An: Thank you for the reviews as always. Also as some of you may have noticed there is a poll on my page to decide whether this story will be strictly a Naruto/ Sakura or Naruto/Sakura and two others, the third choice is basically the harem with lemons added. So I encourage people to vote. Also, as a way to say thank you to the people that review and to make sure the people who have given me feedback are happy. If you have reviewed any of the previous six chapters as of the posting of this chapter posted 7/18 then P.M me your choice or just add it to a future review and I'll add it to the poll total once it is closed. So in affect those of you who reviewed get a second vote. So thanks as always and let the voting commence. S. o. t. A.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I'm doing this for fun not profit
Chapter 7: In Hell
It was a long dark fall to the bottom of the shaft. As he saw a light he began slowing his decent by jumping between the walls landing smoothly at the bottom of the shaft. What awaited him was a repeat of the scene above except to a greater degree. Blood splattered the walls as well as claw marks. What worried him slightly was that there was no sign of the creatures that caused the destruction. Moving ahead slightly he made room for his team to assemble at the bottom of the shaft.
As the last member of his team arrived he heard Mizuki say, "No welcoming committee how rude."
"Maybe we forgot to RSVP," Otoya said.
Walking up to Naruto, Kurotsuchi said to the pair, "Shut up, and concentrate on the mission." As she reached the mercenaries side she whispered, "So where is everybody?"
"I think where is everything would be a more accurate statement at this point," Naruto said. Addressing his men he said, "Keep your eyes open. I think these things are giving us just enough rope to hang ourselves with."
"How do you want to handle this then?" Kurotsuchi asked looking at the blown out walls and other signs of destruction.
"We'll move in the same formations but we'll keep the teams closer together," Naruto answered. He could see that Kurotsuchi was about to point out the weakness with that plan but said, "I know it'll mean a greater chance for the Demolition Team to get bogged down. But you have to remember, we aren't facing an organized enemy that wants to stop us. But creatures that probably just want to kill us. So chances are they would let us pass and attack them regardless or even just the rearguard team."
Kurotsuchi nodded in agreement so Naruto got the A-team moving but far slower and closer to the following Demolitions team than originally planned. The Rearguard team began moving as soon as the Demo Team disappeared around a corner keeping an eye out for the slightest sign they were being hunted.
In the security room Zin watched the three teams slowly begin to make their way deeper into the lab complex. His attention however quickly shifted to a camera that covered the entrance to the prison as the Deathseekers began storming through the entrance. He frowned at the men entering his beautiful prison as even a fool like Katsuro wouldn't storm this complex with the few remain shinobi at his disposal knowing how many creatures he had made.
"Ho-ho, what pray tell are you after then Katsuro?"
He doubted it was him, at least not yet. Therefore, it had to be those shinobi that first entered the lab complex. What made them so special that Katsuro would throw caution to the wind? Directing his gaze to a monitor that had the first group of shinobi on it, he got the strange feeling that he had heard about one of them before.
"That's right," he thought as the stray memory returned, "The one in the mask was that mercenary Katsuro was always going on about." Aloud he said pleasantly in a voice that made the creature near his chair purr contently, "Excellent, Excellent, he'll be a truly exceptional specimen wouldn't he my dear." The creature that unlike most of the others had a fine coat of fur and the elongated limbs that made it look like a cat that could walk on two limbs merely stretched and yawned arching her back.
"True," he said, "It is rather boring and we should test him before giving him the honor of becoming a higher being." With that he began to use the loud speaker system to admit an ultrasonic pitch which was how he controlled and order his creations. With the new instructions being broadcasted the many monstrous creations of Doctor Zin began rousing from their slumber to attack the unfamiliar scents in their domain.
Tayuya began to feel a strange pressure in the back of her head. Almost like she thought she could hear something but couldn't. Then all hell broke loose. She could hear the growling and howls long before the first creatures appeared. The sound of sharp nails against the tiled floor or even in some cases possibly ceiling and walls.
The first creatures met the A-team in what proved to be a suicidal charge as the men that made it up were there for a reason. Between Otoya's phantom fist jutsu, Kyo's taijutsu, Kazoru's skill with the slim rapier blade he used, and Okubo's raw strength they proved more than a match for the first wave. But the creatures had no concern for their safety or those of their fellows. Furthermore, due to the destroyed walls for the labs the creatures managed to get around them to attack all three teams.
Naruto avoided a clawed hand before grabbing it and throwing the creature attached to it into a group of his fellows. Naruto looked back to see the Demolitions Team was in trouble. He saw that Saburo was fighting a creature but he was on the verge of panicking. Being knocked to the ground the former chunin tried to crawl through a hole in the wall that he could get through on all fours. He made it only to find a creature on the other side that smiled at him its large mouth showing the rows of sharp teeth. Unhinging its lower jaw it bit his head off in one bite.
Naruto knew he had lost another man as the portion of Saburo that had been sticking out of the wall suddenly went slack and then was dragged the rest of the way into the hole. Snapping the neck of another creature Naruto caught sight of Yaoya being backhanded into one of the labs. Ordering the other members of the A-team to hold the line he began to move to support the Demo Team.
Yaoya shook her head feeling it ringing from the blow she had suffered. Focusing on the hole she just came through she saw three creatures coming towards her slowly. She felt something dribbling on her and could tell from the smell that if was highly flammable. Smiling as she pulled out an exploding tag all thoughts of the mission forgotten the last thought she had before setting the tag off was that she hoped the fires of hell were as hot as the monks had always claimed.
Naruto arrived at the hole just in time to see the tag Yaoya pulled out begin to smoke realizing what she was about to do Naruto shouted, "Everyone get away." He then moved quickly grabbing both Tayuya and Kiyoshi and carried them into one of the labs opposite of Yaoya's. When the explosion went off it blew Naruto off his feet and collapsed a good portion of the surrounding area. Naruto began to shake his head quickly recovering he became aware that he was on top Tayuya. Staring down at the girl who was looking up at him scared, and with a slight blush he asked, "Are you okay?"
Unable to find the words she merely nodded her head. Although she couldn't see it he smiled. Standing he helped her to her feet and saw Kiyoshi getting to his as well. Tayuya finally found her voice saying, "Thank you Kyo."
"Don't bother thanking him," Kiyoshi said, "The only reason he grabbed us was because he needed the explosives we carry."
"Wow somebody sure is bitter," Naruto said. Ignoring the scowl on the medics face he wondered why the creatures were no longer attacking.
"What do we do now?" Tayuya asked her voice quivering slightly.
"We continue the mission and hope we can link up with the others," Naruto said before scanning out the only exit remaining to them.
"But if the only exit out of her is behind us…" Tayuya said trailing off.
"Then this really will be a suicide mission," Naruto said calmly.
"Why do this? We should call the mission off?" Tayuya said quickly.
"Tayuya I know you're scared. So am I," Naruto said calmly placing a hand on her shoulder, "But this needs to be done and we are the only ones here to do it. Please be brave for me."
She nodded her head before asking, "Why are you fighting so hard for this? What's your motivation?"
Giving a smile he hoped reached his voice he said, "I'll tell you when we make it out of here."
Tayuya smiled weakly before nodding her head. Naruto peeked outside the doorway and saw that it was still clear so giving a motion to follow began moving deeper into the base.
Kurotsuchi pushed herself up to her hands and knees shifting the piece of rubble that had landed on her off. Sada was already on her feet scanning the corridor for the creatures however they seemed to have retreated. As Kurotsuchi surveyed the area she saw that the intersection of corridors where her team had been fighting was now filled with debris. Whether or not the rest of her group was buried under it, she couldn't say.
Having given Kurotsuchi a little time to get her wits about her Sada said, "Somehow I would have expected us to get a little further along before things fell to pot."
"I guess in hindsight it was a bad idea to take along a bitch that probably considered the time half her face got burnt off as a sexually gratifying experience," Kurotsuchi said before asking, "Are you hurt? Can you keep going?"
Looking at the blocked off corridor Sada said, "Doesn't seem to me that I have a whole lot of choice but to keep moving forward."
"Well as long as you recognize that," Kurotsuchi said beginning to move down the corridor. The mission may have already met disaster, but Kurotsuchi would bring this complex down regardless even if she had to do it with her bare hands. She owed it to the friends and family that she had lost to the horrors contained within this complex.
Katsuro felt and heard the explosion that rattled the base. His heart sped up fearing that his chance for the glory of killing the mercenary had faded. Moving his men forward quickly he found that one of the halls had been collapsed. He had also noticed the many dead creatures that littered the corridor on the way to this point as if his enemies had been fighting a moving battle.
Turning to his second he said, "What is your opinion Kokusa is our prey still alive?"
The younger but almost as equally scarred man said, "I refuse to believe the Desert Fox would be felled by these creatures. If he is leading a team to destroy this facility perhaps one of his men who was carrying the explosives set this off. If I remember correctly the lab where we stored the flammable materials was around here."
"A risky maneuver considering we are underground wouldn't you agree," Katsuro said.
"True," Kokusa replied. His voice took on a tone of both respect and hatred as he said, "But this Kyo is known for his unorthodox and often foolhardy tactics. If he was in danger of being overrun he may have decided to chance it."
A grin split Katsuro's face as he said, "An enemy that does not fear death, how I've long to face one in battle. Kokusa, if his goal is to destroy this base where would he head?"
"Hard to say, sir," His second answered honestly, "If they have an explosives expert, they could merely use that expertise to plant explosives at key points of the facility. But they may believe the base has a self-destruct mechanism and plan to use that as well, with the explosives they brought being used as a Plan B."
"The main lab is where the destruct mechanism is and it has already been shown that is the most dangerous place to reach and that is where our prey will head. Move the men out Kokusa get me there before him."
Saluting his leader Kokusa began leading the men down a side tunnel. Following in his men's wake as they took another path to the main lab he hoped to get to it first, not to stop the Desert Fox as he would press the self destruct mechanism himself once all was said and done. No he wanted the pleasure of killing Zin with his bare hands before facing off against the mercenary. Smiling at the idea of crushing the old butchers head like an overripe piece of fruit. He pushed the pleasant image out of his mind to keep his senses sharp. It would undoubtedly be a long hard fight to the lab and it wouldn't due for him to die before reaching it.
Sakura stepped into the gates of Konoha sending a friendly wave to the pair of chunin guarding it. Sakura had used some of her incurred vacation time from the year following Naruto's supposed death to ask for the week off. Avaron had been kind enough to agree, so she decided to head home to visit with Ino. Her reason were two fold, first was to see a friendly face and second was to talk to somebody who had shared her obsession with Sasuke. She hoped to learn if the blonde had moved on and if so how was she sure.
Sighing as she made her way to the apartment her friend had acquired near her family's flower shop Sakura thought about what brought this trip on. Which was as often the case turned out to be when coming to a decision, hers being to pursue Naruto, the more time passed the more doubts began to enter the mind. The foremost doubt for her was whether she was truly over Sasuke, because Konan had been right Naruto deserved to be absolutely sure that she was. She liked to believe that she was, but she had also wanted to believe that she had been capable of handling Sasuke on her own and look how that turned out for her. She hoped Ino could give her some advice on how to be sure what her heart truly wanted.
The second misgiving she had, she doubted Ino would be able to help her with though. As it was a question that she wasn't truly sure how to answer yet. And that was exactly what would she bring to a relationship between her and Naruto. If she was even able to achieve one, that was. She really didn't know. As she had given Naruto nothing but grief when Sasuke had been a part of Team Seven, and while they had grown closer after Naruto's training trip. She had still been too blinded by the idea of Sasuke returning to recognize what was right before her the entire time. That was until she had pushed him away to the point that he considered playing mercenary preferable to telling her, he was still alive.
Kami she wished there was a time travel jutsu so she could go back and pound some sense into the thirteen year old Sakura. Even send a slap or two the way of the Sakura from a year ago as well. She shouldn't have been so blind to Naruto's support or love which she hadn't even really known about until they had been taken away. She supposed a part of her had always tried to tell her, the part of her that had filled with warmth when Sasuke had told her how Naruto had fought for her sake against Gaara. Or the part of her that amid the destruction that Pain had brought to Konoha had called out to Naruto sure that only he could save her and what remained of the village.
But first thing first she needed to answer her concerns about Sasuke as she was sure that would be the hardest thing to convince Naruto of. That she was giving him her heart, not because she couldn't have Sasuke, but because she cared for him just as he had already proved a hundred times over that he had cared for her.
Arriving at Ino's building she walked around to the back towards the stairs that led to her second floor apartment. As she approached the entryway to the stairs she heard some heavy breathing. Not sure what it was she turned the corner and received a surprise as she saw Ino being held up and pressed against the wall at the base of the stairway leading up to the door of her apartment. Her legs were spread on the sides of the man, who she recognized as Chouji by the armor he was wearing. Although both appeared fully dressed Sakura realized that the object wrapped around and dangling from Ino's outstretched leg were the shorts that she wore under skirt.
It was with that Sakura thought with comprehension, "Oh my god, I'm watching Ino having sex!"
Sakura ducked back around the corner and pressed herself against the wall. Her own heart was beating quickly and a blush adorned her cheeks. It was at that point that her rebellious ears began straining to hear what was happening just around the corner.
Ino's muffled moans were growing steadily more progressive and she was obviously straining to keep her voice down as she began to talk dirty, "ah…That's it babe…that's…right…there…fuck. I'm…so…so close Chouji. Give it….to me…please."
Sakura assumed Chouji knew what Ino needed to get her to her peak as the sounds of him slamming into her picked up in speed as well as intensity. Ino responded instantly giving out a loud moan that she quickly muffled as the ones that followed it sounded like they were coming from behind some sort of cloth. The rhythmic sounds of their coupling grew frantic and Chouji panted out a single "Ino…"
Ino knew what he meant saying, "You're there right…go ahead…babe I'll catch it all."
Sakura heard Chouji grunt an uncharacteristic, "Oh Fuck…" signaling his climax which triggered Ino's own as she screamed into his shirt.
Hearing the pair panting she thought, "What am I doing? It's obvious she's busy. I should come back later." However her feet wouldn't budge and she knew the reason was she was hoping to pick up some clue as to how long the relationship had been going on.
Sakura's blushed intensified as she heard Ino say, "Wow Babe, you've really been saving it up huh."
Sounding bashful Chouji said, "Sorry Ino, guess we didn't make it into your apartment for that tea."
"We still can," Ino replied sounding sultry, "Unless, you want to have another go?"
"I can't," Chouji said sounding disappointed, "Actually the reason I wanted to see you is because there's a new restaurant opening in the Akimichi district and as the Clan Head's son they asked me to make an appearance." Sounding formal he said, "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me as my date?"
Sakura was a little confused by that, considering what she just saw she figured he would have simply told her about it to see if she would go. Not make it sound like it was the first time they would be going out.
She was also surprised at how long it took Ino to say, "Sure, I'd love to. What time should I be ready?"
Sakura took off after hearing the time figuring she would give Ino a little time to clean up a bit before talking to her. As she walked her feet took her past the bench near the academy were Naruto, disguised as Sasuke, had complimented her forehead. She had wondered as of late that if she had known it was Naruto would things be different now between them. Would knowing that her crush hadn't carried some secret fixation for her forehead and had in truth just thought of her as annoying opened her eyes sooner?
Sitting on the bench she thought about what she had just learned about Ino saying to no one in particular, "Well at least I guess I know my answer. But when did she move onto Chouji and why didn't she tell me?" Rubbing her forehead she figured she would give Ino a half-hour, so settled in and watched the sparse foot traffic as they walked by.
Zin had been highly amused by the struggle between his lovelies and the mercenary's team. At least until the one woman had collapsed a large section of the area the fight had been taking place in. It had killed many of his creatures but there were plenty more where they had come from. He had called the remaining creatures back to harass Katsuro's group and give his other creatures time to prepare an ambush for them since he knew where the lab was as opposed to the mercenary.
The mercenary intrigued him as he noticed that there appeared to be a seal on the other members of his teams' foreheads. He doubted that if he could see under his mask that he would find one there. No the man was too well loved in Wind Country for them to spend him on what Zin figured was a suicide mission. That meant the man wanted to be here.
"Strange indeed," he said aloud petting his former assistant. Moving one of the cameras to a large built man, whose eyes did nothing to hide the cruelty that he was capable of, he focused on the forehead. Having dissected several Hyuuga during the Second Shinobi War he recognized the accursed thing that had denied him the ability to study the Byakugan.
"My, aren't you a clever one," Zin said smiling as he realized that the Cage Bird Seal was how Kyo was controlling his minions. Folding his hands in front of his chin he closed his eyes to think, "If these shinobi accompaning the mercenary are doing so under duress then they have to believe he can release them from the jutsu." Moving the camera back to the large man's head he froze the image on his screen and began studying the seal close up seeing if he could find the release as it may be more amusing to see how his soldiers acted off of their leashes.
Sakura was nervous as she approached Ino's door, not really sure how to broach the subject of what she had just seen. She knocked on the door feeling an equal mix of dread and hope. Hope that Ino was still home, and dreading the idea at the same time. She was just about leave to try again tomorrow when the door opened to reveal Ino with a towel around her head and wearing a thin robe that stopped mid-thigh. Ino smiled warmly grabbing her into a hug saying, "Forehead, what are you doing here? I thought you were assigned to the Five Element Village."
"I am," Sakura said allowing Ino to pull her into the apartment.
Having been here many times since Ino moved in she smiled at how it somewhat matched how her mom had decorated her parents home. She inhaled deeply enjoying the smell of the many flowers that decorated the apartment. Sitting on Ino's couch she politely refused a glass of tea settling for a bottle of water. Ino with her own drink sat opposite her pulling her legs beneath she asked, "So what's up, Forehead."
Sakura decided to just go for broke, "Well Ino-pig, I came here to ask you something earlier. I saw that Chouji was here."
Ino's whole face turned red at what Sakura implied, "So that means…"
"Yeah…"
"Well that's embarrassing," Ino said getting up to pace a little.
"You could say that," Sakura replied, her cheeks coloring as well. "How long have you been seeing each other?"
"Oh we aren't," Ino said, "not really."
"What's that supposed to mean," Sakura said confused, "From what I saw it looks like you are seeing a lot of each other."
"I mean…" Ino started off before stopping to think on how best to phrase her response, "While we've had sex before, we aren't really dating. We're open to see other people."
"What," Sakura said surprised, "Does Chouji really understand that? It sounded like he wants more than that. Is he really okay with you sleeping around?"
"Hey Forehead, don't come off making me sound like some kind of slut or else I'll use my Mind Transfer Jutsu on you and have you turning tricks on the corner," Ino said indignantly. "So what I've been with a few guys what's wrong with that?"
"It's just…"
"Kami," Ino said throwing her hands up, "I'm so sick of that double standard. The last time I was in the Five Element Village, I heard all the kunoichi were making bets on who could get the Desert Fox into their beds. He could sleep with all of them and they'd be building monuments to him. I sleep with a few guys, and people act like I'm screwed up."
Ino was going full tilt with her rant so missed when Sakura flinched at the mention of all the betting going on around Naruto. Somebody had already approached her to see if she wanted to get involved in it. Apparently whoever did win was going to receive a rather large pot. Rumor had it the Fifth Mizukage was even planning to make a play.
Letting the depressing idea go she raised her hands defensively saying, "I take it you've heard this argument already then."
"Yeah from my mom of all people," Ino said sitting back down, "One of my booty calls came by the flower shop hoping to have a quick hook up and I guess the best way I can put it is, apparently me and my mom look sort of similar from behind."
Sakura winced imaging Ino's mom reacting to some strange man coming up and patting her behind. With that in mind she asked, "How much of him was left?"
"Enough to talk unfortunately, luckily my mom hasn't told my dad yet. The thing is, Chouji was my first and I think I'm going to tell him tonight I want to date him exclusively. It's just my mom doesn't understand that due to the way things started between us I merely wanted to play the field a little bit."
"How did things start between you?"
As Ino recalled the memory Sakura noticed that she looked both happy and horrified at the same time. Her voice holding the two sets of emotions she said, "It started about six months ago. Chouji and I were doing a stint at the Five Element Village. We were assigned to Border Patrol."
Sakura nodded her head in understanding as she had attended to both the very fortunate and not so fortunate of those who had been attacked while on border patrol. Ino continued her story saying, "The squad we were assigned too, was made up of a kunoichi from Kumo and two others from Suna. We had been traveling together for about a week. The squad leader had called for us to take a break so me and the kunoichi, her name was Mo Li, got to talking about our lack of a love life. I was telling her about how I had wasted so much time chasing after a boy who had even tried to kill the girl that got closest to him."
"Yeah," Sakura said sadly, "I still can't believe how far he's fallen."
"That's good and all Sakura, but I was talking about Karin seeing as she has actually been with Sasuke."
The way Ino stressed been, told Sakura all she needed to know. She was also pleasantly surprised to learn that she didn't care, and hoped it meant that she had truly moved on. Now all she needed to do was find a way to show Naruto how much she had come to cherish him.
Ino continuing her story pulled Sakura from her thoughts, "She was just finishing telling me her story when it happened. I swear I looked away for only a second." Ino paused to look into her drink and Sakura could see the cup shaking slightly, "The next thing I know I'm feeling this warm sensation covering me. Well imagine my surprise when the warmth turns out to be Mo Li's blood as a kunai cut through her jugular vein. They were on us seconds later a group of Rain-nin entering Fire Country territory. By the end of the fight only Chouji and I were left standing."
Ino paused again to take a shuddery breath making Sakura guess that even though they survived it had been a near thing. "We made it back to the Five Element Village to give our report and we were given the standard time off. Chouji visited me that first night and all I could think about was that I had almost died and I still hadn't even kissed a boy yet. Maybe it was the fact that I was still jittery with the near death experience but one thing led to another and I woke up the next morning sharing a bed with my teammate."
She got up again and Sakura could see Ino smile as she walked by a picture of her team and she didn't know if Ino was even really aware of her actions but her fingers little brushed along were Chouji stood in it. "I know Chouji wanted something more, but I wanted to experience other things and people. I told him that," Ino smiled as she said the next part, "and you know what he said." Sakura clearly didn't but Ino paused to give the girl a chance to guess anyway. When no guess came she continued, "He said he understood. I know he was disappointed, but it really meant something that he would give me the time to experience those other things. Granted the fact that the sex between us is great might be another reason why he isn't putting pressure on me."
"It sounds like you made up your mind," Sakura said trying to keep the jealousy she felt for her friend to a minimum.
"Yeah, I guess I have," Ino said giving a dazzling smile till she saw what time it was. "Thanks for the talk Sakura but I have to get ready." With that Ino dashed into her bedroom leaving Sakura to see herself out.
Walking to her own apartment Sakura felt happy for Ino but at the same time still unsure about how to handle her own problem with Naruto. However, her talk with Ino did make her feel angry with herself. Although she couldn't be sure Naruto would have waited around while she experimented with other guys, there was a time when he would have stood by her even as his own heart broke due to her loving the boy he saw as a brother. Now she only hoped that she could show him she wanted to be by his side and that she would face any challenge to prove it.
Tayuya was sitting against a wall along with Kiyoshi keeping an eye out for when Kyo returned. She had to marvel at the man's stamina as he seemed inexhaustible. Although the creatures hadn't attempted to swarm them again, even getting to this room which by her guess had taken almost an hour had been a difficult fight. And despite Kyo doing most of the heavy fighting, it was they who needed the rest while he went on ahead to scout for access to the main lab.
Tayuya still couldn't believe how calm the mercenary was about what in all likely hood, would end up being their final mission. More to the point she couldn't believe how his words or the slight touch of her shoulder made her feel as if there was still hope. It was almost like through his small gestures that he was promising her that he would do everything in his power to make sure she made it through the hell they currently found themselves in.
The door opened causing both shinobi to tense until Kyo stepped in. Getting up quickly, she moved near him since she felt far safer in his presence. She asked hopefully, "Any luck?"
"Nah," he replied, "Can I see that map we found hanging on the wall?"
Reaching into her pack she pulled out the map they had salvaged and that had been framed probably to help lost technicians and scientists. Laying it on the ground he took the marker she handed him next and drew several X's on it.
Figuring the X's were blocked off sections of the complex she said, "It's almost like these things are herding us."
"It would certainly seem that way," Naruto said, "You said right before we were attacked you felt a kind of pressure."
"Yeah, I guess a better way to put it is that it almost sounded like a dog whistle," Tayuya said.
She giggled slightly, a sound she clapped down on almost as soon as it escaped her lips, when the mercenary turned his head like a puppy as he looked up at her while crouched down and said, "I thought people can't hear dog whistles."
"They can't and neither can I, but if you blew one I would feel the same thing."
"Perhaps that's how the creatures communicate with each other," Kiyoshi supplied.
"I agree," Naruto said, "Even though I don't think it's the creatures doing the communicating." Seeing his two teammates looking at him in confusion he clarified saying, "That Iwa-nin said she heard a voice taunting Katsuro. I bet whoever that is decided to let these things out and is somehow able to control them using the speakers of the base. Kurotsuchi said the one they had sent to chase her when she escaped from here had some controllers with it. They must have been using high pitched frequencies."
"Great we know how they are communicating, but I don't see how that helps us," Kiyoshi said after a moment.
"It doesn't but it does show us there is an intelligent enemy directing them and that's something."
"Yeah and what exactly is that," Kiyoshi snapped.
Naruto pulled out a kunai and threw it at the security camera that was in the lab they occupied. "It means that we can blind him and limit his effectiveness at controlling them," he said handing the map back to Tayuya.
Okubo brought his foot down on the throat of the creature that he had slowly broken down until it was at his mercy. Enjoying that satisfying feeling of the creature's wind pipe collapsing under him he began to move on to the next area not really caring for the mission anymore only the killing to be done. After the explosion he had found himself alone in one of the three branches of the corridor the A-team had been fighting in when Yaoya had gone off like a firecracker.
He was pretty sure that the bastard Kyo was still alive. As he was almost positive that the weak hearted fool would have made it so that if he died the seals he had put on them would have faded. That suited him just fine for as soon as the seal did come off. He planned to find some woman close to the bastard and show her a real good time and when he was done with her he'd leave his initials carved into the bitch's forehead.
But first he needed to get to the main lab or link up with the rest of fools he had been partnered with. He was just leaving the room he was in when a secret door to it slide open. Turning he saw a frail looking old man with a lean looking creature covered in brown fur and judging from its curves it had once been female. The old man looked at the room full of death and said, "Simply marvelous."
"Thanks, it's good to know people appreciate your work and you'll enjoy what I plan to do to you," Okubo said advancing causing the creature to curl in front of its master protectively.
"That would be quite foolish of you dear boy," the old man said, "As I came here to take off that leash the mercenary has placed on you."
Stopping Okubo said, "Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Zin and this is my prison."
"Love what you've done with the place," Okubo said causing Zin to nod his head, "Now why would you be willing to take this mark off."
"Simply because you aren't a threat to me," Zin said causing the man to begin advancing again in order to show just how much of a threat he could be. However, Zin having been threatened by muscle bound oafs before was hardly intimidated. Keeping his hands folded behind his back he said, "There's no need for violence at least not yet. What I mean dear boy is that the only reason you are here is because that mercenary has forced you to be. I imagine if I remove that mark on your forehead, you'll be far more of a threat to those fools you came with."
"What about your pets?" Okubo asked.
"So long as you don't harm them or me, they'll let you kill your fellow shinobi to your heart's content," Zin said smugly.
Grinning that it looked like he was going to add lucky number twenty-eight a lot sooner than he though he said, "Well I'm sold. Set me free."
Walking up to the larger man his fingers glowing with chakra causing Okubo to stiffen, Zin said, "Now relax. You can trust me; I'm a doctor after all."
Mizuki ducked into a lab as a group of Deathseekers ran by. The oldest and by far most scarred stopped and began scanning the lab he was in. The man was close enough that from his vantage point under the dead body of a man dressed in the garb of a scientist he could see the slightly off color of the man's left eye. Probably the result of the scar, that ran from the man's scalp down to his jawbone. Eventually he seemed satisfied the room was empty but Mizuki waited a good ten minutes before moving.
While he waited he remembered what had happened to his teammate Oden. They had both survived the blast but found that unfortunately for them one of the creatures had as well. A vicious fight had broken out between them and when the creature had moved to attack Oden he had managed stab it in the back of the head killing it. However not before it had buried its clawed hand into her thigh. Oden had thought he was going to help her when he had leaned over the woman. But when she had dropped her guard he had simply ran the kunai he had used to kill the creature across her throat. Tragic but those that fell behind got left behind. In truth, she should probably be thankful as at least her death had been quick, who knows what some of the creatures this madhouse contained would have done before finishing her off.
However now he wondered what had he been thinking when he agreed to coming on the mission, as he could no longer remember. But, he highly doubted that it had been worth it. Adjusting the large shuriken on his back he began to formulate a strategy to get out of the place alive. Unfortunately his mind was coming up with zilch. He could go back the way the Deathseekers had come, but there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be shinobi guarding that path out of the lab. No he guessed his best course of action would to be to link back up with the rest of his fellow prisoners and hope Kyo had an escape plan. He was fairly certain the Deathseekers would lead him right to them.
He was about to follow in their wake when a small unassuming frail man stepped out of a hidden passage into the lab. Mizuki instantly went for his shuriken but stopped when the man said, "My my, aren't you jumpy."
"Who are you?" Mizuki said pulling the shuriken free just in case.
"Merely the man who is willing to give you what you seek."
"My freedom," Mizuki said mockingly.
"While I'm sure you want freedom," Zin said, "What you truly desire is power. I can give you that."
"Why would you do that? Out of the kindness of your heart," Mizuki said debating on whether or not to simply throw the shuriken and be done with the old fool. But the fact that he knew about hidden passages within the Lab Complex was enough to stay his hand.
"Hardly," Zin stated smirking internally at how easy these fools were to manipulate. "I'll give you the power if you promise to kill my enemies."
"If you had that kind of ability, why not use it on yourself?" Mizuki asked suspiciously.
"I'm an old man," Zin admitted, "And most likely wouldn't survive the process."
"You want to turn me into one of freaks running around this place?" Mizuki said disgusted.
"No my boy," Zin said giving a sinister smile, "I want to turn you into a god. There may be some physical alterations but with the power I plan to give you. I doubt you'll care."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"Those Deathseekers you avoided are attempting to make their way to my lab. If they manage to do that how long do you calculate I'll survive afterwards? You being capable of defeating my enemies is in both of our best interests. To prove my intentions I'll remove that seal on your forehead and if you want to run then run. I obviously will not be able to stop you."
"Let's see if you can remove the seal first," Mizuki said.
Smiling Zin said, "Of course," while he thought smugly, "Got you."
Tayuya entered into another lab following behind Kyo with Kiyoshi taking up the rear. As soon as they entered she spotted a computer similar to one that she had seen countless times in the labs of Orochimaru. Walking up to it she began typing on the keyboard and was surprised to see that it wasn't password protected. "Sloppy," she said.
"What is," Naruto asked after destroying the camera in the room and then walked up behind her to look over her shoulder.
"This computer is linked to the master one, which is probably located in the main lab," she answered surprised at just how aware she was to how close the mercenary was to her.
"Is it linked to the bases self destruct protocols?"
"If the base even has them," Kiyoshi said.
"Oh it has them alright," Naruto replied confidently. "A place like this practically screams for the need to quickly destroy all the evidence of the atrocities you are in the middle of committing."
Tayuya having had plenty of experience with the device due to her time in Sound quickly surmised, "No I'm afraid not. This room serves as a backup dump for the main computer. Basically it is where they store all the files in case something was to happen to the main lab." Typing in more commands she brought up a list of all the projects that had been conducted in the Lab Complex up until its hostile takeover.
One of the files grabbed Naruto's attention because it said that the main work for it was being done offsite. Leaning in he said pointing to it, "Bring that one up."
"Why," Kiyoshi asked wondering what made the file so special.
"The reason's simple, basically all the other projects listed are effectively shut down due to what has happened here. That one isn't. I want to know why it wasn't being conducted here."
Tayuya gave the reason as she read the file, "That's because it's a project being conducted in Rain Country. Its official title is Project: Resurrection. Apparently it has hit a snag and they were hoping the bastards here could help them with it."
"What type of snag," Naruto asked.
"Not sure, something to do with recombining extracted chakra with the person they took it from."
"Why bother?" Kiyoshi asked. "The chakra would replenish over time anyways."
"Not if the person they took it from was dead," Naruto said having a sudden sinking feeling he knew what the project was trying to resurrect. "Tayuya can you make a copy of the data."
"Yes, it'll take a few minutes," she said but stopped beginning to look nervous, "Kyo…"
Understanding that she was feeling the same pressure as earlier indicating that whoever was telling the creatures what to do was probably doing so right now said, "Looks like the madman running the asylum has noticed we've been taking out his cameras and is tired of playing games. Hurry up and copy that data Tayuya. I have the felling we are going to have company arriving here pretty soon."