Chapter 28 – The Dawn Will Break
1.
Standing on the battlefield in his freshly pressed, brand spanking new ANBU uniform, Obito is barely containing the pride he feels at being vindicated (it's taking every last ounce of willpower he possesses not to be all "In your face, Danzo!). Finally free of jail, he realizes he's forgotten how nice it is to be able to go about your business unsupervised, and he totally loves being able to take a piss in private again (it is beyond weird to have Uchiha Itachi observe and comment on almost every one of his bowel movements). Peering through the holes in his porcelain mask he can see the cobra faced reason for his freedom standing directly in front of him and once again he thanks Kami for his good luck and amazing teammate, no, not teammate, his amazing friend, without whom he knows he would be dead and Itachi locked in a hell dimension. Now, not only is he back in the good graces of everyone in Konoha (minus most of the Uchiha family, but he'd figured as much and was beginning to take joy in flipping them off every time he passes by the police station) but he he's also been promoted two steps at once, to his dream job and now he'll never have to take a jonin exam (for which he is eternally grateful, because if he's being honest, the thought of it had been freaking him out; his biggest fear being his failure in front of Jonin Kakashi, who passed on the first try at age 13, which now can never happen) and he's getting a pretty hefty pay raise to boot, which should help pay for all those damn weights Gai keeps making him buy.
Across the way, Anko has taken to ANBU like a fish to water, it's like she was born for the sole purpose of becoming an elite assassin. She doesn't appear excited about her new job the way that Obito does (he's practically jumping out of his skin), nor does she visibly carry the weight of the position on her shoulders the way Kakashi does (his shoulders slump like he's carrying the heavens themselves). She is simply calm and cool beneath her porcelain façade. She wears the uniform like a second skin; she already possesses the learned aloofness of ANBU twice her age and Obito knows that the Cobra was a more than appropriate choice.
Kakashi wears the mark of the wolf and its snarling visage is quite intimidating in Obito's opinion. In fact, he's honestly a little jealous of his teammates awesome covers and haughty demeanors (however, he will never every tell anyone). He's not sure he'll ever be able to pull of haughty or aloof, while the two of them practically breathe it. On top of that, he's been given the Raccoon mask. Sensei told him it was because he was mischievous and tricky in a fight, making him unpredictable in battle, but Obito genuinely thinks it's because people think he's a big joke. At first it bothered him but now that he's wearing the mask and standing in the sun with the other ANBU he finds he doesn't care at all. In fact, all that matters right now is that the demon fox is on its way, and he's part of the force that has to stand in its way.
Having already basked in the ill will of the Kyuubi's aura and not gone berserk on its demon miasma, Obito, Kakashi, and Anko have an advantage over practically everyone in the village, up to and including the Hokage. Other than the three of them, the only person so far to get close to the demon and not be affected by it is Itachi, and while the little guy tried to argue his way onto the battlefield ("I have already activated my sharingan Hokage-sama, which makes me better than most ninja, as well as the youngest Uchiha to ever do so. I'm not bragging, just stating facts, and I am, at present one of only four ninja to have gotten close to the beast without injury or succumbing to the psychological rage it inflicts, it is only logical that I provide assistance," he'd reasoned), Minato had given him a pat on the head and let him down gently; war against a demon fox was no place for a six year old, even one with a sharingan. Obito is actually kind of thrilled that the kid won't be there; watching him get practically pulled into actual hell by their crazed relative was enough for the older Uchiha to handle for a lifetime, and he doesn't want to see Itachi almost lost ever again, he still hasn't gotten over the nightmares of the first time. He's pretty sure his heart wouldn't be able to take it and just the thought of it brings a tear to his eye; big mistake.
"What the fuck are you crying about now you big pussy?" Anko's verbal assault begins. The bitch has eyes like a hawk and he's pissed that he didn't keep that in mind.
"I don't know what the hell you are talking about," he shouts back. "Now shut the heck up, we're not supposed to be talking while in formation."
"Do you think anyone gives a flying fuck you cry baby? Look around you, everyone is talking, dipshit. This could be our last day on earth; of course people have shit to say."
Taking in his surroundings he realizes she's right and if she hadn't just saved his life he'd wish he could punch her in her arrogant face. Damn, did she always have to be so damn smug?
"Maybe they're talking but I bet their being fucking friendly you friggen bitch. If this is going to be our last fucking day alive, don't you think you could take the time to not be such a cunt?"
At that one she starts laughing, "Why would I waste time on something shitty like that?"
Exasperated, Obito's just about to start ranting at her when Kakashi cuts in, "She's just doing it to get a rise out of you. She saw you crying and didn't want you going up against the Kyubi like that. If you're angry and pissed off you've got a better chance of coming back alive."
Turning away from Kakashi , Obit looks at Anko with question, not that anyone can see it being as how he's wearing a mask, but the kunoichi seems to get it anyway because she shrugs her shoulders at him and nods in confirmation.
"Relax yourself dickhead, he's right. It's my way of saying I care."
2.
For the first time since killing Yashamaru and stealing Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara from their lunatic father, Baki is feeling a little scared. He's in foreign territory and captured by potentially hostile ninja with absolutely no back up on the way. His plan had been to escape to Tea Country and take a boat to Taro Island where he could hide out and raise the kids without being found. He'd never be a ninja again but he figured he'd get over it. Doing right by their mother had outweighed the consequences of his decision. He'd thought that with the demon fox tearing up Fire country's northern borders all of Konoha's ninja would be occupied and he'd just sneak on through on a trading transport straight to Tea country. Which was why he'd gone so close to the damn Leaf city in the first place, otherwise he would have gone the more direct route along the coast and hopped a ferry over to the peninsula, but with three kids in tow he'd thought it more prudent to acquire transportation, not his wisest choice.
Unfortunately he had been spotted by a search and rescue squad out looking for survivors of the Kyubi attack. He had to give it to Konoha for mobilizing so quickly, they'd been very proactive in looking for survivors so soon after the attacks. Konoha's compassion for the people was commendable, Suna's own Kazekage would never have sent help as rapidly, if at all; he was not interested in the civilian population beyond what they could pay for shinobi missions. Baki had never expected to encounter any ninja and was unprepared for a response to the Leaf kunoichi when she'd discovered him.
Now he found himself being led back to Konoha, hands tied behind his back, ninja accoutrements confiscated, and children removed from his care. Taking into consideration his status as a Sand ninja he supposed it could have been worse. While Sand and Leaf weren't enemies per say, and they were not officially at war, Suna and Wind country had not yet chosen a side in the Great Ninja War (Baki was under the impression that the Kazekage was waiting to see which side would win before making a choice) and he could have been treated as a hostile, despite his nations neutral status. All in all he hadn't been handled that badly and the kids might as well have been royalty with the exceptional treatment they were receiving.
Gaara had been taken from his first, the one year old had barely protested being given to a stranger but Baki was pretty sure he was accustomed to being handed over to random people he didn't know. In fact, the only thing he assumed that was new to the boy was that the gangly kid in the glasses had grabbed him so readily without hesitation or reticence; easily hugging the infant to his chest and cooing at him in a most undignified way. Baki would bet money that nobody in Suna had ever treated the Shukaku's container like an actual baby, though Baki had doubts the boy would have done so if he knew what Gaara truly was.
Kankuro and Temari were both in the kunoichi's care. She held the boy easily balanced on her left hip while she held Temari's hand in her right. At two years old Kankuro was already a hound, probably the only trait he shared with his asshole father, and had immediately taken to the young woman. Taking in her wind tousled brown locks, soft curves, and slim frame Baki could see why the tiny boy was so smitten, if allowed close enough he too would like to rest his head on her breasts. Temari had been the only one of them to protest leaving Baki's protection when the red eyed kunoichi held out her hand to take the little girl's.
"No, I'll walk with Baki," she'd announced, oblivious to the fact that he was being captured, so nice were the leaf ninja. The woman had given him a look that said in no uncertain terms that he'd better get Temari to go with her or it could get ugly. Hoping to avoid such niceties he attempted to coerce his female charge.
"Temari, why don't you go walk with the nice lady, I have to talk with this gentleman and its grownup talk," Baki explained.
"Nope!" the little girl said smugly, like she was just about to teach him a lesson. "I don't wanna, and I don't have to. Back can talk to me, I all growed up. You said so when we left for our vacation."
Dammit! He had told her she was a grown up but it had been under extreme circumstances. He had told her he knew she could be quiet because she was all grown up when he'd snuck them out of the city. He'd used a sleep jutsu on the other two but he had thought it would be too awkward to carry all three of them. Now he didn't know what to say without angering the little spitfire. Knowing Temari like he did, he tried to think of something to make her go along with the Leaf team's agenda but he was coming up short. Luckily the woman seemed to realize it.
"I know you're all grown up but they're going to have boring men talk about farming and cattle prices, it's very boring. Why don't you come with me and I'll tell you what it's like being a kunoichi?" the woman said and extended her hand again.
"Kunoichi?" Temari's eyes lit up. In Suna, female ninja were rare. Her mother had been one but she hadn't been active since her daughter's conception and the little girl had heard stories of them but never actually seen one.
"Tell me! Tell me!" she'd shouted; jumping at the kunoichi and leaving Baki in her dust. She'd grabbed the woman's hand and practically dragged them away from her erstwhile protector and his bearded companion so she could hear stories from a real life idol.
At that point Baki was restrained and they'd begun the walk to Konoha. He'd been given ample food and water, been allowed to rest frequently (on account of the small children), and even shared a cigarette with the bearded fellow. Baki had thought it over, and he could have escaped, his bindings were loose and supervision was somewhat lax, but he'd not be able to take the kids without a big fight that he wasn't sure he could win, and besides, from everything he'd seen maybe Konoha wouldn't be that bad.
3.
Breathing heavily, Uchiha Mikoto's heart beat frantically and her mind raced with possible ideas to stall the beast. Currently her team had just fallen back to allow Team Ino-Shika-Cho a crack at it while they got a breather themselves. Sweat poured down her back as she stretched her neck to work some of the kinks out, while getting a better look at her surroundings. Watching from less than fifty feet away, they never let the other team out of their sight, against a foe as deadly as this one they couldn't afford to. Catching her breath for a minute she cleared her head and thought of a new idea.
"We can weave a chakra net," she shouted to her teammates Kato Tadeshi and Kewano Teruo. "We can lay it now and then spring it overhead when we get into formation. It won't kill it, but nothing will and it should buy some more time for the Hokage and his team."
Tadeshi nodded his concurrence and moved next to her to start laying the framework. Teruo had a nervous look on his face and she thought he might object to the idea but then he nodded his own acceptance and joined them at the net.
Battling the Kyubi was exhausting, physically and mentally. Mikoto's body was beyond tired and her muscles ached, but far worse was the mental toll it was taking on her. To fight the demon fox was to be eternally vigilant in one's own mind, one slip up and the evil miasma would turn you into a mindless killing machine, at which point precious chakra would have to be wasted by other ninja to remove you from the field. It had happened several times already that day and Mikoto hoped nobody else succumbed; they needed everyone and their energy.
Just about finished with the net, Mikoto almost lost all their hard work when she heard a shout from down below. Catching the net before it could slip through her fingers; she managed a look over toward the fighting. What she saw took the breath from her body. Yamanaka Inoichi's inert body lay on the ground spread eagle with no sign of life; Akamichi Choza who had been holding him was now slammed against a nearby tree, dazed and unable to move, while Nara Shikaku was charging from the shadows in an attempt to get to his blond teammate. Unfortunately the Kyubi had the same idea. The fox was barreling toward them; nine wicked tails whipping around setting fire to everything they touched. It was a gruesome sight and Mikoto realized she was going to be a witness to their slaughter.
"Now!" Tadeshi shouted, leaping to his feet and rushing toward the fox. "Use the net now and we can get Nara enough time to get them out of there."
On her feet in a flash, Mikoto followed as Tadeshi leapt in front of the demon, leaving her and Teruo to form the back end of the net's triangle design. Teruo was slow so Mikoto took the spot furthest from their location and they sent the chakra net flying around the demon. As the Kyuubi's chakra smashed into their barrier the force of the blow nearly knocked them off their feet, as it was they were knocked to their knees and barely managed to keep from tumbling to the ground. Through sheer force of will alone did they manage to hold their ground. As the demon howled and snarled against the netting Shikaku grabbed Inoichi and hoisted him over his slight shoulders, dragging him to relative safety. Still looking confused, Choza stumbled to his feet and began his own attempt to leave the area. Meanwhile Mikoto could feel every push and scratch the angry demon made at their net.
The nine-tails was pissed. From inside the barrier she howled and wailed, pushing with all her might to break free of the flimsy shell she'd been captured with. It wouldn't hold long and when it broke she'd tear the infidels asunder.
Mikoto's chakra was running low. They'd been fighting on and off for two days with very little actual rest and it was definitely taking a toll on her and her teammates. Maintaining the net was draining her chakra rapidly and she struggled to maintain her grip on the net. Knowing they were the only ones keeping the Kyubi from killing Choza she buckled down and forced herself to find chakra reserve she didn't know she had, insuring the net would continue to hold until their friend was out of the way. Over on the other side however, Kewano Teruo was doing much worse. Mikoto looked over to see his image shrink and then blink back to a taller height. Was he fucking kidding? At a time like this?
"Knock it off asshole! We need all your chakra right now!" she shouted loudly, for a moment forgetting her respectable Uchiha upbringing.
But it was too late. Teruo was spent. He lost his hold on the chakra net, and try as hard as she might Mikoto did not have enough chakra to compensate for the loss of his. The net collapsed. Choza paled, but Shikaku was back; swooping in to get his best friend out of harm's way. But nobody was quick enough for Tadeshi, who had leapt right in front of the demon when they sprang the trap, and Mikoto watch in horror as the Kyubi tore him in half.
A/N: Now that I've typed this up it isn't nearly as long as I had thought it was. Usually I would make a longer chapter but today I'm lazy so you're only getting this. I eagerly anticipate hearing your thoughts on this chapter or any other that you might feel inclined to comment on. Thanks for reading!