Part 2
'Thought conversations'
"What's wrong now?" I asked as I exited the dark tunnel (seriously they couldn't have put in some more light bulbs or at least torches?). Analia was cleaning off her blades while Ariel was checking through the dead Lazari's pockets.
"You know how we say Lazari are too bloodthirsty to work together?" Ana asked putting her sword away and staring at me with a serious expression I've only seen a handful of times. Ana was serious but not this deadly serious, she always had some stupid smart ass comment waiting.
"Yes?" I slowly bit out.
"Well they're getting smarter about how they plan things." I sighed.
"What are they planning?" Ana's eyes darted behind me. I knew my familiars were behind me but they probably brought in the other Akatsuki members from Hidan's voice practically growling at himself.
"-you pansy assed mother fucker!"
"I am you douche bag!"
"Like fucking hell you are."
"Let me fucking prove it you piece of shit." A whirl of displaced air sounded alerting me to Hidan and Past Hidan arming themselves. I turned to glare at them.
"Hidan!" My Hidan froze at the snap but the other took advantage and tried to attack. My hand twitched and Past Hidan went flying backward to end up against the wall. "Stick." Past Hidan melted into the rock leaving only his hands, legs, and head free and in a closed position. I turned my attention to my Hidan. "Do I really need to babysit you? You are a grown ass man Hidan act like it or so help me I'll force you into a kitten form and leave you to Sasori's mercy." Hidan sighed putting his scythe away and held up his hands in a sign of his submission.
"Are you sure that's Hidan, un?" Deidera asked.
"Fuck you she-male." Hidan retorted in a normal voice. I groaned running a hand through my hair and facing Ana again.
"Amaya's practically married to us." Yahiko murmured to Deva Path. "Plus we all live in the same house so after a while you learn to deal with each other either by bribery or death threats."
"You were saying?" I asked pointedly.
"Well turns out the Lazari are actually ingenious. In their own way." Ariel amended at my look. "Their whole reason of coming back here was to kill Itachi."
"That was established." I acknowledged. "But why come back this far? They haven't even met us yet and won't for some time." Ana and Ariel exchanged an uneasy look before leaning in closer.
"All he told us was they needed to kill the bloodline before it had a chance to start." I frowned before my firing neurons sparked and fear welled up inside me making my heart feel like it was breaking in two.
"Nico."
"What about Nico?" Konan asked coming up behind me. I turned to her before my eyes darted unconsciously to Itachi. He was already looking at me along with everyone else. "Amaya! What about Nico?"
"They want to make sure he's never born." I uttered.
"The fuck?!" Hidan started swearing. "Why the fuck would they want that? He hasn't done anything to them."
"Are all Lazari into time traveling?" Yahiko asked. I zoned out of the conversation to grab my mirror. The others allowed me to reassure myself while they spoke. I moved into the kitchen for privacy hoping I could get that. My face greeted me showing me what I always saw in the mirror. I ignored that and focused on my magic and what I wanted to do with it.
"Home." The mirror rippled like water before it changed. The familiar sight of the living room greeted me along with Itachi and Nico reading on the couch while Sasori sat on the armchair reading his own tome. I sighed in relief at seeing my boys. I had only meant to merely glimpse them to reassure myself but Nico saw me.
"MOMMA!" Itachi and Sasori looked around until they saw me in the mirror. Nico crawled away from Itachi and ran up to the mirror. "Where are you mommy? I miss you!"
"I miss you too baby. Mommy will be home soon, I promise."
"Are you okay?" Itachi asked seeing more than Nico's childlike attention could.
I hesitated looking down at Nico taking in his gray eyes that looked at me with absolute trust and love. I could also see the intelligence in those eyes and knowing how I was at his age, I really didn't want to chance anything by trying to lie. Knowing my luck my son would end up as a lie-detector against me. Thankfully, I didn't marry an idiot.
"Kisame." Itachi called picking up Nico and doing a shunshin to wherever Kisame was. Sasori folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at me.
"What's wrong?" I sighed leaning against the fridge.
"This mission just got way harder than we needed." I answered. "We ended up going through a portal via Ana and she teleported us into the Akatsuki base a few years into the past."
"How far back?" Sasori asked. I shrugged.
"I don't know exactly. Maybe nine years? A decade? It's kind of hard to tell considering there are no calendars with years here. Plus we are underground here Sasori." Itachi appeared in a blink without Nico.
"He's with Kisame and the other kids outside." Itachi informed me when I opened my mouth. I nodded.
"Good."
"What's happening?"
"Time travel, Lazari, Past Akatsuki, and I don't know where or how far back we are." Itachi nodded.
"Mission?" Sasori asked.
"Lazari went back to kill Itachi." Itachi narrowed his eyes while Sasori glared harder.
"Why?"
"Ana interrogated, they want to make sure Nico isn't born." Predictably Itachi froze while Sasori practically broke his teeth with how hard he was grinding them.
"The fuck?" Sasori rarely swore and when he did, I had to secretly admit it was scary as fuck and sexy as hell.
"What right do they have to kill our son?" Itachi snarled.
"I don't know. But I know you won't allow any one to harm Nico."
"Come home."
"This is my mission Itachi. And I will see it through to the end."
"And what if you die?" Sasori asked raising an eyebrow.
"Then I lived a very good life surrounded by idiots and my family." I replied sarcastically before glaring. "Do you honestly think Lazari could kill me?" Itachi fumed in silence but after a few seconds his stance relaxed.
"Lazari have never been master planners." Sasori murmured, restraining his anger. "They can't have just come together because they just now thought of it. Something or someone is drawing them together to make them operable."
"Why can't they have just started working together?" Itachi asked. "Haven't they done so in the past?"
"They have but they never make it past the early stages. They're usually not very good at subtly. And didn't you guys have trouble working together when Nagato started Akatsuki?"
"Some more than others." Sasori replied blankly.
"Well they're bound to try another attempt on Itachi unless they want to deal with my ancestors and you've all seen my mother's aftermaths. My grandmother was worse and it just goes back further and further."
"What about Ana and Ariel? The other Guardians?" Sasori asked.
"They'd go after the Guardians who married other races or species wouldn't they?" Itachi murmured thinking. "Guardians are already strong and if you tried to take out their family trees you might as well sign over a death certificate. But kill their weaker family aspect and no more children."
"We don't even know if any of the other Guardians are having this problem." Sasori sighed.
"Just to be on the safe side I'll contact Andromeda and let her know about the Lazari. Though I really must congratulate the idiot who decided to go after my son." The last part came out as a snarl.
"Bring me back their carcass and I will happily make an example of them." Sasori promised.
"I knew you had a heart under all those layers of wood." I faked wiping a tear from my eye to hid the fact that I really was about to cry. "I am so proud of you Akasuna."
"Some idiot left the potion to make me human near the brat and he took advantage of that. There are no more reversal potions left." Sasori snapped.
"Consider that payback for walking in on Itachi and I this morning." I smirked. Itachi rolled his eyes.
"Sometimes I wonder why you two weren't married instead." I gasped dramatically.
"I would never cheat on your sexy ass!"
"That insufferable wench is all yours." Sasori deadpanned. "You're the only insane person in this house who would dare to marry her."
"Get back to work Maya." Itachi instructed after smirking at Sasori. "We'll inform the others."
"Okay. Thanks for the ranting." They acknowledged my thanks before fading out. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly feeling like the fear and anger was back at normal levels again. Trust Sasori and Itachi to calm me down faster than seeing my baby.
Even so, someone was always going to be after Nico. Whether directly or indirectly. He would grow up and be a guardian just I had. His chakra coils were fully developed and from what Itachi thought he would be powerful. His magic was already strong for a three year old child and no doubt the chakra would enhance it. If there was a trigger then his other powers would come in and whatever witch he became then would be twice as strong. People were going to start looking into that and trying to experiment if we weren't careful.
I shook my head from the depressing thoughts. Need to get back to the mission at hand. No distractions.
"Andromeda." The mirror rippled again before showing me the face of my boss already waiting.
"Guardian Black, I trust you have found the Lazari?"
"No ma'am. We tracked one group that had been left here in the past with Akatsuki. They were sent to terminate Itachi Uchiha in the hopes that it too would terminate Nico." Andromeda nodded.
"We have already received reports about this from other Guardians whose families have already faded from history and memory. The Lazari are moving fast to get rid of the family matrix."
"We managed to interrogate a Lazari but unfortunately his heart stopped beating before we could find out any of their plans." Andromeda gave a cross between a groan and a sigh.
"We need to find Natalia if we are to have any success in destroying the Lazari idiots. If this continues they very well may move on to destroying Guardians."
"I understand. We will try a locating spell in case the Lazari are in this dimension still."
"Good. But if they are not I want you to try the summoning spell. Analia and Natalia are sisters and blood is stronger than water. If Ana tries to summon her sister it very well may work out in our favor. But I want you to use the Location spell first."
"Understood ma'am. Will we have enough forces for back-up?" Andromeda shook her head.
"Unfortunately no. Everyone is a nervous wreck and forces are scattered and confused enough from Lazari, now regular demons are attacking in bursts."
"Then permission to call in my own back-up?"
"Agreed." A bell-like chime sounded from Andromeda's office. "I am afraid I must leave now Guardian Black. When you find Natalia finish the Lazari. No survivors."
"Understood." The mirror image faded away leaving me staring at my own reflection. I hopped off the table cracking my neck and testing my bonds to my familiars.
I walked back into the main room. Ana and Ariel were talking softly to each other while Hidan, Yahiko and Konan were on high alert looking around, not paying their past selves much attention. When Hidan caught sight of me he nudged Yahiko and Konan who relaxed.
"What's the plan?" Yahiko asked. You had to appreciate ninja's and their mission face.
"Location spell to find out where the Lazari are hiding." I ordered.
"There's no guarantee that they're even in this time anymore." Ariel softly protested.
"They just might be." Yahiko shrugged. "The Lazari here would have to meet up with them at some point if they were to regroup. I doubt they'd want to wait here in this time with paranoid ninja."
"And if the Locator spell doesn't work?" Ana asked harshly. I ignored her tone to face her calmly.
"Then you're going to do a Summoning Spell."
"Chances of that working are slim." Ana snapped. "It's why we didn't do it earlier, you know that."
"I do. But Nat will feel the tug of you trying to summon her and hopefully she takes some comfort from that." Ariel nodded while Ana thought it over before reluctantly nodding her head.
"Good." I turned around to look at Pain. "Nagato do you have a map in your office?"
"...Yes." I nodded.
"Konan." She nodded before disappearing in a shunshin. "Hidan take Deidera and scout out the base's weak points. I'm pretty sure you remember which ones are open right now."
"Fuck if I know. We didn't stay anywhere for long." Hidan grumbled not moving or twitching. I sighed before touching my mind to his.
'If you don't go I will use your new found relationship with Ana to my advantage.' He tensed.
'You wouldn't.'
'Deidera would be happy to know this and tease you mercilessly. Not to mention what Yahiko will do to you.' Hidan glared at my smug smirk. 'Or I could just turn you into a cute little fuzzy kitty and let Yahiko have his way with you.'
'The shit are you talking about? I'm not gay nor would I cheat-' I deadpanned making him cut his rant off with a snort. 'Fine I take that back.'
'Yeah monogamy and gender doesn't really phase you. Which makes it soo much easier to turn this back on you when one of your secret relationships can be turned on you.'
"I hate you sometimes witch bitch." Hidan said. I smiled widely knowing I won.
"I know. I love you to you moron."
He sighed pulling up his scythe. "Fuck! Let's go she-male."
"What?" Deidera snapped. "I am not going anywhere alone with that fucker, un." Hidan merely rolled his eyes before grabbing Deidera and throwing him over his shoulder. Deidera yelped. "PUT ME THE FUCK DOWN YOU MORON!"
"Are we sure Hidan is straight?" Ariel asked Ana in a whisper. Ana shrugged.
"Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me."
"Ah shut up she-male. And quit kicking before I drop your fat ass." I tuned them out turning to Pein who was glaring at me.
"Sorry about temporarily taking over your group Nagato but desperate times you know? Plus you won't remember this anyway so fighting and making a big deal is just stupid."
"How do you intend to make us forget?" Kakuzu growled. "I won't be eating or drinking anything. I doubt you could use chakra to do anything."
"It's called magic Kuzu." Ariel shrugged. "You could learn a lot about it."
"He does." I reminded. "Ana you have your crystal?" She nodded. Konan reappeared with a rolled up map that was quite large.
"I tried to find the most detailed and biggest to help you better."
"I knew there was a reason I loved you Konan." Ariel faked wiping a tear from her eye. Ana rolled her eyes taking the map.
"Kitchen table would be best for that." I ordered. Ana, Ariel and Konan walked away leaving me with Yahiko and the rest of Akatsuki.
"If you don't mind I'd like to keep the rest of you in here."
"Did you have to send the brat with Hidan?" Sasori asked. I smiled softly at his drawl.
"Yes, yes I did."
"Why?" Kisame asked, plopping on the couch. Yahiko went to stand nearer to Past Konan and Pain.
"Deidera actually knows strategy and is probably the only one who can ever get Hidan to focus on something." I reasoned to the listening ninja. "While putting him with Kakuzu is great since they are the Zombie Combo," Kisame snickered at that, "Kakuzu will get annoyed and Hidan will become unfocused. Hidan actually cares about Deidera since he isn't immortal and is actually his best friend besides Kakuzu so he will pay attention to make sure past Deidera isn't harmed."
"If only to make sure he has someone to play video games with in the future." Yahiko put in.
"We become a closer knit group?" Sasori snorted. "That's ridiculous."
"You have to factor in the fact that by the time I meet you guys you're already working teams and familiar with each others fighting styles. With me and my brats around to help cement your 'friendships' you guys can pretty much read each others minds by now."
The contemplating silence from the rest of the past Akatsuki members was a little uncomfortable. I didn't know these guys as well as I knew my guys and they weren't exactly a working unit yet even though they were Akatsuki. They probably worked well enough together to get the job done but they probably didn't know much about each other. Like Nagato- he kept flicking suspicious eyes between Yahiko and I- he was colder now than in the future. Past Konan wasn't really giving me much to work with as she seemed intent on ignoring Yahiko and focusing a dead stare on me. Past Kakuzu was grumbling to himself while fidgeting with a pouch at his side that probably contained money. Past Sasori was ignoring me and focusing on Yahiko, probably trying to figure out how much of a threat he was. Past Kisame was lax but even I could tell there was a tension under his faux relaxation. His eyes were burning into my skull with curiosity. Past Itachi was just looking at me. Unlike future Itachi I had a harder time telling what he was thinking, he was a closed door. Past Hidan was glaring angrily at me no doubt planning my death in the most painful way possible.
These were Akatsuki members, but they weren't my Akatsuki members. More like wild animals with a killers instinct. It made me miss my Akatsuki more than ever.
Yahiko picked up on my distress and left Pain's side to touch my shoulder. I relaxed slightly but the immediate Killing Intent in the air almost made me want to run into the kitchen.
"Nagato stop it." Yahiko snapped standing in front of me protectively. My Konan was at my side in an instant glaring at Pain and her past self. Aw, shit.
"It's alright." I replied coolly. "Konan, did the spell work?"
"Yes. They're a few miles east of us." I nodded.
"Good. Hidan should be back soon. We will leave when he does."
"And them?" Yahiko asked. I met Itachi's dark eyes. To wipe their memories now or to leave them and wait until later. What would the enemy do to try and make things even more difficult for us?
"It's best if we wipe their memories now. There's no telling we will come back once our mission is done." I broke eye contact with Itachi to meet Pain's indifferent eyes. "Our job is almost done here, you can go back to your regularly scheduled programs."
"I would like to talk to you." Pein ordered. Yeah he didn't ask about anything. The rest of Akatsuki stood and left the room in some silent command. Kakuzu broke through the wall binding past Hidan and jerked his partner out of the wall.
"About fucking time asshat!" Hidan growled. Kakuzu just slipped a tentacle around Hidan's neck choking the air out of him so Hidan couldn't talk. Konan and Yahiko stayed by my side while Past Konan stayed beside Pein.
"You're not getting these two to leave." I said answering his narrowed eyes.
"Loyalty goes a long way Nagato." Yahiko shrugged.
"I should keep Analia and Ariel in the kitchen while you talk." Konan murmured. Okay never mind the loyalty. I nodded allowing her to go.
"Just to let you know whatever you learn it will be erased once we leave for good and you won't remember any of this. I mean it may come back to haunt you like in your dreams or like de ja vu later on but for the most part you won't really remember what you learn." I warned.
"It really is for the best." Yahiko agreed. Pein nodded once before he asked,
"Do we succeed?" I blinked before shrugging.
"Well that's actually a very unspecific question to ask." Pein's intensified glare was like a cold chill that made me uncomfortable. "I mean a lot of things happen towards the end of your story and most of them were bad but then again at the very end everything was all good and you were at peace and you actually smiled and believed in something again but before that things went to shit and then the asshole-who-shall-not-be-named-because-I-don't-think-he-would-appreciate-that went and did some things and the other asshole-who-shall-not-be-called-one did even more things but then he too did some good in the end and the person you all put your trust and belief in finally fixed mostly everything but then the other other asshole-who-turned-brother-in-law went crazy and tried to act like a drama queen because he was still mad at his village but then in the end the hero won and everything was good except for a few people who mourned the dead."
The stares I got for that were somewhat satisfying. The awkward silence, well not so much.
"Should you have said so much?" Yahiko finally asked. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Did you even get half of what I said?"
"Some." He nodded. I smiled at him.
"And you weren't even there for it. Besides, that's as vague as I can get."
"You practically told Itachi you two were married and had a child together. Not to mention all the slips with Hidan and I."
"They don't know how you came to be." I pointed out. "And they won't until the unfortunate box thing happens. But you do have a point." I smiled at Pein. "Everything works itself out somehow thanks to a blond ball of sunshine and idiocy."
"We bring about peace?" I nodded. Pein nodded. "And Yahiko?"
"I don't meet you guys until we go to her world." Yahiko chuckled. "And it's all kinds of fun."
"Yeah don't stress the small things Nagato." I said. "And Konan," She gave me a blank look. "Don't worry, once Nagato and Yahiko have control of everyone you and I play hooky to the spa."
"So that's what you two do when we can't find you two." Yahiko's voice resembled the kind you get when a great revelation is revealed.
"Of course, being around a group of guys and three children is stressful enough without you 'adults' looking at the two of us like we're your get out of free jail cards. What did you think we did?" Yahiko spaced out for three seconds before I spotted the trail of blood leaving his nose and the perverted smile on his face. "Yahiko..." I smiled sweetly as images flashed through my head of the... inventive things he thought Konan and I engaged in. My fist was planted in his stomach in the next second. "YOU HENTAI!"
He didn't fly through the air but he did double over in pain. His face drained of all color and his eyes went cross-eyed before he slumped down into a fetal position.
"...Was that necessary?" Nagato asked as we watched Nagato's soul leave his body. I shrugged sending a jolt of energy to his mind, restarting him slowly.
"Either I hit him or Konan would. And she wouldn't be so forgiving."
"-telling you she-bitch, we are not fucking pussies in the future." Hidan's voice came.
"You were restrained by a fucking girl, yeah."
"You don't want to get the witch bitch mad wuss-puss, it hurts. Badly." Hidan's grimace was visible as they came into the living-room.
"What could she do, un?" Deidera's eyes landed on me. Unlike future Deidera who knew to respect me, past Deidera was glaring at me like an impudent child. I just smirked before addressing Hidan.
"We need to get going now." I looked at Nagato. "You should get the rest of Akatsuki in here."
'Konan, we are ready to move. I'm going to need you all in here now.' In a brief amount of time the collective parties were in the living-room watching each other warily.
"Anyone have anything they'd like to say before we wipe the memories of the less unfortunate and unlucky suckers who don't have a life?" Ariel asked happily.
"I wouldn't talk about unfortunate, I could still make you into a puppet." Sasori growled. Kakuzu grunted eyeing us.
"Dude," Ana sighed giving them a dull look. "Unless you want to face her husband, you won't even try."
"I still can't believe he has a stick up his ass." I muttered. Ariel snapped back.
"All Uchiha have the sticks up their ass."
"Excuse me but Itachi's ass is stick-free. And Nico has the Black family paddle to keep him from getting one." I growled.
"Calm down ladies," Ana sighed. "We all know Madara's stick has been up his ass for a long time."
"He is not that old." Ariel argued.
"Oh please he outlived Hashirama and Mito. And Mito is an Uzumaki! That's freaking old!"
"In ninja terms he is ancient." Yahiko put in.
Konan responded. "Madara is on the same level as the Shodaime Hokage. Kakuzu didn't even want anything to do with him."
"Can we argue about this later?" I asked as the past Akatsuki were trying to connect a few dots and had probably figured their futures were better left unspoken about. "We have memories to clean." Ana and Ariel stopped their arguing but their mumbles were still going. I rolled my eyes and met Nagato's gaze.
"Okay I really hope none of you guys attempted to write any of this down to warn yourselves. Not that I think you'll believe it without proof but you never know."
"And if we did?" Sasori asked.
"We would have to terminate you." Ana answered. Darkness gathered around her aura making a cold chill permeate the room. "And Amaya really likes you."
"Still don't understand why you didn't marry him." Ariel murmured.
"Itachi is the only one insane enough to control her." Konan replied. For what felt like the thousandth time I rolled my eyes.
"So not having this conversation now."
"They have a point." Yahiko snickered. I grabbed Ana and Ariel's hands.
"Ana get ready to pull us out of here. This is delicate business." Before anyone could say anything more I started to chant, pulling power from Ana and Ariel to erase memories.
"Thoughts, Beliefs,
Ideas, Truths, Images
All of these you hold onto tightly
What I now mention
You will release."(1)
It didn't take a genius to know that memory spells were delicate business. One wrong tweak and you could take all the memories someone held in their head. Or you could take half of their memories and leave the darker parts or vice versa with good memories. That said, I had power to do a spell but not the delicacy. That was Ana's job for these spells. Her portals required specific measures in order to fully work. Ariel's part was her imagination and realism. Her imagination and passion would rewrite the memory and make the past few moments different. To leave a blank or blackout was suspicious enough for regular humans, but ninja's were more suspicious and if they dug into the blanks they could figure out just what they were missing. We'd experimented with Kisame.
(Disclaimer: No sharks were harmed in the experimenting of the memory spell. Any exhaustion, dizziness, or fainting were explained to said volunteer and agreed upon by the volunteer while said volunteer was sober, aware, and awake.)
The Akatsuki's eyes were glazed over as the spell took effect. While it would be nice to stay around and cause all kinds of trouble it really wouldn't work as we did have a job to do. Still, I couldn't help looking at Itachi's completely relaxed face and feel a pang of worry. We wouldn't meet for some time and until then, he would suffer physically and mentally.
"We need to go." Hidan murmured. I nodded looking away from Itachi. Ana had the portal open already and waiting. I hesitated only a second before jumping. All sense of equilibrium and balance was thrown off as wind rushed from all sides making chills run down my spine. When my feet touched ground I had goosebumps so hard I was surprised I wasn't an icicle.
"I can't get over that travel thing." Yahiko groaned. I mentally nodded before getting up to survey the terrain. Trees, very big trees, were scattered all around showing a lot of green. If I wasn't currently on a mission I would say this is the perfect spot to go camping. Nice river that looked like it had fish in it and trees perfectly positioned to showcase the stars at night.
"Wow, this place is perfect." Ariel breathed beside me. I nodded before shaking my head out of any camping fantasies I may have entertained in a brief moment of weakness.
"Where are they?" Ana was holding up the crystal over a map that looked like a blown up version of where we were. A few seconds later and the crystal was pulled onto the map to an area surrounded by more green.
"Looks like they're half a mile that-a-way." Ana said rolling up her map while looking up the river. I changed forms into a wolf to sniff the air. My powerful nose picked up the scent of rotting fruits, an unbathed person, and the sharp tangy scent of fire.
"She can smell them." Konan reported.
"We're going to need to get as close to them as possible." Ariel said looking at me. I nodded once before changing back into my human shape.
"They're going to sense my magic the closer we get to them. Konan, Hidan and Yahiko could get close enough but they have a huge smell of rotting fruit."
"So they have back-up. Any idea how many?" I shook my head.
"That would be a job for a Hyuuga."
"Can you guys get anything from them?" Ana asked in frustration.
"We can't fucking sense magic or demons." Hidan growled.
"But you can use the clone jutsu to get close can't you?" Ariel asked.
"That carries with it the danger of being caught." Yahiko pointed out.
"But you can right?"
"Yes." Konan nodded.
"Then use it."
The group of demons down below were well over thirty. Maybe more in the scattered tents. Lazari weren't tree climbers but they could probably hide somewhat decently in the surrounding areas. Of course they had the claws dripping in poison and needle sharp teeth that seemed to target the major arteries, especially in the neck. So I suppose Lazari being cautious was null and void.
"Can you stop with the commentary and just get on with surveillance?" Ana's impatient voice snapped. "Is Nat there?" I shook my head absently. My link with Konan's bunshin would severe if I took even half of my attention off her. It was weird to be in a bunshin's head. Theoretically speaking it should feel the same as being in my familiars heads, but honestly it was so much more difficult.
On the outside I felt like a normal witch disguised as a ninja who was strong enough to run as fast as the wind, lift impossible weights and even form chakra to do my bidding but on the inside I felt hollow and slightly ticklish from the papers that made up Konan's bunshin. Not to mention the concentration it took just to open my mind to the bunshin. I was already getting tired of spying and we weren't even close to done.
Down below Lazari were milling about. They didn't seem to have any urgent business to do so I guessed they were waiting on the group who would never come.
After five more minutes I started to see which tent was the main tent from all the Lazari who went in but didn't come back out. I didn't feel any magic residue in the air but this was Konan's bunshin, she couldn't sense magic and since my senses were hers I couldn't feel any magic in the air. Which sucked! All I felt with Konan's senses was a constant dull thrum from the dark magic. And that was hard to differentiate from Nat's magic.
"Anything?" Ariel asked. I grunted trying to stay connected to Konan's bunshin while talking.
"They're leaving one at a time from the main tent. Can't sense any magic. Common sense dictates Natalia's in there though."
"Any weak points?" Yahiko asked. Konan's eyes had already gotten a good eye on the weak points but she was also getting a sense that something or someone was coming our way. Someone familiar with a lot of chakra. She dispersed one clone to relay to the original, leaving two behind.
"Naruto-kun is coming our way."
"What?" Ariel asked.
"They shouldn't be coming this way. We're too far out aren't we?"
"Not really. We're about halfway between Konoha and Wave Country." Hidan's voice came.
"WHAT?" I shouted coming back as my concentration broke. Memories of Naruto's first mission came back far faster than I thought possible.
"We're not on the road." Yahiko thought aloud. "If we stay in the forest we won't cross paths with them. They can keep going on regardless."
"Are they coming or going from Wave?" Ariel asked.
"They're leaving Wave."
"Shit fuck." Hidan cussed. "That fucking cyclops is going to fucking sense us if we use any jutsu on these pussies."
"How far away are we from them?" I asked Konan. She thought for a second before answering.
"About twenty minutes."
"We can't wait." Ana argued. "They could leave soon."
"I know." I growled. Get Nat now or wait until Team 7 passed? They were moving at civilian pace though, I wasn't expecting them to hurry home after a long and stressful mission. Hidan, Yahiko and Konan were going to be sensed if they used jutsu and that would bring Kakashi running to check things out. Knowing him he would wait in the shadows but Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura would get caught in the middle if they let even a drop of fear fill them. Could just use a memory spell, but would it work on Kurama?
"We need a decision now Amaya."
"... We fight now and wipe any memories clean later." I announced. "If Team 7 comes running then make sure they don't die. If they don't then give thanks to the gods. We can't lose the Lazari now and the six of us aren't going to be much good against them." I looked at Ana. "Ana, go get Sasuke and Naruto from the future as back-up. Konan keep your bunshin active. Ariel, Hidan get the weapons ready. If we run out then we're going animal."
"Understood."
"Aye-aye madam!"
"Whatever you say witch bitch."
"On it." Ana disappeared in a black portal as fast as Minato and his Hiraishin.
"So what do I do?" Yahiko asked. I waved him over to the map and picked some some rocks.
"You're going to help me strategize. Pranks galore." Yahiko's smile was the kind you wear when Christmas comes early.
Five minutes later Ana reappeared with Naruto and Sasuke in tow.
"What are you doing now?" Sasuke asked. I straightened up with a smile.
"Nice to see you too otouto. Naruto, I hope you weren't busy." Naruto waved.
"Nah, Gaara and I needed a break anyway." I nodded. "What do you need us for?"
"Lazari." Sasuke nodded. "They're demonic offspring of dark witches and demons. They've decided to ban together to give us all grief and they currently went after Itachi to prevent Nico from being born." Sasuke's eyes flashed while Naruto frowned. "They're soulless ass hats who kill anyone and anything. So if you kill them, good for you."
"I thought witches didn't mate with demons?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"They don't. Doesn't stop demons from rape or possession. Plus their kids go to Purgatory when they die and since they're magic they're able to find the tears in Purgatory to slip out and come back to earth to continue their reign of terror." Naruto nodded.
"So anything goes?" Sasuke asked.
"Pretty much. But you might want to know that we are in the past, your past, and your team is currently going back to Konoha from Wave after that first C-rank mission. No landscape altering jutsu either, we don't need the whole of Konoha on our backs."
"That's pretty much all of my jutsu." Naruto whined.
"Just stick to taijutsu then dobe."
"Teme."
"Don't start!" Ariel threatened. "We should get the plan?" I got the hint and nodded.
"Yahiko and I covered the best entrances and figured the eastern and western sides were the best place." I pointed at the map and after zooming in to show the places I last remembered the tents being that were marked with rocks continued my plan. "They're going to sense our magic once we get into a certain range so we're going to have to use a portal. That's where Ana comes in."
"Where do you want to be placed?"
"If we separate them it'll be easier. We still need to get Natalia out of the main tent so Ana and Hidan will be going there after the rest of us are in position. Naruto, Konan and Ariel will be going in from the west. Sasuke, Yahiko and I will go in from the east. No landscape shifting jutsu please. Ana, get Nat out of there as soon as possible. Don't worry about us just get her to the Asylum. Once she's being taken care of come back for us."
"Understood." Ana nodded.
"Everyone else make sure there are no survivors. If they run go after them but take a witch with you."
"Do you know where they are?" Sasuke asked. I nodded pointing up the river.
"Nice and cozy for right now."
"Than what are we waiting for?" Naruto asked, cracking his fingers.
"Dobe." Sasuke rolled his eyes. Ana got started on opening two portals while the rest of us got ready to fight.
Somewhere between stretching my arms and cracking my neck the adrenaline started to flow through as anxiety and slight fear licked at me. The portals Ana was opening were getting bigger to accommodate the rest of us. Just looking at them was enough to make me nervous. It was like going on a first date or walking into a dark room where you knew the killer lurked, the anxiety and knowledge that this could be it warred in your conscious.
"I really have been out of the game for too long." I muttered trying to stop the feelings from overwhelming me too much."
"We all have." Ariel said coming to stand by me. "Just remember who you're fighting for and who you want to get back to later."
"I know who and what I'm doing this for. I just can't believe I feel like such a newbie. I've done hundreds of these missions and not all of them were as clean cut as this one." Ariel hummed in acknowledgment.
"I know what you mean. I was the same way when I came back. Madara psyched me out by worrying me too much about leaving the kids without a mother. My commanding officer calmed me down though."
"How?" I felt like I would have a panic attack anytime soon. Ariel looked at me until I met her eyes.
"She said and I quote, 'If you die here, I hope you gave your husband express instructions about what to do upon your death. Otherwise another witch could charm herself into his bed and your kids lives.' And you know what? I didn't give Madara any instructions like that. So I'm asking you, did you give Itachi any permission to replace you once you die?"
"He wouldn't." Ariel raised an eyebrow.
"And what if a succubus or incubus comes along?" Fury rose in my chest as I thought of that.
"Aw hell no." Ariel smiled at my determined attitude.
"Then let's make those fangirls cry in frustration, shall we?" I nodded.
"I'm done." Ana called. "When you're through I'm opening another portal to get Nat. Make a lot of noise to help out please." I grabbed Yahiko and Sasuke, pulling them to the portal.
"Don't worry Ana, we have Naruto." Sasuke promised.
"TEME!" Naruto shouted before we fell through the portal. The cold shivers returned as darkness pulled at my hair and clothes. Goosebumps rose on my arms just as I felt gravity take hold of me and pull me down. I landed in a low crouch feeling warmth slam back into me just as shrieks and yells sounded.
My body was in motion in the next second to defend against an outstretched arm. A horrible screech sounded as I lobbed the arm off the Lazari. I was in motion once again, lunging forward to stab an unprotected back before doing a pirouette to avoid a Lazari trying to get her teeth into my shoulders. Yahiko and Sasuke were by my side as we hacked and sliced through the bodies that either stayed and fought or tried to scramble out of the way.
"Sasuke!" I yelled seeing a Lazari behind a first. He flung a kunai at the first Lazari before the second Lazari screamed as he ended up flambeed.
"Amaya!" Yahiko shouted from up above. I turned as a cold chill swept through my body. A Lazari had gotten too close while my attention was down. His black eyes burned as his mouth opened wide to bite my shoulder. A flurry of white paper enveloped my vision. An arm around my chest yanked me back as the Lazari who had tried to come at me was sliced in half thanks to Konan's clone.
"If you don't want me to tell Itachi to Keep you locked up then get your head out of the clouds." Sasuke hissed in my ear. I rolled my eyes.
"Then don't make me worry about you little brother." I brought my legs up to kick a Lazari in the chest as hard as I could. "Could you put me down, this would be so much easier." Sasuke grunted, but complied. I snapped my fingers and the line of Lazari closest to us crumpled in pain clutching their heads. Yahiko was a blur as he darted in to get rid of them.
"Can you just use your magic to get rid of them faster?" Sasuke asked.
"I can't kill them but I can disorient them so you'll have to kill them." He nodded. I raised my hand focusing on what I wanted to do. The Lazari who were trying to run away found their feet slipping out from under them and being dragged back. Sasuke and Yahiko went to town on dismembering them.
The camp wasn't that big but while we had been planning more Lazari had come back. I was just now able to see Ariel, Naruto and Konan . The big tent was further to the left from where I stood but at least Ana got Nat out. Hidan was probably having a field day right now.
"Shit!" My attention was drawn as three Lazari shot off into the forest. Naruto was going after them.
"Naruto!" Ariel yelled. I turned into a hawk.
'I'll get him.' I thought to Konan, Hidan and Yahiko before taking to the air. With all the green it was a little hard to see from above. Which is why I was flying below the canopy to where I saw flashes of golden yellow. Naruto was a fast ninja but he wasn't going that fast right now. Either he was tired, playing with the Lazari, giving me a chance to catch up or he was hurt. I cried out when Naruto started to get closer to me.
He had to stop before-
We came out on a road. Great. The Lazari split up, one going left, one going straight and another going right. Naruto didn't hesitate before two Naruto's were beside him. I shifted landing by his side.
"Naruto! Wait!"
"We can't, they're getting away!" The three Naruto's chimed.
"Which is the real Naruto?" I asked. The Naruto on the right answered.
"I am."
"Were you bitten?" His guilty expression said it all. "You idiot. The poison(2)-"
"Kurama's taking care of it. We have to stop them." And just like that he was taking off. I ground my teeth together. Stupid stubborn Konoha boys! They were all troublesome. Nevertheless I shifted forms again and took off after Naruto. I couldn't help the clones so the original was my main target.
It didn't take me long to catch up as Lazari weren't really good runners and plus this Lazari had run into the Team 7 of old. He was in Kakashi's clutches and fighting like it was his last day on earth. Which it was. Naruto, being the idiot he was, didn't stop as he appeared in all his golden glory in from of Kakashi.
From my high point I was able to see them talking but the Lazari kept trying to get away. Naruto's golden arm shot out and grabbed the Lazari, pulling him back before Naruto's arm blurred out. The Lazari was dead in the next second. Naruto on the other hand was fading from his golden cloak. I cried out as I took a dive.
I pulled up at the last second, shifting forms just as Naruto passed out.
"Of all the idiotic stupid and reckless things you've ever done, this is a solid eight you blond knucklehead." I grumbled. I didn't bother grabbing Naruto as he fell on the ground. It was his punishment for not listening to me. "You and Sasuke are the dumbest ninja's in the history of ninjutsu. Don't listen to anyone." I continued to mumble to myself as I placed my hands above Naruto's chest.
"Who are you?" Kakashi asked. I turned my 'I am a parent and you will do as I say or so help me I will end you' glare on. Kakashi didn't back away but he did blink so that was something.
"You! You're the cause of all this trouble Bakashi! You couldn't train your students to have even a passing semblance of self-preservation?"
"Excuse me?"
"No. I will not excuse you. You are going to stay right there and not come or go. Not until I'm done with this idiot." I snapped before pulling out a small pouch from my back pocket. I unzipped the bag and reached in for the needle and vial of red liquid. My hands were on Naruto's shoulders and chest trying to find any bite marks. He had one on his left shoulder- probably got surprised from behind- and another bite on his right forearm. I drew up 2mg's of the red liquid and quickly shot it into Naruto's arm.
He was going to be fine but once the medicine hit his stomach he was going to start dry-heaving until he vomited the poison. Until then I just had to wait.
"Kurama if you can hear me you might want to start circulating the medicine. He's going to need to vomit the poison once it reaches his stomach." There was no change but I felt like my words had been heard. Which was good because right now I had damage control to do. I stood up and faced Team 7.
"So, how are you Kakashi? Still an emo?" He narrowed his eye. "What I can't ask about a friend?"
"I've never met you." I smiled wistfully.
"Not yet. Not yet."
"'Who are you." His eye went to Naruto. "And who is that?"
'Heads up, Sasuke's going after you guys.' Yahiko's thought hit me like a train.
'Aw shit. We ran into Team 7. Can you stall him?'
'You want me to stall one of the most powerful shinobi in the history of ninjutsu? I may not be sane but I'm not suicidal.'
'You coward.' I whimpered.
"Um, are you okay?" I blinked before looking behind Kakashi to see chibi Sakura.
"Oh. My. CHIBI!" I squealed in glee before seeing Sasuke and Naruto. "So cute!" Naruto was in my arms before anyone could blink. "Oh you are so adorable! You look so much like your dad! Oh I could just kidnap you and hide you away from everything coming your way!" My eyes opened wide as I remembered. "Sasuke!" He glared at me but it didn't work. He was in my arms next. "Oh you are so cute when you're in your emo phase. So cute and nonthreatening."
"Let go!" He growled.
"And so freaking adorable! I bet you haven't even started to think naughty thoughts of girls yet huh? That's why you seem so much more innocent and pure." Sakura's face was red while Naruto was laughing on the ground behind me. I grabbed him and pressed him and Sasuke close.
"HEY!"
"LET GO!"
"No!" I said simply. "You're just to adorable! And innocent and chibi-like!"
"Let go of them." Sasuke's much older voice snapped. My eyes opened to see him with his arms folded and glaring at me. Naruto and Sasuke stopped struggling as Sakura gasped. Kakashi, well I couldn't read him which was a first for me.
"But they're so cute!" Sasuke glared harder. "You know your glare doesn't work after I've seen you laugh your ass off," He continued to glare. "And watched Sakura kick your ass until you were begging for mercy." He flinched at the memory. I grinned but let Naruto and Sasuke chibi go.
"Did you have to bring that up?" He asked dryly.
"It was a historic moment." I shrugged. He knelt down to touch Naruto's neck. I watched in fascination as Naruto's eyes popped open and he rolled onto his hands and knees to start vomiting. Sasuke sighed standing.
"Usurakontachi."
"I'm with you there." I said watching as Naruto tried to throw up his stomach. "Oh well, that's what he gets for not listening to me."
"Are you seriously telling me that they are these two?" Kakashi's voice asked seriously. I shrugged.
"Well I'm not telling you anything. You're forming your own hypothesis about this. For all you know you could be suffering from poison, dehydration, hunger, the Sharingan-"
"He has the Sharingan." Sasuke reminded me.
"Oh yeah, well he could have hit his head. He did pass out on you guys didn't he?" Naruto chibi nodded.
"How do you explain us knowing?" Sasuke chibi asked glaring at Sasuke.
"You know, I'm just realizing, you were a little shit." I commented lightly. Sasuke merely hummed in response. "Didn't Itachi ever spank you?" Sasuke chibi glared while Kakashi coughed pointedly. Naruto chibi and Sakura were watching, both confused and slightly confused at Sasuke chibi's behavior. Naruto was still dry heaving but it seemed he was calming down since he had a respectable amount of purple liquid pooling under him.
"No. Nii-san believed in talking and reasoning." Sasuke answered before giving me a pointed look. "You should know. I doubt he spanks Nico."
"Hey, he may be my husband but I don't spend all my time attached to him. We're happy not being around each other 24/7."
"Hmph, seems weird." I snorted.
"This coming from the man who left his wife and daughter for twelve years?(3)"
"... It was important." Naruto snorted getting up.
"You sure it wasn't because Sakura broke your equipment?" Sasuke glared at Naruto. I snickered.
"I will kill you."
"You tried. Didn't work." I reminded.
"You love me too much to kill me." Naruto smirked.
"One day I will succeed dobe."
"I'll be waiting teme."
"You're me?" Naruto chibi asked coming forward front and center. Naruto blinked down at himself.
"Hey, it's my younger self. How you doing little guy?"
"Wow!" Naruto chibi gushed. "I look so cool! And before? That golden shroud thingie, that was so cool! Hey are we Hokage yet?"
"Was I really this annoying?" Naruto asked aloud. Sasuke snorted.
"You still are dobe."
"Fuck you teme." I cut in before Sasuke could say anything.
"Hey, save your dirty talk for when you two are doing the dirty. Children don't need to hear that." Naruto and Sasuke blanched. Sakura 'eep-ed' and Sasuke chibi went pale. Naruto chibi just looked confused.
"If I could cut in here. I'm still confused." Kakashi said.
"Don't worry Kakashi. You won't be so confused in a few moments. Boys we really should find the others and head home."
"Wait!" Sakura cried out halting us. She looked from Naruto to Sasuke -blushed- then looked at me. "You're from the future right?"
"Yep."
"Pretty much."
"Hn."
"Can you tell us anything...?" I blinked before shrugging.
"Eh, why not?"
"Seriously?" Sasuke asked.
"Hey I already let Nagato and Konan know. Even though we did erase their memories."
"And you can erase their memories too?" Naruto asked. "Cause I really like my future and I don't want everything I did to be ruined."
"I agreed with the idiot." Sasuke nodded.
"Don't worry. I can do it. I'll just borrow extra energy from Kakashi, Nagato and Itachi." I waved off their concerns before kneeling in front of Sakura. "Okay little chibi listen up because I am not repeating this nor will you really remember so, you grow up after being trained by Tsunade and man when that happens you are a badass. You surpass her and become powerful in your own right. You'll always be there for these idiots which is a good thing cause they really need you. You marry this idiot-" I pointed at Sasuke who nodded.
"Much to the shock of everyone." Naruto responded cheerfully. "And you haven't had any kids yet but you will. You," he points to Sasuke chibi, "Will become this idiot after you've attained your 'revenge' and practically caused all kinds of trouble for the world including trying to destroy the village your brother and I love. You try to kill me, numerous times but you can't. You do manage to take my arm though(4)."
"I thought you forgave me." Sasuke muttered. Naruto swung his arm over Sasuke's shoulder.
"You tore my arm off and made me chase your stupid ass all over the Great Nations all because you were being an emo."
"You chose to do that. I didn't make you do it."
"I'm your best friend bordering on brother, who else was going to do it?" Naruto asked before looking at himself. "And you, are going to go through so much shit it's not even funny. You'll chase this idiot but you'll also get stronger and make more friends. You'll find out who mom and dad are and when you meet them, it'll be the happiest day of our lives. You'll marry the most wonderful, kind and caring woman in the world and everything will be worth the bullshit we go through."
"Sap." Sasuke murmured.
"Aw, shut up." Naruto chuckled. I stood up and looked boredly at Kakashi.
"You... Well you survive everything."
"She's still mad because of what future Kakashi-sensei did." Naruto promised.
"What-?"
"He stole her porn library." Sasuke shrugged.
"If I recall you have some of them." I growled at the Uchiha. Before we could continue this train of thought, Konan, Hidan and Yahiko appeared beside me with Ariel on Yahiko's back.
"Are you fuckers done yet?" Hidan asked.
"We finished the Lazari, did you finish the ones you were chasing?" Ana asked Naruto. Naruto tilted his head before nodding.
"Last one just died. We're good."
"Good because Ana should be back soon. I don't know about you guys but I'd rather get out of here with a clean conscious." Ariel sighed before noticing the old Team 7. "You've gotta be shitting me."
"We erasing them too?" Yahiko asked.
"Yep." I nodded. "But we need Ana for that since it's a power of three spell and I may need a little time to recover from the spells I was already throwing around."
"You sure you want to?" Konan asked. "You could clear the air about some things." Sasuke shook his head.
"It's better he finds out on his own." He looked at Sasuke chibi with a blank gaze. No one said anything from our side.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto chibi asked confused but knowing. He always able to figure things out just from the feel of the atmosphere.
"Naruto-kun," Konan knelt down to meet his eyes. "There are some things we won't be able to say about the future. What Amaya has already allowed is enough. Just know that everything works out."
"Yeah, otherwise we wouldn't be here." Naruto proclaimed proudly.
"We really should be going now though." I said. "No doubt Naruto had some business with Gaara to work out and Sasuke probably ditched Sakura again." The two in question adopted an innocent look. "Yeah, remember who taught you boys that technique."
"And how do you expect me to just let you walk away from us?" Kakashi asked.
"Good point." I said pointing a finger at him. He along with the chibi's froze. Their eyes were still moving but they were frozen. "Now we just need-" A black portal opened a few feet away. After a few seconds Analia came through. "Ana!"
"Are the Lazari dead?" She didn't even blink an eye at Team 7. "I'm guessing we need to do another memory spell?"
"Yes and yes." Ariel reported.
"Good. Nat's in good care but I want to get back asap."
"Then what are we waiting for?" I asked holding my hand out to Ana. "Let's hurry this up please." She took my hand and the memory spell what chanted. When Team 7's eyes glazed over I shooed the rest of the shinobi into the portal before I jumped in.
The annoying cold chills returned once more but I powered through it. Our mission was pretty much almost over now. There were just the ramifications from past expeditions that we had to fix and many, many reports that needed to be written and filed.
I've had many moments in my life where I knew I was blessed, cursed, and overall lounging in heaven. Coming home to a full house where everyone was happy to see me and wanted to know if I needed to be healed from even a slight cut or scrape was a blessing. Knowing I would have a headache that bordered on migraine in the morning once I told everyone to clean up their various messes was a drag and felt like a curse. But seeing my son curled up in my bed with my husband was definitely heaven. Sliding into my nice cushy bed next to them was even more gratifying.
"I'm glad you're back babe." Itachi murmured pulling me closer to him and Nico. Nico squirmed until his face was pressed against my chest allowing me to place my head on Itachi's chest. I breathed in their clean scent and felt my body relax fully.
"Me too honey."
"Any other missions for this week?" I felt Itachi playing with my hair and my eyes suddenly felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. I yawned before managing to mumble out,
"I have a week off before I have to leave on a mission."
"Where?"
"Have ta escort a bunch of dwarves cross country. Something about a dragon and five armies. Is a year long mission I think(5)."
"... I'm going with you. No arguing."
"Mmkay." And with that I was out for the count.
GM NASAI: Finally! I have finished the sequel! I am sorry it took so long but in my defense, that bit with Akatsuki gave me so much trouble. There were just so many routes I could have taken and most of them didn't work out and the ones that did got me way off topic and would have probably ended up with another book or at least a short story. So I finally compromised with myself by finishing with Akatsuki, getting the Lazari ends tied up and meeting the old Team 7, even though I had to wipe their memories I feel satisfied. But thank you to all who stayed with me, favorited, and followed this story. Oh and this story is officially the longest story I have ever written. Now onto some points.
(1) If you recognize where this is from then you are awesome.
(2) Lazari poison is different in that it enters your veins before going to your stomach where it then gets transferred into your organs where it slowly and very painfully burns you from the inside out. Hence why Naruto had to vomit it out after ingesting the antidote.
(3) This references the 700 manga chapter of Naruto and some gleaned knowledge from Sarada's story arc. It didn't happen in this version as Sarada hasn't been born yet and it probably won't happen as Sasuke and Naruto both know what's going to happen thanks to the manga.
(4) While I love the fact that Naruto and Sasuke had their arms blown off to help them achieve their final bonding moment, it didn't happen in this version. If you read To Be A Guardian then you know why. But Naruto can't help but remind Sasuke about what would have been if they hadn't gone through the witches. It's his guilty pleasure to guilt Sasuke and Sasuke falls for it because he knows he deserves it.
(5) Anyone want to guess what the next mission will cover?
Review! Ja'ne!