The Reunion Part 1
Natsuki lay in bed reading another medical book that Itachi had dropped off when she suddenly heard a rumbling. She reached for the kunai beneath her pillow and readied herself as the rumbling grew louder, she began to realise what it was.
"Dairuko..." Natsuki said just before Dairuko burst through the door to her room.
"Natsuki!" Dairuko called out and upon seeing she was awake. He walked toward her with open arms but she in turn held the kunai straight at him.
"Stay back."
"What? Why?"
"When you get too excited you end up breaking bones."
"You still hold that against me."
"You almost killed the Third..." Natsuki saddened upon saying that.
"So you heard?"
"Yeah, Itachi told me." Dairuko then sat next to her.
"Died doing what every Hokage should do... defending the village."
"I know but-" Natsuki was interrupted by Dairuko pulling her into his chest and hugging her.
"Shhhh."
"How touching." Tsunade said as she stood by the door way with Gai standing behind her anxiously.
"T-tsunade-sama!?" Natsuki was stunned.
"Hey, uhm... kaa-san... yeah kaa-san. Hey, Kaa-san."
"EH?! KAA-SAN?!" Natsuki exclaimed in shock.
"Dairuko, Jiraiya is waiting for you downstairs." Tsunade said "Alright Gai-san where is this student of yours?"
"I gotta go, Natsuki but I'll explain everything once you're up and about. I promise you... later."
"What the hell just happened?" Natsuki said to herself once Dairuko was gone.
Tsunade returned not too long after to take a look at the extent of Natsuki's injuries for herself.
"Tsunade-sama... are you really Dairuko's mother?" Natsuki asked.
"Yes." Tsunade said
"What happened? Why didn't you keep him, raise him?"
"I was told he was stillborn."
"I see..."
"Do you not believe me?"
"It's not that, Tsunade-sama it's just that..." Natsuki hesitated, knowing she was over-stepping her bounds, but not caring " you are the best medic ninja to exist and it's strange that my brother who was 'stillborn' is alive and well I mean, didn't you have a feeling something was wrong that maybe he was alive or... something."
"Do you have a problem with me, Natsuki?"
"No I just find it suspicious is all." she replied coolly.
"Hmm, the reports were accurate. I'll prep you for surgery later today." Tsunade said stiffly.
It had been three days since the surgery and being discharged from the hospital and Natsuki, who is an excellent healer in her own right, understood the need for bed rest but...
"This is BORING!" she called out to nobody in particular before retiring to bed, when she heard the sound of an explosion. She knew what it was instantly.
Natsuki got out of bed and walked to where the sound came from which was in the direction of the training grounds. There she saw Dairuko and Itachi sparring, seeing her caused both of them to stop and stare as she walked closer. She stopped right in front of them and in one fluent motion slapped Itachi then closed her hand into a fist and punched Dairuko.
"Whyyyy?" Dairuko complained.
"You're sparring without me."
"But it was his idea." Dairuko pointed at Itachi.
"He cleaned the house while I was out so he deserves some slack... you, however, left me in hospital to go on a mission and when you get back don't even ask how I'm feeling just drop a bomb that Senju Tsunade -a Sannin- is your biological mother."
"But I saved your life... twice!"
"Dairuko, Natsuki." Itachi interrupted then looked over to Hinata.
"G-g-gomen. Hokage-sama would like to see all three of you."
"Hey, Hinata."
"H-hello, Dairuko-san."
"So this is the Hyuuga girl you saved." Natsuki said scanning Hinata. "Have to say you were right about her and also..." Natsuki hit Dairuko on the head.
"Why?!"
"'Cause you were about to say something smug."
"That... is true." Dairuko sighed, but was secretly glad to see his sister back to her old self. Itachi called both of them and they left.
They arrived in Tsunade's office where some elders were waiting for them along with Tsunade. Natsuki and Itachi greeted them while Dairuko just stared at the elder who had talked dirt about Natsuki and him.
"Why are we here?" Dairuko asked.
"We have a mission for you three, try not to mess it up." that particular elder said, glaring at the team.
"It's a simple mission; take care of some pirates near the Land of Waves." a much nicer elder said.
"ANBU can handle this. Why send us?" Itachi asked.
"We as Konoha cannot be involved in this at all. The pirates demise must look like an attack from another pirate group," a third elder said "and given your team's history we trust you can operate within these parameters."
"Here's their file." Tsunade gave them the pirate's file.
"We'll get it done, Hokage-sama." Dairuko stated.
"Natsuki, I'd like a word with you. The rest of you can leave." Tsunade stated and everyone left.
"What is it, Hokage-sama?" Natsuki asked.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, why?"
"Your injuries were very serious. you were assigned a weeks bed rest-"
"I'm fine enough thanks."
"Don't strain yourself."
Team 0 arrived in the Land of Waves without incident a week later, which gave Natsuki ample time to recuperate along the way and come up with a gameplan.
"Natsuki, what's the plan?" Dairuko asked.
"We need a ship; then a crew." she explained. "From there it should be easy."
"How do we get a ship and crew?" Itachi asked.
"Leave that to me." Dairuko winked.
"Dairuko, what are you going to do?" Natsuki asked worryingly.
"I'm going to get us a ship and crew." Dairuko said and held up a poster for fighting pits.
"Alright, remember the plan." Natsuki said while she and Itachi got used to their disguises, especially Natsuki who's pants were a little too short for her liking. Her shirt was no better, tank tops were never her thing, particularly ones that were cut to show her abdomen even though she has a well-toned, lightly muscular build.
"Natsuki." Itachi called out. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and torn pants he also added a scar on his left cheek.
"Yeah?" Natsuki said and Itachi placed a bandanna over her hair.
"Now you look like a pirate."
"Oh, thanks."
"I still can't believe you won us a ship and crew, Dairuko." Natsuki said. Dairuko was wearing a black shirt and ragged trousers.
"Arrogance and pride are a dangerous combination if left unchecked." Dairuko said simply.
The three split up. Dairuko and Itachi went to the local bar while Natsuki waited by the ship. Once inside Dairuko and Itachi split up, Dairuko began socialising while Itachi waited at the bar table. Then two men walked to the end of the room. Itachi nodded to Dairuko.
"I'd like to propose a toast," Dairuko lifted his glass as did everyone "to death."
"Wha-" the closest pirate started but Dairuko slammed his face into the table then one his friends stood up.
"That's why you don't toast until you know what the toast is for." Dairuko stated before blocking a pirates punch then delivering a headbutt which triggered a bar brawl. Chaos ensued everywhere and Itachi just sat there until the pirate captain they were after was secluded. He then made his move and began walking toward the captain at a steady pace, ignoring everyone when someone tried to grab him from behind he landed a clean elbow to the man's nose and continued walking. Once Itachi was a meter away from their target, Dairuko threw a bottle which Itachi caught and broke on someone who tried to attack him before lunging forward and slitting the captain's throat then watched as the second man ran away from the bar.
"The rest is up to Natsuki." Dairuko said as he stood at Itachi's side then both of them backhanded two men who tried to grab them.
"I know. It's just..." Itachi trailed off as he punched a guy, that Dairuko held, in the stomach.
"Worried?"
"I guess."
"Don't worry. Natsuki can take care of herself." Dairuko said then kicked someone in the chest "Hell Natsuki can take care of a small army."
"That we agree on." Itachi said and they both punched the same guy in the face.
Natsuki watched as the second pirate ran to his ship to flee, before boarding the ship Dairuko had won. When they were far enough from land Natsuki performed the Hidden Mist jutsu to cover their ship's approach.
"Stand down until I give the signal." Natsuki said and the quartermaster nodded and repeated the order to the crew members.
The crew grappled the opposing ship and began pulling it closer while Natsuki climbed up the mast of the ship. Once the ship was in place Natsuki jumped across, then dropped down and as soon as she landed she heard whimpering from behind a barred door on the ship deck. She checked the door while the enemy waited for the attack to begin and what she saw rocked her to the core. 'These aren't just pirates. They're human traffickers!' Natsuki thought to herself then whistled to get the pirates attention.
"Who wants to die first?" Natsuki asked as she held her sword out.
The first one charged towards her and she sliced him across the abdomen causing him to fall and bleed out on the ship deck. Natsuki leaped over their heads into the middle of the group of pirates and began cutting them down, her swordsmanship outmatched the pirates by miles.
In the end, the ship deck was covered in crimson, the majority of the pirates were going to bleed out but rather than that, Natsuki freed the prisoners and let them have their way with their former captors before calling them to cross over to her ship.
Natsuki crossed back over to the ship and the crewmen were shocked to see her with some blood splatter on her face but no signs of cuts or any injury, she also bared a blank stare that would put Itachi to shame.
"Did she just..?" one of the crewmen said.
"Quartermaster... sink the ship and get us back to the docks then make sure these people get to the Mist." Natsuki ordered and the crew began sinking the ship.
When they returned to the docks Dairuko and Itachi were waiting and were quite surprised to see so many get off the ship, once Natsuki got off the ship and they were well on their back to Konoha she began explaining what had happened.
"They were traffickers posing as pirates. From what I gather their exploits were forged, nothing like a bunch of terrifying stories to make people think twice about doing anything." Natsuki stated.
"What were they trafficking, those kids you brought back?" Dairuko asked.
"Yeah, boys and girls between the ages 13 to 20."
"Tsche, makes me sick." Dairuko added.
"But if the accounts were forged they'd require a lot of money for well placed bribes." Itachi said.
"You thinking there is someone else pulling the strings?" Dairuko asked.
"I know someone else is pulling the strings."
"Wait. Wouldn't the higher ups have to investigate these things? I mean, you don't just send us on missions on a whim, there has to be valid reasons." Dairuko said.
"Which means someone in the Hokage Tower is compromised." Natsuki said.
"Unfortunately, yes." Itachi said. Both he and Natsuki looked toward Dairuko.
"What?" Dairuko asked confused but soon realised what they were saying "No. No. No fucking way, not my mother."
"Dairuko, we're not accusing her o-" Itachi was cut off.
"Well it sure sounds like it."
"We're just saying that someone of power is responsible and Hokage is among the most powerful people in Konoha we can't just ignore that."
"No I reject that I don't accept that... besides she's broke."
"Or she's acting." Itachi stated "How often has Jiraiya-sensei pretended to be broke."
"No!" Dairuko -despite only knowing his biological mother a few days- knew for a fact she wouldn't do a thing like this.
"Dairuko, this our job to-" Natsuki was cut off by Dairuko.
"Investigate my mother?!" Dairuko exclaimed.
"Dairuko you need to calm down."
"What I need is for you two to stop accusing my mother is what I need!"
"Dairuko, you barely know her and yet you're defending her!"
"I know her well enough to know that she wouldn't do something like this!"
"How could you possibly know that huh? She left you at birth for 19 years and you defend her!"
"I was stillborn there was no-" Dairuko was cut off.
"Well you look pretty alive to me!"
"Don't you dare judge her... you have no idea what she's had to live with!"
"And you do?!"
"I know enough!"
"That's all you seem to know now, 'enough'."
"That's enough, both of you!" Itachi exclaimed, breaking Dairuko and Natsuki's argument. "I will handle this investigation myself. It's obvious both of you are too emotionally attached to this."
Dairuko and Natsuki glared hard at each other. One could swear there was no love between them anymore and, after their stare off they both left in opposite directions.
"Dairuko, the village is back this way." Itachi said.
"I'll find my own way back!" Dairuko yelled back.