin. "From what I hear, Akuma, you have been busy as well. What's this I hear that you may have something of interest to me in your possession? What have you been doing with yourself, cousin?"

Akuma shrugged. "A bit of this and that. But I have managed to obtain some genetic material that you may indeed find interest in."

Orochimaru's yellow eyes gleamed in the dim light and the man leaned forward with an almost hungry look on his face. "And just what genetic material could you possibly have that would elicit my interest, Akuma?"

Akuma ran his fingers through his still damp hair, meeting that unsettling gleam with his own violet gaze. "The unborn child of Kakashi Hatake."

He watched Orochimaru's snakelike tongue dart out of his mouth and run along his thin lips. "I see. And just what makes you think that would be of any interest to me?"

Akuma laughed, causing Orochimaru to narrow his gaze. "Because, dear cousin, I can still remember catching you going on and on about what you'd like to do if you ever managed to obtain a Hatake for your tests. Did you think such conversations would be so easily forgotten?"

Now Orochimaru smiled and his eyes lit with an unearthly light. "You always have had a most excellent memory, Akuma. Now then – let's sit down and discuss your price – shall we?"

"Of course – cousin."

He followed Orochimaru deeper into the house and smiled to himself. He would definitely be making out far better than he thought now that he'd confirmed Orochimaru was still interested in obtaining the genetic material. Perhaps such a rainy day wasn't bad luck after all.

-- --


Ibiki and Bear discussed how best to approach their task with the least amount of danger to themselves – or Kakashi. With no way of controlling the Copy-ninja through ninjutsu or genjutsu, the only option would be physical restraints. In addition – they decided to forgo any further healing on the man – hoping that the remaining injuries might keep him a bit more docile.

Ibiki sent Shizune to examine the woman carrying Kakashi's seed, while he and Bear took up positions on either side of Kakashi's head. He directed Crow and Iruka to use whatever they could find to pin the Copy-ninja to the bed frame, and then he signaled for Bear to start what he knew would be a most unpleasant experience.

Previously, with the aide of the Uchiha's, they were able to 'encounter' Wolf in a neutral area of the man's mind...and even then it hadn't been easy. But this time he and Bear had no choice but to enter the man's true mindscape and hope they would be able to track down Kakashi's essence within it...assuming of course that they could track down that essence.

Ibiki took a slow, deep breath – trying to push aside all his worries and fears. He knew that carrying even a trace of such things into another's mind would open him up for failure in the task. At a nod to Bear, he closed his eyes and waited for a feeling that always reminded him of falling off a rather steep cliff. It was how he knew when Bear had linked his mind into the subjects consciousness – and it never seemed to get any easier – no matter how many times the two had done this.

When Ibiki's awareness came back to him, he glanced around to see just what lay within the inner mind of Kakashi when he was so ensconced in the persona of Wolf. He blinked in confusion. All around him was a field of grass, stretching out for a far as he could see. The clear sky above held a few white fluffy clouds – but there was nothing else in sight.

Bear's comment next to him reminded Ibiki he wasn't alone. "This is not unexpected."

Ibiki turned toward Bear's mental image. "How so? I would have thought someone with Wolf's personality would have darkness and blood in his mind – not sunshine and grass."

Bear shook his head. "This is how Kakashi managed to fool the medics the first time he manifested as Wolf. All of this is nothing more than the first layer within Kakashi Hatake's mind. What we are searching for lies deeper."

Ibiki sighed. "Why is nothing ever simple with this kid?"

Bear formed a hand sign within Kakashi's mind, and in the blink of an eye the serene scene around them spun and morphed into something far darker. Twisted black tree trunks jutted out from smooth cliffs of gray rock looking like gnarled fingers reaching up toward the blood red sky. Lightning flashed constantly, striking the landscape all around them and shaking the ground beneath their feet. In the distance – Ibiki heard two distinct sounds...the howl of a wolf, and the screams of a grown man.

Bear cringed when another blood-curdled scream drowned out the sound of thunder which followed another lightning bolt. "We need to find him, Ibiki. Before the wolf finishes him off."

Ibiki frowned. "You're kidding, right?"

Bear shook his head. "Do you remember the last time we worked in Kakashi's mind?"

Ibiki thought back to it while more lightning streaked around him. "I recall Fugaku telling Kakashi he'd keep him safe from the wolf. But I'd assumed he was speaking metaphorically."

Bear rubbed at the back of his neck. "Metaphorically or not – in this version of Kakashi's mind, it appears he is being attacked by that very wolf. And until we track the beast down and find a way to subdue it and keep it from ripping out Kakashi's throat, we run the risk of losing the man we know altogether."

Ibiki nodded and turned toward where he heard the howl of the wolf once more. "Very well. Let's get a move on it, then. The sooner we find them, the sooner we'll know if it's already too late."

As if in answer to his fears, the screams tore through the air once more. Visions of Kakashi being torn to shreds by the wolf threatened to overwhelm Ibiki – but he pushed them down and clung to the hope that, as long as the man was still screaming – and not silent – there was still hope.

-- --


Iruka watched Ibiki and Bear settle into an almost trance-like state with their fingers resting on the Wolf's head and shoulders. He and Crow used what they could find to fasten the Copy-ninja's arms and legs in place – in this case, spare bandages – and then attached the belts from several of their fellow shinobi together to create restraining straps across Wolf's chest and upper legs. He doubted it would do much more than buy them all a few precious moments if Wolf became fully aware...but that might be enough time to incapacitate the man before he killed them all.

Iruka frowned. When did he stop thinking of this man as Naruto's sensei and start thinking of him only as a cold-blooded killer? He reached up to scratch at his stitches and realized it was probably right after Wolf tried to kill him.

Iruka leaned back and sighed. He'd seen the Yamanaka's at work before and knew they could be at it for hours. He looked up and saw Crow had pushed his mask to the side and was busy chewing on the tip of one of his senbon. "Do you think they can save him, Genma?"

The ANBU Captain rubbed at the back of his neck "Will worrying about the outcome change things? Let's just be ready for whatever happens, okay?"

Iruka rolled his eyes. "Since when have you been so philosophical?"

Genma chuckled. "Chuutetsu must be rubbing off on me."

Iruka smiled at the thought. He glanced over to where the medic and Shizune were checking up on Youki. The two worked well together, and he hoped the man would keep communication up with Konoha once this mess was resolved. Chuutetsu had a way of looking at things that was refreshing – and it would be nice to think that something good came out of this mess.

He glanced back to where Genma was checking the straps for the tenth time since Ibiki and Bear went under. "Don't you trust your own handiwork, Genma?"

The jonin sighed. "I'd trust it more if it wasn't Wolf we were talking about."

"Genma – what happens if they can't bring Kakashi back?"

He saw the muscles in Genma's jawline tense at his question – and he heard the senbon snap between his teeth. "Dammit!" The captain pulled the broken needle out of his mouth – spitting the shorter end out, along with a bit of blood.

Iruka furrowed his brow. Only one answer would have caused a reaction like that, and he didn't want to hear it. But Genma said it all the same. "If they can't recover Kakashi – Ibiki's likely to terminate Wolf."

Before Iruka could question him more, Genma spat out a bit more blood and pulled his mask back into place just as Shizune and Chuutetsu started to cross toward them. "That was my favorite senbon, too."

Iruka placed a smile on his face. "So, how is she?"

He tried not to let any bitterness seep into his tone, but by the confused look on Shizune's face he knew he failed. The dark-haired woman looked back over her shoulder at where the young woman was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chin.

"She's scared, Iruka-sensei. And that isn't good for her, or the babies."

Crow turned his head at her words. "Babies? As in multiple?"

Iruka slumped his shoulders in defeat. So much for keeping it a secret. "Yes, Crow. Three to be exact."

The ANBU Captain shook his head. "Is that why you risked having him kill you, Iruka?"

"Nope. I thought there was only one baby at that point." He sighed. "Does the number really make a difference?"

Crow looked toward the girl. "I suppose not." His attention shifted to Shizune and Chuutetsu. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't carrying multiples more dangerous than a normal pregnancy?"

Shizune frowned. "Yes – which is why all this extra drama is making it risky indeed. If there's to be a chance for the babies to reach full term, we really need to get her to Konoha sooner rather than later."

Iruka scratched his head. "Is that any safer? You know – traveling?"

She shrugged. "With Chuutetsu and me watching over her, and using the Lightning medic's treatments, we have better than a sixty percent chance of survival for at least one of the fetuses. Not the best of odds – but better than if we stay out here where there's no support."

Iruka couldn't help but smirk at her words, which caused the young woman's face to flush with anger. "What's so funny, Iruka?"

He smiled at her. "You're starting to sound an awful lot like Lady Tsunade."

Shizune's eyes widened at his comment and then she, too smiled. "I guess she was bound to rub off on me eventually. Just be glad I didn't pick up her habit of sneaking sake when no one's looking!"

Crow, Shizune and Iruka shared a good natured laugh – leaving Chuutetsu to watch them with a look of confusion. Iruka calmed himself down and addressed the medic.

"This will make a lot more sense once you've met the Hokage. Trust me."

That caused another round of chuckling from Shizune, but it disappeared almost instantly when Wolf's body tensed and starting thrashing within his bonds. Without a word, all four of them took positions around the jonin and held him physically down. Iruka ventured a glance toward Wolf's head and saw sweat forming across Ibiki's brow and Bear's breathing becoming more ragged. The head interrogator of Konoha's face was twisted into a mask of fear and pain, and Iruka found himself fearing for his and Bear's lives if this kept up for too much longer.

A low growl crept out from behind Wolf's mask and Iruka turned a worried glance toward Shizune. "Can you give him something to calm him down?"

She shook her head. "Bear warned me that, for what he's doing to work, we can't put Wolf out too deeply."

One of Wolf's wrists pulled loose of the bindings and was barely caught by Crow. "Dammit! Shizune – find me something else to use to keep him tied down!"

Iruka struggled to keep hold of the wrist in his own hand and marveled at how strong Wolf was – even in such a drugged state. He wondered just what it would take to bring the lazy, perverted jonin they all knew back again, and couldn't help but smile to himself. Who would have ever thought he'd actually want that version of Kakashi back again?

At that very moment, the wrist he was holding broke loose of its bindings and his grip, and the long pale fingers of the hand wrapped around Iruka's throat, cutting off his air. He twisted – clawing at the grip for freedom, and he saw the single icy gray eye stare straight at him while everyone around him tried to hold the jonin down.

-- --


Kakashi knew he was in trouble when the howling grew closer. He'd lost track of how long he'd been running – all he knew was that if he ever stopped he'd be finished. He had no idea where he was. He'd never seen terrain like this before – the cliffs seemed to shift before he could find his footing – and the bare branches of the trees almost reached for him at every turn. He glanced up to the sky and frowned. Blood red...and somehow familiar...as it cast everything around it in the subtle shade of crimson.

He paused to catch his breath – leaning over to try to allow his lungs to expand a bit more. That was when the first wolf struck – the silver-gray body slamming into Kakashi's chest and knocking him to the ground. He kicked free of the fur-covered body, but not before the beast raked his side with sharp claws. A scream tore from his throat, but he pushed his body back up and ran from where the wolf was still lying, stunned.

Kakashi held his hand to his side – feeling his blood seep from the wound – but he pushed on. The sound of other wolves joining the hunt could be heard now – and he was starting to recognize the futility of running. He need to find somewhere – anywhere – to make a stand...but all he kept seeing was the same landscape over and over again.

"Dammit!" His frustration was building and he tried desperately to think of a way out of this situation. Of course that led him to trying to remember how the hell he'd come here in the first place.

In his exhaustion, he tripped and skidded to a stop at the base of one of the cliffs. A low growling was heard behind him and he turned to find a pack of six wolves slowly crossing toward him. They ranged in size from small to large, and briefly he was reminded of his own nin-hounds – but that similarity left when he gazed into their blood-thirsty eyes. They approached with their heads lowered menacingly, and the fur across their shoulders bristling in what he knew was not a need to be petted.

He looked around for something to use as a weapon against them and found nothing but the sheer walls of the cliffs. He was boxed into a corner and, as he watched the froth forming at the edges of the wolves' snarling mouths, Kakashi felt something he rarely felt in his life...he felt fear.

Still – if he was going to die – he'd make it one hell of a fight. Kakashi laughed, causing the beasts to pause in their approach. He found it rather ironic that the son of the White Fang of Konoha was going to meet his end – not at the hands of his enemies – but rather, in the jaws and claws of a pack of wolves.

A seventh wolf appeared from the side and nearly caught him off guard when it lunged at him. Thankfully, Kakashi remembered that pack animals tended to herd and ambush their prey – much like shinobi on a mission. He jumped out of the way just in time to avoid the fierce teeth of what had to be the Alpha wolf, but was quickly knocked off his feet when the others of the pack made their move. He knew he was screaming while the whirlwind of teeth and claws tore at him – but he stopped caring about that hours...no, days back...after his first attack.

This time though, his energy was failing and he doubted he'd survive such a concentrated effort. He was just about to finally give in under the never-ending onslaught when he heard a familiar voice in his ear.

"So this is where you've been hiding, kid. Let's get you outta here."

With the feel of Ibiki's strong hand on his shoulder, Kakashi's world spun around him – the twisted trees and strange cliffs melted away to be replaced with darkness and the smell of fear.

Awareness came slowly to him, but when it did – he felt hands trying to hold him down. He broke loose of their grip and grabbed hold of the nearest ones' neck – expecting to see an enemy when, at last, he pried open his eye. Instead of the cliffs and pack of wolves – he saw the wide brown eyes and scarred nose of Naruto's Academy teacher. He blinked at the look of absolute terror on the man's face.

"Iruka?"

With that single word...all his energy left his body and he fell into unconsciousness.