Chapter 12: Mad Hatter
Following the clues from the building where he found Naruto, the Old Hermit made his way to the other sites that they searched into years ago after the arrest. The buildings there weren't demolished as well and was thankful for a minute.
The streets were but devoid of lively activites. The people there were frightened upon his arrival and made it quick to actually disown him part of the human society.
What with face paint and attire one would think he's from the old era of samurais and stuff. Walking onwards he passed by an Old Lady, bless her soul, happened to be nearly blind due to age, called out to him.
"Young man, why are you here? Th-there is nothing here for you" coughing, she managed to stand from her rickety rocking chair. She put on her glasses and nearly fell back when she finally saw who he was.
"Silence is my friend," whispering urgently as she attempted to holler his name in indignation. "How have you been Chichiyo-sama". Bowing to the venerated robotics genius.
"Its been a long time since someone called me by my name," smiling widely causing the crinkles on her face to worsen. "Come, I know you didn't came here just for the pleasantries," eyeing his attire and remembering the last time he went like this is when Orochimaru was first arrested for human experimentation. "Old Hermit, its been that long huh."
"Yes, Chichiyo-sama. I'm afraid we would be needing your wisdom on this again." Frowning as he remembered the first time he asked for her advice on the matter that is Orochimaru. He had a quick flashback of what she adviced him to do. Needless to say, it severed them permanently.
Following the revered Puppet Master, he saw that her house although looks like the other houses has a complex security system. She stared blankly onto the bell ringer all the while tapping the brick in front of her in a rhythm only she knows. After a minute the tapping ended and she then entered the vicinity. "If it were anyone else they would be neutralized from where they stand." she said it with such assurance that the Old Hermit became even more wary for her.
"Now now, don't look at me like that ofcourse it was a joke. I'm just messing with you." the tone was assuring but with the Puppet Master, nothing is ever as it seems to be.
Remembering the time they were fishing he actually dozed off. He casually joked about it on the sleeping Chichiyo who seemed a little too 'motionless' and quiet. Expecting the worst, he slowly reached for her, just before his hands touched the cloth she busted out laughing and saying she's tough to kill and even tougher to die because of old age. Jiraiya was so stunned he wasn't breathing the whole time she was bragging how he was duped.
"Flatteries and jokes aside, what brought you here. With that attire of yours I suspose he is going to do something he'll be regreting", the venerated old woman said as she tottered, passing by koi ponds, into the house. Jiraiya followed and immediately felt at peace as he listened on the rhythmic drumming and sloshing of bamboo and water.
"It's so relaxing here, why stay outside?", he was then greeted by an all too familiar sound of bickering. Opening one eye, he saw Deidara and Sasori arguing. What seemed to be a heated conversation they walked in Chichiyo doesn't mind it all. What with flying clay and wires every which where, she just strolled along the chaos as if it didn't even existed in the first place.
"Uhmm so this is where Sasori and Deidara retire to after office..?", a questioning eyebrow shot up on Chichiyo's face as if the answer wasn't obvious enough for him to have that thought process. "Someone needs a vacation I presume...", the Puppet Master muttered under her breath. An explosion of somesort was heard behind them, turning around they saw a limping spider-like robot, wheezing it's motors and ambling away from the two bickering teenagers. "Are they always this...Uhmm.. Riot-y?", blinking with disbelief that the two actually argues this intense.
Sighing audibly, she opened a sliding panel on her cane, pointed it towards the two that were arguing and pressed a button. Upon doing so, 4 needle like darts shot out, barely making a sound as they travelled and hit the intended targets. In less that 15 seconds they stopped moving but were still able to move their mouths, albeit with difficulty, they still argued with refreshed vigor.
"That was supposed to be used incase you want to interrogate a fleeing idiot. I swear the venom I use will be useless soon because of these two idiots developing immunity to it." Skulking like a child, Chichiyo moved along her house and turned to a wall decorated with indecipherable characters. Each letter had a small opening. The Old Hermit watched on as the Puppet Master methodically pressed into the holes her cane.
The wall moved and revealed a series of steps leading towards the basement. The staircase was lighted up with small fluorescent bulbs that give big shadows. "Follow me", despite her age, the Puppet Master still has her complete set of whitewashed teeth that seemed all too doll like.
If it were any other, the Old Hermit would be very hesitant and wary. But he wasn't just anybody. So to speak, the Old Hermit followed her walk the long flight of steps all the while echoing his iconic geta as further he went down the abyss.
"You know, it's been long since I have seen action. Do you suppose I may be still of use?" Chichiyo teased her old comrade trying to dissipate the tense ambiance that is fast approaching them.
"Aaah, you never fail to stand up on the occasion but alas Chichiyo-san, the fledgings have but taken hold of the best parts already.", chuckling as he remembered Kiba being given the most important and ardous task of all, "It'll be long and hard before we see any action worth dying for but we will take any help that is offered."
They both knew that it was all in jest and that the true problem lies in the contigent variables which are only two. Orochimaru and Kabuto. Which will quickly change because of the new informations being turned up as time goes by and with the looks of it, it is neither promising good news if the news itself is anything to be looking forward to.
"As of now, from my investigation, Kabuto is in possession of a test tube with a label that I am familiar with years ago. The only question I have been thinking now is how come the vial survive despite years of it being exposed to the elements." This stumped the Old Hermit, knowledgable or not. Anyone with an ounce of grey matter in their thick skulls would know that serums or liquids exposed to air would soon be gone and those vials that are not kept within specialized containers would also perish.
The Puppet Master cackled a terrible senile laugh that became even more creepy as it echoed around them. "You shouldn't be surprised with the resources of your enemies dear child." The steps now changed into cold marbled stones which leveled soon after.
"You, of all people, should know that Kabuto is a prodigy child." Chichiyo, settled herself on a chair near various bubbling vials of different colors and volumes. The smoke that comes out of each is filtered into a tube that merges with other tubes and finally into large beakers.
The Old Hermit dare not tinker with any of it for fear of dying even before the mission has concluded. "You never did left off brewing your own poisons." Eyeing one particular beaker that closely resembles his hair color.
"That one is used as hemorrhageing agent." Goes to where the Old Hermit is and proceeds to take a small sample via a syringe. She then went to an adjacent area where lab rats scurry at the sight of her. Promptly she ducks her hand in one of the aquariums and plucked out a terrified mouse. With the grace of a true servant of medicine, she plunged the syringe and injected the precious small amount of poison.
Dropping the mouse on the medicine tray, the Old Hermit watched as the mouse drifted from being concious to unconcious. It's life blood seeping away steadily on the the small puncture would the syringe left. The mouse's body convulsed and less than under three minutes, the tray was filled with blood.
"This is one of my latest concoctions and for you I will entrust a few precious drops." Chichiyo produced a pouch containing ten needles and a gun. The Old Hermit stayed his hand and watched Chichiyo with frightful eyes, he never did liked such methods.
"[sigh] You should not be picky with the help you are being given. Besides, these that I'am giving you are inferior versions. The effects will fade after two minutes." Chuckling at his disoriented face. "An average human with a serious wound will last five minutes, now if he were lucky, it would be six minutes."
"But this is almost too cruel, Chichiyo-sama", Refusing to accept the deadly gift. "I came here to seek only information, not to lay waste to lives yet to be cut." Frowning, he looked at the plants that inhabit the low ceilings and other aquariums whose contents he rather not know.
"Ever the preserver. But you must know, that Orochimaru doesn't hold the same interests at heart." Looking at the Old Hermit's tired eyes as if to emphasize the gravity of his former colleague's monstrosity.
"But he-..." He was cut by the stern voice of the Puppet Master. "YOU, of all people, SHOULD know that Orochimaru will stop at NOTHING." Slamming her old wrinkled fists on the table, it rattled the dead mouse's body and frightened the still living ones.
"You are still mad at him for what he did." Remembering the death of Sasori's parents. It was a joint venture made by Suna agents to that of Fire Leaf. It was truly an accident but the grieving party are yet to accept that as an explanation.
The Puppet Master looked way beyond her years for a brief moment as her eyes glazed over, remembering the once happy and always smiling Sasori. "I would give anything, EVERYTHING just to see that boy smile once more." and just as fast as the feeling came, her usual self returned. "I am old but not too keen on letting that disgusting snake do whatever he wants." facing him squarely she addressed him properly the first time he came into her household.
"So Old Hermit, what shall it be?." Holographic screens lighted up behind her and showed faces, some of which the Old Hermit recognize as part of the elite circle that will be receiving Orochimaru when he escapes.
Faced with a choice he cannot refuse. The Old Hermit reluctantly bows and accepts the offer. "I will be forever grateful to you as long as I live."
"You should, I would've used a tranquilizer just so I can show you how persuasive I can be!" Laughing off the joke as if it were just as it was, a joke.
A/N: Well...there you have it :)
back to school on next chapter