In Chapter 35: It's All Relative, there is an error I noticed and corrected. In the last section of the story, I incorrectly labeled the mystery shinobi as loyal to Iwa when, in fact, he is loyal to Kumo. It was meant to foreshadow his reveal in this chapter. I sincerely apologize to all readers who might be confused due to that mistake.
Chapter 37:
Consequences
"Well…" Suigetsu shrugged. "It's not like I was going to leave anything out. It's just, come on Sasuke-kun, the desert?" He rolled his eyes at the impatient glares he received. "All right, all right, I got it. I just wanted to get that off my chest." He heaved a sigh and leaned back. "Well, you can guess what happened right after I left. That was the easy part."
He eyed Karin. "Now, I'm not saying spying is easy, so get your panties out of a twist." He let his gaze wander to a part in the clouds. "Compared to a trek through the desert though, I'd rather do that. Ugh, can you imagine the desert?"
"Get on with it!" Karin yelled out of frustration. When the young girl she was holding moaned, attention turned to her. With a huff, the redheaded sensor precisely molded her chakra and monitored the young girl's chakra flow. Without hesitation, she placed a genjutsu crafted to lull her into an unsuspecting dream.
Suigetsu chuckled. "You're always so impatient, Karin." He was going to continue, but a dangerous glare from Sasuke stopped him short. "Fine, but you can expect me to embellish the story!" He enjoyed the collective sighs. "As soon as I left, I of course dedicated myself to finding accurate information on our sleeping bundle over there."
He shrugged and shook his head. "I thought she might be in Konoha, so I scoped the place out." He turned his attention to Sasuke and gave him a thumbs up. "By the way, nice digs!" With a wide smirk, he added mockingly. "I can see why you left it!" His head exploded like an overfilled water balloon.
As streams of water gathered back together and his head once more took shape, he settled his glower on their leader. Heaving a sigh, he continued. "Tough crowd." He leaned back again, taking special interest in a passing cloud. "Anyway, it might have been the situation or it might have been because nobody can remember every single shinobi in a hidden village, but I was able to disguise myself and slip in undetected."
A wicked grin spread across his face. "You have no idea how hard it was to stop myself from separating some heads from their bodies, but I resisted that particular temptation." He paused as his sword arm reflexively twitched. "I asked around and helped like some idiot leaf, and I finally managed to get some useful information."
He winced as if pained and swallowed hard. "That's when I went into that dreadful, barren wasteland!" He looked directly at their leader. "The desert, Sasuke? Do you know how harsh the desert is?" Karin pelted him with rocks before he continued.
Tsume panted as she stared down her teammates. Her bright, orange clubs gleamed in the sunlight. Though the paint chipped and cracked, the material underneath was obviously resilient. Her eyes like melted chocolate convulsed in apparent anticipation. When Hishu charged her, her grip tensed around her clubs. In a seeming unnecessary display of acrobatics, she launched her small frame into the air and slammed her clubs in opposite directions just as the sand seemed to explode beneath her.
Mori allowed his hazel and green eyes to widen in surprise as he pulled back on invisible strings of chakra. When he heard a resounding thwack, he knew he was an instant too late. One of Tsume's clubs collided with his two-armed Karasu. He felt one of the chakra strings slacken and unconsciously looked up from his cover to examine the extent of the damage. He almost sighed aloud when he saw the puppet's jaw and left shoulder all but smashed.
For Hishu's part, he barely managed to get his guard up. He had to use both of his bludgeoning clubs to block her more nimble weapon. He was knocked into a sandy knoll and came to a skidding halt, and he had to resist the urge to rub his sore muscles. The complex tattoo upon his brow glowed nearly the same color as his soft green eyes as it caught rays from the midday sun. Sweat flew from the edges of his hair as he turned his head in surprise. "Ah, Mori, she's spotted you!"
"You don't think I noticed that?" The young puppet master frantically pulled and manipulated the invisible chakra strings to bring his puppet closer. He desperately needed his two-armed Karasu as he evacuated his refuge. "Of course she spotted me! She followed my chakra strings after I lost concentration for a moment when she caught Karasu with her club."
Seeing a bright, orange club enter his field of vision, he impulsively flexed a finger to open his puppet's jaw. His mistake cost him, and he realized it a moment too late. Tsume slowed her clubs and tagged his wrists. With his wrists 'broken', he was out of the spar. With a sigh, he finished pulling his puppet towards him and moved towards their temporary sensei. He could only watch as his teammates continued the war game.
Hishu was much slower than his teammates and arrived far too late to be of any assistance. Mori was already knocked out, and Tsume was prepared for the next strike. He gritted his teeth and pushed chakra into his feet. He set his sights on ending the spar in his favor. He pushed aside his infatuation. She'd used that against him far too many times.
He noticed her face drawn towards the distant horizon. She was blind and didn't need to actually look at him, but her clan considered it rude to look away, same as everybody else. Incensed, he forced chakra into his bludgeoning clubs and clapped them together. He prepared to strike as his blood boiled. His clan honor couldn't stand the insult of an opponent looking away.
Matsuri was about to rush forward when Tsume ducked under Hishu's initial barrage and swept his feet out from under him. She brought two outstretched fingers from each hand to tag his temples. With a heavy sigh, Matsuri announced the results. "You're out Hishu; stand down." She wasn't surprised when Kankuro's pupil mumbled under his breath, but she knew the brash youth would listen.
As she approached, she was more concerned with the female pupil. She was willing to use her teammates infatuation with her to her advantage, but she never stooped to insulting them. She was distracted by something else, but Matsuri was forced to admit that she divided her attention very well. "Hey, what's up?"
She shook her head, evidently confused. "I don't know, Matsuri-sensei." She licked her lips and attempted to continue. Her mouth hung open in a flabbergasted expression. It took a few moments to gather her thoughts, and she was thankful for Matsuri and her teammate's patience. Finally, she phrased her observations as a question. "Can water…move?"
Mori and Hishu looked at each other, misunderstanding her. The latter spoke up. "What are you, an idiot? You're the best sensor on our team! You should know better than anybody not only that water moves but how it moves!" He rubbed his upper arm at her response. She punched him, hard.
At the sound of clapping, they spun around. Tsume looked up the cliff face in genuine surprise. "No, I don't mean flow. I meant move…" She paused as she recognized that a consciousness existed within the liquid. "…like a person!" Though blindness meant she couldn't see him, she never detected the water-man change location. He just…appeared behind them.
Sitting halfway up the cliff face, the intruder slowed his claps, so each reverberated through the cavern to punctuate his presence. "I thought I was doing a pretty good job sneaking up, but that girl detected me right away. Bravo!" He laughed mockingly. He stopped after a few moments and blinked. He looked down only to meet their angry glares.
He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Ah sorry, sorry… I'm bad at this introduction stuff." He purposely bore his jagged, shark-like teeth as he continued. "You can just call me Suigetsu." He stood and dusted off his pants. With sharp movements betraying his shinobi training, he pushed off from his position and seemed to skate down the crag. When he reached the bottom, he disappeared from view.
Before anybody could blink, he stood directly in front of Tsume. He was bent at the hips as he observed her. She leaned away as his nose nearly touched hers. He was purposely, carelessly invading her personal space. Recovering from her initial, momentary shock, Matsuri rushed to the defense of the genin left temporarily in her care.
She molded chakra to create an ebb and flow and sent it to her feet. With practiced ease, she sent a wave of sand to push the intruder away even as she ran to cover the blind genin. She watched as the intruder only watched the oncoming attack. Nevertheless, she was able to successfully move Tsume away from somebody she feared to be of jonin rank.
When Matsuri looked over her shoulder to see what the three genin were looking at with fear and astonishment, she witnessed Suigetsu crawling out of the freshly created knoll. To her surprise, the sand surrounding his torso was crusted. It was as if the parched ground was wetted then baked. The fact left one question in her mind. Where had the water come from?
As Matsuri and Kankuro's genin took up defensive stances, Suigetsu held up his hands disarmingly. "Wait, wait…" He heaved a breath. They were making it hard to follow orders. "I'm a representative of the independent shinobi team Hawk. You've heard of them?" He waited expectantly for a response, but they showed neither sign of acknowledgement nor ignorance. He shook his head. "Okay, maybe you've heard of our leader." He couldn't resist a sadistic smirk. "He's a former shinobi of the leaf, Uchiha Sasuke."
Matsuri could keep silent no longer. She represented the Kazekage office in her husband's absence, and she wanted the dreadful presence out of Suna as soon as possible. "We've heard about you from intelligence reports. According to our information, you attacked a prominent and well-liked leader from Kumo. You also handed him over to Akatsuki." She narrowed her eyes. "You expect us to believe you're independent when you bow to the enemies of the shinobi world?"
Suigetsu's smirk actually seemed to broaden as his chin lowered to nearly touch his chest. "Isn't this just delicious?" His lips twitched in anticipation. "That blind girl has the potential to be an obstacle or an asset in the future, but you are a riddle I can't quite make my mind up on." He approached unabashed fully expecting some kind of countermeasure.
He was not disappointed. He witnessed no hand signs, and Matsuri barely angled her foot before a sandbank gained a life of its own and rushed toward him like a wave at high tide. The center of the sand wave slowed as it darkened with apparent water. As the mud lost momentum and crumbled, the rest of the sand wave rushed past Suigetsu harmlessly.
As he continued to approach, he pretended to wipe spare flecks of mud and sand from his exposed biceps. "Oh come now, don't you even want to hear what I have to say? I came here for a reason, after all." He shrugged and, without waiting for an answer, continued anyway. "I'm representing Uchiha Sasuke in a certain matter. He wishes to acquire a certain…" He paused as if to collect the right word. "…asset; let's say."
"What could you possible want?" Matsuri practically spat. She tentatively looked to the girl she protected in her arm. She felt her shaking from the immense bloodlust coming from the intruder. She was sure her teammates were experiencing similar helplessness. "Hasn't Akatsuki done enough already?" She had to carefully keep her passions in check. A hot head could easily lose a battle.
Suigetsu tilted his head confidently to one side. "Oh, Akatsuki wants nothing from your little village." He paused and shook his head with a dismissive shrug. "They got what they wanted, and Sasuke-kun wants nothing extravagant from you." He wagged his finger derisively. "What I'm looking for is far more valuable and has nothing to do with your village." He paused to let the insult sink in. "Hyuuga Hanabi is the petite toy I came looking for!"
Kisame wiped blood and spittle from the corner of his mouth as he took in the sight before him. Even if he had been given the gift of a golden tongue, he doubted he could adequately describe the scene he witnessed. As he stood, his anticipation mounted. He gripped Samehada's sturdy handle and pumped chakra into the massive head cleaver. He etched the panorama set before him into memory, and his excitement only grew to a fever pitch.
None of the rumors gave adequate voice to the infamous guardians of Void. He thought perhaps one or two of the rumors were true, but he was excited to see and feel that they all might well be accurate. They looked like giant men made of stone, but he felt no hostility. They also did not flinch from his immense bloodlust, so they were more than likely artificially animated.
His up curled lips twitched in joyous reverie. "Let's see what we've got here." He paused and crouched in preparation. "Giants? Check." He fed chakra into Samehada. "Strange, stone golems? Check." He pushed off as a giant fist collided with the ground and swung his blade. He managed to clip one of the giant's legs as it sidestepped to avoid the blow. "Immense chakra? Check!" He leapt into the air to avoid another massive fist. "I hope you have more tricks in store! I still can't confirm elemental beasts!" He laughed and bore the fangs in his shark-like mouth.
Detecting an incoming strike, he pushed Samehada forward. As the guardian followed through, he carried his momentum into an upward arc. He felt the air pressure change beneath him as another swing missed him with his trajectory change. He landed with a disgruntled grunt. As he ran up the arm he alighted on, he took a moment to look around.
The four guardians held no qualms about attacking in unison. As they took aim, he noticed they easily projected where he should be and avoided hurting each other. However, they were slow and easy to avoid for somebody of his caliber. They were not living up to their reputation and fearsome beings capable of destroying entire shinobi platoons. As a side note, he observed the statue he passed at Void's border was missing.
Kisame avoided strikes aimed at him while using some as leverage to get closer to his target. He angled Samehada over his head and, with an angry glower, hacked at the neck of the first guardian. He felt the massive collision as it reverberated through his head cleaver and body, but he felt some satisfaction as he fell towards the ground.
The neck of the guardian he attacked held a massive gash. Cracks slowly spread from the newly formed crevice, and the guardian staggered. Kisame laughed as he changed targets. "Well, Madara won't get mad if I destroy one of these worthless toys. Besides, it should be an incentive to Void to call for aid." He skidded to a halt when he noticed the woods were still. Even the guardians refused to move as winds ceased to stir branches and leaves.
"Huh? What's going on?" He swiped at the nearest guardian, but it didn't even attempt to dodge. Samehada cut deep into the stone leg, and the guardian fell to the forest floor without struggle. "You've gotta be kidding me! Is this all you've got? Has Void fallen so far that the people can't even maintain its only line of defense?" Incensed, he rushed towards a third guardian fully intending to crush it.
He was forced to stop as the earth quaked beneath him and wind buffeted him from all around. He tried to keep his eyes open as dirt kicked up by the sudden natural assault collided harmlessly against his rough skin. He watched in confusion as the guardians crumbled before him. He was unsure what to expect next as howling pierced his ears. He gritted his teeth as he prepared to mold chakra for whatever was coming.
As they walked down the hallway to Junichi's office, Miyagi decided to continue the conversation from Naruto's cell. "I know it's troublesome, but that little demon is right." He rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Akatsuki would sooner kill you once you hand the jinchuuriki over."
Aina nodded in agreement. "You haven't seen what they're capable of." She lowered her head. "I was able to avoid my last psychological checkup because of that destruction." She raised her head to rest cold eyes on their employer. "If you want to avoid Konoha's wrath like you say you do, I recommend you let us brainwash that little demon and release him to Sharingan Kakashi."
Junichi chuckled. "As I said, Akatsuki smells of desperation." He held up a hand to forestall any argument. "I am also not stupid enough to walk into negotiations without a backup plan." His lips twitched in mild anticipation. "I hired a professional mediator, and I ensured he had a positive relationship to minimize any possible risk."
Before Miyagi or Aina could voice any further concerns, the granite floor before them bubbled. A human-shaped figure erupted from the floor. After a moment, the stone cracked and fell away to reveal a shinobi of the cloud. He glowered angrily at Junichi. "Is this the Yorukage you mentioned?" He laughed indignantly. "These meek flies don't look like they can do much in a fight!"
"Calm yourself Fugui-san." Junichi chided. "I already told you I have no interest in a fight." He waved his hand dismissively. "I'm only an old man looking forward to a comfortable retirement. This land has become too stuffy for my lofty ambitions. No, I suppose it is more accurate to say Old Tree never fit me."
Fugui released an angry harrumph. "There's no convincing you." He shot the Yorukage pair a disdainful glower. "If you rely on the weak, you'll only fail." He returned his attention to Junichi. "Don't forget that. You're balancing on a thin line, and I won't be victim to your negative repercussions." He turned with a flourish as he prepared hand signs to melt into the cave floor.
"It seems to me…" Miyagi started, interrupting the shinobi of the cloud. "…you're the one relying on others." He stepped forward showing a level of confidence that startled Fugui. "By our standards, wouldn't you say Junichi is the weak one?" With a growl, the reprimanded shinobi disappeared the same way he came. "Troublesome."
"Did you really need to do that?" Aina sighed. Her partner shrugged in response. Cracking her knuckles she looked to the floor directly below her feet. "That sounded like a challenge to me!" Miyagi backed Junichi away. Before their employer could say anything, Aina appeared to punch the ground. "I don't like challenges!"
When she pulled her fist back, Junichi noticed her fore and middle fingers were extended, and two holes appeared in the rock where they penetrated. Fugui seemed to burst from the ground, and he held his head in pain. His eyes were tightly shut as his palms completely covered his ears. A small trickle of blood ran from one side of his nose to the edge of his lips.
Curious, Junichi looked between the triumphant expression on Aina's face and obviously pained Fugui. Though he hired shinobi in the past, he had never actually seen a clash between two. Licking his lips, he sought to sate his curiosity. "What happened just now? I failed to see Aina-san land a blow."
"Genjutsu." Miyagi answered simply. When he only received a confused expression from their employer, he rolled his eyes. "Troublesome." He nodded to his partner as Fugui started recovering.
Aina rolled her shoulders. "It's rather simple, actually. We could tell Fugui was still in the room, so I crafted a simple genjutsu to respond to his challenge." She looked at the short shinobi, eyes still half lidded. "I used sound to lower his defenses, then I simply used brilliant, flashing lights to temporarily blind him."
Junichi shook his head to show a lack of understanding. He gestured with his hands to ask them to slow down. "I am not foolish enough to hire ninja without properly researching." He looked directly in Aina's eyes. "My research indicated that genjutsu tricks the opponent's sense of sight. It is a powerful method of lowing one's guard and limiting any possible response."
Miyagi sighed. "Really… Troublesome." He leaned against the nearby cave wall. "If it was that simple, Yorukage would not be feared in the underworld." Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he continued. "We aren't the typical black market rogue shinobi. We specialize more in subterfuge than raw destruction."
"Right." Aina continued. "Besides, understanding genjutsu isn't as simple as that." She angrily shook a finger at their employer. "It takes years of study and mastery, and even then you have to be careful. If your opponent notices your attempt, it's quite easy to take advantage of your momentary weakness.
"All right, I admit it…" Fugui grumbled. "I didn't mask my presence, and I was expecting it." As he rubbed his ear in a vain attempt to rid it of the annoying ringing, he turned his attention to Miyagi. "Besides, I'm not relying on him. He knows very well I'm using him. More importantly, he knows why I'm using him." He walked past them waving over his shoulder.
"He is an interesting character." Junichi stated simply as he resumed his course for his office. "We should continue. Your contract needs to be updated, after all." Miyagi and Aina followed after him, casting one last glance over their shoulders.
Fugui ignored their final glances as he made his way down the corridor. He stopped at the portal to Naruto's cell. One of the guards warily approached him. "Junichi-sama's orders, we canna le' cha enter. The merchandise in 'ere's too valuable."
The guards looked to one another when he didn't reply. When the second approached, the shinobi standing before them crumbled into a pile of rocks of the same composition as the maze of caverns they occupied. Startled, they ran toward the door and tried to open it. It was blocked from the inside, and they knew they could do nothing.
"What's your game, Raikage?" Kakashi stated calmly. He looked up from the wall he was leaning on. They were on another recess after hearing further intelligence and questions of necessity, and he wanted a few answers. "On the outside, you're aloof and appear to want dominance in action. However, you're really stalling quite a bit. I know you're stubborn, but I never took you to be more stubborn than Tsuchikage."
The cloud leader looked to his subordinates. He was at once disappointed to see they were startled at his seemingly sudden appearance and impressed at the interim's skill. "You reflect positively on your village, Kakashi. I'm sure your Hokage would be proud of your representation."
Kakashi pushed off from the wall with a sigh. "You're being evasive." He paused when his own bodyguards appeared in response to a sudden spike in chakra. "Now, now, there's no need to get aggressive. I just want to get to know somebody I'll be working with."
"He's right, stand down!" The Raikage demanded. His subordinates immediately loosened their guard, but they remained poised. They were well trained and prepared for any underhanded tricks. "Besides, I'm not being stubborn. I'm making sure we have all the details before we continue forward. Also as you said, Tsuchikage is a stubborn, old fool."
Kakashi smiled lightly. "I don't wish to insult either of your wills." He managed to maintain an amiable expression even as his atmosphere turned dangerous. His next words underscored the shift in emotion. "You know as well as anybody that Akatsuki is dangerous and must be dealt with. Konoha doesn't make alliances lightly, and we are loathe to share intelligence if it is only ignored."
Raikage allowed his lips to curl into a vicious smirk. "Oh, Akatsuki isn't getting away with anything!" His subordinates backed away as his aura darkened. "They killed poor Yugito Nii-chan!" He rested dangerous eyes on Konoha's interim Hokage. "You're last Uchiha captured Kira Bii-chan! Can you tell me why, then, I should rush to a decision or help this summit conclude in haste?"
With his exposed eye still upturned as the only indication of his smile, he calmly answered. "He was my cute, little genin, but it looks like I'll have to kill him." Raikage's aura returned to normal, some puzzlement on his face. "If you only want to make sure everything is well crafted, then I see no problem. I only want to know Konoha isn't wasting time here."
Raikage narrowed his eyes. "I see. It's personal." He released a heavy breath. "I won't make a hasty decision and isolate Tsuchikage." He walked past Kakashi, and his subordinates followed. "In truth, I think we need every village on board with us. We don't know Akatsuki's true strength, and we know little of their intentions. If we can secure Iwa, we can also secure every village's alliances."
Kakashi nodded as cloud's superior shinobi walked by. "I thought it was something like that, but I wanted to confirm. No way have you abandoned allies you fought so adamantly for." He turned and walked to the meeting room. He felt resolution was close at hand. They probably had another few days of arguments left before potentially weeks of further deliberations on finite details.
"Raikage-sama, are you sure that was wise?" The subordinate paused. "I mean revealing yourself like that. He is the Sharingan Kakashi."
The cloud superior laughed. "He represents the will of all leaf shinobi in these proceedings." He paused and looked out a nearby window. "Besides, I don't want to be remembered as the man who abandoned both family and friends. I'd only be laughed at for rejecting my principles."
Naruto gazed forward when he felt another presence in the room. He resisted the natural urge to look behind him because he knew he wouldn't see the intruder. While he didn't recognize whoever was behind him, he knew the chakra belonged to a shinobi. He growled under his breath when he recognized blatant hatred in the man's bearing, and he felt his muscles and chakra tighten defensively.
"Oh, I've caused alarm to the leaf's little demon." The shinobi stated disparagingly. "You jinchuuriki are all the same. You think you're better than everybody else just because you're demons inhabiting human look-a-like shells." He paused to let his words sink in. "Well, doesn't this just serve you right? You'll finally be truly sacrificed for a greater purpose."
When Naruto remained silent, the shinobi sighed. "You're an obstinate one." He chuckled. "You probably think you can get out of this. Ha!" He spat indignantly. "You can try all you like. Pure force simply won't work in this situation." He was silent for several long moments, and Naruto heard rocks shuffling against rocks behind him. He swallowed in curiosity and some anxious anticipation.
"I heard you already experienced it." The hidden shinobi started again suddenly. "Apparently that Yorukage rogue created a genjutsu to prove their value." He chuckled, knowing full well he hid the pair's true identity. "The mercenaries Junichi hired don't know the first thing about shinobi and our jutsu, but they know any of our 'tricks' are valuable to the right buyer."
He tossed something in the air and caught it. As he spoke, he repeated the action several times. "It's a very rare mineral, and the crystals it forms have a unique property." He laughed and caught the object with a harsh finality. "They store chakra and jutsu!"
Naruto tried to restrain a gasp of surprise, but the shinobi didn't miss a beat. "The little genjutsu that trapped you was set by Yorukage and stored in that little crystal the mercenaries hit you with." He threw the object he was holding, and it landed just outside of Naruto's reach. It was a blue crystal, vaguely reminiscent of a branch of flame.
"It's called aokasou." He paused and waited for some kind of reply. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he bristled with anger. "There's a limit for how obstinate you can be! You know you can't escape! You should be squirming and begging for your life!" When he received no reply, he forced a calming breath. It did not help; he still felt irritation.
"I notice you haven't taken a step towards me since you entered." Naruto started without preamble. "The aokasou stores chakra and jutsu, so they must be valuable because they can use it later. The light emitted by the formation above me isn't suppressing or absorbing my chakra, but it is disrupting my ability to mold it."
The shinobi behind him grunted in mild amusement. "A lot of good that does you." He released another guttural laugh. "So you know what's keeping you here? Big deal!" He stomped angrily. "You still can't get out of here! You're still trapped! You still lose!" He paused and waited for another reply. "Tch, well you're more pitiful than I thought."
Naruto smirked and tilted his chin near his chest. He started with a chuckle. "Heh, I was wondering when you'd grow bored." He closed his eyes and drew the consciousness sealed within him closer to the surface. "You said force wasn't an option, right?" He opened the connection between his chakra and the bijuu locked away. "You don't know me very well!"
"Wait kit..." Kyuubi no Kitsune's voice chided. "…follow my lead. You should be able to maintain control with more of my chakra, but you can't just rely on your force of will like before. If you're not careful, you'll just go berserk."
Naruto took a deep breath. He didn't know how much he could trust the seemingly reformed bijuu. Still, he was willing to give her lead a chance. He watched as she flashed images of his friends through his mind's eye. As he surrounded himself with the Kyuubi no Kitsune's chakra cloak, he felt different. As his senses heightened, he felt the hidden shinobi step back in fear and hatred.
As the first tail formed, he noticed he couldn't see the chakra cloak like he usually could. He didn't know if it was the wash of light or the properties of the aokasou. As the second tail formed, he felt a strong urge to protect, and the urge associated itself with images of his friends. As the third tail formed, he felt his restraints slacken, but they did not break. A thought occurred to him. "Does Junichi know how much control I have over Kyuubi's chakra?"
As the fourth tail formed, the restraints lost cohesion. He broke free, and the aokasou above him reverberated in strain. As the crystalline structure shattered, fragments fell like blue snowflakes dancing to the earth. Before the hidden shinobi could respond, Naruto broke through the door and escaped down the corridor.
The guards outside rushed in to find Fugui on his hands and knees. Sweat drenched his exposed skin, and he could only quiver in fear. He was reminded of days long past. "That brat…" He choked on his fears as he stood. "…is just as frightful as those monstrous brats I was forced to teach and discipline…" He swallowed hard as he thought about his options.
A man in a white laboratory coat looked up from his clipboard when he heard the door behind him open. He lifted his charcoal tinted goggles when a man stepped out from it. His lips curled into a wicked grin when he recognized the robes of Akatsuki. He powerful man before the scientist was an executive guest, but he was so much more. The orange and black swirled mask precisely identified him.
"Ah, Madara-sama! Have you come to see the results of our last experiment?" When his only answer was an angry aura, the scientist chuckled. "There are no prying ears here, so why insist on being called Tobi? The cover doesn't suit you anyway."
"I might not have to hide behind the cover of an idiot, but I rather you call me 'Tobi' even here, director. I may have personally recruited you, but you hired the rest of your staff. They don't know who I am, and I don't want them to know my identity."
The laboratory director laughed. His bout of merriment was short-lived when he noticed Akatsuki's leader did not join in. "Aw well, it doesn't matter if you trust them. They are truly the finest minds I have to offer." He chuckled. "They also hold no qualms about completing your work." He looked at the clipboard in his hands. "I must say, the results are most interesting."
"You've met with some success." Madara purposely showed his impatience. He wanted the laboratory director to get the point. He also wanted to properly build and prioritize his schedule. Two jinchuuriki were still free, but he wasn't as concerned about them. The most problematic fact was the loss of key members.
"I'm sure you know, Tobi-sama…" The director started sardonically. "…the bijuu are unique chakra entities. We don't know how they achieved such an existence, but they are certainly immortal." He laughed. "That foolish Orochimaru took that immortality research and really thought we just let him get away?"
Madara sighed. "We needed Orochimaru's research." He paused. "Have you combined it with Yumiko's research?"
The laboratory director's smile widened to bear his rotting teeth. "Now that is a story!" He laughed. "Of course, your 'precious' little war hawks gave us some good information, too." He threw his arms out as if he was about to grasp a large idea. "It's true! Immortality might finally be within our grasp!" His laughter continued and echoed through the underground complex.
"…but…" The scientist started somewhat hesitantly. "…I think there's been a delay in plans, Tobi-sama." He didn't miss the dangerous killer intent directed towards him. He only tilted his head to one side. "Trying to rebuild your organization?" He chuckled and tossed the clipboard he was holding to Madara's feet. "I think you'll like him."
Akatsuki's leader never bent down, but, when he held up his hand, he held the very same clipboard the laboratory director tossed to him. "You think I'm just going to take on one of your suggestions?" In spite of his words, he flipped the top page to look at the content underneath. "I let you pick your own team, but that doesn't mean you can select my subordinates."
The laboratory director's laughter grew guttural. "Oh, don't take my word for it. You can test him yourself." He tapped his chin in mock thought. "You could have him take out a target, or you could have him prove his chakra capacity will help you seal the remaining bijuu." He shrugged. "I think you'll find him very useful."
Madara thought about it for a moment, even through the laboratory director's incessant laughter. He didn't seem to mind the seeming personal tick. Finally, he handed the clipboard back to the scientist and answered. "Very well, introduce me to this Kaede you have so much faith in. I think I have the perfect task to test him."
The laboratory director's laughter only grew louder and quicker. Behind him, a door opened. The silhouette of a large of a large shinobi appeared in the portal, and the cries of desperate and pained people erupted from the open passage. As the door closed, it sealed the screams for help completely out. Madara observed the man for a long moment before he beckoned him nearer.
Once Miyagi and Aina entered Junichi's office, the door closed behind them. He sat in his chair and shuffled through files and documents as they settled in. Their eyes once again scanned the decorations. There were no hints of his vocation while under Old Tree's former daimyo. Ornaments hinted at how close they were. Yoruage knew that whatever Junichi did allowed him to cozy up to somebody the people of the land considered a petty tyrant.
"Genjutsu are a lot more convenient than I initially thought." Junichi started without looking up. He was already filling out a new contract. "I heard ninja could effectively brainwash somebody, but I never really attributed to that particular art." He felt giddy enough to almost giggle like a child. "You are about to make me very rich, and it is practically without consequence!"
Aina practically growled. "Haven't you been listening to us?" She paused and angrily grabbed her hair. "We said that little demon is dangerous!" She swallowed as fear overtook her features, and she fiercely held her arms close in a protective embrace. "He's a true terror…and Akatsuki is courageous or stupid enough to want to fight them!"
Miyagi scratched his upper lip to hide an annoyed tick. "I realize exactly what you hope to gain, but you're asking a bit much. We're willing to brainwash the little demon and send him on his way. If we cause a cave in and that demon has a convenient story, we won't even have to worry about Sharingan Kakashi."
Junichi looked up for a moment before returning to writing the new contract. "I hired you as quickly as I did because I know how to recognize talent. While the last ninja I hired could send shivers down the spines of everybody nearby, they were lousy at sneaking up on even the dimmest mercenaries." He paused and licked the tip of his pen before he continued writing.
"Fugui-san is different. He is obviously weaker, but a discerning eye can see he is far more skilled at hidden kills." He chuckled. "If you ask me, his skills are far more frightening than the vulgar ninja I previously hired." He stopped to look between the Yorukage pair. "You, on the other hand, inspire fear without any need to kill. You have that particular skill I desire this time."
Miyagi sighed. "Even if you say that, we aren't even sure we can catch Sharingan Kakashi in a genjutsu. He is incredibly skilled, even among jonin, and he was exceptional among ANBU." He shook his head with a hint of frustration. "I wouldn't be surprised if he was a candidate for next Hokage."
"Now, now, now…" Junichi started as he walked around his desk waiving a parchment. "You should read this while the ink is still drying." He chuckled as his grin nearly overtook his face. "I think you'll find this contract most interesting."
Aina walked over as Miyagi harshly grabbed the parchment. They read over it as Junichi continued. "The terms are fair. You help me deliver the packages to Akatsuki, and I pay you four times your normal retainer." He held a pen out for them to sign the contract. "Well, I doubt you can turn down such an offer."
Miyagi and Aina looked at each other. After a moment, they seemed to come to a decision. When Miyagi took the pen, Junichi looked exuberant, and Aina looked resigned. As the pen touched the parchment, the three felt a sense of dread rush through their bodies. As their eyes widened, they involuntarily relaxed their muscles and fell to their knees.
As the contract drifted to the floor and pen rolled away, they fought to regain control of their bodies. Yorukage recovered first. They shakily stood and looked to the closed portal. They licked their dry lips in anxious anticipation, and their bodies instinctively prepared for fight or flight. Their psyche heavily rested on the latter option.
As Naruto raced down the dark corridors, he slowly released the Kyuubi no Kitsune's chakra. He felt the tails slowly fade. Before the cloak completely receded, he tried to reach out to Hinata's chakra. Though difficult, he was able to locate her. With renewed purpose, he focused on finding her. Shikamaru and Sakura could handle themselves, so he knew they were safe. However, he had suddenly left Hinata behind, something to berate himself over later.
Once the chakra cloak faded completely, he slowed his pace. He wanted to avoid guard patrols, so he decided to sneak the rest of the way. He ducked around corners and used crates and barrels for cover. He carefully made his way until he was in the same corridor as Hinata. He couldn't help but smirk. He had a lot of information to share.
Besides the rogue shinobi Yorukage, a shinobi bearing the simple of the cloud was with Junichi. Their target also had some connection with Akatsuki, and he was interested in capturing the leaf's jinchuuriki to help with his retirement plans. Junichi was also using aokasou to further his goals. With their ability to store jutsu, they could be a significant problem.
As Naruto approached where he felt Hinata, he picked up the sound of people talking. He couldn't make out the voices, but he knew he was slowly nearing them. He carefully molded his chakra to prepare for a possible confrontation. He doubted Hinata was in any danger. She could handle herself quite well, and the mercenaries were really pushovers.
At a near crawl, he finally pinpointed Hinata. She was in the same general vicinity as whoever was talking. He was able to make out their voices, so he knew they weren't Yorukage. He also knew the shinobi of the cloud wasn't nearby. Even knowing they were likely no more than weak mercenaries, his chest still tightened in worry. Involuntarily, he extracted a kunai and prepared to rush in.
"Tha brat jus' won't stop cryin'." Naruto paused when one mercenary spoke. He shook his head and continued.
The other mercenary shushed his partner. "Ya know what'll happen if'n the boss hears ya talkin' 'bout the merchandise li' that."
Naruto paused. He couldn't believe what he just heard. He shook his head. They couldn't have been talking about a person like cheap merchandise. He continued forward and didn't hesitate as he wiped sweat from his chin.
"I know tha boss thin's the brat'll bring us some huge profit, but I canna put up with that cons'ant bawlin'." He pounded a fist into an open palm. "Come on! Tha boss'll ne'er know if'n we careful."
Naruto felt rage boil up. "I'unno. He's kinna small. Roughin' 'im up a might'n be a bit much. Maybe we jus' scare tha brat a li'l'."
Naruto completely forgot about stealth as he stood from his hiding spot. The mercenaries looked at him with a start as they drew their weapons. His rage actually seemed to roll off him with physical force, and they were frozen in fear. His lust for blood overpowered their senses as every muscle in their body stiffened. Their bladders emptied putrid urea instinctively as bubbling red chakra slowly seeped from the jinchuuriki's skin.
Inside Naruto's mind, he seethed with unrelenting anger. He felt as if his thoughts took physical form as they reverberated through his skull. "They're treating human life like something to be bought and sold!" He knew he was wanted by Akatsuki, and they would even pay for his capture. However, he knew the risk. He could fight to prevent his capture, and, if they did capture him, his own lack of skill was all he could blame.
The mercenaries were talking about something different all together. They were talking about a child. "They want to sell a child?" He remembered his own parents. They loved him so much that they were willing to sacrifice themselves for him. His mother died to give him life, and his father died to make him a hero. "Children should be with their parents... They should be surrounded by their parents' love…"
"Kit, calm down!" The female Kyuubi no Kitsune pleaded. She grasped the collar around her neck. It seared against her skin. "Don't think about unnecessary things! Think about saving that child!" She gasped in pain and resisted the urge to claw at the accursed seal. "You're Uzumaki Naruto! You're going to be Hokage!"
Naruto only released a guttural in response. He turned to face the consciousness sealed within him. His expression frightened her. She felt her knees buckle, but she remained standing. He didn't hear her. He only heard his hate filled words. He only felt rage burden him with immeasurable weight. He reached out, and she tried to resist.
He ruthlessly grabbed one of her tails and pulled with force she was unfamiliar with him using. "Give me your chakra…" The seal upon her neck burned with the same intensity as his boiling emotions. She looked at him pleadingly, but he was lost to his own inner chaos. She bowed her head with no choice but to relent.
As Kyuubi no Kitsune's chakra rushed to and surrounded and engulf Naruto, her face contorted into voiceless pain. She gave in to weakness and fell to her hands and knees. She gasped as if desperate for air, and she pulled at the collar as if constricted her breathing. She closed her eyes as she tried to bear with the pain.
As Naruto floated to the surface of his mind, Kyuubi no Kitsune reverted to her vulpine form. Finally, she released a bellowing yowl of pain. Her eyes appeared awash with flame and blood, and she fought to regain her footing.
The patrolling mercenaries barely recognized the shinobi before them. They knew Junichi wanted him captured in as close to one piece as possible, but they seriously doubted they had any chance against whatever creature had taken over him. He stood before them completely transformed, and they had no words to describe his present state. They only knew there was little chance to escape. They were like cornered mice.
Naruto was bathed in bubbling red chakra. He swished three tails behind him, and the stub of the fourth was already forming. His fingers were elongated, and he felt his fingernails dig into his palms like the sharpest claws. The kunai he was holding only moments before melted into useless scrap, and he discarded the lump of metal without concern.
He took in a deep breath, and the mercenaries could only watch in trepidation. When he released the breath, he yowled a blood-curdling cry. The mercenaries' will snapped in that instant, and they attempted to flee. Naruto immediately pounced and caught both. He stretched his chakra arms to pin them against opposite walls.
His breath was so hot that it condensed and added to his frightful appearance. He turned towards one of the mercenaries and squeezed. He cried out in pain until the chakra claws ripped through his shirt. For a moment, his body couldn't translate the new sensation. When his brain processed the new world of pain the poisonous chakra caused, he practically screamed his lungs out in abject pain.
His partner could only watch as the events unfolded. He knew he was next, and he knew there was nothing they could do. They were going to die, and there was nothing they could do to prevent it. He closed his eyes and put his tongue between his incisors. At least if he was going to die, his death would be quicker than the unfortunate soul on the other side of the room.
Before he could carry out his plan, the door holding the other captive opened. From it, Hinata emerged carrying a child piggyback. The child was unconscious, and Hinata could only gape at Naruto. She was afraid true, but she was afraid for him rather than of him. Before she could respond, he dropped his captives, and they immediately and desperately crawled, got up, and ran away.
She looked at him and gasped at the sight. The chakra cloak melted away his skin which quickly regenerated, and four tails swished behind him. As she observed him, he launched into the air directly towards her. His eyes were still filled with rage and hatred, and he drove his claws to knife her forehead. Resolute not to abandon him, she stood firm and awaited whatever her fate was.
I'm writing the Shadow Council parts a little different. I'm concentrating on certain recesses rather than keeping it along the same time stamp as everything else.
I'd like to note that the main reason Tsume beat her teammates is because she is constantly being underestimated, partly due to Kankuro fretting over her previous injury. Also, hot heads always misjudge the situation.
As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.
Story Word Count: 8,091
Story Page Count: 14.5
Terms:
aokasou - blue pyre: The aokasou were first discovered and refined in Old Tree. They store chakra and jutsu.