TimeShifter: I think I caught all my mistakes... Sorry, I try to catch typos like that before publishing. As for Naruto and Kyuubi, I thought I implied that they had returned to the balancing portion after some failed merging practice. Anyway, hope that clarified. As for Hinata, I'm no one-trick pony. You'll see how it turns out soon enough.
samueltm2: Thanks, I try to keep things entertaining.
Chapter 16:
Judge and Executioner
Tsutsuji rubbed her back against the nearby rock face. With her wrists and ankles shackled, it was all she could do to reach an annoying itch. She looked to her partner and mate. "You got anything yet? This itch is really starting to bug me!"
Kinofuji eyed the entrance to the shallow cave. From the signs, it was early morning. "No, nothing yet." He replayed the events of the night. "It was too dark to see, so they probably didn't account for our enhanced senses. The guards changed regularly every two hours."
She rolled her eyes. "Please, tell me something I don't know!" She was agitated. They hadn't gotten any sleep all night; though, they pretended to doze off to keep the guards' defenses low. However, the bulk of her agitation was towards the Hyuuga girl compounded by the infernal itch!
"I know how you're feeling." He rolled his shoulders as he attempted to ignore his own itch. "Don't worry. We'll regain our honor and return to Kumo in triumph. The false Raikage will be overthrown just as he usurped the true, late Raikage-sama." He reveled in the smile he brought to his partner's face.
"You two are rather delusional." The immobilized former-Kumo shinobi looked up to see the regular guards' captain, Mizukura. "Though we are just a regular army to you, we each hail from villages specialized in training for the daimyo's protection." He paused for dramatic effect. "We can even mold chakra into jutsu."
He wore a sly smile seeing their wide-eyed, wordless responses. "I know what you're thinking. A backwater land like Demons makes alliances with the elemental nations for the expressed purpose of defense, and those alliances don't allow for hidden villages." He paused to gauge their reactions.
When it looked like one was about to speak, he indicated silence. "You two have talked enough through the night. I personally selected the guards to watch you. You can't use jutsu for privacy, and you assumed we couldn't use jutsu to listen in on you. I think I know a bit more about you two, now."
He took his time to find a comfortable spot to sit and plopped down. He continued to wear his sly smile as he watched Hinata's captives. They were hers, no questions asked; he wasn't about to dispute any claim to them. He held no fantasy that he could defeat them.
For several long moments, there was nothing but silence. Whenever either captive looked to speak up, Mizukura immediately silenced them. He shifted to one side and finally spoke up. "I won't mince words. I've contemplated, several times mind you, ending you for what you were planning on doing to Momiji-sama."
He leaned his head back and lightly tapped his crown against the cave wall. "We're all rather fond of the sprout, and I already know what you're going to accuse her of." He paused to look them in the eye to emphasize his point. "I don't really care."
His smile actually broadened at the enraged reactions of the prisoners before him. "Don't worry; the village that contracted you will be dealt with appropriately. I doubt everybody was involved, but that's beside the point."
"Oh!" He slammed a fist into an open palm. "That's right; you were curious about villages teaching jutsu. Well, Demons has agreed not to raise shinobi. We have none. What we do have, however, are individuals trained in specific arts. I, for example, come from the village specializing in barriers."
He looked pointedly to the male of the duo. "I'm sure you know better than anybody. You were the one to break through…" He looked to the female of the duo. "…and it protected the carriage from your fireworks display." He enjoyed their wordless glowers. He was agitating them, and it took their minds off any escape plans.
He leaned forward, again silencing them from speaking up. "You seem to underestimate a lot of things. We looked like a regular army, so you attacked on that assumption. You also underestimate my ability to coordinate my men and Hyuuga-sama's abilities."
"I hate you; I really do." He emphasized his words with his glower. "I'm going to recommend that you two be executed before handing you over to Kumo. I looked you up, and it seems the reward won't suffer much if you can't be captured alive. There's not even a bonus offered up by family members."
Mizukura was most pleased with their expressions. Tsutsuji could hardly contain her rage. She knew her tormenting captor had to be lying. Their son would never condone a 'dead or alive' bounty. Kinofuji was dubious, but he knew no reason to lie. He also accepted that the captain of the guard held the child they were contracted to kill close to his heart.
Mizukura finally rose. "Well, this has been a nice conversation." He accepted their hateful glares. In fact, he reveled in making such malevolent shinobi sweat. He kept his confident air as he strode to the mouth of the cave. "I'll see you later." He paused for a moment at the threshold. "Oh, don't forget… We're listening." He pointed to his ear before walking out of sight.
Tsutsuji and Kinofuji fumed as they went over what they were just told. They both realized rather quickly that the captain of the guard was no fool. His monologue made it seem like he was telling them a lot, but they knew they had little real, useful information. He came to gloat and weaken their resolve. The information on the bounty lowered their spirits the most.
"He played us for fools..." The yellow-green eyed man stated with venom.
"I know…" The magenta eyed woman trailed off as she leaned against the cave wall.
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, emblazoning the faces of Hokage past and present. The businesses in Konoha were still setting up, preparing for the parade of customers. Dark clouds were rolling in from the east, so farmers were preparing crops for needed rain.
In the early morning hours, two chunin on guard duty mumbled between each other. Despite the beauty of the sunrise, they were in awe of another sight. Kiba and Lee knew how rare it was to see the prestigious personage out and about at such an early hour, and she looked agitated from having to wait.
They looked at their papers and exchanged a few words. They were expecting a foreign shinobi, and he was already hours late. The rage the ceremoniously dressed personage radiated even caused her visible ANBU bodyguard to back off. Tsunade, the Fifth, was the last person you stood up.
"You want me to do what?!" Isaribi nearly yelled. She knew her mission was to take Kanaeru, Gayt, and Star around Fire. It was even a chance to introduce Sasame to her knew land. Her mission statement was even left very open ended to accommodate a wide variety of deviations or objectives.
Kanaeru shushed her overacting guide. "It's not that big a deal. I have some information I need to pass on, and, in turn, I need some information." She paused to allow a wide grin to take her features. "Besides, I know you and that super pervert have all sorts of juicy tidbits like that."
"Wh-What kind of information?" Sasame managed to squeak in. She wasn't completely innocent of being a double-agent, but she at least wasn't a security risk for Konoha. She could only hope the red-headed kunoichi wasn't either.
Kanaeru waved her hands in a placating manner. Though only one actually asked the question, both wanted to know the answer. "At least they're concerned for their home, even if they aren't originally from there." She was pleased with that at least. "It just concerns a promise I made with the daimyo of the land."
Isaribi set her face into a stony grimace. "Again, what kind of information is it?" She paused for a moment but interrupted when the older woman was about to speak. "Remember, this entire mission hinges on my cooperation. If I don't like your answer or I think Konoha might be in danger, I might decide to just guide us straight back home."
Kanaeru couldn't help it. She let out a long string of guffaws, catching both teenage girls off guard. Gayt crossed his arms as he watched his master, and Star seemed to flicker between blue and silver. It was a long moment before the red-head regained her composure.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry." She wiped the last tears of merriment from her eyes. "You think I'd put Konoha in danger? This is not my first visit, and I very much doubt it'll be my last." A broad smirk decorated her face.
While Sasame was speechless, Isaribi crossed her arms over her chest. She was not simply giving in. "Then why do you want to go to that location? It sounds like you're looking for rock nin." She did not enjoy the prospect. Though they experienced a relative peace, Iwa never really got along with Konoha.
Kanaeru blinked. "Wasn't I clear? I want to go to that location because I have information to deliver. I am looking for Iwa shinobi." With a roll of her eyes, she decided she'd had her fun. "I can promise Konoha won't be hurt in any way. The information I want to pass on is vital to the continued relations between Whirlpool and Earth. It might even help negotiations between Fire and Earth." She was not exaggerating.
Isaribi considered it for a moment. If the red-head was indeed trustworthy as Tsunade said, there could be no doubt at her words. "Okay, we'll go." She paused to see her companions' reactions. She could only read the medic, surprise. "Sasame and I will accompany you in Henge. If we suspect a double-cross, be prepared for the consequences."
Kanaeru couldn't keep herself from smirking broadly. "Then I have nothing to worry about!" She stated proudly. She wasn't planning on giving away anything that could hurt Konoha. Her nephew loved the village too much. She had her own reasons, but she couldn't reveal them just yet.
There was no way she was going to betray Tsunade's trust. There was also no way she was going to risk hurting diplomatic ties with Earth. She preferred good terms. Besides, the past few weeks had been unexpectedly fruitful too. The scrolls the slug sannin provided her were an invaluable tool.
She learned the Fuuin Minato used was an incomplete version of what she taught him all those years ago, when she was a hostage living in Konoha. It was hastily constructed, but it combined some powerful countermeasures to keep Kyuubi in line, just in case he tried to rage out of control.
There were nights when she wanted to scream in frustration. Even as the foremost seal master in Whirlpool, it was difficult to work around the seal or do much of anything to it without risking Naruto's health or life. The worst part was that she wanted to find out the fate of the tane because Minato's seal prevented it from properly maturing.
Isaribi and Sasame had no way of knowing. She was careful whenever she studied Tsunade's gifts, and she had Gayt on watch. She knew such actions only increased their suspicions, but her work was delicate. Neither girl was a seal master, nor would they fully understand her situation without learning of her circumstances. She hated lying, but it was necessary for her nephew's security.
Fukusaku lay on the ground panting. He never imagined the absolutely necessary merging training would run into as many difficulties as it had with Naruto. Kyuubi kept interfering, and the knuckleheaded blond kept complaining about how 'cramped' his body already was.
He was forced to admit. The boy caught on quick. He would be the best senjutsu users in ages…if he could just master merging! It didn't help that the 'looking in two directions' conundrum he presented the boy actually gave him ideas. "What was Jiraiya teaching this tadpole?" There were other mentors he'd like to question, but Iruka, Kakashi, and Ebisu held no contract with toads.
Fukusaku was at a loss when it came to Naruto. The boy even infuriated him when he went off to train by himself. He managed to find him one time. He was adding elemental chakra to what looked like a Rasengan. The idea alone surprised the sagely toad. Gamabunta once mentioned his favorite disciple, Minato, working on something of similar design.
That one experience was short lived. Naruto winced and dispelled the powerful technique. He then looked to the trees and called Fukusaku out. The chakra sensing capabilities of senjutsu were astounding, but the sagely toad had thought he hid his presence well enough to avoid detection.
The toad elder had to admit. The blond was less anxious than the previous day. He was concentrating better and complaining just as much as ever. He was glad to see the return to normalcy, but he couldn't place the sudden change in attitude. He was contented to watch after the boy's training and see what crazy ideas the number one, knuckleheaded, unpredictable ninja might come up with.
Hiashi sat on his hotel bed studying the scroll Yashiro 'gifted' him with. It had been missing since the beginning of the last great Ninja War. In fact, the Hyuuga only knew it was stolen during a training exercise and not by whom. Though they now knew the answer, it was safely in his hands.
He knew only a Hyuuga could master the techniques outlined in the scroll. He, in fact, knew several and had passed them on as best he could. As the scroll described only a few techniques and none of the weaknesses of his clan, his only fear was that any rock nin who studied it might have learned defenses against them.
As he studied the scroll, he activated his Byakugan. He knew it was the genuine article, and his enhanced sight even revealed no notes had been written on it. He couldn't guarantee notes hadn't been written about it or a duplicate didn't exist, despite Yashiro's assurance.
Nonetheless, he prepared for the day's proceedings mentally as he rerolled the scroll. He would have his daughters study the techniques contained within as soon as he returned to Konoha. As he rose from his seated position, he heard a rapping at his door. With a raised eyebrow, he answered. "Enter."
Hanabi carefully opened the door and politely entered. As soon as she closed the door, she bowed. Her manners were as impeccable as ever. "Good morning tou-san…" She began with slight hesitation. "I have a request."
He was somewhat surprised, but he nodded his head to give her permission to continue. "I have been invited by Kankuro-san's genin to participate in practice today." She paused. "In fact, Tsume-chan…" She paused. "I mean Tomoyuki-san insisted I spar with her…" She trailed off expecting a negative response.
Hiashi considered the invitation for a moment. He knew something of the Tomoyuki clan. Because of the Hyuuga rivalry with another Suna clan, the Kagennotsuki, and because he was head of the clan, he was expected to know something of many of the major clans from other villages. "If I remember correctly, members of the Tomoyuki clan are blind and rely on their other senses for combat." He politely left out their kekkei genkai.
He, however, also remembered the blind girl's male teammates. While one was a puppet master, the other wore an ornate tattoo seal proudly along his forehead. The team was well balanced, in his honest opinion. As his daughter resisted fidgeting in anticipation, he came to a conclusion. "I had hoped to take you on some of my morning negotiations, but I see no objections in allowing combat training."
Hanabi managed to keep her excitement under control. Though she wasn't sure she liked the strange shinobi, she was sure she didn't dislike them. They were strange, but so were some of her sister's friends and peers. She politely bowed. "Thank you tou-san."
He nodded. Yes, he was being generous. After a moment of consideration and his daughter wondering why he hadn't dismissed her, he came to another conclusion. "However, I brought you with me for diplomacy training. I shall see you at lunch, and you will accompany me to afternoon negotiations. I, however, shall release you to do as you please this evening." He paused to emphasize his next question. "Understood?"
She knew how to take his question. It barely held the inflection of a question. It was a solid statement not to be disobeyed. The terms weren't too harsh, however. She barely contained her enthusiasm and would have run to embrace her father. Her etiquette training won out in the end, and she returned her acquiescence. "Of course tou-san, where shall we meet?"
He explained the location before dismissing her. It was another of his contacts. This contact owned a prominent restaurant within Suna, and he produced some of the best juices and sake in the elemental nations. Losing a contract with him would hurt some other important trade deals, so it was important to be prompt.
Tsunade was not a happy camper as she stormed into her office and slammed the door behind her. A second later, Shizune quietly opened the door and scampered inside. She wasn't afraid of her mentor, not particularly. She just knew better than to disturb the slug sannin when she was in one of her moods.
"The nerve of that guy!" She nearly splintered her desk as she slammed an open palm into it. "He was supposed to be here today!" Some citizens outside stopped to look to the open window of their leader's office. "Today!" She furiously intoned as she started pacing. "Is Raikage-baka trying to say he's better than me?!"
Shizune went wide-eyed as she nearly panicked. "I'm sure it's nothing like that, Tsunade-sama!" She was frantic; she had to calm the Fifth down. "Something might have come up, or…or…he was attacked on his way here!" Though obviously still angry, the pacing stopped. "It's possible a patrol stopped him, too."
Tsunade felt her brow twitch. Of course, her apprentice made sense. She was probably just overreacting. Delays were entirely possible, especially if he was attacked by bandits or stopped by a patrol. An angry smirk took her face at the first possibility her apprentice presented. "If he had something come up, it had better be important for not sending word ahead."
Shizune gulped. She knew that tone of voice. If their guest stopped for any reason deemed unimportant, the slug sannin planned retribution. It wouldn't be considered an act of war because he was being rude. She still worried.
As the morning hours passed, the prisoners grew more restless in their cave. They grew more and more agitated as the itch grew in annoyance and strength with each passing hour. Unknowingly, they were releasing more and more killer intent, and they seemed to radiate chakra, though in small amounts.
Tsutsuji was standing and feverously trying to rub her back against the nearby cave wall. "Do you have anything yet?" She nearly snapped at her partner. She wasn't mad at him, but the itch was starting to infuriate her more than their ultimate failure and defeat at the hands of a Hyuuga.
Kinofuji tried to restrain an increasingly frequent twitch. He was doing his best to ignore the itch in favor of coming up with a plan of escape. "No, I'm working on it." He just had to find a way to make his illusions work with his hands tied and an annoyance breaking his concentration.
They also knew their voices' volume had risen as their tempers had flared. They were just shy of yelling, and they wanted to scream in pained frustration. They even shared thoughts on the matter. Had their captors used some kind of itching powder or the like to improve their odds of holding the treacherous duo captive?
They heard bodies drop, and they lurched forward in sudden comfort. The infernal itches were gone. Kinofuji almost let out an ecstatic moan. Tsutsuji gritted her teeth as her back complained about how sore and raw it was. They looked to the cave entrance, and their jaws dropped at the sight.
Shackled as they were, they backed against the cave wall. They were at once expectant and fearful. They didn't know the man's intentions, but they were leaning towards the idea that he wasn't there for their best interests. He wore a scowl on his chiseled face, and his hitai-ate glistened in the late morning light.
"What are you doing here?!" They yelled at once. Fear bit their tone, and they felt like sinking into the walls as he solemnly stepped forward. He seemed to take some measure of delight in their torment, but he seemed disgusted in them in general. They knew who he was, but they had no idea why he was there.
He was a short man who walked with a slight hunch. He wore a dark blue cloak to hide it, but the treacherous shinobi knew he had a hunchback. He was old, as showcased by his wrinkles, sunken eyes, and silvery-white hair. His eyes, however, were ageless. He was intimidating with red sclera and brilliant, yellow irises. His eyes distracted from his unassuming build and lanky limbs. He even wore a bokken at his side.
"What a pitiful sight…" The elderly man wiped sweat from his brow, removing unruly hair from his hitai-ate. It revealed what the traitors already knew. He was loyal to Kumo. "You two were among the greatest warriors under the former Raikage's banner. Now look at you…" He trailed off in his own thoughts.
"Wh-…?" Kinofuji managed to recover first. "What are you doing here?" The intense bloodlust he suddenly felt from the old man instantly silenced him and caused him to fall to his knees.
"You've become missing nin. Your own sochi even abandoned you." He eyed the former Kumo shinobi with shame and disgust. "Raikage-sama was willing to let bygones be bygones, yet you chose to abandon your own kin." He sighed and continued. "In fact, he even gave all hunters permission to escort you home alive…as long as you met certain criteria."
"Ha, that's a joke!" Tsutsuji met the same bloodlust as her partner, but she continued. "We never abandoned Kumo! We left that fake Raikage! We will return under the true Raikage's banner with either the eyes or life of a Hyuuga." She lost control of her body as a jolt of electricity ran through her, and she fell to her knees.
The elder shinobi lowered his hand. "Silence you fool!" He walked over to them and harshly grabbed them by the nape of their necks. "You will face judgment. We shall face your captors and see if you meet Raikage-sama's criteria or not." Before they could protest, they disappeared in a flash of lightning.
As Mizukura returned to camp, he noticed Hinata awake near the fire pit. He breathed a sigh of relief. Despite his words to his captives in the cave, he wasn't so confident about dealing with them. The shackles might have been specially made for shinobi, but they had no way of handling them in the off chance they escaped.
He approached the young heiress and immediately noticed something was off. Her eyes were glossed over like she was still half-asleep. She was staring into the distance, and she had barely touched the food in front of her. He sat down in front of her to discuss everything that happened after she passed out.
"Hyuuga-sama, your captives have been secured. We are awaiting any orders pertaining to them." He paused to await her answer. Lethargically, she shuffled some food into her mouth and chewed. "Hyuuga-sama, are you okay?" He had no idea why she was suddenly so…withdrawn. He certainly wasn't expecting it.
"Taichou sir, she's been like this since she woke up." He looked to his side to see one of his aides. He was a competent enough man. "She didn't seem to respond to Shion-sama or Momiji-sama this morning either, sir. They are worried about her health." He concluded his report and continued his duties with a nod from his commander.
"I wonder if it has to do with chakra exhaustion." He had no reason to doubt it. He couldn't mold enough chakra to actually suffer from the condition. He could only hope her mind was still at full capacity. "After you defeated those missing nin, I had my men place them in custody as you ordered."
He watched her shuffle some more food into her mouth. "They've been discussing escape, but their bindings prevent the use of all hand-seal dependant jutsu. They also seem to be experiencing some sort of discomfort." He eyed her carefully, but she wasn't responding.
He sighed and continued. "They've also discussed what to do once they returned home. They're delusional to think they can easily capture you and use that as leverage to return to Kumo as heroes." He paused for a moment. "They probably think they can cut through River, but that means they don't know Suna is allied with Konoha."
"Is she feeling better?" Mizukura turned to see Shion approaching him, Momiji hiding behind her as usual. He shook his head in response. "I see…" The daimyo priestess trailed off as she looked to her friend and rival. "Poor Momo-chan's just beside herself. She tried to thank her as soon as she woke up."
The captain of the guard smiled at the small red-head. "I'm sure she heard you just fine. She's just suffering from something ninja call chakra exhaustion." To her confused expression, he continued. "It means she used all her energy and needs time to recover."
"So…So…" She sniffled as tears welled in her eyes. "…nee-chi gonna be otay?" She'd heard Hinata protected her from the 'bad people' who stole her from Shion.
Mizukura prostrated himself before the small girl. "I swear on my life, Momiji-sama, that Hyuuga-sama will be all right." He remained in his position as he listened to the poor girl sniffle. He could tell she believed him, but she was still scared.
Shion let out her own relieved sigh. "Mizukura-taichou, please see to the men and preparations. I want to be in Fire by the end of the day even if Hinata has to ride in the carriage with us. At least then we'll be closer to Konoha for backup."
"Yes Shion-sama, I'll prepare the men. We'll be ready to leave before noon." He was a man of his word, and his daimyo believed him when he made a promise. He stood and watched the young woman and girl for a moment. When they were seated with Hinata, he made his way to his aides. They would be ready to deploy ahead of schedule if possible.
It was some hours later when a crack and pop disturbed their preparations. Mizukura was the first to respond, placing a barrier around Shion and Momiji. Because of her proximity, Hinata was also enclosed in the protective circle. He watched as the dust settled, and he drew his two-handed katana as the figures came into view. "So, you weren't alone."
He ignored the frightened looks Tsutsuji and Kinofuji wore as the third person approached. He wore a clean hitai-ate, likely a sign of continued loyalty to Kumo. He wasn't taking any chances, and the trio was soon surrounded by the best trained Demons had to offer. If however the man was as experienced as he looked, the entire garrison was little more than child's play.
The elderly shinobi raised his hands in a placating manner. "I mean you no harm. I am here to collect my former comrades and dispose of them…if need be." His expression revealed his seriousness.
"What gives you the right?!" Tsutsuji proclaimed. "You know the laws as well as we do! Even if you can take us back to Kumo, you have no right to play executioner!" She didn't know if the current Raikage had changed the law, but she would only recognize laws that existed under the previous.
"Besides…" Kinofuji interjected. "…you haven't explained how you found us." He was curious because, as far as he was aware, there was no concerted effort to find or kill them. They were missing nin, but the current Raikage was, in his opinion, far too forgiving.
The elder ignored them. "Please tell me what these fools have done. If I am to be their judge, I strive to be a fair judge." When he received no answer, he sighed. "I am Hitohana in service of Raikage-sama. Now please, I don't have time to dillydally."
Mizukura looked to the still shackled shinobi before returning his gaze to the elder man. "Actually, I'm curious about their questions. Why are you here, and what laws do they refer to?" He knew he was only stalling, so he used the time to strengthen the barrier.
"Very well taichou, but the barrier is most certainly not necessary." He turned an icy glower to the shackled shinobi. "These hooligans left Kumo when Raikage-sama came to power, and I was opposed to his…generosity. Even Aijsai, their own sochi, opposed such lenient treatment."
He paused. He knew he hadn't answered their questions. "The previous Raikage wasn't a very trusting man. During the 'standard physicals' in his first few years, he had his most talented and trusted Fuuin masters place tracking seals on every shinobi's back."
He held out his left arm and pulled back the sleeve. He concentrated and molded his chakra. A circle with two dots near the center appeared, and Tsutsuji and Kinofuji seemed to suddenly experience extreme discomfort as they fruitlessly tried to scratch their backs.
"I was on my way to Konoha to deliver a message from Raikage-sama to Hokage-sama." He ignored the dangerous looks his former comrades gave him. "It's more accurate to say negotiate terms of some diplomacy to fight against a common foe, but that's beside the point all together."
He allowed the treacherous shinobi to wallow in pain for another moment before deactivating the seal on his arm. "To his most trusted tools, he gave us tracker seals. As I neared Konoha late last night, the seal activated. You two were molding chakra. I, unfortunately, had to make a detour to track you fools down. I even expended chakra to learn your identities to keep tracking you even after you stopped fighting."
Hitohana looked around the camp. "The laws of Kumo state that any shinobi can attempt to capture traitors, but only a hunter can judge and execute them without prejudice." He reached into his dark blue cloaked and produced a mask. He threw it at the feet of the traitors.
As they gasped and made an excellent impression of a fish out of water, he continued. "I never wanted to serve as a hunter under the previous Raikage. I knew what he would do when I passed the hunter examination. My skills would be used exclusively to track and kill any he deemed unworthy or suspected of even the least bit of treachery. Under the current Raikage, I took and passed the examination."
He paused to take in the reactions of everybody gathered. Demon's armed forces made no move to back down. He expected as much. Tsutsuji and Kinofuji nearly wet themselves. He almost smirked at that. He eyed the three protected by the barrier. Of particular interest to him, the shinobi hadn't reacted. He narrowed his eyes as he recognized her eyes.
"A Hyuuga!" He rounded on his former comrades and drew his bokken. It radiated a deep violet as electricity arched around it. "Forget my question taichou. I have all the information I need."
He leveled the business end of his bokken at Tsutsuji's face. His tone made it evident he was talking to Kinofuji, too. "Raikage-sama made it very clear. 'I will allow Tsutsuji and Kinofuji to return to Kumo and their sochi under two circumstances.'" He paused to let the information sink in.
"Let me explain." He looked over his shoulder to make sure everybody was listening before returning his baleful eyes to the traitors. "The two conditions are as follows. One, you must not have contracted any missions which hurt Kumo's interests at home or abroad. Two, you must not have attempted to capture a member of the Hyuuga clan or sought revenge against their members."
Mizukura decided to test the man at his word. "These two took a contract from one of our land's villages to kill Momiji-sama, a member of Shion-sama's court. She is the child I now protect within the barrier."
Hitohana's rage was palpable. He lowered his bokken to leverage it with Tsutsuji's shoulder, and he plunged it in with sickening efficiency. She tried to scream out in pain, but the Raiton muted her. Kinofuji cried out instead. "No, stop!"
Shion hugged Momiji to her chest to hide the sight from her. She was glad to hear the child ask questions about what was going on. It meant she hadn't seen the gruesome display. She shot a cautious eye to Hinata. The young heiress still seemed unresponsive.
"You have violated both conditions, fools?" To say Hitohana was displeased would be an understatement. He seethed in righteous fury. "Demons is a neutral force holding valuable alliances and trading contracts with the elemental nations! If you returned and were glorified as heroes for capturing a Hyuuga after ruining our relationship with this land, do you honestly think Demons-sama would sit by impassively?!"
"With all due respect sir…" Mizukura started carefully. He carefully eyed Hinata. "…they are Hyuuga-sama's trophies. It is inappropriate for you to take their lives before they are delivered to Kumo."
Hitohana gave the Demons' captain a dangerous glare. "They have been received by Kumo. As a hunter, I have the authority to speak for Raikage-sama. The Hyuuga scion will receive her pay as soon as we are in Konoha proper."
Hearing a moan from within the barrier, he, as everyone else, looked over to observe the Hyuuga heir. With a heavy sigh, the elder shinobi spoke up to get Shion's attention. "I recommend taking the child out of here. I have no desire for an innocent to see such a sight."
Shion nodded, and Mizukura lowered the barrier. She took Momiji and quickly evacuated to the carriage. She had no desire to see an execution, either. Attention returned to Hinata as she grabbed her head and moaned again. A few guards stepped closer to her as she closed her eyes and rolled her head.
She seemed to snap to attention after a second and looked around. She fell backwards before scrambling to her feet and assuming her juuken stance. Activating her Byakugan, she took stock of the situation…and became immensely confused.
While the Demons' guards were surrounding the cloud nin, the one with the unscratched hitai-ate had a bokken plunged into the shoulder of the female traitor. While the female looked pained, the male looked downright frightened. "Wh-What's going on here?" She cringed at the stutter, but she was confused.
Hitohana removed her bokken from the female's shoulder and politely bowed. "I'm sorry, Hyuuga-san. I assure you; these fools do not represent the feelings of my Raikage or me. Once I have conducted the execution, we can continue on to Konoha where I will pay you."
Though she couldn't bring herself to immediately trust the cloud nin, she straightened up and nodded. She was not going to interfere in the laws or traditions of a foreign nation. Not wishing to see the actual execution, she turned her back. With her skills, she would detect a betrayal and any attempt to attack before it happened. Besides, Mizukura and his men were armed and watching.
Shion's guards tensed as they watched Hitohana prepare himself. He charged his bokken with Raiton again, and it took on that ghastly, deep violet. "Tsutsuji, Kinofuji, by order of Raikage-sama, I sentence you to death." He pulled out a scroll and spread it on the ground. "While your bodies are still warm, Raikage-sama wishes to see you."
Before they could respond, the sunk his bokken into their guts in quick succession. Before they bled out from evisceration, he went through the necessary hand seals. When their bodies merged with the scroll, he rolled it up and replaced it on his person. "Kumo received the traitors Tsutsuji and Kinofuji alive, so the captor will receive full payment. Who shall Kumo recognize as the captor?"
Mizukura pointed to Hinata as she turned around. "Hyuuga-sama defeated both missing nin. She earned full credit." He looked to the blood on the bokken; there was none on the ground. He'd only heard of such skills.
Hinata kept her distance from Hitohana as she spoke. "What is your business in Konoha?" Despite herself, she couldn't even look the elder in the eyes. She knew it was incredibly rude, but she still had an innate fear of Kumo.
The elder took no offense. "I have been ordered by Raikage-sama to negotiate an alliance to wipe a powerful organization from our lands. It's an organization which threatens us all, not just one land. Raikage-sama is angry that they have killed two of our valued jonin, and he fears it is not a problem Kumo can handle on its own."
She released a careful breath. "If you're talking about Akatsuki or Oto, then we agree." Even without looking, she registered his surprised reaction and recognized its association with the first name. "Your jonin…did they carry a great burden?" She chose her words carefully knowing exactly what they meant.
While Demons' elite guards didn't catch the meaning, Hitohana certainly caught on. "So, Hyuuga scion, you know about Akatsuki and what they have done to our lands? I never thought Hokage-sama would trust a chunin with such knowledge, but perhaps it pertains to you in someway I don't know." He knew for a fact that she didn't contain a bijuu. Of that, he could be certain.
"I won't answer that." She was loyal to Naruto, and betraying his secret wouldn't do. Revealing that she knew a thing or two about others in his situation could only show how honest the loyal cloud nin was. Satisfied, she decided to change gears. "It's best if we return to Konoha, then. Hokage-sama really doesn't appreciate it when people aren't punctual."
Already prepared, the garrison from Demons needed only get into formation. They were soon on their way, and Hinata and Mizukura stood atop Shion's carriage to guard her and Momiji from further incident. It didn't hurt that they had little trust in their guest from Kumo. Only time would tell of his trustworthiness.
Kankuro watched as his genin and a guest from Konoha sparred. Once again, the boys were sparring. It was appropriate. They covered each others weaknesses, so they were great sparring partners. Besides, he was trying to build a sense of camaraderie between them.
Mori was a mid to long range combat specialist. As a puppeteer, any puppets he possessed kept him out of direct action. He was weak at close range combat. Hishu, on the other hand, was weak at long range combat because he specialized in his bludgeoning weapons and close to mid range techniques.
Tsume was a bit different. It was difficult to train her weaknesses because they were caused by her blindness. She covered an area the boys never could because she made it difficult if not impossible to sneak up on her. In training against the superior vision of Hanabi, she could potentially increase her reaction time and, therefore, speed.
Kankuro knew his time with Hanabi was limited. Noon was fast approaching, and she had to return to her father. He was contented to just watch the spars for the time being. He had to call for their lunch break soon anyway.
The spar between Mori and Hishu was going as predictable as ever. They taunted each other to try to get under the other's skin. They even used Tsume as a low blow. Didn't they realize she could hear them?
Mori's puppet came fast and furious. As he could only control one puppet at a time, he stuck with Karasu. Its agility and weapons were better suited for close combat anyway. He controlled the puppet precisely as he kept his distance from his adversary. The moment the opponent got to close could spell certain doom.
Hishu struck hard and fast. He tried to keep the puppet at bay while attempting to close the gap to his adversary. Whenever he thought he had a moment, a blade came too close for comfort. He knew they weren't poisoned, but such a handicap only made being struck that much worse.
The spar between Tsume and Hanabi was much more interesting. Hanabi agreed not to charge her juuken strikes with chakra. It didn't mean they would hurt any less. The girls, however, were fast and furious. He followed them easily enough, but they dodged, parried, and counterattacked efficiently.
Tsume could detect subtle vibrations in the air or through the earth. She responded quickly. Early in the spar, she received several blows from her lither opponent. She was quickly adapting, however, and learning something of anticipation.
Hanabi hadn't taken a single strike. She was holding back only in chakra, not in skill. She had the same natural dexterity her sister possessed, but she seemed more ruthless. She was willing to hit hard, and she never let a successful blow get to her head.
With the sun high in the sky, Kankuro called a halt to the practice. He dismissed Hanabi and thanked her. He also asked her to deliver his thanks to her father. He then proceeded to tell his genin his observations. He might have been proud of their progress, but he wasn't showing them with praise. If they wanted to be ready for any chunin exam, they were going to acknowledge their shortcomings.
It was late night, and the shinobi felt anxious. They felt no killer intent, but they knew somebody was approaching. One held his arm high, obviously a commander. His hitai-ate shimmered in the moonlight from his shoulder. He was dressed as a jonin from Iwa. His men formed a circle around him with kunai at the ready. They watched the darkness from all sides, ready for an attack.
When none immediately, they didn't relax their guard. A rustling of leaves caused them to tense, but they held their ground and didn't release any of their weapons unnecessarily. Three figures emerged, but only one wore a hitai-ate. She was a stunning red-head bearing the simple for Whirlpool.
The commander took in a deep breath as he recognized her. "I must say; you surprised me Uzumaki-sama." He noticed the two young women around her look at her in disbelief, and he narrowed his eyes as he noticed something. "You can tell your escort to drop their Henge." He sounded insulted.
Knowing they were caught, they did as they were asked. Isaribi and Sasame were revealed, and they bore their leaf hitai-ate proudly. They steeled themselves for a fight. They were still in Fire territory, so there was likely help nearby.
The Iwa commander released a heavy breath. "We're not in Fire to start any trouble. We're just tracking down a missing nin." He signaled his men to refasten their weapons. He would prefer not to start any trouble.
Kanaeru looked to Isaribi and silently thanked her for the information. When she turned her attention back to the Iwa shinobi, she wore a bright smile. "We're not here to discuss your mission here. Instead, I'd like to ask you to deliver a message to Earth-sama."
Isaribi and Sasame looked at each other and shrugged. They knew she was talking about the daimyo of Earth. They just didn't know Kanaeru knew somebody so important. The Iwa shinobi, with exception of the commander, did much the same. The younger ones weren't even sure who the woman was.
The commander spoke carefully. "Of course Uzumaki-sama, what message do you wish delivered?" He was curious about what was so important, or unimportant depending on how it was looked at, that she'd specifically seek out a group of Iwa shinobi rather than go to the daimyo herself.
Kanaeru sheepishly scratched her cheek. "I need you to tell Earth-sama the omiai is off. I mean no insult, but I've found another…more interesting prospect." She restrained laughter when jaws hit the floor.
The commander composed himself before speaking to prevent stuttering. "Earth-sama is already married, and he seeks no further wives. If you are insinuating…" He paused when he considered another possibility.
"Oh, you catch on quick." She winked at him. "No, the omiai was for his daughter." She stepped forward and handed the commander a scroll. "That is information on the young man Earth-sama requested. Tell him I appreciate all the help he's provided Whirlpool over the years."
The commander was no fool. He understood the importance of his task. He ran through the necessary hand seals, provided the medium, and summoned a normal-sized beaver. After giving the beaver the scroll and orders, he dismissed it to carry them out. "I'm sorry Uzumaki-sama. I'd deliver the message myself, but my mission takes priority."
Kanaeru didn't seem insulted in the least. "Don't worry about it. I only took the opportunity to come out here because I had some free time." She looked to the dubious expressions her companions wore. "What?" She paused for a moment. "Oh, do you men mind if we eat with you tonight? I promise I'm a good cook."
Though it seemed suspicious to Isaribi, the Iwa shinobi accepted. She kept her eyes out, as did Sasame. While Kanaeru and the Iwa commander talked, the Konoha shinobi stayed on one side of the camp while the Iwa shinobi stayed on the other.
Isaribi listened intently, but she heard nothing that was a security risk to Konoha. In fact, Kanaeru seemed to carefully dance around such topics when they arose. When Gayt emerged from the tree line, Kanaeru called it an evening, and they departed the Iwa encampment.
Once they were safely out of earshot, Isaribi voiced her concerns. "What do you think you're doing handing a scroll over to them? I had no way of inspecting it before hand." She made sure to let the venom drip in her tone.
Kanaeru only chuckled. "Don't worry. It was just family business. Nothing that could possibly jeopardize Konoha was in it." She wasn't lying, and the teenage girls could tell. They continued in silence for a while before she looked over her shoulder. "We safe now, Gayt?"
When her stalwart companion bobbed his head, they stopped and set up camp. Isaribi was going to report the incident as soon as they returned. Even though she could tell the red-head was speaking the truth, she was still the spy who inherited Jiraiya's network. She had to let Tsunade know of any deviations.
Sasame approached Kanaeru with a question. She was curious, and a question kept bugging her since a certain revelation. "Excuse me Kanaeru-san, are you related to Naruto?" The only resemblance she could see was in personality, and even that was a bit farfetched.
Kanaeru stopped and looked at the young Fuuma. She considered her position for a long moment, and the mutated girl's perked interest. She had kept certain things hidden, making them little better than half-truths. She opened with a question. "First, what's your opinion on the boy?"
Sasame put her hand over her fluttering heart. It felt odd that she so suddenly felt lightheaded, but she answered truthfully. "He saved my clan, and I owe him a lot. I won't betray him…not him."
Isaribi was more straight-faced. "He taught me a lesson I can never forget, and I owe him a debt I can never repay. He taught me trust and acceptance, and he saved me from self-destruction."
Kanaeru's smile only broadened. She wondered how they'd react to the truth. "Well, Naru-chan's my nee's kit!" Despite her unusual words, the meaning sunk in quickly. The girls were flabbergasted.
I'm a little surprised that people actually thought Hinata might have died a couple of releases ago in Naruto. I also find it funny that Hinata thinking her confession didn't count (my story) kind of portended to her ultimate confession in the manga.
Hitohana won't play a major role (except 'stealing' Hinata's kills). He's only helping close out the second arc. Short, isn't it? It has another two or three chapters (barring major brainstorms), mainly story building, before I officially close it out.
I've put up a very important poll concerning the third arc of my story. By very important, I mean non-story critical. It's more naming scheme that I want an opinion on. Please visit my profile to view the poll and vote. Voting's very important!
As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.
Story Word Count: 8,063
Story Page Count: 17.5
Terms and Jutsu:
bokken - wooden sword: probably a big duh, but I'm not taking my chances.
omiai - basically, a Japanese marriage meeting. Wikipedia it if you have any questions.