Finally Answers
ANBU lead the captured Tori bringing her to the Interrogation unit. Kakashi requested an immediate audience with the criminal even before the Interrogation team were to talk to her.
They were getting few answers but at least Tori did not try to end her life like Kota had. It went through Kakashi's mind that the woman may have wanted to be caught.
"Kabuto's and a few others from Orochimaru's team were working on a way to isolate the secrets of two Kunoichi. My job was simply to create a panic but there are others who know more. I really don't have much to say do what you wish," Tori said.
"Which Kunoichi and why," Kakashi asked.
"Don't be dense. You must be hiding something. Why is it that a Hokage has the time to speak to me now," Tori asked smirking.
"I'm taking your crimes personally you could say. Therefore I had to come here in person not that you deserve any explanation," Kakashi said.
"Is that good enough for you," Tori asked self satisfied.
"Who else," Kakashi asked.
"I found out which two we were looking for after the experiments ended. Unfortunately I am caught so the information is useless like I said," Tori leaned back in the chair.
"How were they protected from these 'experiments,'" Kakashi asked.
"Their Kekkei Genkai, it is complex and I couldn't figure it out," Tori answered.
The interview was going nowhere as Tori was unlikely to fully cooperate with the village. Kakashi made his decision to end the interview and concentrate his efforts around what they knew for sure. From all the interviews they made and evidence they collected it was clear someone wanted to resurrect the dead. It was clear to Kakashi that Sasuke was more of a target than ever because he was the only known possessor of the eyes that could cast a resurrection jutsu. What the enemy wanted was the Rinnegan for sure but Kakashi couldn't understand just what else they were after.
000
The sky was brightly lit by a full white moon which reflected off the Hyuuga man looking up at it. Tokuma paced the guard station for warmth as it was a cold night tonight. It was late at night and things were deadly quite.
A sound in the distance halted his steps and even without Byakugan he saw two people making a run for the gates.
"Damn at this hour," Ranka said to Tokuma.
"There are definitely two," Tokuma confirmed with Byakugan and moved to intercept.
Ranka alerted the Hokage tower and jumped down to assist his team mate. For years he was used to the way the Hyuuga fought but he was taken by surprise by the volume of kunai rushing towards him. Kotetsu replaced him at the wall and within seconds three other Shinobi joined in the battle to take down two runners.
Tokuma, Ranka and Izumo took shelter behind a building waiting for the enemy who took position behind a tree across from them. Periodically the enemy would throw a round of kunai whenever they felt threatened.
"It is the woman from earlier and the guy who killed himself," Ranka said to Izumo who arrived shortly after he jumped down from the wall.
"Impossible. That is not possible again no way!"
"They are using a type of teleportation jutsu for the number of kunai," Tokuma said informing the group.
"Only kunai so far," Ranka said shaking his head, "we can handle that."
"The man has all the signs of being an Edo Tensei," Tokuma said.
"The sealing team is-
Izumo grabbed his head and shouted out in pain.
"Are you alright," Ranka asked.
"It must be the woman's jutsu," Tokuma observed.
Izumo shook his head and said, "I'll be alright."
The enemy attempted to run again and sent a barrage of kunai towards the group as the fled. Shinobi from the other side pushed back with an earth jutsu blocking their progress. This gave the main group time to leave their spot from behind the building and approach the escapees.
"I got this," Tokuma said rushing towards the woman.
"Tori look out," Kota said.
Tori turned and flooded the approaching Shinobi with a strong genjutsu.
"Hyuuga you alright," Izumo shook at the man's shoulders as he was stopped in a daze.
"Huh, um yeah. What happened," Tokuma asked.
"The enemy got away," Kakashi said.
"Rokudaime-sama my apologies," Tokuma said.
"Save the apologies you'll be in the group going after them," Kakashi said.
"How long has it been since they escaped," Tokuma asked.
"It has been about an hour now," Kakashi said disappointment in his voice.
"How?"
"The enemy intercepted the message to the Hokage tower as well as blocked communications with their jutsu. There were more than two hidden in the village," Kakashi explained.
"Unbelievable," Tokuma said looking at his comrades who looked just as stunned as he felt.
"Not all is lost. I'm sending a four man cell to deal with finding them and their hideout," Kakashi said.
"But hasn't the trail gone cold by now," Ranka spoke up a little cautious about going off after this group that took them down so easily.
Shino who stood next to Kakashi spoke up, "I've placed a tracker insect on Tori during her interrogations she hasn't suspected anything yet."
"As expected of the Aburame, good job," Tokuma said a little misty eyed remembering his friend and comrade Muta.
"Thank you," Shino said simply. It felt nice to be relied upon. He also knew that his clansmate Muta once worked with these Shinobi another casualty in the War. The fact that he died facing the Edo Tensei Akatsuki echoed in this case as they seemed to be facing a similar problem with Kota.
"No one is better suited for your team right now and I know you also work well with the second team led by Sai," Kakashi said building the four man cell.
Ranka looked over the group they were mainly going ahead to bring back information but the second group would face the most danger. Zaji, Shino, Tokuma and Ranka would be the first group on the heels of the enemy. The second group would likely be the ones to bring down the enemy for good.
"Could it be Rokudaime-sama that they were allowed to escape as a tactical move," Ranka asked.
"Now why would we let the enemy escape," Kakashi said and continued to walk away without any other explanation.
Ranka was sure that his reasoning was solid. They must have let the woman go to finally flush out their hideouts. Everything would play into Konoha's favor as they had the Aburame tracker insects to use to their advantage. There was no reason that Konoha would slip up and let the leader out of their grasp again Ranka thought to himself.