Masked Koi: Chapter 6. "Smoke"

Flashback

"Good job," Nishiki said.

The boy lay on his back, panting hard. He'd managed to land one hit on the Jounin with his weights off. The boy had beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and his eyes were shut tight as he gasped for air. Nishiki sat by the pond and with a lightning-quick movement, held a fish above the water by its tail. It squirmed and its mouth was open. Pure oxygen entered its lungs and it seemed to flap its fins in urgency. Nishiki placed the fish back into the water and watched as it swam far, far away from her. Naruto knitted his brows together and sat up. He brought himself up to stand and looked at his sensei.

"Do you know where Neji is today?" Naruto asked.

"He's with his clan members. I assume he's practicing his Juuken with the Hyuuga heir," Nishiki said. She glanced up at the boy. "Am I that boring?"

Naruto suddenly looked flustered. "I-I, n-no, you're—"

"I'm kidding," Nishiki laughed. "You're too easy to mess around with."

Naruto blushed a little, embarrassed. "So, you said we were going to you were going to teach me the bunshin jutsu today right?"

"Yeah. However…" Nishiki narrowed her eyes at the boy. This could prove too difficult for him. His chakra coils are still growing and his chakra control, something I've only taught him two months ago, isn't as great as it could be. Despite this, he's mastered the henge and kawarimi. This can't be…

"I don't think I'll be teaching you the one you learn in the Academy. This is the kage bunshin jutsu. Because you've so much chakra, it'll be much harder to control your chakra and split it into two. Instead, you'll be cutting it up into many bunshin," Nishiki decided. "There are also two advantages to this jutsu. One is that since your clones will be exact copies of you with shadows and equal chakra, so no one will be able to tell which is the real one. Not even a byakugan will be able to detect something like this. Also, the information your clone receives will be carried back to the original. In the past, it was used for reconnaissance. But be careful; if you're low on chakra you're not going to be able to split up your chakra into as many clones with as much chakra as you'd like. Without a lot of chakra, your clones will be dispersed sooner and it'll buy you less time to either escape from the enemy or plan a counter attack."

Naruto nodded slowly. "This jutsu is incredibly useful. But not a lot of people can use it because they don't have enough chakra to make this a practical jutsu, right?"

Nishiki nodded. Her hands flashed and copies of the woman appeared next to her. Naruto's face was priceless; he was shocked. Nishiki smirked, seeing his face. I'll never forget that.

Then, Nishiki began to teach him the jutsu. Within a month, the boy was able to create around fifteen clones of himself. To say Neji was surprised was an understatement. This jutsu also proved to be useful to hone his taijutsu skills, something the boy was rather partial to. With many opponents, it made Naruto's movements faster and when he took off his weights, he seemed to blur. Nishiki smiled at her young student.

End Flashback

Naruto suppressed a yawn as he recalled the memory. He smiled a little.

Nishiki might be a bit harsh, but Naruto had grown accustomed to that. He liked her tremendously. Late at night, he'd wonder if this is what it was like to have a mother…and when he'd lay awake unable to sleep, he'd wonder if this is what if felt like to feel a mother's love. He wondered if his mother was similar to Nishiki, caring for him even if her words might contradict that.

Nishiki had glimmers of a soft spot for the boy. She'd patiently taught him how to read and write. She'd bought him snacks that he probably would've been perfectly fine without. If Naruto showed any sign of refusal, Nishiki would give him an icy look and say he needed to like sweets because that's what kids liked. Then she'd say that she spent all her money as a child on sweets without her parents or siblings knowing (often stealing their money) and as her student, he should, no, will follow suit. Naruto didn't have much of an argument after that. He liked sweets, but not the extent that his teacher did. Nishiki would buy boxes of a crunchy chocolate confection called "Black Thunder". There would be perhaps forty three-inch packets of individually wrapped candy and she'd go through them like it was nothing. He trusted her to have at least five packets on her person at all times.

Naruto turned over on his bed so he'd be able to swing his legs over the edge of his bed and get up, but something stopped him. A small girl, two years old, was clutching his old teddy bear and looking at him with a strange look. Naruto's face grew emotionless as he used chakra to jump over the girl.

The girl stared at him, shocked and confused. She gaped at him, unable to comprehend how he'd done that.

"H-how?" Kayo asked. Her green eyes glinted with wonder. She'd been born with blue eyes and some babies born with blue eyes change eye color and she'd been one of them.

Naruto was torn between not answering and answering. If he did answer, she'd keep pestering him to teach him and whatnot. If he didn't answer, she'd cry to her mother who in turn would berate the boy for doing such dangerous ninja things around her daughter. Naruto was well aware of the love his aunt had for her child.

"I'll tell you when you're older," Naruto said and grabbed some formal wear. He changed in the bathroom and after a few minutes, was ready to go out. Once the clock's minute hand hit twelve, there was a knock at the door. Naruto ran over and opened it. Behind the door revealed a Hyuuga man.

"Good morning, Naruto-kun," the man smiled. "I'm glad you took Neji-sama up on his offer to have New Year's food with him."

Naruto nodded and followed the man to the Hyuuga compound. Naruto cast a look over his shoulder, looking a bit forlorn. He saw a shadow of a person and nearly regretted agreeing, but it was just one day. Naruto knew he had plenty of New Year's celebrations he could have with Nishiki. She did say something about socializing, after all.

"Hinata-sama, this is my friend, Namikaze Naruto," Neji beamed as he said this. Hizashi was watching his son's actions and a small smile came to his face. His son was damned cute. He wished his wife were here, though, so he could agree with her sentiments. Hyuuga men were not known for their expressive emotions…or emotions at all. Hizashi was simply an exception, often praising his son and patting his head and smiling.

"H-h-hello, N-Namikaze-s-san," Hinata said. Her huge, adorable white eyes were glued to his bright red hair, something so different from the bluish-black Hyuuga hair that most Hyuuga sported, along with a few umber haired members. It was fascinating.

"Nice to meet you too. You can call me 'Naruto' if you want," Naruto smiled. Nishiki-sensei, I think I made another friend! I wonder how many friends you have…

Hinata didn't quite hear him right. "How did you get your hair that color?!"

"My mom," Naruto muttered.

Hinata caught the way his greyish-blue eyes glazed over with tears and sadness he'd kept in for what seemed like a long time. He sounded bitter and longing, just as Hinata did when she wished for her father to praise her after she'd tried so hard. She bit her lip, a wave of guilt suddenly coming over her. She wanted to hug him, but she was far too reserved and nervous and unfamiliar with this boy who was apparently the same age as her.

The three children sat at the table with Hiashi at the head with his wife and infant daughter and Hinata. Across from the heiress was Naruto, looking a bit surprised to see so many Hyuuga around. Next to the Namikaze boy was Neji followed by a few other elders. At the end of the table was Hizashi. Neji had wanted his father to sit by him, but he had a vague understanding that as a member of a group whose heads had to be covering the green mark on their foreheads, he wasn't allowed much say in the matter. Hiashi seemed to make all the decisions. Neji somewhat understood the concepts of his clan: the Main and Branch Houses. He'd heard vague outlines of it; the eldest of the head is named the next clan heir and the younger sibling is the head of the Branch House.

But there was something rather strange. If Hinata was next in line to become clan heir, wouldn't her clan, and her father like her? The latter was a bit more understandable; Hiashi seemed like his spine was just a steel rod and his mind working with only the clan's interest in mind. He was methodical, practical, and somewhat heartless. However, the clan seemed to dislike her. Was it her performance during training? Did they simply not like her? Neji wasn't sure and he wasn't sure he wanted to know. The way the elders, and especially Hiashi looked at her made him worried.

He looked over at Naruto. The boy seemed to have noticed the air of animosity around her. Hinata seemed to try to curl up as she nibbled on her food, an amount rather small compared to Naruto's, or anyone's plate for that matter.

"Hinata-sama, aren't you hungry? You should eat more. You look a little pale. Are you okay?" Naruto furrowed his brows in concern.

Naruto was both genuinely worried for her, for she was a new friend and a completely different species of female in comparison to Nishiki (Nishiki seemed a bit more harsh compared to the nearly quivering girl in front of him), and he wanted to make a good impression on her. He didn't have feelings for her, but he wanted to make sure she knew he was trying to be a good friend and be concerned and try to help them out, both Hyuuga cousins.

Hiashi looked at Naruto, his stony face hiding his shock. Hiashi wasn't alone; the other Hyuuga were staring at the boy as if he'd gone mad. Naruto didn't seem to mind, or he didn't notice. Neji was shocked he'd said something like that, but not because of what the elders thought. He was shocked because Naruto just spoke suddenly, and then seemed to disregard the incredulous looks he was being directed with.

"I-I-I'm f-fine," Hinata muttered. For good measure, she took another stalk of vegetable and a small scoop of rice. Naruto smiled in contentment.

Kakashi sipped tea, a pause in his conversation with his father.

The two Hatake men had bickered over where to go for a late breakfast. They ended up nearly short circuiting stores' electricity but after Kakashi simply gave up, Sakumo eventually settled on Kakashi's first suggestion: a small tea shop. Because it was a holiday, the store decided to sell some things to go along with the bitter tea. Sakumo was having zenzai and genmaicha tea.

Kakashi wasn't really in the mood for sweets. "What does Kaa-san's death have to do with anything? I barely even remember her."

"Well, you see, marrying me was a symbol of peace between her clan and Konoha. However, they'd picked exactly the wrong man to marry the clan head's daughter, me. Don't tell me you don't know," Sakumo said.

"Don't know what?" Kakashi asked, putting his cup down. He was starting to get angry again. He liked his father and everything, he was all he had, but his father liked to grate on his nerves.

Sakumo put his face in his hands and groaned. "My girl…Koi kept everything from you, didn't she?"

Kakashi, in the back of his mind, noticed another customer come in but didn't look to turn around. He simply amused himself with his thoughts as he answered his father, who didn't like to wait.

"Yeah…" Kakashi said, doing his best to look entirely uninterested. Then again, Sakumo wasn't known for picking up on the atmosphere, so the man continued.

"I ran the black market," Sakumo said softly.

Kakashi narrowed his visible eye. "So our house blew up because somebody felt that you cheated them or something? If that's so, then how come everyone survived but Kaa-san?"

"Aiko came from a clan whose specialty was lying and finding out the truth. They were a lone clan; no village wanted them. Some kid got killed by Konoha and Konoha didn't want to deal with the politics of it so they unified her clan and Konoha. To some extent, they were like the yakuza. They were paid for their work that often included work with important people. These people would want for their death to be faked so they could take their enemies by surprise and achieve something like money or land. So, here's what I think: Maybe her clan wanted her back or found out that I wasn't picture perfect or something. Maybe revenge for all this. Who knows."

Kakashi took another sip, feeling a bit queasy. "Doesn't it seem a bit more probable that she would've been taken by someone who was an enemy? If it were her clan, wouldn't it she have gone willingly or negotiated? I don't think that they'd take her by force and burn our house down. Well, try to take her and then kill her, to be more correct."

Sakumo nodded thoughtfully and bit into a small ball of mochi in his soup.

"That's him," the Leader's unearthly green eyes bored holes into the traveling man on the dirt path a few hundred feet away.

"What?" her unearthly green eyes flitted back to him, shocked. "It can't be. Kumo said…"

"To hell with what Kumo said. That's a bunch of lies. They'd never brag about their shinobi, especially him," the Leader rolled his eyes. The bush the two stalkers (not self-proclaimed but stalkers nonetheless) hid behind was allowing a bit of dim sunlight (it was still snowy and cloudy) to filter in. The woman couldn't help but notice the lines that were beginning to set in.

Seiseki looked up, brushing a bit of silver hair out of his way. His hair was getting long and a tuft refused to be trained to grow away from his eyes. He knew he should just take a kunai and cut off the unruly bit of hair, but he never saw enough incentive in it. Besides, he didn't have anyone to impress.

Then, something moved. Seiseki blinked. Just my imagination? It moved, whatever it might have been, so quickly perhaps the bitter cold was simply picking its next victim of hypothermia…or something. Seiseki wasn't much of an expert on diseases and the sort.

Still, Seiseki fully believed that such winter diseases didn't involve suddenly blacking out. Or waking up with his chakra restrained and his arms bound to a tree. He was still unable to see; a blindfold hindered his vision.

Seiseki sighed. "What do you want?"

The Leader scowled. "That's no way to talk to your family, you ungrateful kid."

"Family?" Seiseki tried to sound disinterested. In fact, his interest, for once, was stirred.

The woman and the Leader exchanged a glance. "You don't know? Aiko never told you about her clan?"

"Clan? How do you know my mother?" Seiseki asked.

"The Tsugi clan, her clan. I'm her older brother," the Leader said. "Look, I don't have a lot of time to explain the past to you, but there's something we'd like for you to do for our clan. I'd like for you to do two things: bring your brother and sister here and get information on the Uchiha, any and all information. They've been a thorn in my side for years now and I'd like them eliminated.

"Take off this blindfold and I'll give you my answer," Seiseki said.

"Do it," the Leader jerked his head at Seiseki, speaking to the woman next to him. She untied the cloth and the world came into focus for the silver-haired Jounin.

Seiseki let out a nonchalant smile. "I agree on the terms that you explain to me exactly why you want me to bring a corpse and a damned loyal Konoha shinobi, what your problem is with the Uchiha, and more about this 'clan' you talk about. Also, I'd like to know if you're possibly involved with my mother's murder. Lastly, I'd like to have your names, if you would."

"Shinsai," the Leader said.

"Jishin," the woman said. "I'm your cousin, Seiseki."

"Ah, it seems the eyes I've felt on me for the past few days weren't illusions," Seiseki smiled. "You've done your research. So, Shisai, do you agree to my terms?"

"Corpse? Murder?" Shisai narrowed his eyes at the young man. "What lies have you been fed?"

Seiseki raised his brows. "My sister is dead. If you simply want her corpse, that can be done easily. I don't know why you'd want a few pieces of limb and maybe bone, but to each his own I suppose. My house burned down when I was eight and my mother's corpse burned to ash."

Shisai smiled. "Well, you should know that Koi-chan isn't dead. I'm surprised you haven't figured that out. Go to Konoha, she'll be there. She's in the shadows and a rather high ranking shinobi. I suggest you sedate both of them. As for your mother, I'll explain what really happened that night when you come back with information on the Uchiha. I'd prefer to have both assignments done within two or three weeks, but if you only come back with one, I won't hold it against you. Just get both of them done within seven weeks, no more."

Seiseki would've run a hand through his hair, trying to process what the old geezer had said. "How do you know my sister isn't dead? She was crushed! My brother saw it with his own eyes. That loyal brat doesn't lie either."

"Maybe Kakashi doesn't lie, but your sister had a rather bad habit of doing so. Please, I'll explain everything once you come back with the information. I promise this. If I break my word you can kill me on the spot. But if you break your word, I will promise you a slow and agonizing death," Shinsai narrowed his green eyes at the Jounin.

Seiseki smiled again. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I promise I'll get your information. Where do you want to meet up once I get the information?"

"Konoha. You'll have a tough time finding Koi," Shinsai said. "If you need help, we'll help."

"Fine. Untie me and I'll be on my merry way," Seiseki eye smiled at Jishin. She frowned but undid the chakra suppressors and ropes. Seiseki stretched and suddenly tripped over a tree root. He fell onto their feet and tsked in pain. He pushed himself to his knees and dusted off his clothes.

Seiseki mock-saluted and the two Tsugi members disappeared. He ran a hand through his hair (finally) and smirked.

He'd only agreed because he had nothing better to do. He'd lied to Konoha, the gullible second-rate shinobi they were, by sending them a false letter, even with the seal of the Raikage. Maybe things were really just too quiet and peaceful back there.

Also, the prospects of such interesting and somewhat horrifying information being found were just too good to pass up. He had loved his sister. He wondered that after kidnapping her and sedating her he might feel guilt enough to let her go. As for Kakashi, Seiseki saw the younger Hatake as a boy who should be left to his own devices. The two, despite never outwardly fighting as children, never quite got along as well as Koi and Shisui did.

Seiseki frowned. Catching her might be harder than I think...I'll need to find her first and know her schedule. Kakashi's will probably be much easier considering he was a neat freak.

The possibility of his mother's clan actually existing was also interesting. Seiseki didn't have much proof; they could just be hunter nin or something. Did this mean his mother wasn't dead? Seiseki let out a mirthless laugh.

Things were really fucked up, aren't they? I feel like my life is the joke and I'm the punch line.

Seiseki hadn't had much color in his life after Koi had died. Then there was the stupid blonde woman and the child. That was it. Seiseki wandered the shinobi world looking for a purprose and one had just dropped right in front of him. It seemed like it might have enough surprise and terror to entertain him for a while.

Seiseki stuffed his hands in his pockets and fell into a sprint towards Konoha.

Two shinobi sat on the cliff overlooking the village. Small snowflakes were falling and melting upon contact with the shinobi's skin.

"If anything happens to me, I want you to know that I—" Shisui started.

"Don't you dare finish that. I won't let anything happen to you," Nishiki's black eyes burned holes into Shisui, angry that he'd even insinuated something like that. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Shisui paused. "Then I won't let anything happen to you either. But, there's something I've got to tell you."

"What?" Nishiki arched a brow.

"The Uchiha clan is planning a coup. Itachi is going to Hokage-sama to inform him and he's entrusted his younger brothers to me. I don't think I'll be able to keep that promise, so I need you to help me. I have a feeling that things might get more and more sour from here regarding the clan's relations to Konoha and as one of the more prominent members I'll probably be dragged into their mess."

Nishiki balled up her fists. "I accept. How long do you think until a civil war might break out?"

"Maybe a month or two. The truth is, I'm scared. I don't want anyone in Konoha to suffer and I don't want my clan to suffer. I wish I could just convince everyone that a coup won't lead to the peace they want," Shisui admitted. "I might die protecting the peace of the village, so I—"

"Shut up with your emotional crap. If Kushina-sensei were here, she'd beat you until you realized how stupid you sound," Nishiki glared at him.

"What're you getting at?"
"I mean that you're being stupid! You act as if whatever you do for or to your clan is going to make all the people who have your back disappear! Sure, everyone might disappear but no matter what, I'll have your sorry back, emotional crap and gross cliché last words. You're not going to die, idiot," Nishiki chided. "Like I'd let that happen."

"I guess," Shisui muttered.

"You guess? Guess what? Do you doubt my skills at protecting you? You're the one who I had to protect when we were on our first C-Rank mission. You froze up like a baby and Kushina-sensei kicked your ass. I still have the scar on my back where that guy's kunai would've sliced your pretty head off," Nishiki said. "I've got my fair share of marks," then Nishiki smiled. "You're scared of what the consequences of preventing the coup could be. Well, I'll make sure that you know I've got your back. Kami knows you'll forget what I've said today. Now, hold out your left arm."

Shisui held out his arm, raising a brow. Her hands blurred as her chakra began to flow a bit faster. Then she slammed both hands over his forearm and Shisui cried out in pain. Nishiki rolled her eyes and finished up the mark she'd left.

Shisui was on his knees, unable to do much but moan in pain.

After a minute, Shisui managed to push himself back up to a standing position. "W-what did you do?"

"It's a kind of seal. In it is my chakra. Should your reserves deplete until you have no more chakra, my chakra will be released in a burst that will cause your enemies to explode. My chakra is potent; so try not to get scared when there are living comrades around. Within a ten feet radius, their death will be sealed. Within fifteen, they might lose a limb or something. Within twenty or more, they'll either be blown back or have light abrasions. There's enough chakra in that for two bursts," Nishiki explained. "This way, you'll be safe from whatever consequences try to hurt you. And, if anything does happen to me, like I die or something, the seal will slowly get lighter and lighter until it fades away completely."

"I like the motif. Must've take a long time to figure out what the design could be," Shisui said sarcastically. He looked at the fish-shaped seal. It was quite detailed, as if he'd simply gotten a tattoo.

"Shut up," Nishiki sighed, her command half-hearted. She began to feel the loss of so much chakra and the world was beginning to look strange. Her legs buckled.

Strong arms caught her shoulders and her black eyes met Shisui's. Then, his eyes grew closer and closer until their lips touched and Shisui's arms wrapped around her.

"Thanks for the seal Koi," Shisui whispered, smiling.

Nishiki's eyes glinted with anger and her cheeks flushed deeply. "T-that's not my name anymore. I've done y-you a favor so you should repay it by carrying me home. I'm too tired to walk after giving that much chakra to the seal to protect your terrified self."

"Yeah, yeah, Nishiki," Shisui said and picked up the woman who promptly fell asleep in his arms.

"Y-you're sure?" Minato asked.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Itachi said.

Minato groaned. "I can't believe the Uchiha are…"

Itachi remained silent. Minato sighed. "I'll work something out. Don't worry, Itachi."

Itachi nodded and left the Hokage's office, leaving Minato to wonder just how he was going to deal with the Uchiha.

Minato knew he certainly couldn't confront the Uchiha about it; it would lead to infighting to find out who the rat was. He also couldn't harm them either. According to Itachi, their plans were being finalized and would be realized soon, very soon.

Minato had to have more allies within the clan to cooperate. After sipping the coffee he'd choked on earlier upon hearing about the coup, he began to formulate a few plans. All of them involved Itachi and Shisui. Minato knew he had to get another Uchiha on his side.

Mikoto! Minato remembered the woman and her business; she'd been the one who'd created Kushina's wedding kimono. Minato began feverishly writing out his plans. He was never one to remember much unless he wrote it down. As a result, he had numerous papers in his pockets to remember various things. He sketched up a few more plans, should something go wrong, and put it in a drawer in his desk. He stifled a yawn and noticed how time had flown and how late it had gotten. The sky was pitch black and in a flash, Minato returned to his home.