Chapter 21

Of Life and Death

Kabuto watched as Akuma knelt on the ground and placed his palm in the center of an unassuming area of dirt. It looked just like the last six patches of dirt the strange man had paused over in the past hour and it was starting to wear on his nerves. Kabuto was about to mention it to Akuma when the man's face became the picture of concentration and a frown settled over his features. Kabuto blinked at how that simple motion of the man's face made Akuma's relation to Orochimaru much more obvious. In fact, in the filtered light of the forest Kabuto would have sworn the man kneeling in front of him was the Sannin.

Akuma opened his violet eyes and stared up at Kabuto – the action breaking him out of his musings. The frown was still set on the man's face.

"A large amount of chakra infused this area not too long ago...maybe six hours."

Kabuto nodded. "Good – then we're catching up to them."

Akuma's frown deepened. "I'm a bit concerned about the type of chakra. I've not encountered it before."

Kabuto raised his eyebrows at the comment. "I see...and what type of chakra might that be, Akuma?"

The man raised one long-fingered hand up to his chin in contemplation before answering. "Would it surprise you if I said wood?"

A smile stretched across Kabuto's face. "Are you quite sure of that?"

Violet eyes narrowed and the frown was replaced by a sneer. "I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't sure, boy!"

Kabuto chuckled at how similar to Orochimaru that reaction was. "It's just that the person who can generate that particular chakra composition was once one of Lord Orochimaru's pets. It will be entertaining to see what he has done with himself since leaving Orochimaru's company."

Akuma scowled. "By 'pet' I assume you mean experiment?"

Kabuto nodded while the man rose to standing. "Oh yes...he was one of the first...although Lord Orochimaru didn't learn of his survival until after he was abandoned."

Akuma sighed. "So then we're dealing with another one of my cousin's freaks with a curse-mark."

Kabuto smiled wider. "Oh no – there's no curse-mark on the man. Lord Orochimaru didn't perfect the curse seal until many years after that first major experiment. In fact – the reason he moved on to the curse-mark was to allow for a greater survival rate of his test subjects. After all – Tenzou was the only survivor out of sixty subjects at the time."

Kabuto watched Akuma's expression shift to one of curiosity. "And would the bag over your shoulder happen to contain something to help counter this Tenzou?"

Kabuto pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose in an attempt to hide his surprise at Akuma's keen observation. "Ah – yes – Lord Orochimaru tends to be able to supply the proper counters for the most unexpected encounters."

"Good. I would hate to think that a mistake from Orochimaru's past would lead to us failing to obtain his present desires."

With that statement, Akuma turned away from Kabuto and started off in the direction of their prey. Kabuto smirked and found his impression of the man rising a bit more.

-- --


Kakashi's first hint that the Sound shinobi were already affecting the team was when Iruka and Chuutetsu stopped what they were doing and stared into space. The second hint was when the sound of singing danced just at the edge of his awareness. He quickly performed the appropriate release jutsu for himself and took a moment to see if any of the others fell under the genjutsu. Fortunately for all of them, they had known the group was headed their way – otherwise the subtlety of this technique might have gotten past all of their guard.

Kakashi stretched his awareness beyond the shack to sense the attackers, and cursed when he realized they were surrounded. The quiet sound of singing was still there, but now he could make out three distinct tunes to the attack. And by the sound of it, the singers were situated at points all around the shack. Kakashi frowned – they were surrounded. He stretched his awareness farther and picked up the faint chakra signatures of three more of the enemy – one near each of the singers. He pulled his senses back.

While Ibiki walked through the room to release any who were still caught in the genjutsu from its hold, Kakashi cursed the patch that was still firmly affixed over his sharingan eye. Having it inaccessible severely limited what he'd be able to do in the coming battle. He turned his attention back to where Iruka and Chuutetsu were being brought back to reality and he moved to their side just in time to hear their comments to Ibiki.

Iruka was scratching the back of his head in confusion. "I honestly didn't know we were in an illusion."

Ibiki frowned and crossed his arms in front of him. "Describe what you saw."

Iruka shrugged. "I saw just what I saw before...this shack – and Chuutetsu."

Kakashi entered the conversation. "What about you, Chuutetsu?"

The medic rubbed one hand across his close-cropped gray hair. "I'm not really sure what's going on Kakashi. All I can tell you is I was talking with Iruka here...when suddenly Ibiki just appeared...out of thin air! Nearly gave me a heart attack."

Ibiki nodded his head. "That's basically the same story I've gotten from the others who were caught in it – minus the near heart attack, that is. They hadn't noticed because the illusion continued to follow whatever mundane task they were in the middle of."

Kakashi considered what they said. "So it seems the enemy is more concerned with keeping us from noticing the passage of time than anything else. It would explain the use of three genjutsu users and the positions they've taken up around us. It also explains why the others with them haven't made a move to attack."

Chuutetsu's eyes narrowed at the comment. "But why wouldn't they attack? It makes no sense."

Kakashi rubbed at his masked chin. "It does if they're trying to keep us from following the others."

Chuutetsu shook his head in obvious confusion. "But why?"

Iruka's startled gasp caught everyones attention, and Kakashi thought the wide-eyed expression on his tanned face would have been humorous under different circumstances. His words, however, caused Kakashi's stomach to twist in knots.

"The babies!"

Wolf hissed through his mind. 'This wouldn't be an issue if they'd let me kill the whore in the first place!'

Kakashi shivered. Chuutetsu's voice helped him move past the poisonous words in his mind. "What about the babies?"

Kakashi tried his best to keep Wolf's bitterness from bleeding into his response. "There is a very evil man on this side of the water that makes those we've dealt with so far seem polite in comparison. That man would likely pay a fairly large price to get his hands on my offspring."

Chuutetsu paled on hearing his words. "Worse than the butchers who ravaged Hyoukai Yobou?"

Iruka stepped forward and placed a hand to the medic's shoulder – likely in an attempt to provide comfort from his memories of the attack on his City.

Kakashi sighed. "Yes Chuutetsu – much worse."

Ibiki brought the gravity of the situation sharply back into focus. "Orochimaru must be sending someone to collect the woman."

Kakashi cringed. It was bad enough that he'd been used to impregnate the girl as it was – but to think that now there was a chance the babies could wind up in the hands of that Snake Bastard was unfathomable. He bit his thumb and moved his hands through the needed signs for a summoning. When the smoke cleared, the sleek white and brown form of his fastest nin-hound sat with her head tilted to the side – waiting for her Master's orders. Kakashi smiled fondly at the beast.

"How the hell did he do that?!?" Chuutetsu's shocked voice caused Kakashi to chuckle.

"I'll explain in a minute." He knelt in front of his hound and ran his fingers through the soft fur on either side of her head – reveling in the feel against palms that normally wore gloves, and earning him an affectionate lick of his face. "Ah – Issanni, I'm afraid I need to send you out before I really wanted to."

The hound gave a soft bark and nipped at Kakashi's hand in a way he knew meant she didn't mind being called into service so soon after birthing her latest litter of pups. Still – he would have preferred to let her be for another week or so – but she was the fastest of the pack and had the sharpest mind for details aside from Pakkun.

While he continued to scratch Issanni's neck, Kakashi turned his face up to meet Ibiki's eyes. "Who is on the team with the girl that she might remember?"

Ibiki seemed lost in thought for a moment – but then a slow smile crept across the man's face. "Mouse."

Kakashi felt a grin reach his own lips. This was good news. This bitch had helped in Tenzou's training and thought of the young man as one of her pups. His scent was one she'd never forget. He turned his attention back to Issanni.

"I need you to track Tenzou and his companions. His scent should be fresh enough in this place for you to refresh your nose."

The hound lifted her elegant neck in the air and sniffed experimentally until it was obvious she'd caught something familiar in the air. She bent her nose to the ground and moved over to an area which Tenzou must have used more than once during his stay here and then she moved back to Kakashi's side and pushed her nose into his chest. He placed his face into the fur of her neck and nuzzled her for a moment before pushing back and standing.

"Issanni, track Tenzou without being discovered by those following him. Let him know help is coming but to only engage the enemy as a last resort. Warn him they are coming from Orochimaru."

The fur around the hound's neck ruffled and a low growl left her throat at the Snake Sannin's name. She had first-hand experiences from Kakashi's past run-ins with Orochimaru and knew just how dangerous the bastard was – one more reason he had chosen her for this task. Once he was sure she was ready, he signaled for her to leave. In the blink of an eye she was gone – leaving Kakashi with a silent fear that he'd sent her into something she wasn't quite ready for. He frowned.

"Kakashi?" Chuutetsu's voice reminded him he wasn't alone in the shack.

"Ah – Chuutetsu, I promised to explain, didn't I? That was Issanni – one of my nin-hounds."

The medic looked confused. "Nin-hounds?"

Iruka chuckled. "Think of them as a cross between a pet and a ninja. They come when Kakashi-sensei summons them."

Chuutetsu's look made it clear he couldn't quite understand that explanation. "But come from where?"

Kakashi scratched at the back of his head and shrugged. "That would take far longer to explain then we'll have time for, I'm afraid." He paused and looked toward the door, sensing alarm from the nin-hound. He frowned. "Especially since it seems Issanni was seen by at least one of our observers. I'll tell you all about it once we make it to Konoha – meanwhile I need to go stop them from hurting her."

With that, Kakashi made the necessary signs and disappeared in a puff of smoke from the shack.

-- --


Chuutetsu blinked and he knew his jaw was hanging open, but never in his life had he seen a human being just...disappear...like that. "Where did he go!?!"

Iruka placed a hand on his shoulder. "You'll get used to that."

Before he had a chance to respond, Crow, Lizard and Raidou disappeared as well. Chuutetsu's eye went wide. Was there anything normal about these shinobi at all?

"Shikamaru – Iruka...stay with the medic." Ibiki left no room for argument and then he, too, disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Iruka chuckled. "So – are you used to it yet?"

Chuutetsu shot a glare at the teacher. "Why do I feel like I don't even know half of the secrets of you people?"

Shikamaru walked over to stand in front of him – his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "That would be because you don't."

"Okay – fine – I can accept that for now. But what I can't accept is staying in here while Kakashi and the others are out there and liable to need medical help."

Iruka smiled. "Why didn't you say so sooner? Let's go!"

Chuutetsu had expected an argument – not agreement. "Aren't you supposed to keep me in here?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "Actually, Ibiki's orders were to 'stay with the medic.' We go where you go."

Iruka chuckled. "Do you have a problem with that?"

Chuutetsu smiled in return. "Hell no! Let's get out there before Kakashi and the others manage to get themselves killed."

He paused just long enough to grab his bag of supplies and then, after sparing a glance at the still unconscious form of Bear across the room, the three of them ran out the door. It might not have been as speedy a way to exit the building as the others used, but in minutes they were nearing where the sound of fighting was evident. Shikamaru held two knuckle blades in his hands, while Iruka was wielding a katana. They edged their way to the edge of the battle and watched for signs of those who might need their help.

They didn't have to wait long. Ibiki and Raidou were engaged with two of the Sound ninja while Crow stood off to the side with one hand clutching at his side. Even from the distance they were at, Chuutetsu could see the deep crimson blood flowing through the ANBU captain's fingers. Without thinking beyond the need to help the man, Chuutetsu took off at a steady run toward where Crow was – Iruka and Shikamaru at his side the entire way.

Crow looked up at their approach. "What the hell are you three doing here?"

Iruka moved into a position just beyond the man, Shikamaru watching the other side – allowing Chuutetsu to get right to work on Crow's injury. He looked up into the ANBU's face and smiled.

"Looks like we're keeping you from bleeding out Crow. Now lift you hand away and let me do my job."

Fortunately, the injury looked worse than it was. There was a long gash, but it wasn't too deep. Chuutetsu cleaned off the mess and placed a field dressing firmly in place – wrapping bandages around it to keep it secure. He had just removed his hands from Crow's side when the ANBU jerked his head up as though hearing something and then, with a quick hand sign, he disappeared once more.

Chuutetsu shook his head. "He could have at least said thank you."

Iruka's tight grip on his shoulder regained his attention. "He didn't go far." The teacher pointed one finger across the path to where Kakashi was lying on the ground.

"No!" Chuutetsu stood up and was about to run toward the silver-haired man when Shikamaru's arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back down to the ground. He felt something pass over their heads and then the air was filled with the sound of splintering wood.

Chuutetsu's eyes went wide when he tipped his face up to see the tree he was just standing in front of demolished. Shikamaru explained.

"It's troublesome – but if I hadn't pulled you down, that sound-blast would have done the same damage to your body."

Chuutetsu's voice wavered a bit. "In that case, thank you for tackling me, Shikamaru."

Iruka helped the two up. They looked over to where Crow was propping Kakashi against another tree and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the silver-haired man push Crow's attempts at help away. Thank goodness Kakashi was okay.

Chuutetsu's eyes were drawn to the sight of one of the enemy on the ground nearby. The blond hair surrounded the face of a young man who didn't look a day over twelve. He frowned and moved to the boy's side. Multiple kunai stuck out from his torso – the frothing, deep color of red flowing from at least one of the wounds showing him that the boy's lung was likely pierced by that blade.

What a waste. This kid would still be in school if he was back in Hyoukai Yobou. How can they live like this?

He knelt next to the boy and tried to make him comfortable while his blood seeped from his veins. He might not understand what these people were about – but he'd be damned if he'd let a human being suffer if it was in his power to lessen their pain.

Iruka's voice in his ear startled him. "Chuutetsu – leave him. We have to get you to a safe place."

He stared up into the man's deep brown eyes. "There is no such thing as safe place anymore, Iruka."

The teacher frowned and looked up to where the rest of the Leaf shinobi were working together to neutralize the enemy. When he turned his face back to look at him, Chuutetsu saw a smile pull at the teacher's lips. "Okay then. Would you settle for moving to a slightly safer place?"

He looked back into the face of the young boy on the ground and sighed. He'd never get used to this. Chuutetsu stood and followed Iruka back toward the tree-line and turned to watch the others battling around them. His eyes went wide at the astonishing sights around him – not just from the Leaf ninja – but from the Sound ninja as well.

The ANBU danced through the trees with the enemy – the blades of their katana reflected the late afternoon sunlight that filtered through the leaves. But the Sound ninja met those attacks with their own skills. Chuutetsu watched one of the enemy lift their palms into the air to deflect Lizard's sword with waves of sound. The sound as that wave struck the metal of the blade resonated throughout the area, making his teeth vibrate. He couldn't imagine what poor Lizard felt like being so much closer to the point of attack – but from the way the katana slipped from his fingers he had an idea that it wasn't too pleasant.

He watched Crow and Kakashi stand back to back and fight against two of the enemy. Their hands moved so quickly that Chuutetsu's eyes couldn't follow them clearly. Suddenly, there were snakes lunging toward Crow and Kakashi's bodies – but they never reached the two. On Crow's side, a wall of earth slammed into the creatures, pinning them harmlessly in the dirt before they could reach the man – while on the other side, the reptiles were promptly barbecued by a stream of fire flowing out of Kakashi's mouth.

The moment the snakes were neutralized, the two Leaf shinobi went on the attack. Crow flung two handfuls of sharp senbon through the air in a staggered pattern that the Sound ninja was unable to avoid. Kakashi went for a more direct approach – shimmering out of sight and reappearing directly behind his opponent. In less time than it took to take a full breath, Chuutetsu watched Kakashi's hands grip either side of the enemy's head and twist violently. The resounding crack was heard over the clashing of swords around them and Chuutetsu's heart beat loud in his ears at the calm way his friend took that life – and not for the first time, he wondered if he'd survive this ordeal.

-- --


Kakashi arrived just in time to eliminate the Sound ninja that was targeting Issanni – but it drew the attention of the others all too quickly. Before he knew what was happening, he felt a wave of sound push him toward him. There was no way to avoid it and he found himself flung through the air at such a speed that he had no way to stop himself. All he could do was try to land without breaking his neck.

Of course, that might have been easier if he wasn't being propelled toward a rather large tree. Still – he wasn't known as a genius just for his good looks. He smiled at that thought, even as he twisted his body while pushing chakra into the shadow clone technique Naruto was so fond of. Borrowing a page from the Number One Hyperactive Ninja, Kakashi's clone appeared and gripped his wrist firmly. The clone threw him out of the tree's path – unfortunately the clone wasn't so lucky – and with a resounding crash it slammed into the bark and disappeared with a puff of smoke.

Kakashi skidded to a stop – his breath momentarily knocked out of him, as much from reabsorbing the experience of the clone as from his own landing. He tensed when he felt hands grasp his arms and was about to call his Chidori to life when he heard Crow.

"Where'd you learn the trick with the clone Kakashi?"

'Tell him you learned it from the Demon-brat...go on!'

He pushed free of the ANBU's grip and shook his head to clear Wolf's voice from his mind. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Crow chuckled and held a hand out to help him stand. "After this particular mission I'm likely to believe just about anything you say."

"Well – I promise I'll tell you all about it once we finish these bastards off." He looked around and spied two more of the Sound ninja closing in. "I'm thinking back to back – right?"

"Right boss!"

Kakashi felt Crow's back against his own and concentrated on the woman heading straight for him. She looked to be in her twenties, with long red hair and pale blue eyes that narrowed when they caught his gaze. Her hands flew through a series of symbols which Kakashi didn't need his sharingan to read. He was all too familiar with them after battling Orochimaru's lackeys time and time again.

Before she finished the last sign for her summoning spell, Kakashi had already prepared himself to form his chakra into a highly concentrated stream of fire shooting from his mouth. The creatures burst into flames before making it halfway across the space between them. Kakashi knew better than to risk inaction for even a moment, and he promptly used a variation of Minato-sensei's body-flicker technique to pop in behind the woman.

No longer having any physical weapons to finish the task, Kakashi relied on something just as deadly...his two hands. He could feel the surprise in her body when his gloveless hands gripped the sides of her head, and he tightened his grip and twisted that head with enough speed and torque to efficiently separate the spine in her neck. The body went slack in his hands and he let her fall to the ground while looking up to check on the others.

Iruka was standing next to where Chuutetsu was working on Raidou, and he knew there was no way the Academy Teacher could see the attack coming at him from farther along the tree-line. The concentrated sound wave was slicing through everything in its path, and Kakashi was keenly aware he was the only one who could keep the sensei safe.

'Let the bastard die. This way they can't even blame you for it. It's perfect!'

"Dammit!" Kakashi ignored Wolf one last time and shifted his body behind Iruka. Then everything went black.

-- --


Iruka stood watching Chuutetsu calmly care for Raidou's injuries amidst the chaos surrounding them. He couldn't believe how quickly the man adapted to the life of the shinobi – and he wondered if he'd be able to convince him to stick around Konoha for awhile. He'd love to get the man's take on some of his lesson plans – not to mention he figured he might be able to get the Hokage to allow the man to sit in on a few of his classes to better educate his students about the lands beyond the Five Great Countries.

He was about to comment to Chuutetsu about just that when he felt two hands slam into his back and push him forcefully on top of Raidou. Before he could truly register what had happened, he saw the blur of silver hair fly over their heads to slam into the trees just beyond them. The sound of Kakashi's body when it hit that unyielding surface sent a wave of fear through Iruka's body. That fear tripled when that body fell to the ground and the silver-haired head lay unmoving, face down.

Shikamaru's desperate plea at his side reminded Iruka that this battle wasn't over yet. "Iruka-sensei, I've managed to catch the last one – but I don't know how long I can hold him."

Iruka tore his eyes from where Kakashi's body lay on the ground to follow Shikamaru's shadow until he saw the crazed look on the man in the tree-line. He was quite some distance away – which explained why they hadn't seen the attack coming, and why Shikamaru felt he couldn't hold onto him for long. The amount of chakra the boy was using to keep the enemy immobile from this distance must be staggering.

"CROW! One more in the tree-line! He took down Kakashi!"

That was all he needed to say before the senbon-wielding ANBU finished what Shikamaru started. Once Iruka was sure they had it under control, he returned his attention to where Kakashi lay under the trees. Chuutetsu was already heading toward the Copy-ninja, and he felt his breath catch when the medic turned Kakashi onto his back to reveal shards of wood and other unnameable items sticking out of his body.

The desperate sound of Chuutetsu's voice pierced through Iruka's mind. "Iruka! Get over here! I need help!"

He ran to the medic's side and watched while the medic leaned his head against Kakashi's still chest and frowned. He then placed his fingers at the pulse point of the man's neck. Chuutetsu pulled Kakashi's mask down quickly and tipped the man's head back and pulled his chin down until the mouth opened. Chuutetsu leaned over and blew two breaths into the Copy-ninja's mouth before shifting down to begin compressions on his chest. A small part of his brain that was devoted to all things academic recognized the medic was performing CPR.

"Iruka, you need to breathe for him when I tell you. Can you do that?"

Iruka felt numb as he fell to his knees beside Kakashi's head. He stared at the pale features that he still wasn't used to seeing exposed, and he felt his heartbeat racing at the thought that the man wasn't breathing.

"Iruka!"

He shook his head. "Yes Chuutetsu – I can do that."

When Chuutetsu leaned back Iruka trusted the years of drills he'd undertaken during his training to become an Academy Teacher. He had to be certified in all types of life-saving procedures before being allowed to teach his first class. But this was going to be the first time he had to perform CPR on something other than a practice dummy.

Still – the lessons flowed through his brain until he went through the motions drilled into him during those courses. He placed his ear next to the Copy-ninja's mouth and verified he was still not breathing. Then he tipped the pale neck backward and pulled the lower jaw down until those thin lips parted. Iruka pinched the man's nose shut and then lowered his mouth until it covered Kakashi's fully. He blew two breaths of his own into that mouth – making certain the chest expanded with each breath – then he sat back up allowing Chuutetsu to resume the compressions.

This continued for countless minutes – the two men silently falling into the rhythm needed to continue pumping blood through Kakashi's system in the hopes that they could bring him back to awareness without permanently damaging his brain. Iruka's world narrowed until all that he could focus on was the quiet counting of Chuutetsu's voice followed by his own part in the desperate bid for Kakashi's life.

"How long have they been at it?" Genma's voice barely pierced through the fog of Iruka's task-focused brain, but the words were enough to cause his anger to boil to the surface after his latest attempt to breathe for the Copy-ninja.

"He isn't breathing – so we haven't been at it long enough yet!"

Crow held his hands up in surrender. "I didn't say you had, Iruka. Do you want one of us to take over?"

Iruka blinked back tears he hadn't noticed forming and shook his head. "No...no. I can do this. I have to do this."

"Okay, Ruka...we're here if you need a break."

Chuutetsu sat back and Iruka focused on his task, pushing his own growing fears to the side as he automatically continued the act of breathing for the still unmoving form beneath him. With each cycle of CPR they went through, Iruka felt despair creep into his heart. Kakashi should have responded to it by now. Every logical part of his mind was telling him to stop this – to let the man rest in peace – but he couldn't push the sight of Naruto's trusting blue eyes out of his vision. He couldn't fail all those back in Konoha who had come to care for the mysterious, perverted, loner.

His mind was so focused on the routine that when he felt a hand slide around the back of his neck pulling him closer to the man under him he hadn't been able to process the movement. That is, until he felt a tongue run along his lips.

Iruka pulled free of the grip in shock, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth in the process. When he looked down at Kakashi's face there was a definite leer present. The words that passed the Copy-ninja's lips sounded horribly tired, but the words themselves made Iruka flush with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

"Now don't be like that Iruka...you were kissing me first after all."

Iruka felt his fury building. "I was not kissing you, idiot! I was saving your life!"

Kakashi grinned. "It certainly felt like a kiss to me."

Iruka narrowed his eyes and pushed his words through clenched teeth. "I should have just let you die, pervert!"

"Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of CPR?" Kakashi chuckled.

Iruka was about to punch the man in the shoulder when Kakashi began coughing and winced in pain. His anger forgotten in a second – Iruka ran his hand across the Copy-ninja's brow. "Lie still Kakashi. Let Chuutetsu check you over."

Kakashi took a shuddering breath and closed his eye. "Whatever you say, Iruka-sensei."