Summary: Eyes glistened with a golden hinge, blood dripping out of her nose. She would save them, even if it killed her. Slight SI. Third War Era. OC AU
…..
Chapter 3: Future
"It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on, coughing and searching, and finding." ~Markus Zusak, 'The Book Thief'
….
Mouse turned her head towards Sparrow, he made several aggressive hand gestures she shrugged. Her squad mate sighed rather loudly and then turned his head to give Stag the signal. Stag moved into position Raccoon shook her head at their antics there was no way this was going to end well.
Dog had joined Hawk's squad for this ambush. They were acting on his lead. He turned his head to Mouse who held her hand at him in a hold on manner. Mouse sensed the targets semi cancelled chakra signature. She signaled for Stag to move, Sparrow threw an angry gesture at her from his position of which she ignored.
Stag jumped down from his position and into the path of the target. He soon found himself the target of what appeared to be wood release. Mouse turned sharply to through a sign at Sparrow, Stag wouldn't be able to fend that off by himself. Sparrow chakra pinged in annoyance at her but jumped down to help their squad mate.
"Dog you didn't mention wood release." Her tone was agitated. Dog signed he didn't know.
"Damn. Raccoon be prepared this might not end pretty." Mouse spoke, but they needed to keep up this rouse.
Sparrow made the sign for back up, Mouse jumped down from her spot Dog followed soon after. Raccoon shook her head once more. She hoped Hawk finished his part soon. The medic didn't know how much of this her squad could actually handle.
Mouse who was the best of her squad mates at hand to hand, she pulled a kunai from her pouch deciding getting up close and personal with this boy was the best way to go. She had helped Minato train Dog at one point so he was very well acquainted at working around her. He better have been with all the work she put into him.
Finally after several minutes of dodging wood release attacks the boy fell to the ground. Most likely the result of chakra exhaustion. Dog helped Stag restrain him. Raccoon dropped down from her spot in the trees she began to assess the damage her team took.
"Mouse?" She questioned while wrapping Sparrows bleeding arm. Mouse turned a hand on her hip.
"He doesn't want to fight anymore. Dog is going to talk to him." Her voice was firm it held no room for argument. Sparrow wondered over to her, she shook her head.
"I have a feeling he's like you Sparrow." Sparrow stared at her. She made a 'what' motion.
Dog returned a moment later with the bound wood release user. "He showed me the mark, but he doesn't want to be that person anymore." His voice was emotionless, Mouse nodded her head. Good choice because she would have probably killed the boy before allowing that man to control someone with such abilities.
"Great, we'll bring him back for questioning and then see what we can do about removing the mark." Mouse spoke then turned to her team.
"Hawk-tachio should be ready for us now. Sparrow since you sustained a significant injury you'll escort…" She looked back at the boy.
"What's your name?" He looked surprised to be addressed by what appeared to be this close nit faction's leader. Mouse was frowning at him under her mask and they all could tell.
"Kinao. That's what I was called." Mouse shook her head. That wouldn't do, he would never be able to move forward from this if he kept the caller. It would bind him to the elder for the rest of his life.
"No, that won't do. If you truly want out then you can't go by that caller anymore." Sparrow spoke from his spot on the ground. His voice was strained. He knew that truth all too well
"Sparrow's right either pick a new name or I'll pick one for you." Mouse told him. The boy had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"How about Tenzo?" Mouse nodded her head and then continued with her mantra from early.
"Good. Sparrow you'll go with Dog and escort Tenzo to the secured location. Stag and Raccoon you're with me." Then the team split up going in two separate directions.
"Do you think it was a good idea to send Sparrow off like that?" Stag wondered out loud as they jumped through the tree tops.
"We didn't have a choice, Sparrow was injured and if Tenzo changes his mind he'll be the only one capable of killing him." Mouse replied dryly, she didn't like it when they questioned her orders. Because what part of 'Mouse is in charge' didn't they understand. Hawk-tachio had been very clear on that before he wondered off.
They eventually met up with Hawk, he was with Lizard's squad. Lizard threw an obscure gesture at Mouse who threw one back at him as they touched down on the forests floor. "We secured the asset Hawk-tachio." Hawk gave her a nod of his head.
"Where's Sparrow?" He asked after he took count of his team. His masked face towards Mouse, she knew him well enough to know his brow was raised behind the mask. Hawk had been her Jonin-sensei before her anbu-captain.
"Sparrow is with Dog ensuring the asset makes it back to the safe house. He was also injured." Mouse told him, Hawk took her words into account.
"Very well Mouse. Alright here's the plan." He nodded his head at her then continued on as if nothing had ever been asked.
…..
Mouse just wants it to be known that she did not approve of Hawk's plan at all. But Hawk was her captain and she'd follow him into hell if he asked. Raccoon touched down next to her on the branch, she had landed in a kneeled position. 'What's with you and Lizard?' She signed, not wanting to give way their position.
'It's nothing, he's just pissy from something that happened the other day.' Mouse signed back, her eyes never leaving the caves entrance. Raccoon followed her glaze. The medic could sense the unease in her fellow's actions.
'Worried?' Mouse nodded her head in response, she waited for the signal.
Hawk's charkra pinged in the standard rhythm for back up. Mouse motioned for Stag and Tiger to follow, before signaling the three other members of Lizards squad to wait. She did not like being in charge at this moment. Raccoon pinged back to Hawk's SOS, she got a response from Lizard instead.
Mouse felt it too, she gestured for Monkey, Boar, and Raven to follow Stag and Tiger. She and Raccoon followed last. They weren't prepared for the all-out battle when they arrived in what had apparently been a secret ROOT base. Because at that moment it wasn't so secret anymore.
Raccoon went instantly to their fallen Squad leader, his breathing uneven. There was a tanto embedded in his lung. Mouse had to refocus because she almost lost her head. Damn ROOT members. She pulled out a kunai just in time to block an attack. Stag had made good use of the caves natural resources his dotan bases jutsus bought time for Mouse on several occasions.
Tiger helped guard Raccoon's back as she made quick work of healing their injured. Finally when it seemed like they had leeway from the ROOT agents. Mouse made the mistake of thinking it was over and ended up with a katana run through her lower abdomen. That traitor felt the wrath of Lizard's own katana as his head came clean off. Lizard obviously didn't appreciate traitors trying to kill his favorite member of Hawk's squad.
Mouse pulled the sword from her abdomen and flung it threw the neck of someone trying to kill Stag. She fell to the ground, Lizard knelt next to her he quickly applied pressure to the wound buying time for Raccoon as she rushed over to them.
"Come on Mouse, we've lost Hawk-tachio no sense in losing you too." Anbu was thought to be emotionless but they still felt things, and Hawk's squad had been together longer than most.
"I think that's the last of them." Lizard commented, he took account of his team it looked like Hawk wasn't the only casualty. Monkey was also among the fallen.
After a moment, Mouse sat up with help from Raccoon and Lizard. "What the hell happened, I thought this was recon only?" She demanded, her masked cracked from the first close call fell in two separate pieces and landed on the ground with a clank next to her.
"They were waiting for us, somehow they knew we were coming." Lizard spoke as Raccoon bandaged his bloodied hand.
"We can't possibly have a leak!" Mouse shouted, she was compromised Hawk was dead.
"There isn't another explanation Mouse." Lizard shot at her with a pained tone.
"Yes there is." Stag spoke quietly from his position across the room. Mouse almost hadn't heard him. They took his words into account and then Mouse cursed. She knew Hawk better than anyone, and if he thought they'd have a better chance for the confirmation that was need to convict the elder than he'd let information leak. It was after all not the first time he'd done something like that.
"Damn, Hawk knew they'd be waiting for us. It's what he wanted because we now have bodies." She grumbled, she stood with Raccoon's assistance. Lizard was right there next too them. A small noise caught there attention. Six eyes turned towards the noise.
They met the eyes of a small group of children, who were pale as ghost and looked frightened out of their minds. Mouse wrapped an arm around her stomach and leaned into Lizard. "Were not going to hurt you." Her voice was steady, the children regarded her cautiously but allowed her to approach.
"Anbu-san?" A small boy with purple eyes asked slowly. She nodded her head then and counted each child. There were a total of four children. The girl standing next to the boy pinched him.
"Hush, Danzo-sama said we aren't supposed to talk to strangers." Her voice was sharp. Mitsuko raised her brow. Finally a name. Something would actually come of the death of her squad captain.
"She's not a stranger Aiko, that Namikaze Mitsuko. My brother and her used to be teammates." Another little boy spoke up, he had green eyes and a family face.
"Hikaoru?" That boy had been a small child the last time she had seen him. He nodded his head as he rushed towards her. Lizard made move to block her from the child but she placed a hand on his arm and squatted down to the child's level. Hiding a wince from the medic staring her down with a calculated gaze.
Hikaoru threw his arm around her neck just like he'd done the night his brother had died. "What are you doing here?" She asked once she let him go. Mitsuko took in his worn appearance then, how had this happened?
"After brother died, mom became distant until one day this man came to the house to take me away from her. I've been here since then Namikaze-san." The seven year old spoke clearly turning to make a come on gesture to the three children. Mitsuko shook her head, she was going to fix this. She had to fix this.
"Do you want to go home?" Four little head nods and two anbu bodies sealed later the group of now ten made their way out of the base and back towards the village.
Stag carried Mouse after Raccoon stressed that she needed to take it easy. The children were in good enough shape to walk but were carried by the four remaining anbu to make the journey faster. Even with Hawk dead they had gotten what they needed, proof. They had that in the four children who didn't yet have seals. Children who could point a figure and say his name. It was no longer hearsay it was undeniable proof.
Although discretion was still used to confirm the proof and Yamanaka Inoichi was brought in secretly to confirm the children's stories. Mouse was with them through all of it. Everything Inoichi saw she was then shown. She promised them that they would not let Shimaru get away with this.
Sparrow was with her acting as a guard. "Orders Tachio?" Inoichi had confirmed their stories and would be bringing his conclusion to the Forth Hokage immediately. Mouse didn't want to be their squad's tachio, she wanted Hawk to be alive. He deserved it, to see his task through but it looks like she was going to have to finish for him. Even if she hadn't wanted this Mitsuko owed him that much at least.
"There will be a trail, the evidence will be brought before the clans and they will decide what to do with Shimaru. The remainder of our squad and Lizard's are being tasked with ensuring the evidence doesn't turn up lost or killed." Her tone cold emotionless as she spoke, her nails dug into her skin as she watched the children closely. They were innocent in all this, plucked from their homes taken from their families. She didn't even want to think about what they'd already seen what he had already subjected them too. Those four and any more that they found would need major reconditioning if they still wanted to become shinobi.
"And Dog's plant problem?" Mouse turned her face towards Sparrow eyes sharp. That was Dog's bed and he would have to lie in it.
"He'll be brought in for questioning but in the meantime Dog still has to watch him. His problem not ours." Sparrow nodded his head, silence became them.
…..
Mitsuko never thought the day she'd be happy to attend a council meeting would occur. Today was however a special occasion. For today that traitorous bastard Danzo would finally get his death sentence. She would be bringing forth the evidence, and then the witnesses.
Anbu had managed to capture the devious old man and were keeping him contained in the isolation ward. Any and all ROOT members who tried to free him were dealt with accordingly. And with one month to go before her nephew would enter this world Mitsuko felt proud that this problem would be over and dealt with.
"Mouse-tachio, if you'd please." Minato spoke from his position at the front of the war room as she liked to refer to it. The room itself was rather large and could seat several around a long oval table. A podium at the front of the room was given to whoever was speaking. Mouse however didn't use it as she decided to keep her stance of leaning against the wall behind him. And so she began with the case.
Mouse went through the whole deal how the tip had been given to investigate through an anonymous source. How Hawk's squad had been tasked with the investigation after they brought the information to the Third who wanted these rumors gotten to the bottom of. She sang the tale like a good little canary painting the picture of a corrupt system running with in their own black opps that needed to be smoked out. Next she went into details about what the rumors pertained and who they were about. Finally she brought forth all the evidence spoke of the mission that killed two of their operatives and of the children that were found.
Inoichi took over after that, and he explained everything he saw within the children's mind. Of the tortures the faced and witnessed. And finally after forty-five minutes Mouse told Sparrow's story and everything that had happened to him.
"Just so you know that this accusation isn't made lightly. We've taken a lot of time looking into the matter, and we've lost people to it. Shimaru Danzo is a traitor to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, who took our children from us to raise his own army just so he could that hat." Mouse's voice was void of all feeling, because finally it was out in the air. After this it would finally be over and done with.
The clan heads were silent, as if they had to process everything. In the silence Minato took control of the room. Mouse dismissed herself. Her brother would let her know of their choice later but now she needed to get out of there. With all their eyes on her she felt exposed.
Mouse did not cherish that feeling.
….
Dog had been the one to sent out to look for her once the clan heads had reached a verdict. He found her sitting on the Second Hokage's stone carved head. Mouse's mask was sat beside her, she didn't look up at him. "The council of clan's made their decision." His tone heavy. Mitsuko knew the verdict already.
"I know. Take a seat Hatake-kun." Her voice was soft spoken. Dog slipped the mask over his face and was folded into her genjutsu to conceal them.
"After you left it got very loud for a few minutes. It wasn't until Sarutobi-sama spoke did everyone settle down. However the decision was pretty easy, all the clan heads agreed that Shimaru should face punishment for his actions. They'll have him executed." She hummed her agreement finally turning to look at the slightly younger boys face.
"Good, Sparrow will probably want to be the one who swings the sword. He deserves it." Danzo had taken everything from her squad mate, if anyone deserved it more than Sparrow she'd yet to meet them.
"Mitsuko?" Her name, a billion questioned asked with just her name. Mitsuko shook her head and picked up her mask.
"I'll be alright." She slipped the mask back onto her face, Kakashi followed suit. Mouse turned and glanced back out over the village one last time. She prayed that this would help make them safe.
"Let's go."
…
The night Naruto was born was a complete disaster Mitsuko decide. It had started like any other day in Konoha. Well for the villagers at least, Mitsuko was buried in paperwork following the execution of the elder Danzo and even a month later she still hadn't gotten through all of it. Jiriaya had returned home a week later and had congratulated her on the accomplishment, she also learned he had known about her ease dropping that night and was glade she ran with it.
Mitsuko was going through ROOT files when Stag broke her window and jumped into her apartment fighting off a white creature. "What the hell Stag!" She demanded after they killed the thing.
"The village is over run with these things and the Hokage is nowhere to be found." Her eyes bulged at him, she threw her hands up.
"Just great, okay find Sparrow. I need you two to start evacuating civilians and the genin to the caves, whatever those things are they don't mean good." Stag nodded his head just as Sparrow appeared in her apartment.
"Way ahead of you Tachio, Lizard's squad and Dog's squad are already on it. Raccoon has located the Hokage it seems his wife has gone into early labor." Sparrow informed her. Mitsuko threw the closest object. It happened to be one of the files she was going through, paper flew around the trio.
"Damnit all!" She needed a plan, and she needed a plan fast. Mitsuko had been so caught up in the Shimaru's investigation that she hadn't been paying attention.
"Someone figure out the location of Dog's teammates Uchiha Obito and Noharu RIn. Last time those things were around they went after the Uchiha." Because of his distant relation to a certain someone who was supposed to be dead. Stag took that as his order and vanished. Mitsuko turned to Sparrow.
"You're with me, we've got to find my brother." Sparrow nodded his head and followed after the blonde woman. Mitsuko closed her eyes and searched for her brother's chakra. She could feel her eyes itching and damn it all if she was going to save him. Her life matter little at that moment. Gotcha!
"Sparrow grab my arm and hold on, this might hurt." She displaced the reality around them before willing them to Minato's location.
Minato was just outside a cave fighting a man in blank white mask. Mitsuko made gestures at Sparrow to find Kushina as she joined the fight. "This looks like fun." She commented sarcastically as she dodged the kunai of the masked man.
"Having a blast." Minato made that caustic remark at her as he took a step back to avoid being hit.
"Would you two shut up!" The masked man growled. She felt a Sparrow's chakra surge, and Raccoon's reply. Mitsuko could count on those two to make sure her sister would be fine.
Mitsuko ducked to dodge another attack, using the masked man size to her advantage she landed a kick to his knee. He continued on with his assault, she could see glowing red eyes behind the mask then. This was not going to end well.
He managed to finally hit her, she could feel the blood dripping out of her nose now. A pain searing in her temple she ignored them both and pressed on. She would not allow this faceless man to kill her family. However while she was caught up in her fight with the nameless Uchiha and swarm of the white creatures tore through the tree line.
"Ani we have company." Minato made a clone, but it wouldn't be enough.
She could feel the heat before she saw who cast the flames. Obito looked pissed, she noticed as she pivoted around her attacker. "Sensei, we'll take care of these guys." He was accompanied by Stag, a mask-less Kakashi, and Rin.
Mitsuko got another ping from Raccoon's chakra. She slid between the man's legs to avoid losing and eye and then yelled at Rin. "Raccoon need help, she's with Kushina!" Rin took off in the direction of the anbu medic.
"Your fight is with me girl." He managed another hit on her, this was caused her to nearly black out. Her vision was spotty as she stood. She whipped the blood from her nose, grabbed her brother's arm and moved him from that spot to prevent him taking a kunai to the shoulder.
They ended up inside the cave, Mitsuko took one look at the woman and knew that they were going to see furry tonight. She used the trick again this time to put herself back in the path of the angry Uchiha. Obito , Stag, and Kakashi seemed to be doing fine on their own and it seemed that at some point Sparrow had joined them. Huh, she wondered how she had missed that. Everything from the last ten minutes was becoming fuzzy to her.
The Uchiha aimed an attack toward the group defending the area unfortunately for him Mitsuko redirected it back at him. He dodge but only barely. "Your fight's with me asshole." And that would have been true but while she had been distracted by his attack towards her fellows she hadn't realized he managed to get what he wanted. Then suddenly a huge fox was over head, its nine tails crashing around him.
Anger swelled inside her, she would not let that man hurt anymore people she loved. Mitsuko gathered all her strength a gold light engulfed her presence. What happened next was lost to which fate that decided to spare her.
…..
When Mitsuko came too it she was certain of two things. The first was that several days had past, and the second was that somehow her brother had survived the night. How did she know these things, it was simple really her brother was sitting next to her bedside holding a sleeping baby. "Hey." She grumbled softly trying to sit up. Minato turned sharp eyes on her that told her to stay put.
"How do you feel?" Minato questioned softly. Mitsuko blinked trying to get the double vision to settle.
"Like I was trampled on by a horse." Her throat burned with each word, she really needed a drink. But she took account of something the missing presence of a certain red head.
"Where is Shina-nee?" She asked as Minato skillfully handed her a glass of water while keeping one arm on the baby.
"She's at home asleep, this one kept her up all night." Mitsuko relaxed whew she had been scared for a minute that something had happened to her big sister.
"What happened?" Mitsuko wondered out loud, Minato frowned at her. Because what she did bought them enough time to reseal the nine-tails safely.
"You don't remember?" She shook her head in a no motion wincing in slight pain.
"Well I don't really know how to explain it then. I sealed half of the nine tails chakra into Naruto, and Kushina sealed the other half back into herself. She hadn't been strong enough to seal the whole thing." Minato explained quietly. The location of the fox was common knowledge in anbu, but Mitsuko had known long before joining that Kushina was its carrier.
"But she's okay? How did you seal the fox into him?" Morbid curiosity always did get the best of her. Mitsuko was certain in another life that had been what killed her brother.
"You left enough of the assailant alive that I used his soul for the Dead Demon Consuming Seal or a least a variant of it." Minato mused to himself.
"I thought preparation had been made to unsure it wouldn't be released?" Preparation she had been too distracted from to be a part of.
"It wasn't enough, somehow someone found out. We have good reason to believe that Uchiha Madara is still out there." Minato muttered darkly. Mitsuko gasped, but he couldn't tell if it was from the pain or shock.
"Ever since we found those things you knew there could be a chance." She commented wearily. Minato shook his head at her then stood.
"Get some rest Imouto, I'll bring Kushina by to see you tomorrow." With his son held close to his chest he bent down and kissed her forehead before leaving her to the solitude of the room.
Mitsuko then wondered how much damage she'd done to herself this time. Because if she went by how she felt it could mean anything. Minato must have told the nurse on his way out that she was awake because not even five minutes passed before her squad appeared in her room. Raccoon without her mask checked her vitals. "You scared us Tachio." She sure as hell didn't feel like there tachio in that moment.
"Sorry Kaoru." She muttered as she was once again stopped from moving. Stag who was calmly leaned against the window spoke, he was also missing his mask.
"I've been asked to join the Hokage's Guard Platoon." Mitsuko nodded her head with a wince, she had suggested him after the Danzo incident was settled.
"I know." She informed him as Kaoru adjusted the pillow behind her head. Sparrow settled on the bed next to her right side. His mask laid across his lap a large crack ran down the center of it. When had it broken?
"Raccoon, Stag, can you give Sparrow and I a moment alone please?" She asked softly the two they nodded their heads in understanding before disappearing.
Mitsuko forced herself to sit up ignoring the pain as she did so. She reached forward and grabbed Sparrow's hand making him look up at her. "I don't know who I am anymore." His words were quiet but he knew she had heard them. Hawk used to pull him back together, now it seemed like it was her job.
"You are Sparrow. My Sparrow, I need you. Raccoon and Stag they need you. You watch are backs, just like we watch yours." Her voice was soft but her tone firm. She needed him to get this.
"But who am I when I know longer have this." He held the split mask up for her to see. She took it from him, her finger traced the crack.
"That's up to you Sparrow, but just like with Raccoon and Stag even when the mask are off I still look after them. Just like I will with you." She couldn't be harsh like Hawk, no that wasn't who she was. Mouse was gentle, she was kind, and Mouse fiercely loved and protected her own.
She held the mask out to him. Sparrow took it with two shaking hands. He could be her Sparrow, he could watch out for Raccoon and Stag. But Mouse was right he needed to figure out who he was when the mask was off. The man went to stand, Mitsuko grabbed his wrist she had one last thing to say.
"You still have a future, know that whoever you decide to become they have a future and I will always be here for you. Sparrow?" He nodded his head slowly.
"Hai tachio." He slipped the cracked mask over his face, Mitsuko smiled down into her lap. "Get that fixed Sparrow." Sparrow smirked under his mask then left.
XOXOX
So tell me what you think! I'm so excited that so many people have favorited and followed this story but I would love to hear from you guys. So leave a comment and tell me what you think!
How sad Hawk-tachio is dead :'( Mouse isn't taking it well. On another note Danzo is dead and Naruto has been born! WOOT WOOT! Also on Sparrow, his character is based loosely on 'Huck' from ABC's Scandal. So if you've seen scandal and notice a slight familiarity it's because when I thought of Sparrow's character I wanted him to be lost without the guidance of Mouse.
10 points to whoever can guess who Stag is in the Naruto universe. I might have changed up the cannon a bit with him but it will be alright 'cause this story is an AU. Haha!
Raccoon's character Kaoru is totally made up. Just know she's a bastard Uchiha and is overprotective of Mouse.
Alright thank you so much for taking your time to read my story! I'll try to update soon.
Sicerelly, La'Rae
Music Inspiration for this chapter
Si Deus Me Relinquit(extended piano cover) -TweedleDee1
Dean's Family Dedication Theme(piano cover)- 3HeadedMonkey
Battlefield -Svcrina