The sky darkened. A heavy cloud passed over the sun. Pressure blasted downward, consuming the space, blasting down on the ground. The forest trembled in a cold, bone-like wind.
"You have failed Orochimaru-sama, and for that, you must die."
Cold sweat built on Shikamaru's forehead.
Tayuya's eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold the phone here. I haven't killed shit, or failed anybody." She waved her hands frantically from side to side.
"You are too late. You should have been earlier." Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. "As to your claim, I understand nothing of the kind. You have failed to kill pursuers or recover Uchiha Sasuke."
"Not everyone is a super freak like you or Orochimaru-dono." Tayuya's eyes narrowed. She stared at Kimimaro.
Kimimaro folded his arms across his chest.
"At the moment, I still have more potential use to Orochimaru than you do." Tayuya smirked.
"That is true. Once you have executed those intruders, your use ends, however." Kimimaro turned around, his gaze falling on Naruto.
Naruto shivered tightly. Those cold eyes. He drew in a deep breath.
"You should finish things quickly. I will attend to those other two." Kimimaro turned his gaze toward the forest.
Tayuya's brow dripped with sweat.
Kimimaro vanished rapidly.
Tayuya drew in a shaking breath. "Well, you heard the man," she stated, her breath coming in and out in fast gasps. "Let's get to it."
Naruto and Shikamaru tensed.
Flight
The field darkened. A bone shard shot forward rapidly, piercing through the ground beside Sasuke's foot. The grass rose upward. White bone rose through the air.
Sasuke gritted her teeth. Stupid— She ran on, zigzagging rapidly through the field. I'm not going to be stopped by this!
Kimimaro landed in the field. "It is fortunate indeed that you are alone," he remarked. His hand reached downward. "I will be able to incapacitate you quickly."
"You will find it more difficult than you imagine." A figure emerged from the field, carrying a silver sword. The Tengu mask flickered in the light, pure white.
Kimimaro's eyes widened. "Who are you?"
"No one of consequence. Sasuke-san, I leave her to you."
Sasuke nodded. She ran on ahead, clearing the field with a final leap. Her hand tightened on the sword.
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. He turned his head to face the white-masked man.
"Well, I say that, but you can likely determine from my mask that I am a member of the Anbu." The figure lifted his sword. "I was called in to deal with Orochimaru's present lust for blood."
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. What the hell is he doing? His head tilted to one side. "Do you mean to fight me directly, by yourself?" he questioned.
"You would fairly come to that conclusion." The figure stepped closer. "As I say, my identity is unimportant. You may refer to me as Shishi."
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. Lion? When his mask is a tengu?! He sighed. He lowered his hand. A bone snapped out of the palm. The bone sharpened into a delicate, brutal sword. "I won't go easily. Even with my condition."
"I'm counting on it." Shishi's blade shot upward.
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed. It won't be so easy to cut through my bones—
The silver sword slashed rapidly through the bone. Energy surrounded the blade. The silvery blade glimmered brightly.
Kimimaro's eyes widened. He stared at the blood mark across his chest, slowly blossoming. What is this? He screamed, agony suddenly wracking his body. A piece of his hand for a moment appeared transparent.
The tengu-masked Anbu lowered the sword. "Is that all there was to your devotion?" he questioned, his expression calm.
Blood spilled downward. Kimimaro roared. Now that's the case, this guy is a serious opponent. He clapped his hands together. "Dance of the Clematis: Vine!"
Spines twisted upward through the ground.
Shishi leapt backward through the air.
The horn tore up the grass, ripping up the plain entirely.. Spurs of bone shot forward from the twisting vines.
Shishi ducked backward.
"Dance of the Clematis." Kimimaro rushed forward.
The ribs shot forward from Kimimaro's chest. Encircling Shishi, they tightened their grip rapidly.
Shishi's eyes narrowed.
It's impossible to dodge once you have entered my spines. It's over! Kimimaro lunged forward, his hand rushing forward.
Shishi vanished. A silver outline followed his form.
Kimimaro's eyes widened. He glanced sideways, his body shaking.
"You're wide open." Shishi swung forward, standing behind Kimimaro. The sword slashed along the back of the neck.
Shit! What the hell is this?! Kimimaro turned around, his eyes wide.
Shishi's silver blade lowered.
The bones fell to the ground. One by one, they crumbled to dust.
"In terms of power, you are quite remarkable." Shishi lowered his blade. He swung the blade to one side.
The drops of blood fell to one side.
"The heir to the Kaguya clan, formerly of Hidden Cloud. A miracle even by their standards and, I believe, the last heir to that clan as well." Shishi paused. "I feel rather guilty killing you. It's rather like killing the last of an endangered species."
Kimimaro spun in circles. Since I have no choice, I can use that. Wait. This guy can teleport. Even counting in my bones, I can't kill him too easily.
Shishi vanished again. The silver outline surrounded his body. The silvery sword drove forward.
"Dance of the Seedling Fern." Kimimaro extended his hand. I'll move forward. Bones rose rapidly, piercing and twining through the earth and tearing away patches of grass.
Shishi's eyes narrowed.
The bone forest rose around the body.
"You are going to die. Even you can't teleport around the bodies of the bone forest." Kimimaro extended his hand.
Shishi's eyes narrowed. "Am I so incapable? I do not, myself, recall such a thing. The hero must be capable of more, you know."
Kimimaro's eyes widened.
The sword lifted. Energy built around the surface of the sword. Shishi lifted the sword. A crescent of energy formed around the blade. "Reconstruct, Hakai Jikan."
Kimimaro emerged rapidly from the bones, stabbing upward.
Shishi swung forward rapidly. A vast crescent of energy slashed through the bone forest, cutting away every piece of the bone and reducing the bones to dust. The bones fell to the ground.
Kimimaro gasped in shock. He drew in a deep breath.
Shishi lowered his hand.
The bones drove into the ground.
"You are a really terrifying shinobi. Despite not using a single recognizable hand seal, you've pushed me back this far."
"Thank you." Shishi inclined his head. The tengu mask glistened in the light.
Bone dust trailed downward.
"Regardless, you must recognize that your life has ended. These bones of yours cannot be regenerated." Shishi tightened his grip on the blade.
Kimimaro roared. The air glowed. My life is worth more than this! He rushed forward, his hand drawing back. I must repay Orochimaru-sama! Somehow, I must prove to him that my life is worth more than this!
Silver energy roared up across the body. Shishi's silver blade glowed. Shishi's white cloak blew back in the wind. The silver blade drove through Kimimaro's chest.
Bone fragments flew away from the body. Kimimaro's eyes widened. Kimimaro's heart burst. "…h…" The blood spilled downward. "Help..."
"It is too dangerous to leave you alive." Shishi stared across the field, his expression plain and blank. "This play does not have a role for you. The next stage approaches. Your part to play in this drama passed some time ago. The world is turning. You do not have a place in it." He reached downward, wiping off his blade on the grass.
Kimimaro's body collapsed into dust. Silver light fell from the blade.
Flight
Water splashed over the edge of the void. The two statues raised their hands over the void. The statue hands extended, never touching, their hands stretched out toward each other.
"Kōju!"
Kōju turned her head slightly. Her legs kicked over the edge of the long-haired man with a headband's statue.
Sasuke stepped forward, her hand extending. "Are you going to run away? Huh?"
"Hello, Sasuke-chan." Kōju smiled faintly, her eyes filled with deep sadness. She leaned back against the side of the stone.
"You've got to come back."
"I cannot return. I already burned that bridge. I left of my own free will—"
"Fuck you. I'm going to drag you back to Hidden Leaf. Even if I have to break your legs and arms first."
Kōju's eyebrows rose. "I'm not talking about that." She extended her hand. "You would welcome me back regardless of what I did. Rather, it's the matter of the village. They won't accept a traitor into their ranks with open arms, you know."
"We'll keep it a secret!"
"A secret?" Kōju smiled. "You are too naïve." She spread her arms wide. "You really think all the ninja who came here would keep a secret?" She fell silent. "Furthermore, I have no chance of happiness—"
"Shut up." Sasuke's fist clenched. "I don't care what you say or do. I don't care even a little. I care about you! Not some misguided notion of justice that won't answer the feelings in my heart!" Her eyes narrowed. "I acknowledge you. Can't you see the wounds you've left on my heart by walking away? You, you and Naruto." She gritted her teeth. "You were supposed to be my new family!"
Kōju blinked.
Tears ran down Sasuke's face. She clenched her fist. "I do care about you! I care about protecting you, and making sure you're happy. Maybe I didn't show it right, but I'll do it right this even if the village council says you can't return. Even if the other shinobi blab. I don't fucking care what anyone says or does; I WILL PROTECT YOU." She stepped forward again. "YOU ARE MY PRECIOUS FRIEND! SO I AM NOT LETTING YOU GO!" Sasuke gritted her teeth. She stepped forward again. "If I must break your arms to drag you back, I'll break your arms. If I must break your legs to keep you from running away to Orochimaru, I'll break your legs. If you won't live due to sadness, I'll break that unhappiness of yours. If I have to kill my own heart to force Naruto to acknowledge you, I'll do it." She reached upward. "Because you are my precious friend."
"Hm." Kōju sighed airily, her voice theatrical. "I was hoping for a different reaction."
"If I have to fall in love with you, as a woman and not a friend." Sasuke exhaled. She stared over the waterfall, her face reflecting a variety of mixed emotions. "I can try," she admitted at last quietly.
Kōju's eyebrows rose. "That's more like it." She giggled quietly. Her face grew sad. "Even if you acknowledge me, though, he will never acknowledge me as his equal. Is it because I am too womanly?"
"He's fighting the hardest to get to you right now." Sasuke gritted her teeth. "He'll be here. He'll acknowledge you."
"Then let's wait for him." Kōju lay back against the rock.
"I'd prefer that we go quicker from here. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is that Orochimaru comes for us."
"And you aren't confident in taking him on?"
"I don't think anyone is." Sasuke's brow creased. "Let's go back."
"No." Kōju's face grew stern.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Sanzengan!"
The eyes whirled rapidly.
"Are you seriously trying to hold out at this point?" Sasuke questioned, her eyes narrowing. "Are you seriously betraying the Leaf? Even if you are." She closed her eyes. "I will forgive you without exception. You are my precious comrade. So if that's the case." she continued.
"I'm merely thinking that I need some time to awake from a dream. I cannot fight you properly. I cannot even run properly."
Sasuke closed her eyes. "You left scars on my heart well enough. If that counts, I think you're fine."
"Oh well." Kōju sighed, kicking her feet over the edge of the stone. "It seems that it was bought well enough, though. I sold it well."
Sasuke frowned. "Eh?"
"I mean my fake. Likely it won't work now, but I bluffed pretty well, huh?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. "What the hell do you mean?"
Kōju rose to her feet, a gentle smile crossing her face. "Listen well, then."
The water rushed into the mighty gorge beneath the waterfall.
A/N: Unlike the last few chapters, a lot's going on here. First of all, thanks to Uzuuchi007 for positive remarks; I always appreciate a review. Second, while I have some trepidation regarding this chapter, this is something I can't change given the future course of the story. In order, here are the points I want to address:
Change of Opponents: This was done for a couple of reasons. First of all, the battle had to be resolved entirely using Hidden Leaf forces because the goal was to get Kōju to return peacefully. Putting in another village would indicate coercion in this respect. Second, I wanted to avoid using a tag-team battle involving Hidden Leaf, as there's little way for sufficient numbers of Hidden Leaf forces to realistically appear in the time frame discussed. As Tsunade stated, other teams are occupied. (Specifically for others that might be possibilities, Kakashi is involved with another issue which should come up during Part II, Team Gai is in the midst of another Chūnin Exam, this one held in Hidden Mist, Jiraiya is doing preliminary investigations on Hidden Rain's instability, and Team Kurenai, as a whole, couldn't arrive, Shino being heavily injured from Gaara going berserk, Kurenai occupied with a mission in Hidden Frost, and Hinata not being suited for a mission requiring lethal force presently.) Third, I wanted to introduce 'Shishi'. This brings me to my next point.
Shishi Himself: As with Unmei, I cannot reveal this character's true identity. The difference between Shishi and Unmei is that Shishi remembers his actual identity, and as such is 'playing a role' here. The name he's taken on, by the way, actually indicates judge. What I can also say about this character is that he comes from the same universe as Unmei does originally. Shishi's power level isn't excessive at present; it just so happens that his abilities are significantly broken and as such make him a really dangerous opponent even to someone like Kimimaro. In both cases, Unmei and Shishi become significantly more important during Part II. For now, I want to reduce the influence they exert on the series, but at least showing this character's existence during Part I was important to me. Hakai Jikan translates as 'Destruction of the Hard Problems of the Times'.
Sasuke being emotional: I wanted Kōju's rescue to mean more than a lot of things to Sasuke. Throughout the series, Sasuke has reluctantly become closer to her team, gaining something that could be compared to friendship, or at least caring about another person besides herself. This is another emphasis on that change I wanted to place. Her becoming emotional is appropriate to the sheer gravity of what's happened between the two.
Kōju's True Objective: To be revealed... NEXT CHAPTER!