Chapter 22
The Chase Is On
Tenzou's breath came in short gasps – he'd been doing his best to throw their pursuers off their trail for the better part of the past day and a half – but no matter how cleverly the trail was hidden, somehow the bastards managed to find where they were. Even now – after creating a method to carry them all off the ground so not a single track was left behind – Kabuto and the other were able to find them. The wooden platform he'd constructed was passed from tree to tree far above the forest floor – and shouldn't have been traceable at all.
This was becoming a no-win scenario far too quickly for his liking. He focused his chakra a bit more and brought the platform to rest far above the ground, using additional branches to reinforce the position in the trees. He took a moment to lean over the edge and glance down in the direction Neji claimed the others were approaching. He turned toward the Hyuga and frowned.
"There's no point in continuing forward if they are able to follow us even when we leave no trace."
Neji nodded at his words. "I agree. Your chakra will be better used for other purposes at this point."
The two jonin moved to the center of the platform where Shizune and the others were waiting for them. The Hokage's aide met his eyes with a look that showed her concern for everyone in the team.
"Mouse – use us as bait and ambush them – it's the only way to end this."
Tenzou smiled behind his mask. He'd always known Shizune had a good head for strategy – and he was glad to see she understood what was needed without him having to explain it. That would make this far easier.
"Use us for bait? Are you all mad?" The shrill voice of Kyouki grated on Tenzou's nerves.
He turned his masked face to the young girl and growled – a skill he'd learned early on from Kakashi-senpai. She blanched under his intense attention and had the sense to shrink back a bit. "I believe you've been told before that your opinion does not matter to us."
He turned back to face Shizune and was greeted by a smile stretched across her delicate features. The twinkle in her dark eyes told him she was more than happy with his rebuke of their charge. He smiled too – knowing that she'd at least see it in his eyes. "I'll be sealing you within a multi-layered cocoon – it should keep the worst away from you if they happen to get by us."
Shizune's face became a mask of determination. "We'll be ready for them just in case, Mouse. Meanwhile – be careful. Kabuto isn't someone to take lightly."
Tenzou shrugged. "He can't be worse than his boss...and I survived him!"
She gave him a sad smile and placed one hand on his arm, dark eyes meeting dark eyes as she leaned in and whispered into his ear. "Still, Tenzou – be careful."
After that, Shizune ushered the young girl and the Lightning medic into a tight group at the very center of the platform and nodded that they were ready. Tenzou – still feeling her warm breath against his neck – signaled for Neji, Kotetsu, Izumo and Badger to move to the branches of nearby trees. When they moved out of the way, Tenzou took a deep breath and pulled on the gift that was forced on him so long ago. He used his chakra to form a woven cocoon of branches and leaves around Shizune and the others until her face was entirely hidden from view. With a sad sigh he continued this exercise until he'd completed four additional layers of thorny vines, hardwood, and poisonous plants between them and the outside world. Then he coaxed a bit more energy into the trees around them and proceeded to absorb that sphere of wood and vines into the nearest trunk. Only when it was fully hidden did he release his hold on the chakra.
Tenzou sagged against the nearest tree – wiping his hand across the back of his neck as fatigue tried to settle in. He sighed once more and reached into his pouch for a soldier pill to bolster his depleted chakra supply before turning back to the others. He could read Badger's concern for him in the way he stood at attention. Tenzou smiled behind his mask at the gesture and waved the concern off with a hand signal.
The five of them dropped down to the forest floor and began the task of setting up for an ambush which none of them actually thought those following them would actually get caught in...but it gave them something to occupy their minds in the short time before Kabuto and his colleague arrived. Still – Tenzou found his thoughts drifting back to the feel of hot breath on his neck and of the faint smell of parchment, antiseptic and saké that still clung to his arm. He knew the cocoon would protect her and continue to supply fresh air to her – but he still couldn't wait to strip the layers of wood away from her and allow the sun to shine in Shizune's dark eyes once more.
-- --
Iruka watched Kakashi's back as the man pushed off another branch – acting as though he hadn't been dead less then two hours ago. He turned his head to see his worry echoed in Crow's posture. Neither one of them wanted to admit it out loud, but Kakashi really was as good as dead for more then a few minutes. If Chuutetsu hadn't managed to restart Kakashi's heart with a well placed hit to the Copy-ninja's chest, all the CPR in the world wouldn't have helped. He'd learned about that fist to Kakashi's chest only after the pervert managed to try to rape his mouth. He still couldn't believe that the idiot's first reaction to having someone breathing for him had been to kiss him! He would never understand the perverted bastard.
Still – once Chuutetsu finished tending to Kakashi's latest wounds, the Copy-ninja was all business. After much arguing – he left Chuutetsu, Shikamaru and Ibiki behind with Bear, in the hopes the Yamanaka would wake soon and they could come in as backup. Iruka had a feeling it was also Kakashi's way to keep Chuutetsu safe while no longer needing to keep the man's far slower pace as part of the equation. After all, the rest of them were now heading full speed toward where Kakashi could sense his nin-hound. He insisted they had to get there as soon as possible to keep Orochimaru's lackeys from getting a hold of his kids.
Iruka smiled at that thought. He never imagined he'd hear the fetuses in the young girl referred to as anything more than 'mistakes' by Kakashi...but – in a way that truly showed Iruka that this was indeed not Wolf speaking – the Copy-ninja made a passionate speech about how he'd be damned if he'd let that Snake-bastard raise 'his kids.'
Still – it worried Iruka that Kakashi wanted to head straight out. He knew the silver-haired man was still in pain – he could see it in the set of his shoulders, and in how he clenched his fists anytime a landing on a branch jarred his body a bit too hard. But they kept on running...hoping they'd get there in time to keep Orochimaru's stooges from obtaining their goal.
When he saw Kakashi lose his balance, and need to regain it by leaning a hand to the branch, he couldn't stay quiet any longer. "We need to rest, Crow...now."
The ANBU captain turned toward him. "He won't want to stop Iruka – you know that."
"Dammit – I don't care what he wants right now! The Hokage sent me along to make sure he was physically okay to travel...and I'm telling you the right now Kakashi Hatake is not okay. Get him to stop Crow – before he kills himself...again!"
A low chuckle met Iruka's ears from behind Crow's mask before the ANBU captain pushed himself to go a bit faster. Soon, he was running side by side with the object of their discussion. Iruka watched Kakashi's fists clench at his sides before that silver-haired head turned back to glare in his direction. Iruka steadfastly ignored the angry stare, and returned his own patented Sensei-glare that was meant to show there was no way in hell he'd back down on this one.
He was starting to doubt the power of his own glare when the group continued running for another five minutes...but then Kakashi slowed and landed on the ground – the others gathering around him in expectation. When the Copy-ninja spoke it was obvious to everyone that this stop was not his choice.
"Evidently we need to rest – so rest. We head out again in half an hour."
Iruka rolled his eyes at how stupid the man could be at times. Couldn't he ever accept that even his body has its limitations? Kakashi's voice directly in his ears snapped him out of his reverie – causing a fierce blush to cover his cheeks. "Why are you rolling your eyes, Iruka-sensei? You are the one who wanted me to stop – aren't you?"
His embarrassment at being caught off-guard quickly switched to anger – especially when he sensed Crow and the others chuckled at his reaction. "Sit your ass down Kakashi. After all – you've only given me a half hour to check your wounds."
Kakashi waved a hand in dismissal at him. "I'm fine Iruka – just let it go already."
"Oh, I see – you're fine." Iruka moved to cross his arms in front of him, but then changed direction at the last moment and pressed his knuckles into Kakashi's side, causing the taller man to hiss in pain and stumble a step forward. "So it's perfectly normal for you to cringe when I barely touch your side?"
Iruka saw the look of anger flash in Kakashi's dark gray eye and stood back up with the feeling of victory in his mind. Of course – that victorious feeling quickly disappeared when Kakashi spoke.
"What can I say, Sensei – your touch makes my skin tingle."
Iruka knew his jaw dropped open at Kakashi's statement – but dammit – how the hell could this man keep twisting everything he said into something perverted? He was almost starting to miss Wolf...okay...maybe not...but at least he always knew where he stood with that psychopathic persona. With Kakashi, he never knew from moment to moment how anything he did or said was going to be taken. Hell – he couldn't even save the man's life without it turning perverted!
He sighed – defeated. "Kakashi – reign your libido in for half a second and let me check your wounds."
Kakashi chuckled and lifted his shirt until his toned chest was exposed – showing Iruka the various spots where Chuutetsu hastily stitched him up. As he expected – several of those areas were showing signs of inflammation – while a few were threatening to pull free of the stitches altogether. Iruka reached into his pack and pulled out the antiseptic and cotton pads he'd need to treat his patient.
"Right, Kakashi...you're just fine." He pressed the pad against the first wound and took a small amount of satisfaction from the hiss of air released from behind Kakashi's mask. He felt his patient's fingers wrap around his hand just as he was about to swab the next wound.
"You've made your point Iruka. Let's try not to cause more damage than you heal, okay?"
Iruka looked up into Kakashi's face and smiled. "But I thought you liked it rough, Kakashi-sensei?"
He smiled wider when he saw Kakashi roll his eye at his words. Of course a moment later and Iruka was wondering just why he'd worked so hard to save the jonin's life at all.
"Remind me to show you what I really like when we get back to Konoha, Iruka-sensei."
-- --
"So, Sakura...is he alive then?" Naruto's desperate voice caused the kunoichi to sigh.
"I'm not one hundred percent sure...but I think he is." Sakura placed a small smile on her lips. "And he's managed to send a few surprises back too."
Sai and Naruto both looked at her like she had two heads – and that caused her to smile all the more. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone – but I don't think the Hokage meant for me to keep it from you guys."
Sai tipped his head to the side. "The Hokage? When did you go to see her?"
Sakura looked down at her hands and felt her cheeks heat up from embarrassment. "Technically I didn't really go to see her...I sort of overheard some stuff."
Naruto's voice rang through the clearing as he pointed accusingly at her. "You eavesdropped on Granny-Tsunade?!? And you're still walking?"
Sakura glared at the blond-haired megaphone and snarled. "Naruto – if you don't lower your volume I won't be able to tell you anything cause the whole village will come to see what all the noise is about!"
She pointedly tightened her hands into fists – an action that made her message crystal clear to both boys. Naruto sat at her side – scratching the back of his neck and having the sense to blush at his stupidity. "Sorry about that, Sakura. You just caught me by surprise."
Sai brought them back on topic. "So what did you overhear?"
Sakura looked from side to side to make sure no one was around to listen in, and then motioned for Naruto and Sai to lean in closer so she could whisper to them. "Shizune is coming back soon with someone carrying Kakashi's legacy."
Sai's eyes went wide, showing Sakura that at least he understood what she meant. Meanwhile, Naruto twisted his face into a look of total confusion.
"What the hell does that mean, Sakura?"
She sighed and was about to answer when another voice joined the discussion. "It means the brat's gonna be a father. I thought I told you not to share this news with anyone Sakura?"
Sakura felt all the blood rush out of her face as her mentor, and current leader of Konoha, sat on the ground next to her. "Lady Tsunade! I...I....I was just...."
"Relax Sakura. I'm not here to keep you from telling them. In fact, I was going to call you all in this afternoon as it was."
Naruto looked at the Hokage with doubt in his eyes. "Really? Since when do you keep any of us informed...especially where Kakashi-sensei is concerned?"
The Hokage shot a glare at Naruto. "Since I figured the three of you might be interested in helping out once they get here."
"Really?!?" Sakura felt a rush of happiness – something she hadn't felt since they'd returned from that last mission. "You'd really let us help take care of them?"
Sai smiled – actually smiled – at the Hokage. "I would be honored to help in any way I can."
Naruto – well – Naruto just blinked and frowned. "I don't get it. What are we supposed to be helping with?"
Tsunade sighed and chuckled. "Naruto – we have a women coming who is carrying Kakashi's babies, and we're going to need to set up some quarters for her and the babies to stay in at the hospital."
Naruto really looked confused now. "I didn't know Kakashi-sensei had kids."
Sakura sighed. "He doesn't yet, Naruto."
"Huh? But Granny-Tsunade just said..."
Sai hit Naruto in the back of his head. "Try to be a little less dense, idiot. The woman is pregnant and Kakashi-senpai is the father."
Naruto scratched his forehead – obviously trying to figure it all out. Just when Sakura was about to try again, his face was transformed with anger. "You've got to be kidding me! That stupid perverted bastard!"
Tsunade looked shocked. "What are you babbling about, kid?"
"Here we were worried for him...and he was off chasing girls!"
Sakura shook her head in disbelief...if it wasn't so totally wrong – it might have even been funny. "Naruto – it's not what you think. Kakashi didn't exactly participate in the act voluntarily."
"What the hell does that mean Sakura?"
Sai placed one hand on Naruto's shoulder, saving her from having to explain. "It means they raped him."
Naruto blanched and stared into the Hokage's face. "No way!"
Tsunade sighed. "I'm afraid it's true Naruto. But those kids are still a part of Kakashi – so we're going to do everything we can to bring them safely into the world. I don't want anyone to hold how they were created against them...am I clear?"
Sakura and Sai nodded in agreement, while Naruto placed one hand over his stomach where Sakura knew he bore the seal keeping the nine-tail demon in check. "Yeah – Granny-Tsunade – you're crystal clear."
-- --
Kakashi sat with his back against a tree. His mask was pulled down to pool at his neck while he chewed on a ration bar – deep in thought. He could take his time eating today – after all, everyone here had already seen his face – so he didn't need to rush to avoid being seen. He hated to admit it...especially to Iruka...but his body really did need this short break.
Their run-in with the Sound ninja – though not unexpected – managed to take a hell of a lot more out of him than he'd let anyone know. He closed his eyes and concentrated within and heard absolutely nothing...for the first time in weeks there was no inner sound trying to distract him. Could it mean that Wolf was gone? It was almost too much to ask for...and he wasn't quite ready to allow that kind of hope in yet.
"You okay, Kakashi?" Raidou's deep voice held more than a bit of concern in it.
Kakashi opened his eye and motioned with his head for the older man to join him. "Believe it or not, Raidou, I'm actually better than I've been in months."
"Heh – you'll have better luck convincing me than you will convincing your babysitter." Raidou smirked and motioned to where Iruka was glancing at them suspiciously.
Kakashi took another bite of his ration bar – making a point to meet Iruka's gaze until the chunin finally turned away. "He shouldn't worry so much. It isn't healthy."
The chuckle at his side caused a frown to settle on Kakashi's face. He turned his attention to the scarred jonin. "What's so funny, Raidou?"
"I'm just finding the irony in your last comment a bit too much to handle, I guess."
Kakashi narrowed his gaze. "What irony?"
Raidou smiled at him. "That you are worried about the man who is worried about your health because you never seem to take the time to worry about yourself."
Kakashi smirked and shrugged. "Oh – that irony."
He ran a hand through his hair – rubbing against his scalp – his gloveless fingers catching slightly on a few of the scabs left over from his time spent with his uncle. He slid that hand down to the back of his neck and tried to rub a bit of the tension out of his muscles. Popping the last of his ration bar into his mouth, he pulled his mask back in place and met Raidou's eyes once more.
"Time to head out. I'm worried about Issanni."
"Right – I'll get the others."
With that, Raidou went to gather the rest of the group, leaving Kakashi alone with his thoughts once more. Those thoughts ran around in circles – offering him up every possible scenario for the upcoming battle. After all – they'd be dealing with Orochimaru's lackeys...which is never an easy thing – as proven by their last combat. Kakashi scratched at one of the many injuries under his shirt and scowled. If that was the second string, he had to wonder who the Snake-Sannin would send on the first string. After all – he was fairly sure Orochimaru would only send his best to collect the pregnant girl.
He frowned, waiting for Wolf's scathing comment within his mind about how he should have killed the bitch...but that comment never came. As strange as it sounded...Kakashi found the lack of internal dialog a bit unnerving. He shook his head to clear it and turned to see Iruka and Crow walking to join him.
He crinkled his visible eye into a smile. "You were right, Iruka-sensei. The rest has helped more than I expected."
Iruka's eyes went wide and Crow chuckled while he commented. "You better mark the date, Sensei. It isn't often that Kakashi Hatake admits to being wrong!"
Kakashi scowled. "I never said I was wrong, Crow...just that Iruka was right." He smiled at the Academy Teacher – whose features now twisted into a look of anger. "We should get moving before we're too late."
"Kakashi?" Iruka's voice held an edge of anxiety to it. "Who do you think Orochimaru sent on this task?"
Kakashi raised his eyebrow. It surprised him a bit to find out he and Iruka were actually thinking about the same thing. "I can not believe he'd risk sending anyone except his very best for this."
Crow grunted. "So who would that be?"
Iruka's quiet voice sent a chill up his spine. "Sasuke or Kabuto."
Kakashi sighed. "Yeah – that's pretty much what I came up with too. But don't forget Akuma is still in the picture as well."
He saw both of them tense at his comment. He motioned for the group to head out, and he took to the trees before any further comments could be made. He needed to focus on what was important. Issanni was out there – probably closing in on whoever was trailing Tenzou and the others – and he knew she could be careless if she felt one of her pups was in danger. He couldn't help thinking he shouldn't have chosen her to track the others...but in reality - Issanni had been the only logical choice.
He pushed himself off another branch and increased his speed a bit more. All he could do was hope against hope that he wouldn't need to hand-rear the litter of nine pups because he'd foolishly sent their mother out before she was ready.
-- --
Kabuto watched from the trees as one of Kakashi's mutts stopped what it was doing and paused to raise its nose into the air – likely sniffing for some sign of where he was hiding. It had been dumb luck that he'd seen the mutt in the first place. Fortunately the creature seemed fixated on some other scent than his right now...but still...he wasn't about to take chances. Using the skill his adoptive father taught him back in Konoha, Kabuto erased his scent from the air and suppressed everything about himself that would make him stand out to the hound's sensitive nose.
The mutt sniffed a bit more through the air before launching up into the branches of a nearby tree and heading deeper into the forest – obviously back on the trail of whatever scent it was looking for. This was not good. He narrowed his gaze and pushed his glasses up his nose before jumping back down to the ground and motioning for Akuma to join him.
"What was all that about, Kabuto?" Akuma's violet eyes narrowed at him.
"Looks like Kakashi is aware of Lord Orochimaru's intentions."
"What makes you so sure?"
Kabuto grinned and motioned toward where the mutt had already disappeared from sight. "That was one of Kakashi's nin-hounds. And where there's one of those mutts, the Copy-ninja is bound to follow. What's more – it means he's already deduced that we are heading for the prize."
"That shouldn't effect the outcome, Kabuto. Unless you are neglecting to tell me something else, that is."
Kabuto scowled. "You know everything I do, Akuma. I'm simply suggesting we move a bit quicker...unless you're that eager to have your run-in with Kakashi, that is."
Akuma's face showed no trace of emotion on it – but his eyes seemed to burn with an intensity at mention of the Copy-ninja. Obviously something must have happened between the two over the course of their time in Lightning. Kabuto grinned. That meant Kakashi's attention would likely concentrate on Akuma – allowing him to complete his part of the mission without interruption.
"Don't worry Akuma – everything will work out just as Lord Orochimaru predicted it would."
Akuma sighed. "Then perhaps we should be on our way. From what I'm sensing, the target has stopped moving. Would they truly be stupid enough to set up camp with us on their trail?"
Kabuto's eyebrows raised. "I doubt that highly, Akuma. Rather – I imagine they plan to ambush us – not realizing what a unique skill you have." He smiled cruelly. "A skill that will make our job so much more enjoyable – wouldn't you agree?"
"Just remember one thing Kabuto – the goal is the girl...anyone else is collateral damage as far as I care."
Kabuto chuckled. "I can live with that."
The two moved in a path that was slightly to the side of the route Kakashi's mutt took. If they timed this right, they could actually use the arrival of that beast as a distraction which would allow them access to the prize before anyone was the wiser. This was likely to be a most amusing mission after all.
