Me-Uhh…Hi everyone? What are those for?
Angry Mob of Readers- Get him!
Me- Ahhhh! Please enjoy this extremely late chapter while I try and lose this mob. Haha!
Chapter 20
Unknown Location…Weeks after the Chunin Exam Incident…
It was a cold night as the storm over head came closer to the forest. The night animals and sounds that they made were soothing to the campers in the forest. The small fire pit they had made was able to warm up all the occupants. Movements in the forests caught the campers' attention but relaxed when they saw it was just one of their many comrades from patrol. As the man got closer to the camp it began to rain over the camp. The men started to move around hurriedly as the rain started to get even stronger. As they started to finish setting up a make shift roof out of a tent to keep the rain out, a flash of lightning caught the attention of the campers. The sound was deafening and could have been no less than a mile away.
"Hope it isn't anywhere any trees…" said one of the men. Another figure next to him nodded in agreement. Another flash of lightning made them return back to the campsite. Just when they sat down next to the fire a large man with scars and tattoo's that covered his body approached them. He was bald and had an eye patch in his left eye. He wore nothing on his upper body and had some ragged pants on that completed his Nin bandit uniform.
"You two!" the man's voice boomed almost as loud as the thunder storm. The other men stood at attention in front of the man. "Sir!" they responded with nervous looks.
"One of our patrols hasn't reported back. I want you two to check out their last known location northwest of here. When you find them I want you to bring them back. If you can't find them then stay out there until you do!" The man pointed to the dark forest to emphasize his point. The men nodded nervously and picked up some torches and weapons to help in their search.
When the men left through the forest the bandit leader walked towards his spot in the fire pit. He's had a long day and its gone great up to this point. His gang was able to steal three carts of supplies, steal precious items off travelers, and get his gang numbers almost to triple digits. Then came the patrol. The gang never reports late. The consequences were too great. He sat down and though of what tomorrow's spoils will bring. As he began to fall asleep he looked at his right arm. What has given him such luck so far was the strange yet powerful weapon his men found near the ocean, where the great Village Hidden in the Whirlpools used to lie. Now it's just a vast ocean of dangerous sea waves and animals. The object shined gold in the fire light. He turned it on with a flick of his wrist. Blue light in the form of a saber extended from the object and illuminated the campsite. Some of his soldiers looked at him and stared in awe. It was a strange weapon….
The Next Day…
The bandit leader stood up as the early morning sun hit his eye. He touched his left eye and mentally yelled. He had put on a torn brown cloak on before he went to sleep last night. He looked around the campsite and noticed that it was still raining. His followers were all still asleep and snoring loudly he turned to his left and saw one of his soldiers awake. The bandit leader made a motion with his left hand and indicated him to come over. The man looked at the bandit leader and nodded as he walked towards the bandit leader.
"Has the missing patrol from yesterday report back yet?" the bandit leader asked. The man nodded his head and pointed to a small group of men near the middle of the camp. "What took them so long?" the bandit leader asked as he began to walk towards the sleeping group. "They didn't say sir. They just came into the campsite five hours after you have fallen asleep and went right to sleep in the middle of the camp. They didn't respond to anything we said and just…" the man waved his hand towards the sleeping group. The bandit leader huffed and walked towards the group. He reached one of the men asleep and was about to kick him awake when the man caught his foot. The bandit leader looked wide eyed in shock at the 'man' in front of him. 'He' was a 'she'. She had jet black hair that was about waist length with a hint of blue. She had chocolate brown eyes and pale skin that matched her ANBU Black Ops Uniform. Her ANBU mask was of a black bird, crow or raven perhaps. The hardest thing to comprehend for the bandit leader was that the whole group she was with was actually more ANBU Black Ops. He looked down at the girl in front of him again and realized she was still holding his foot. But before he could even think of trying to kick her again the girl twisted his ankle and shoved him away from her and into the other man behind him. As the man behind him fell, he yelled and awoke everyone in the camp. As the other bandits awoke the ANBU made a small circle of eight including the girl from the ground.
"Utama Sakatori…by the order of the Leaf Village Hokage-" One of the ANBU began. The Bandit Leader, Utama, stood up and threw a kunai at the ANBU. The ANBU dodged and the battle began. Bandit Nin and ANBU fought in the camp but the ending was already known. The bandit group wasn't as well prepared as the ANBU and had nowhere as close as the ANBU training. Five to ten minutes later the bandit army was annihilated, save Utama and the man that fell. Utama stared at his army and contemplated his chances. He wouldn't get far unless…
The ANBU started to advance when Utama threw his cloak at them. The ANBU heard a click and a sort of hiss as Utama flicked his wrist. Blue light came from what looked like a golden gauntlet. The female ANBU gasped as she stared at the weapon. The other ANBU looked at the weapon and slowly backed away from Utama.
"What is that thing?" an ANBU asked. Utama laughed and charged recklessly to the ANBU group. He slashed at one of the ANBU's and managed to cut his right arm off by pure surprise. The ANBU fell to the ground and yelled in agony. His cat mask was sprayed with his own blood. The good thing was that the blade was so hot it cauterized his wound. The bad thing was that he needed a hospital and one of the ANBU'S charged at Utama. Utama turned around and met the Raven ANBU. The ANBU attacks were erratic and reckless, causing many of her team members to look at her in surprise. Her small weapon, a kunai, was able to hit the golden part of the gauntlet but not the blade itself. Utama noticed this and decided it was his best shot. He blocked a couple more times until he decided to slash at the ANBU's chest plate. The wound that was inflicted caused the ANBU around to stare at their leader in disbelief. She was actually hurt, with blood spilling from her chest. Her chest plate was slashed opened with a wound starting from above her right shoulder and ended near the center of her chest. While Utama laughed the female ANBU took fast intakes of air as she glared at her opponent. Her eyes seemed to turn into a shade of red as she held onto her wound, trying to keep as much blood inside as possible. Utama looked at the ANBU and ran towards her, intending to finish the fight. She saw the attack coming this time and backed flipped away and kicked Utama in the chin. He staggered a bit but that was all that was needed for the ANBU squad to take the man down. Utama yelled in rage as he raised his arm to kill the ANBU on top of him. Before he got his chance though, someone stepped on his arm and removed the gauntlet. He looked up to see the chocolate brown eyes of the ANBU he just tried to kill. The gauntlet self-deactivated and was held in the ANBU's bloody hands as the ANBU squad hauled him up.
Utama smirked and caused the ANBU around him to see what he was smirking at. As they turned they saw their squad leader falling to the ground. One of the ANBU caught her and checked her pulse. He looked at the squad and started to yell orders. "Squad A, take the prisoner's to the leaf village! Squad B, help the squad leader and the other ANBU get to the hospital now! The rest of you help me clear this place of any other bandit Nin. I don't want to get attacked while we go home. Move out!" All the squads, each made up of two man teams went to their destinations. As the squad that took Utama away left, the squad leader started to stir. This caused the reaming ANBU to look at her. She pointed at the gauntlet that wasn't to far away. One of the ANBU received it and gave it to her. She held it close as she was escorted away by her team members…
Hours Later in Konoha's Hospital…Intensive Care Ward…Kagome P.O.V.
A constant beep was heard nearby, followed by something that sounded closely to a respirator. Constant talking over an intercom of sorts was heard nearby with the footsteps and chatter of people. The constant sounds of the area were broken when someone started to argue with someone else.
"I'm sorry sir but she isn't stable yet. She's had massive trauma to her body due to blood loss and battle damage, she probably can't even talk if she wanted." A female stated with a hint of annoyance but strangely with respect.
"I don't care if she's been half blown up, I want to see her NOW!" a young, angry voice yelled. There was constant shuffling outside when a crash of some sorts was audible nearby. Yelling assumed followed by more crashes and breaking of objects.
"Sir, Stop!" the same female voice yelled. A door was opened nearby followed by a startled scream. "Oops! Sorry Ms. I didn't realize this was the restroom…" The door shut and the heavy footsteps got closer. "Higurashi!" someone yelled nearby as a door opened. Many footsteps, leading one to believe many people went inside the room or security was heading towards the voice in room, were heard.
Normal P.O.V.
Kagome was peacefully on the hospital bed asleep or in a coma; no one was able to tell unless she woke up soon. Kakashi, Sakura, the Hokage (and his escort of course), the entire Akatsuki, and some of her team members from the ANBU squad were all in the same room she was to see how she was doing. The female nurse that tried to stop the group came at the door and took in quick breaths. "I told you Hokage, sir, she isn't fully healed yet. She-" she was interrupted when Kakashi raised his hand, but again Marina, a female ANBU in Kagome's team had to butt in. "Then why is she in the ICU ward and not in the ER?" Everyone looked at Marina with surprised looks. Marina smiled sheepishly and started to rub the back of her head.
"Hey I can be smart sometimes…" Marina stated. Everyone sweat dropped as she started to twiddled her thumbs and whistles a tune. As the nurse tried to answer Marina's stroke of genius moment, everyone began to argue with one each other on weather to stay or go. One of the ANBU moved up to Kagome and sat next to her. The ANBU reached for Kagome's hand and held it in hers.
She removed her face mask of a wolf and revealed her blue sapphire eyes. Her jet black hair fell to her waist and her red chocker hugged her slender neck. "Hey mom…" The ANBU said with sad voice. Everyone in the room stopped their conversations and stared at the two. The ANBU smiled sadly as she looked at the sleeping form of Kagome. The ANBU was awakening from her stupor when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see the female nurse.
"We'll make sure to inform all of you of when she is awake and ready to speak to you all…now please leave her be for now." The female nurse stated. The group started to reluctantly leave but they all stopped when they heard a distant voice in the hallway.
"Uhh excuse me…can you point me towards the direction of Kagome Higurashi's room please? I'm a friend." A female voice asked. Everyone in the room looked at each other and was about to ask the nurse what was going on when there was a knock on the door. The door slid open to reveal a woman with brown eyes and black hair.
Saying she was different from most would be an understatement. She wore some old samurai armor that looked too heavy for one but easy for her. She looked around the room and noticed Kagome on the bed. She completely ignored the looks of others and walked towards Kagome.
"Hey Kagome wake up you lazy bones." The woman said, scorning Kagome as if she was scolding a child. Someone was about to mention to the strange woman that Kagome was in a coma when the woman thumped Kagome on the head. Everyone would have sweat dropped if it hadn't been for Kagome stirring awake. The room erupted into a chorus.
"Kagome!"
"Where…Am I?" Kagome asked. She looked around the room and saw that most of everyone she knew was here. Her throat was dry and she looked to her right. There she saw a cup of water.
"Hmm…convenient." Kagome thought as she reached for it and started to drink from it. She turned back to the group and spit everything she had just drunk when she saw Midoriko. Midoriko closed her eyes in annoyance and wiped her face.
"So…you're finally awake I take? Good to see that. So how you been?" the older miko asked. Kagome stared at Midoriko with a shocked expression. "You haven't sent mail in a while Midoriko, why is that?" Kagome asked as her shock wore off. Midoriko smiled. "I had a few errands to run and some of them took longer than expected, nothing to worry about Kagome. So I see you got situated quiet well in this world?" Midoriko asked as she looked around the room. Kagome was about to answer when Midoriko interrupted. "Hey where are Minamoto and his siblings?" The room suddenly got a lot more silent and Midoriko caught on it. She looked at Kagome and saw that Kagome had her head down, chin touching her chest. An older man with an escort of ten Nin, not all in the room Midoriko noticed, walked towards Midoriko.
"The Mystics known as Karakuto and Serikuna had left to their realm about a year ago…" The Hokage stated. Midoriko looked at the Hokage to go on because she has yet to hear of what happened to Gakuto. The Hokage hesitated and looked at Midoriko in the eyes. "Gakuto Minamoto is presumed dead after he went missing almost two years ago. Dozens of search parties were sent throughout the land to find him and no trace has been found. Only recently have we acquired that belonged to the once Minamoto Gakuto- a gauntlet that forms a bright blade of blue energy. It was found on a bandit leader named Utama Sakatori. He was interrogated by are best interrogator and said that he found the gauntlet near a pedestal or shrine of some sort near the Land of Whirlpools. A team is being sent there as soon as-." At this point Kagome raised her head quickly and stood up from the bed. She bowed in front of the Hokage and didn't raise her head until she began to talk. Her injuries and bruises apparently already healed.
"Lord Hokage! I wish to join this team that is going to the Land of Whirlpools!" Kagome stated. The Hokage looked at Kagome and smiled. He laid a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
"If only I was still Hokage Ms. Higurashi." At that everyone looked at the Hokage with a shocked expression. Kagome was that first to voice her mind. "How long have I've been out?! Why aren't you Hokage anymore? What happened?" the Hokage started to move the pipe in his hands and then put it in his mouth.
"I'm resigning. I'm getting way too old for this crap and the fight with Orochimaru proved that. Now because I'm resigning, in order for anyone to do anything outside the village, they must have the approval of the next Hokage. So there is no need to worry about the team leaving without you because one- The next Hokage needs to approve of such an action and two- you're leading and making up the team. It must be a small one, preferably a six man team to keep most Nin in the village in case of danger." The Hokage nodded and started to leave the room. Kagome stood there and yelled at the Hokage. "What if we help find your successor quicker?" The Hokage turned around and nodded.
"A duo is going to look for her as well. Maybe you'll see your friend Naruto there too. Good luck Ms. Higurashi, you'll need it." The Hokage nodded and left the hospital with his entourage. Kagome turned around to be met by more questioning looks than understanding looks. She nodded and ran out of the hospital window from her room she felt some of the bandages come off and some beat against her skin as she ran as fast as she could towards her location. She sensed the others from her room move behind her, trying to catch up. She smiled and went even faster.
When she reached her location she went up to a large, imposing figure, a rugged head and face covered with old wounds and scars. His head was covered by a rag of sorts.
"Hey Ibiki, you have a prisoner that had a strange weapon on his hand? Mind if I get the weapon out of the evidence locker?" Kagome smiled as she looked up at the stoic man. Ibiki Morino looked at Kagome and noticed her condition. She wasn't wearing her ANBU mask and her ANBU armor were torn in some places with blood stains and bandages around them, some loose and other tight around the wound. He motioned for her to follow her and walked towards the building. As they walked in they went straight to the right and went down a set of stairs. A door blocked their path but Ibiki simply walked up to it and knocked a couple times in code. A set of locks and dings opened and revealed an ANBU and his team behind the door as soon as he saw who it was he moved out of the way. The room was dark and indescribable. But what were able to be seen were cases that had a duo of ANBU guards over each case, the cases themselves lit by an unknown source. There were many cases with scrolls and weapons but Kagome and Ibiki walked straight towards a certain case.
(A/N: I suggest listening to: Two Steps from Hell - Sons of War at this point, repeat if you want until the chapter is over, thank-you.)
The gauntlet stood on a pedestal and was protected by two ANBU, just like the rest. The only difference was the case was cleaned recently to add this new piece. Ibiki nodded to the ANBU and motioned for them to open the case. The ANBU nodded back and took out two keys that weren't ever exactly the same. Ibiki did the same and all three inserted their keys at the same time. The case opened with a hiss and Kagome reached in for the gauntlet. She looked and gasped in awe as the Sun Gauntlet automatically jumped at her wrist like a spider lunging for it's pray. The ANBU and Ibiki immediately pulled out their weapons as if the weapon had a mind of its own. She waved her hand at them and walked out of the room and out of the building. Turning the gauntlet this way and that and admiring its craftsmanship as she kept walking she noticed what looked like the activation switch. She looked around and noticed that her pursuers' were still quite a ways away. She waited a couple minutes and saw her soon to be sparring partner.
"Itachi!" Itachi Uchiha turned at his name and almost screamed in surprise as Kagome ran towards him with something in her hand. The gauntlet in her hand turned on as everyone came into the clearing to see Itachi trying to block Minamoto's famed gauntlet. Itachi used his sword and blocked with all his might as Kagome used the gauntlet. "Kagome, what are you doing?!" Itachi yelled. Kagome grinned and swiped at his legs. He jumped and saw something that made his eyes widen. The saber had grown to the length of a spear in no less than a second after he took his eyes off it. "Sparring!" Kagome yelled and ran towards Itachi, the spear returning to normal size, swiping the saber side to side as she ran towards her. He grinned back and produced shadow clones in the dozens to help him. They ran at each other as Kagome neared and her saber dissipated more than half his clones. The rest of the clones and Itachi jumped in the air behind Kagome when they all looked at Kagome she was on one knee and aiming the saber at them.
"I win…" Kagome grinned as the saber opened and created an orb of electricity. Once it touched the end of the pincers it launched hundreds of orbs into the sky. Straight towards Itachi and his clones. "Shit!" The Itachi's stated simultaneously as the orbs hit each clone and exploded. When the real Itachi moved and blocked the incoming orbs he senses were flaring everywhere around him he looked everywhere for the source but was too late. He felt a gush of air head straight for him and hit him in the back. He went right through the ground. As the smoke and dust cleared everyone stared in awe at Kagome as she put her head on a defeated Itachi.
Kagome smiled and laughed. "Who's next?"
I guess I lost the mob for now. So before you all ask, the gauntlet gives the wearer a sense of invincibility and morale boost, such as when one is having an adrenaline rush but ten times stronger. Remember the gauntlet is giving the wearer "A Sense" as in I believe in this, the power Kagome has shown was all her own. Hope to see you all soon.