V7 ch 6
Shogai, not your every day Celestial
Eiyu slammed Takeru's shoulders against the wall of a building. He had found out that Onari had left the village from his twin. Kandai had learned it from Gin, who was the last person to see her. He narrowed his eyes at his teammate. "What did you do? What did you say to her? What was it," he demanded rather angrily.
Takeru looked away. He pushed Eiyu off of him. "I haven't said anything to her! Onari chose to leave on her own!"
"Gin was the last person Onari encountered. She bailed for a reason, Takeru. What have you said to her," Eiyu said not letting it go.
"I haven't said anything to her! I told you that!" Takeru
turned away from Eiyu. He felt terrible as it was for the consequences of his actions. He felt his teammate grab onto his arm. Takeru rotated on his heel as his fist came around. He punched Eiyu dead in the jaw catching him off guard. Eiyu Hyuuga was knocked off of his feet. He slid on the ground.
Eiyu spit the blood out of his mouth as he looked up at Takeru rather hatefully. He rose to his feet slowly. "It's you. She's been acting different because of you!"
"Why the hell would she care what I think and do? She's dating you, idiot," Takeru shouted. He watched Eiyu's face as it hit home. "She's with you," Takeru repeated softly as his eyes lowered. Eiyu had every right to be concerned where Onari was. Takeru had no authority to be concerned because she was taken.
"Onari isn't with me physically or mentally. She's always watched you, Takeru. And you haven't shown any emotion towards her unless we were on a mission. When you had to," Eiyu said as he stood next to him. "I don't have her heart. I never did."
Takeru stood with his heart racing, eyes wide as Eiyu left.
Kiba Inuzuka touched the ground where the grass was flattened. Had she previous been here? He got onto his knees, sniffing the ground strongly. Onari. She was here, alright. Which way did she go? Kiba glanced back at Areku. "Which way do you suppose she went, Areku?"
Areku approached the area cautiously with his eyes darting around. "If I were trying to be the furthest from Konoha, I would go that way," he said jerking his thumb to the right. "Onari is possibly running low on energy. She's going off of anger. It's what's fueling the fire in her."
"Sprout has the tendency to let her anger simmer for a while until she boils over," Kiba said. "The worst case scenario is she encounters an enemy out here on her own. There's no one to help her." He and Areku took off down the road. They were hot on her trail.
Onari touched her stomach as it growled loudly. She made a face under the mask she wore. The people around her were watching her strangely. Onari turned around quickly. The people moved back suddenly. What is their problem?
Onari moved down the road slowly staring at vendors. All she saw for the first few stalls were meat. She turned her head. Onari hated meat. where were the vegetables and fruit in this area? She sighed. The only edible thing she agreed upon was bread being sold by a man several years older than her. She put her hand out to offer ryo. The man didn't know how to her. Onari rolled her eyes. "Onari is paying for the bread. Man will take ryo," she said.
The man came closer surprised at the girl's voice. He suspected a bland, harsh male voice to be behind the mask, but it was female. "Onari? Are you Onari," he asked as he took the ryo a little more warmly. The people moved on. "What are you doing in our village?"
Onari lifted the mask so she could munch the bread. The man was examining her face. She glanced at him. He didn't flinch at her unusual appearance. "Onari leave Konoha."
"You're from Konoha? What are you doing way out here? You're a long way from home," he said as he assisted other customers. He couldn't leave them waiting despite his curiosity at the strange girl.
"Onari doesn't have a proper home. Onari was trained to be a ninja to benefit the team she is on," she said as she chewed. Onari caught the man's facial expression. "What?"
"Ninja don't usually leave their village unless they are on missions. Did you have a fight with someone," the man asked. He handed money back to a customer. "If you don't return home soon, they'll come looking for you."
"Onari does not want to see anyone," she said as her anger surfaced to a simmer. She flipped her head away from the man as if he had some connection to the ones she knew. After she finished her meal, she lowered the mask over her face.
"Whether you want to see them or not, they'll come looking for you. You're not supposed to leave the village you reside in. What kind of ninja are you?" The man watched her take off down the road without an answer. "Hey, where are you going," he called after her. He watched her disappear in the morning crowd. "Kids…"
Sasuke checked his back pocket for kunai, along with all of his ninja tools. He strapped on a back pack full of supplies. He glanced at the entrance to his bedroom. Izumi and Takeru were watching him. "The Hokage ordered me to retrieve Onari," he said rather bland. He kept his eyes on them before he started to recheck everything again.
Izumi feared for the foreign girl. Sasuke was sent out when assignations were the main focus. "Did he tell you to bring her back, or stop her, Sasuke?" She put her hand on Takeru's shoulder.
"If Onari shows defiance and tries to fight me… she won't be returning," he said as Takeru gasped. "Her abilities are too strong. Partially our fault for training her so well. If she gets out of control, she could turn against everyone in the village who has helped her." He stopped and stood up.
Takeru balled up his fists. "You can't! Didn't you say she was important to Daiya? She's part of our family! Onari's not a weapon!"
Izumi crouched to where she could look up into her son's face. "Sasuke doesn't like this anymore than you do. Onari's strong for her age and very smart, Takeru. The same things that make her a genius, also make her a threat to the village. She could fight everyone around her easily by using Akaihi to target those she feels are after her."
"Onari wouldn't hurt anyone. She only defends herself! Dad, you said she was like your daughter! You can't take her out!" Takeru's eyes were wild as he tried to make his father see reason. "You can't!"
Sasuke sighed. "It's an order, Takeru. I do what the Hokage demands of me. I have no choice in the matter. Right now, she's abandoned her post. She abandoned her team - her life here."
"She's mad at me," Takeru said. "She thinks I don't care about her. But… I do," he answered softly. He closed his eyes.
"Well, if I were you, Takeru, I'd pray really hard that I don't find her," Sasuke said as he stood with the backpack.
Ryu breathed hard as he concentrated. It had been a few weeks since he was injured by Nattoku, Hire's vengeful brother. The man had lost his life to Onari's celestial phoenix. Ryu had gone through countless hours of therapy to get him back to where he was physically. Ryu was tired of being in the hospital. His condition had been so serious that he was presumed dead upon his entry.
Ryu wanted out of the hospital so eh could see Saori. Her parents had stopped her from visiting him a while back due to the depression she had over him. He had to see her. Ryu managed to put his hand through the wall. He breathed hard, panting as he withdrew his hand. I need more time. Ugh. He leaned back onto the pillows behind him.
Ryu reached over to grab the mirror beside the bed. He checked his chest and abdomen. Gently, he ran his fingers over his skin. The wounds were disappearing. Soon he moved the mirror to look at the markings on his bicep. Ryu's eyes moved over the turtle and phoenix. What does this mean? how did Onari save me from death?
His eyes studied the pictures heavily. If this is a link to a celestial… how do I unlock it? He traced over the turtle with his fingers. Is this who helped me? Ryu tried to concentrate on the turtle. "Come out. If you're the one that helped me, I want to know." He waited. Nothing happened.
How does Onari get Akaihi to show up? Ryu thought hard about what he's heard and seen. The celestial only showed when Onari was in danger. Do I have to be in trouble? He shook his head. No, she has to smear her own blood on the tattoos she has.
Ryu bit his thumb. He winced. He began to smear his blood on his bicep. "Summoning jutsu," he said as he did the hand seals, not sure which ones were correct.
Ryu opened his eyes as he looked around the room. He didn't see anything. "It didn't work…" He stared at his legs. He felt something cold touch his elbow. Ryu shifted his eyes to see a brown turtle with green armor watching him. The eyes of the reptile sparkled. "A-Are you the one who helped me…?"
(I am Shogai of the North Gate. I was summoned by the one Akaihi protects. I am now bonded to you, Ryu Yuhi, until you take your last breath.)
Saori laid upon the grass filled with flowers. She breathed in their scent heavily. Oh, Ryu… The waterfall rushed to her ears. Saori had to rely on the genjutsu scroll to comfort her when others were unable. She was spending a lot of time mesmerized by Ryu's gift.
Saori's blue eyes watched a yellow butterfly move around her head. She moved her head to look up at it. The butterfly wasn't like the other ones embedded in the scroll. The tips of its wings were red. "Where did you come from? Were you trapped in the genjutsu?" Saori sat up. The butterfly started to move away. She rose to follow it, her feet moving through the flowers.
Saori soon came upon a row of steps that led down the hill. She hadn't noticed them before. Her feet moved to each step carefully. As she followed the butterfly, tulips opened by each step. They glowed with radiance. Were these here before?
She came upon a small embankment filled with thick grass. There was a pool of water ahead of her. She could still hear the waterfall in the distance. As she stood watching the butterfly turn circles at the water's edge, a turtle lifted its head out of the water. It moved its rather large body towards her. Saori only stared.
Shogai lifted his head so he could meet the girl before him. (You are Saori Nara, Ryu Yuhi's, female, are you not?) Shogai saw the girl's eyes widen.
"Ryu's female? Ryu is my boyfriend, yes," she said softly. "Who are you?" The turtle blew smoke out of its nostrils.
(I am Shogai, Lord of the North Gate. I am the one who is bonded to Ryu now. He is waiting for you, Saori Nara.)
Saori's heart flopped in her chest. "Ryu?" She gently sat upon the turtle's shell as he ordered her to do. Soon he immersed himself in the water. Shogai swam out into the pool of water going farther and farther from the embankment. It disappeared from her view.
They stayed silent for moments as the water moved past them. The water soon darkened as it became shrouded in an unusual mist. Saori had no idea where she was. Ryu's scroll only allowed an illusion to be contained in a small area. Were they outside of her room?
Saori's eyes went wide as a large Japanese mansion came into view. It stood near the water with a large gate surrounding it. Shogai soon lifted his body out of the water. Saori stepped her feet onto the grass.
"Where are we?"
(We are where we are supposed to be. You must try to enter the gate alone. I sense your emotions and strengths, Saori Nara. To be with one who is fated with a celestial, you must hold the foundation firm for him to stand on. I believe you are the rock and he is the wall that must shield those Akaihi defends.)
Saori took a deep breath. She was trying to understand what he was saying. "You're telling me my path is tied to Ryu's? You mentioned before I was his female. What does that mean?"
Shogai turned his starry gaze upon the girl. (The both of you were fated to meet. It was destined by the stars. The decision to save Ryu was also made. It was not Onari's choice to link him. The ability to do so was embedded in her actions without her being fully aware of what she was doing. You must make your choice, Saori. Now is when your fate is decided.)
Saori approached the large gate. It stood with its doors shut. There didn't seem to be any way to open it outside. She ran her hand across the wood. A large noise clicked and whirred. Saori moved her hand back. What had she touched? The giant gate opened to reveal a world of darkness. She stared into the blackness not knowing if she should enter.
(Decide your choice as you enter. Whatever happens, keep your heart focused. If your mind falters, your path will end here.)
Saori Nara thought of Ryu just as she had at the lotus competition in Otomori. Her feet moved forward until she was blanketed in the dark. Everything I do, I do it for him.
Shogai watched as the girl's form disappeared. He stood in her wake as the gate closed. It boomed its echo throughout the area.
Saori kept her heart focused on Ryu. She didn't run through the darkness or scream his name. she had to depend on herself. That's what it was all about. Was she worthy of Ryu? This was her test.
A loud growling noise came to her ears. Saori reached into her back case to retrieve a kunai. "I'm not afraid," she said forcefully. Her mind was alert, eyes searching the blackness for the noise she had heard. Saori walked towards the growling, not away from it. A pair of green intense, wild, slit eyes were watching her.
Saori stood where she was. "Whatever you are, you won't separate me from Ryu. I promised to never let go of him." The eyes came closer. The beast growled. Saori did not panic as the face of a tiger started to show. Its jaws opened to reveal large, oversized fangs. Her body was strong, firm and ready for an attack. The beast kept its eyes matched with hers.
The tiger studied the soul of the girl before him. It roared loudly to test her. She did not flinch, or back down. No, the one before him was completely cool and confident.
Saori watched as the tiger breathed in the darkness. Her eyes blinked as the world around her changed to that of a beautiful garden shrouded in bamboo and numerous ponds of lotus blossoms. Her eyes stayed on the beast, not trusting it for the moment. "You're not an ordinary tiger," she said.
The tiger moved towards her, his feet padding on the ground. He sat before her, his eyes gazing upon her with adoration. (Saori Nara, I wish for you to be the force behind my claws. You are the first in ages who has withstood my test. Your heart is strong with emotion, but not overwhelmed by it. What you desire in life is to be seen as someone superior to those not worthy of your presence. Let me trade your desires for truth.)
Saori shook her head. "Sorry, I'll pas. I admit I was like that two years ago, but not now. I desire nothing out of my reach. My goals are to be equal with those I train with. My job is to protect my team and village. I already have the one I love. What could you possibly offer me that means more to me than them? Nothing."
The tiger moved closer to where his face was right in front of hers. (You dare to reject an offer by a God?) He growled threateningly.
"I reject any offer that is selfish," Saori said just as aggressively. "You do not scare me - God or not."
The tiger smiled at her. He bowed his head low to hear, his body eased as his ears listened. (You have passed the real test before you. Your rewards is me. I am Josei, Lord of the West Gate.) He raised his head to look at her.
Saori's body shook as she realized what was occurring. It was exciting yet scary at the same time. "I'm getting a celestial like… Ryu and Onari? But I thought only Onari could bond someone?"
Josei continued to smile with his fangs showing in the moonlight. (Tigers may not be called upon. It is undignified. I choose who I approach and why. Normally, I wouldn't cooperate with Shogai - he's a wretch in my presence; however, he is what found you lurking the backbone of the one he is bonded to. You are the one who opened the gate, Saori. Do you accept the challenge standing before you?)
Saori heard the tiger's heart beating inside her head. It was a booming sound that echoed in her mind. The wildness in the beast was running around her in the forms of light. Saori soon heard the drums of the tiger beat in rhythm. Did she choose to add her own drum to its beat?
She closed her eyes searching for the answer within herself. If I answer Josei, it means I am answering the wildness in myself. It would make me separate from Onari and Ryu, yet I would be working with them for the same purpose. I'd have an important part - a huge one. I have to be the foundation for them to stand on, or it falls apart. Am I ready for it?
Josei stood patiently awaiting her answer. (Make your choice. It is not every hundred years I find someone who is worthy of my gifts.)
Saori realized her plans for becoming a Jounin like Kurenai was still reachable. This was an opportunity for her to grow and become stronger. A chance such as this wasn't for everyone. Josei had to come to her through Ryu. There was something special about her. "I accept your offer."
Josei smiled at her only the way a tiger could. He ran at Saori so suddenly, the girl stumbled backwards. As she went back, he leapt for her. In mid-air his body turned translucent then started to shine full of light.
Josei's form spiraled down to Saori's chest. She was blinded as the link to the tiger became sealed. Saori sat up looking around as she breathed hard. Her heart tried to calm down. "What just happened? Did it work?"
Ryu walked slowly to the garden. He glanced up as he saw light flash and stop. Ryu started to run towards the back of the mansion. As he came upon the shoji screen, he slid it aside quickly. He saw Saori sitting on the ground. "Saori!"
Saori heard her name being called by a familiar voice. She looked up to see Ryu standing at the edge of the garden in a yukata. He had a worried expression on his face. "Ryu? Ryu!" She quickly got up to run towards him. Saori threw herself at him with her arms out. He grabbed her and spun her around as they fell to the ground. She wrapped her arms around him as she began to breathe him in.
Ryu wrapped his arms around in her in return. He rubbed his cheek against the side of her head fondly. He swallowed as he closed his eyes. "I've missed you so much," he said gently.
Saori tightened her hold on him. "I almost lost you," she said as the tears started to flow in happiness at his recovery. "Ryu, I don't want to be parted from you."
"I'm surprised you haven't figured out where we are yet," he said as he lifted her chin. He kissed her deeply as he ran his fingers down her jaw line. Ryu parted the kiss, his eyes half-lidded. "Take a look around."
Saori turned her eyes. They were sitting in Ryu's hospital room. "We're in the hospital? All of it- everything was… the genjutsu?"
Ryu smiled at her. "I bet you can't figure out where
the scroll ended and where I stepped in." He kissed her temple.
"The steps. I hadn't noticed them before," she said as he made her stand to sit on the bed. It was a bit more comfortable than the hard floor.
"No, the steps were always there. I think you were so worried about me that you didn't move from that spot. Am I right? I stepped in when you were almost to the mansion. Shogai knew what to do. He helped me get you here. I thought I did wonders on the mansion and garden."
Ryu held her against him as he looked over her form. His hands moved the sleeves of her shirt up, rubbing her shoulders. Ryu caught sight of markings on the upper part of her arm. He furrowed his brows. Ryu turned her body so he could get a better view.
Saori looked at him oddly. He was studying her arm for some reason, rather hard. "What is it?"
"Take a look at your arm," Ryu said as he reached over to get the mirror.
Saori's eyes looked over her arm constantly, not believing it. "There's a tiger sitting on a cloud with a phoenix staring up at it. Is that Josei and Akaihi?"
"Josei? The tiger? When did you met the guardian of the west gate?" Ryu leaned towards her with a concerned gaze.
"When Shogai met me, he told me I was supposed to meet you. He said it was decided by the stars, Ryu. He told me I had to pass a certain type of test. He said I had to be worthy of you since you had a celestial. I entered the garden, but it was pitch black. Josei showed himself to me not long after. He offered me the chance to have everything I ever wanted - at a price. I refused. He said I was worthy of him. He told me I needed to be the foundation Akaihi found on because-"
"Because I'm the wall that guards the phoenix and everyone it protects," Ryu said as he completed her train of thought. "Akaihi can't fight alone. There has to be a fourth player in this mystery of Onari's." He averted his eyes as he thought.
"A fourth player? I don't understand." She saw something dawn on him.
"There are four celestials of myth: phoenix, turtle, tiger, and dragon. In the Tibetan version, there is a snake that works with the turtle. Onari is gathering an army, Saori. The only one left out now is the dragon. We already know who the snake is if she is following the Tibetan version. It's Sasuke," he said as he said it aloud. "The dragon has to fight beside the phoenix or everything falls apart. When the dragon and phoenix are at quarrels with each other, there is war."
"If me, you, Onari, and Sasuke sensei have the ones mentioned, who is the fourth…? Who is the one intended for the dragon?" She looked at him puzzled.
"We already have a good idea don't we? Who is
close to Onari and happens to be male?" Ryu swore everything was falling into place based on fate. "It's Takeru, isn't it? Didn't you tell him before the dragon meant 'marriage' for him and Onari? What if it's true?"
Saori flopped backwards onto the bed. She stared at the ceiling. "This is all so surreal. Is it fate, or chance that Onari was found the way she was?"
"That was chance. Anyone could have helped her, but Sasuke was the one who was destined to bring her to Konoha. She met Takeru and they fell for each other. We have to get them to realize it. At all costs," Ryu said as he looked down at her with determination.
Areku breathed hard as he and his father came upon the small village. He suspected Onari had come this way, but one couldn't be entirely sure. They were hoping the girl would follow the road to a place where she could get food and water. After all, she was limited on funds since she had left so abruptly.
Areku began to search the village for Onari while his father went to get food for them. His eyes darted around as he sniffed the air constantly. He looked down at Ichigo. "I can smell her scent. She came this way. It wasn't too long ago." Areku's head turned to see vendors in the street selling food. If Onari had left the village in a rush, she would be famished by now. He could only hope she hadn't ate and ran.
Areku approached the first vendor. The man was weighing fish. "Excuse me, have you seen a dark headed girl with yellow eyes come this way?"
"Kid, I've had a lot of customers today. I haven't had anyone like that pass by me. Most of my customers are old women and newly married women," he said as he went back to assisting his patrons.
Areku moved down the line until he came upon a baker selling goods. Ichigo muttered something about meat buns for lunch. A light came on above his head. Wasn't Onari a vegetarian? Of course the fish salesman wouldn't have seen her. Onari wouldn't have wasted her time at such a place.
"Excuse me, have you seen a dark headed girl today? She might have bought buns or dumplings. Her eyes are unusually yellow with a black line around the pupil."
The man leaned over the food he had sitting out. It was a good break to talk to the boy. "A girl you say with unusual eyes? The one that came through here wearing a mask a few hours ago? Yeah, she stopped here. Saw her earlier this morning to be matter of fact. She took off that way," he said as he pointed down the road.
"Come on, Ich. We've got to find her and hurry," Areku said as he took off. He and Ichigo ran down the road as quickly as possible without running into people. He hadn't known about Onari having a mask. She had changed her appearance in order to remain untraceable.
Sasuke had remained a fair distance behind Kiba and Areku. It wasn't long after he had dealt with Takeru that he had left the village. Figuring out the direction Kiba and Areku had gone in wasn't hard. He figured Onari would have stayed upon the course she was on until she found a road. The nearest road led to a village a day's journey from Konoha. And the fact Kashira followed her husband's missions and had told him the direction Kiba was headed, had helped him cheat a little. He approached the small village slowly. Sasuke had to find Kiba. He was to remain at a distance as long as Onari could be convinced to go home.
Sasuke searched the village for his fellow trainer and friend. He kept his head downcast so he wouldn't alert anyone, or bring any attention to himself. As his eyes moved side to side scanning, he saw vendors selling food. He heard a man make a comment about ninja being in the village. He turned his head slowly to look at the individual who was talking to another man. He heard the man ask his friend if Sasuke was looking for the boy he had seen earlier with the dog. "So Areku's been this way. If he's on this side, then Kiba must be on the other side of the village." He changed his direction.
Takeru had to change Onari's fate. He ran on the road as he tried to get to the Hokage's house. Dad can't be after Onari! She's just a kid! Is she that much of a threat to the village? Dammit, this is all because of me! He slid on his feet as he rounded the corner. Takeru approached the Hokage's house breathing hard. He looked up at the two guards who were staring at him. "I… have to… see the Hokage," he panted.
"Aren't you Uchiha's kid? The Hokage is meeting with the ANBU right now. What could be so urgent," the man with blond hair asked.
"The Hokage sent my dad after Onari! He can't order him to take her out," Takeru said angrily. He needed to get past them. But how was he going to do that? The guards didn't just let anyone pass.
"The Hokage has the authority to order a mission to be completed," the blond man said again. "You should know that as a Genin. Who is this Onari?"
"She's the girl my dad took in a few years ago. He can't go after her! Please, let me by! My dad think of her as his own," Takeru shouted.
"We can't let you in," the man on the other side of the entrance said. "The Hokage's decisions are final. By now, your father is long gone. He would have already let. To correct the decision made, means we've lost faith in our leader. It is your friend's choice to leave the village. It can't be changed. Consequences are the responsibility of one individual."
"No! He can't order Onari to be killed! She's mad at me! She's just a kid," Takeru said as he tried to make them understand. They wouldn't let him past. He tried to push past them with force, but the two men sent him back easily enough. He fell backwards onto the ground. Takeru grimaced. Landing on one's tailbone was embarrassing, if not painful.
"Don't you two having anything better to do than push a kid around," Jigen said as he came out of the entrance. His meeting with the Hokage was over. He turned his tiger mask to each guard as he looked them over. "It'd be shameful if he grows up to kick your butts." Normally, he remained silent and observant. However, there was something wrong with this situation.
Takeru stood up brushing himself off. He recognized the voice. More than likely, it was the mask that was a dead give away. He could only hope the man remembered him. "Jigen?"
Jigen looked ahead at the boy before him. "Captain Jigen," he corrected. "You've grown taller. What is it you wish to see the Hokage about?"
"He ordered my dad to attack Onari if she chooses not to come back. She ran away," Takeru said softly. "She's mad at me. Really mad at me."
Jigen had a memory for faces and people he met. "Onari…? The girl with the large phoenix? I remember how her strengths were improving a few years back. How does she fair now?"
"She's extremely fast and powerful with her punches. Her kekkegenkai is showing. Dad said it's what makes her dangerous."
"Rightfully so. A kekkegenkai is an inherited trait. And if she's female and angry, it makes her one explosive bull," Jigen said in deep thought. "Anyway, she saved my tail, so I guess we can try to go save hers."
Takeru's eyes widened. "They said I couldn't enter." Jigen was waving him forward. Takeru followed him as he eyed the two guards. As the doors shut behind them, he looked up at Jigen.
"They wouldn't dare oppose me. Both of them owe me at least five hundred ryo for getting them out of debt. Gambling is not a leisure activity wives are bound to understand," he said as they walked down the hall.
Takeru made a face. He has the same reasoning as Ryu. It's a bit scary.
Onari turned her head as she sat on a bench near the edge of the village. She had been contemplating where she was going and why. It would be easy to hide from Gekido and his men. But if she chose to do that, he might come after Ryu for having a celestial, too. Onari stared straight ahead. She was undecided about where to go and what to do. She didn't hear someone approach. He coughed his head to get her attention.
Onari stared dead at Areku. He stood breathing hard with a small dog standing next to him. She wasn't sure why he was here, or how he had managed to find her.
"Are you going to keep running? We were sent to find you, Onari. A ninja belongs in her village. If you don't return home, we'll all be worried about you. You can't expect us to leave you out here."
"Onari is not from Konoha. Onari goes where Onari wants to go," she said as she stood up suddenly. Her eyes remained fixed on Areku. He was ready to chase her. His body position told her so.
"They're going to come after you, Onari." He saw her confusion. "The ANBU are sworn to deal with ninja who leave their post. Even though you weren't born in the village, you were trained there. You know how they operate and the secrets of the village."
"Onari doesn't care about secrets. Onari is tired of secrets! Areku needs to go back to Konoha!" She dissipated before him.
"Onari! This is bad, Ichigo. She's able to dissipate without using hand seals. Her concentration is better than we thought."
"Where is she," Sasuke asked as he saw Areku enter the eating establishment. He must have sniffed his father out. The boy was confused to why he was there.
"I tried to talk to her and she dissipated in front of me. Onari thinks we're trying to stop her from being herself - that we're trying to control her. Her concentration is better than the both of you know. She didn't use hand seals," he said as he glanced at Sasuke and his father.
"This is getting to be ridiculous sand tedious," Sasuke said as he stood up. The chair moved back. "I can't keep chasing her to the ends of the earth. If she doesn't want to be found, she won't be."
Kiba didn't like this at all. "Onari's acting kind of like a spoiled brat. Sasuke, maybe she needs a different approach."
"And which one would you suggest I take, Kiba? I'm ordered to put an end to this one way or another," he warned. "If you have any better ideas, you might want to heavily focus on persuading me."
"Try approaching her as a father - not an authority figure," Areku said. "If I were as mad as she is, I wouldn't listen to an adult who was trying to force me into submission." He kept his gaze matched with Sasuke's.
"Onari doesn't view me as a father, much less, an older person," Sasuke said as he looked around the establishment. People were starting to listen in to their conversation. "We need to go. There's too many eavesdroppers." All three of them walked outside. "Which way did she go, Areku?"
"I have no way of knowing. It's impossible to track someone who chooses to dissipate. You were listening, weren't you?"
Kiba placed his hand upon Sasuke's shoulder before the man snapped at his son. "Regardless of what she did to escape, what other areas are around here? Does she even have a destination in mind?"
Sasuke shook his head. "Onari isn't familiar with areas outside of Konoha. She only knows where the village is when she is on missions. If I'm permitted to say this, she has to be lead back with her team. I doubt Onari could survive outside the village. There's something eating away at her."
Kiba watched Sasuke's expression. "What has her attention?" No one around him knew.
"I want to say she thinks about what her life would have been like if she hadn't of met us, or if her parents had survived. If they had, would she be our enemy now, or possible friends with everyone around her? There's no way to know. I don't want to say it's been Takeru the entire time. He's not the one who gains her focus. It isn't just her that I've seen change. It's also been Daiya. There's an entire secret they aren't telling me," Sasuke said as he lifted his backpack.
"It looks like word has gotten around that we're in the village," Areku said lowly as he spotted two men watching them from afar. The men were keeping an eye on them. One of the men had brown hair, thick muscles on his arms, and was eying them heavily. He was looking from each of them trying to figure them out.
Sasuke slowly turned his eyes to look in that same direction. "Who are they?" He didn't recognize either of them as ninja from any country he knew. One of them looked strangely like… Daiya, in a way. The man was older, but Sasuke could see the facial resemblance. "I have a bad feeling about this. We need to postpone our arrangement with our new admirers."
Kiba nodded slowly. "I agree." He, Areku, and Sasuke split into a run. As soon as they did, the two men were after them. Kiba knew his son could handle himself. After all, he had Ichigo. He and Sasuke were going to deal with the two men and try to let Areku get away. The boy was younger and he was their prime concern. Onari is going to have to wait. We're being followed!
Naruto Uzumaki, Hokage of Konoha, paced back and forth as he thought about Takeru Uchiha. The boy was worried his father was going to kill Onari. He touched his forehead, rubbing his temples tenderly. Takeru cares for that girl stronger than someone of his age ought. He had the backbone to confront me, regardless of the guards at the door, or the position I hold. Naruto smiled. He regarded me as his equal. Sasuke's son is something else.
The sad thing is, there's no way to get in touch with Sasuke. He works alone a lot of the time. There's no what t know what route he took. Naruto went to his office behind the curtains. He opened a drawer to reveal maps of all areas near the fire country. He searched for the map so he could look it over.
Once his hand was upon it, he opened it. Naruto scanned the area. He traced his finger on the map. "If she went the way I think, she would have gone here. There's a village close to Konoha by half a day, but Onari's known for her aggression during missions. If she really was angry with Takeru, it would have given her more reason to get away." Naruto pinpointed all of the villages near their location. "The last one to see which way she went was Chouji's daughter, Gin." He rose. "There's too many possibilities. That girl's running rampant. Well, Takeru better find her before Sasuke does. He completes all of his missions," Naruto said regrettably at the thought of Sasuke using force upon the girl. He hoped he was wise with the decision he had made for Takeru.
Takeru moved swiftly through the trees with Jigen, the ANBU who had helped him earlier. "Are you sure she'll listen to me? Or that we'll find her?"
Jigen smiled under his tiger mask. "Women have tempers like men - it's just they handle it differently. Onari won't run forever. She'll get tired and be confused as where to go. If you're the one that comes to get her, she'll stop running."
Takeru glanced at him. "I hope you're right." I have to step up. Eiyu's not with hr anymore. Yet, if I want her at this moment, will she let me be near her? Takeru remembered what Daiya had said. "You're more sure of what you want in life than anyone." I want her. I'm going to fight for her if I have to.
Sasuke remained hidden in the village down a street where no one seemed to be wandering. The man who was following him was taking the bait. Idiot. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he activated Sharingan. He stepped out from behind a large crate to stare at the man.
He stood watching the one in front of him with an evil
smirk on his face. "I was wondering if you were a coward, or a man. Where is the phoenix?"
Sasuke tried not to show his surprise at the man's knowledge of Onari's celestial. He only stared back at the man watching his every move. The man finally realized he wasn't the talkative type.
"Now, now, it's unwise to remain silent. Ninja from Konoha really are drones," Masasue said as he watched the man before him narrow his eyes. "We're looking for a phoenix and a person who might have it. If you're wise enough to tell me, I might end your life quickly, or spare you. Then again, how would you know anyway?" Masasue clenched his hands into fists. Steal blades came out. He smiled wickedly. "Sasuke Uchiha."
Sasuke wondered for a split second how this man knew his name; however, he was famous in some countries due to his missions. "At your service," he said in monotone as the man straightened his body as if in triumph.
"So you're the one who took the little phoenix keeper from the snow village," Masasue said as he soon discovered what was happening. "I have a feeling you really don't know where the phoenix is. Why else would you be out where with two other ninja? From what I hear, you work alone."
"For someone I've never seen you sure know a lot about me. Most don't live to tell about it," Sasuke said as he ran forward. The man in front of him was after Onari. It was all very clear to him. As he ran at speed towards the man, the man moved his body back and started to punch at him. Sasuke could see his movements with Sharingan. He turned his body at the right moment to avoid a lightening blast aimed at his form.
Masasue came at Sasuke hard and heavy as he threw lightening punches. If the man came in close enough, he could slice him to bits with the claws on his hands. Masasue found Sasuke to be a real competitor. The man was avoiding him easily. As he came close enough, he saw the man had unusual red eyes. The man wasn't blinking.
Sasuke formed hand seals quickly as the lightening user came within feet of him. He took a deep breath and brought his hand to his mouth. Tough luck, pal. Sasuke blew an enormous fireball straight at his enemy. The man wasn't expecting the attack. He heard him yelp in terror. Sasuke kept blowing fire to make sure the man's curiosity was ripped apart.
Masasue rebounded as soon as the man wore out of breath. He ran at the man again, his attention completely on him as lightening flowed down his arm. His hand opened to throw poison in Sasuke's direction. As the pellets exploded, he grinned from ear to ear, thinking he had him.
Sasuke stood behind Masasue with his eyes narrowed. The man had fallen for trying to poison a clone. He concentrated and let Chidori flow down his arm. The noise caused the lightening user to whirl around. Just as he did, Sasuke went for his chest. His hand sunk in to let the Chidori rip the man's flesh apart.
Masasue blubbered as blood spewed out of his mouth. His eyes went dark as his body fell lifeless to the ground. Sasuke withdrew his hand as the body hit the road.
"I hope you weren't the best," Sasuke said as he flicked his wrist to get the blood off. He was disappointed in the man. Although, he had learned one thing: lightening users were on their trail concerning Onari. He had to find Kiba. Things were getting ugly.