Chapter 11 - 天机 (Divine Secret)
"I can't tell which is more troublesome, the decision you made five days ago or the one you're making right now." Minato shook his head at the complaints directed at him. He finished the correction on the document before the ink ran dry, a much more productive action than arguing with Nara Shikaku.
"It's always nice to hear your advice, Shikaku," Minato said and was met immediately with a sigh full of annoyance. Before his Jonin commander's patience could run out, Minato slid the last stack of documents into the drawers and stood up.
"Don't frown, Shikaku. There's a stop we need to make before the debriefing," Minato said. That only served to make Shikaku frown even harder.
The Nara Clan Head rubbed his temple, trying to ease his headache as well as his furrowed eyebrows, knowing full well that a poker face was what would be getting them - Minato and his troublesome decisions - through this situation.
However, just before they left the safety of a sealed space, Shikaku commented, "Definitely the decision you made five days ago. If that didn't happen, we wouldn't be dealing with this." Unfortunately, Minato could do nothing but smile apologetically.
When the door to Orochimaru's laboratory opened, Minato was immediately assaulted with the smell of disinfectant. The distinct scent belonging to ink was also layered underneath, vaguely reminding him of Jiraiya-sensei's workspace, except that the latter was usually more chaotic.
"To what do I owe your visit, Yondaime-sama?" Orochimaru asked with his back turned to the door. He held a test tube up in front of his face, trying to observe the sizzling reaction of something in it.
Minato waited with patience. When the content was no longer interesting, the famous shinobi - one of the legendary Sannin - finally turned around and looked at Minato. He gestured at the examination bench in the centre of the room. "Let me guess, it's about that."
White branches were laid out on the bench, fragmented into different sizes, taken from different parts of the tree - the same tree that appeared in Konoha's outer perimeter as an eerie anomaly.
"Indeed, Orochimaru-san. I would like to see if you have anything else for me regarding this mysterious phenomenon, before the debriefing," Minato answered. It was impossible to hide such a drastic anomaly from the village. Therefore, the existence of this white tree was brought to the attention of Konoha's decision-making ranks by Minato himself.
"Nothing that the Council doesn't know already," Orochimaru replied with a snort. Minato couldn't tell if he was mocking Konoha's - and Minato's - impatience, or their delusion that this dead case would turn out differently if they just asked enough times.
Still, the man reiterated his conclusion. "It doesn't absorb, emit, or react to chakra, other than being destroyed like any other vegetation. Its durability, flexibility, and medicinal values were nothing exceptional. In any sense, it's just a tree, albeit a tree that doesn't match any of the species known to Fire Country."
"Not a species known to Fire Country? What about other parts of the continent?" Minato asked, no doubt grasping for straws here.
"It doesn't match any species to my knowledge, but it's not like I know every single tree on this continent." Orochimaru might have rolled his eyes at Minato's ridiculous expectation if he wasn't the Hokage. However, there was a pause as the man tapped the table a few times, clearly thinking of something.
"I can't confirm the validity of this information, but records from the old time described a species of tree that no longer exists in the modern Fire Country, with venation and bark markings that match what we have here," Orochimaru mentioned as he picked up the dried leaf sitting by the test tube. "Even then, the white coloration does not exist in any records."
A species from the old time. Minato mulled over those words. Sumie had described the feeling of transforming the creature into a tree as 'catalyzing a process towards its rightful state'. It made sense given the tendency of Natural Energy to return things to nature. So, if the 'rightful state' of that humanoid creature was a tree that longer existed in modern times, then how old was its origin?
"It seems that you find my passing remarks useful," Orochimaru commented with rising interest. "If I recall, you mentioned that the intruder grew into this tree upon being touched by Senjutsu, is that right, Yondaime-sama?" Minato nodded.
"Jiraiya's Senjutsu?" Orochimaru followed up. Minato nodded again, careful not to let any hesitation show to hide the existence of another. "That womanizer must have improved his Senjutsu if he used it in such a short encounter against a new threat."
There was a certain tone used by Orochimaru that always gave Minato mixed feelings. Like he was mocking or suggesting something, or both. But that was always the case with Orochimaru. So, Minato only smiled along.
"It's time for the debrief, Yondaime-sama," Shikaku reminded them while standing by the door, having listened to - and judged - the conversation like a silent statue.
"Shall we, Orochimaru-san?" Minato asked.
"After you, Yondaime." Letting out a grin, Orochimaru dumped the test tube - now left with a murky brown hue - in the waste bin and followed him out into the hall.
"Minato, I hope that this is a sign that you've come to your senses." That was the first thing Elder Mitokado had said when he saw Minato walking into the room. The patronizing tone was hard to miss as if Minato would forever be an upstart youngster in his seasoned eyes.
Elder Mitokado, along with Elder Utatane and Elder Shimura had been a part of Konoha's advisory council since the beginning of Sandaime's reign which had lasted decades, making their influence prominent in the village. Even now, after Minato took the title, they made no indication of wanting to step down from their seats despite it being a natural progression as the leadership changed.
Minato couldn't deny the contributions they had made to the village, all the way from the time of Nidaime Hokage, Senju Tobirama. But surely, all of them must have realized the clashing ideology between the elders and Minato.
Neither side was perfect and neither was without its merits. Minato didn't claim that his views were infallible, but he had faith in the feasibility of his vision. To lead Konoha in that direction was his job and his responsibility. He was ready to face challenges and accept the mistakes that came with that path. But having two different forces tugging the village in different directions was, in his opinion, the last thing Konoha needed after ending a war.
Unfortunately, based on the hints that Minato was gathering, it would take some time before Minato could fully rewrite the government in Konoha. That is, if he wanted to do it in a discreet manner that wouldn't let the power struggle disturb the stability of the village - something that Konoha did need right now.
"Homura, surely, Yondaime has his considerations," Sandaime said to his peer. "Have patience and let us hear his words first." Minato appreciated the backing, of course, but he also shouldn't rely on it because as Sandaime had expressed, he'd like to retire in peace.
Minato waited for all the attention to return to him - he wasn't in a hurry, they were - and let his signature smile appear. Then, he said the words that would no doubt raise Elder Mitokado's blood pressure. "After thinking about it, I stand by my decision. Konoha won't be sending more shinobi to investigate the anomaly appearing at the outer perimeter."
"That … enemy is clearly related to the attacks on our supply route, you said so yourself!" This time, Elder Utatane exploded for her fellow council mate. "To place such an important investigation in the hands of two shinobi, one of them still young and inexperienced, how could Konoha answer to those that lost their lives in those attacks?"
"The number of shinobi we place on a mission should not be the only indication of the mission's priority and importance," Minato rebutted, refusing to go with the Elder's twisted logic. "We have very little information and direction on this threat. It would be unwise to deploy the number of shinobi that you're suggesting when many other aspects of Konoha need their help."
Reconstruction after a war was not easy, nobody could disagree with that. They had already lost many shinobi in the war, making those that were still left a precious resource that must be allocated carefully, if they wanted to bring Konoha back on its feet, on par, if not faster than the other major villages.
"Then why those two, in particular, Yondaime." A voice sounded from the corner of the room. Minato looked in that direction and saw Shimura Danzō sitting at the edge of the table, his visible eye staring at Minato, void of any emotions.
It was a valid question, one that Minato must find a flawless explanation for, to solve this debate once and for all. What made Jiraiya and Kakashi indispensable on this mission with no clues? What made them enough to handle this mission with unknown threats?
Most importantly, what made them a better choice than Root, led by Danzō, which was traditionally made for these types of low-reward, high-risk missions?
"First of all, they are the first-hand witnesses who saw the anomaly in action, if not the only witnesses." Minato laid out the point that was easiest to understand. But just by itself, that wasn't enough of a reason.
"Furthermore, Jiraiya-sensei first identified the intrusion using Senjutsu, making him our best lead in terms of searching for their existence." When Minato first agreed to the unpublicized mission involving Sumie's abilities, he was prepared to attribute any Natural Energy-related discoveries to Jiraiya. "This is only a mission for information gathering. Sometimes, less is more."
Most of the Clan Heads and Division Directors nodded in agreement. Even the Elders, albeit with some unwillingness, must agree that Jiraiya's reputation as a spymaster was well deserved. As Minato said, Jiraiya had his own workflow. His aloofness in that sense helped make his infiltration into different territories inconspicuous.
In a post-war era, Konoha didn't want to give other nations any reasons to reignite the flames of conflicts.
Finding this discussion close to the end, Minato turned to Elder Utatane again and said, "While Kakashi is young, he is far from inexperienced. I value his tracking skills as much as his combat skills. Jiraiya-sensei asked for the boy to help with the investigation. They are the most suitable choices that Konoha could spare, and I ask everyone present here to have faith in them."
"Will the progress of the investigation be shared? So that Root can be of help when updated information does turn up," Elder Shimura said, not planning to argue any further on the matter of personnel choices.
"I will leave that to Jiraiya-sensei's discretion," Minato replied, shutting down any unsolicited help in the nicest way possible. After all, they couldn't have Root poking around the investigation when their mission party had two more travellers than reported.
"Thank you, Yondaime, for entertaining our questions." Unexpectedly, it was Orochimaru who pushed for the meeting's conclusion. Again, the way he said the word 'entertaining' made it feel like he was mocking someone. Because it was so unclear, it ended up sounding like he was mocking everyone. "Do let me know what else Jiraiya finds out about the mysterious creature. I'm always happy to research new things."
"If that's all, then let's end this debriefing," Minato announced, giving those that came a light bow before he exited the room. Only when he was back in the privacy seals of his office, did he let out a long and laboured sigh.
Refusing to spare Minato any pity, Shikaku clicked his tongue and reminded him, "It won't end well for your reputation if those Elders find out what's omitted in this mission."
"Which part?" Minato asked jokingly, but Shikaku clearly did not find it funny.
"Everything." Shikaku pushed the word out of his teeth. The information about the threat's potential identity, the Jinchuuriki that Minato had sent into hiding in plain sight, and the unauthorized help with a mysterious - and unexplainable - background.
Minato couldn't hide these things from Shikaku if he wanted his help, which he did, because navigating a government was definitely not for one person. Unfortunately, Minato had to inform Shikaku about Sumie, but he only told him that she had a connection to Natural Energy, keeping her immortality and the true nature of her power a secret, as per her request.
"We know nothing of that woman. That's a fact whether she doesn't remember or she doesn't want to tell," Shikaku said, settling on the part that worried him the most. "Minato, must you really take that risk?"
"Risk goes both ways, Shikaku, and so does trust," Minato muttered. It was easy for them to look from Konoha's perspective, to focus on all the possibilities of harm that Sumie could bring. But if they bothered to look from her perspective, they'd see the risk that Sumie had undertaken to expose herself and her abilities in front of Jiraiya, just to help a girl who was her guide.
"Even without the complication brought about by Obito's survival, this creature unsettles me." An enemy lurking behind the larger scene of the shinobi conflict, unknown and undetectable. "If there's a chance that its sights are on Konoha, then I'd rather know as much as possible than settle for anything less."
-o-o-o-
The wolf bared her fangs at Sumie, forcing out a guttural growl deep from her throat. Tension continued to build in the wolf's hind legs as she crouched lower, to the point where the messy fur on her stomach was grazing on the cargo she was trying to claim - the same cargo that Sumie was asked to retrieve.
"Come on, you're making me look like the bad guy," Sumie muttered, not that the wolf would understand. In fact, the she-wolf dug her forepaws into the carpet of leaves, fully prepared for both fight or flight, with the former option more likely than the latter.
Against the wolf's warning, Sumie closed the distance. Her footsteps barely made a sound on the forest floor as the glow of amber brightened from her eyes. Rather than pouncing at Sumie, the wolf scratched her claws against the ground in agitation, trying to hold her ground in the presence of a creature that brought fear and reverence like Nature itself.
Under the pressure exerted by Sumie, the wolf finally backed off, revealing the cargo underneath. The layers of fabric wrapped around the cargo had already been ripped open, spilling out the traveller's belongings onto the forest floor. Thankfully, Sumie only took the job to retrieve whatever she could, so no need to worry about anything that was missing.
Just as Sumie knelt to check on the cargo, the whimpering noises caught her attention. She looked up and saw the little balls of furs that peeked out from behind the bushes. Wolflings, Sumie realized the moment that those messy grey pelts started to shiver.
The she-wolf's dying aggression reignited again as she jumped in front of the cave entrance, blocking the path between Sumie and her pups. She glared at Sumie with her yellow eyes despite the involuntary shivering in her legs.
Now, Sumie understood why the wolf stood her ground for so long when most other animals would scurry away in an instant. With a sigh, Sumie tried her best to comfort the wolves, "Sorry, I didn't mean to cause such a scare."
Sumie withdrew the aura of Nature and the glowing amber dimmed in her eyes. The she-wolf opened her jaws as if she could finally release her breath. Carefully, Sumie went through the cargo, packing back the things that were spilled, but also taking out the portion of dried meat stored in the bags.
If those wolf pups were too young to run away without their mother's help, then the she-wolf probably had trouble hunting for food because she couldn't venture out too far. Sumie left the traveller's food on the ground and slung the rest of the cargo over her shoulder. It was unfortunate for her client, but she had already scavenged what she could find after the wild animals got to it first.
It wasn't until Sumie had left the vicinity and suppressed her scent for a good minute, that the wolf tip-toed closer to the pile of meat jerky. When no other threats appeared, the she-wolf quickly snatched up the food with her jaws and disappeared inside the cave with her pups, or so the wind told Sumie.
The cargo lost by the traveller was half her height and almost as heavy as her weight, but Sumie barely felt a thing. Although, she would have to start faking some signs of exertion once she was at the edge of the forest.
See, Sumie was known as some sort of scavenger in the civilian town that they temporarily stopped. It only took a day for Jiraiya to be on good terms with the Mistress managing the local inn, and from there, she was happy to introduce all kinds of requests to Sumie, somewhat of a bodyguard that the travelling writer had picked up along the way.
Sumie scavenged the forest to retrieve things that travellers and merchants lost on the way, or to gather nature's boons based on what the townspeople needed. This town used to be bigger and hosted much more traffic, according to Kaoru-san, the inn owner. However, the shinobi war caused much of the traffic to halt and the paths to be abandoned.
Both the thick vegetation and the wild animals in it run even more rampant in the absence of human interference. It wasn't uncommon for travellers and merchants to lose their cargo on the deteriorating roads, but they were too afraid to search deeper due to the danger in the forest. That was where Sumie came in.
Sumie was a go-between service for those that didn't have the means, didn't have the time, or simply didn't think their request was serious enough to commission a shinobi. She made it clear from the beginning that she was only a human with a better-than-normal physique and adequate skills in self-defence. So, expect the possibility of Sumie returning with nothing.
Nevertheless, her 'job' gave her an excuse to stay in the forest that no normal travellers would step foot in. All so that she could complete her real objective without suspicion.
Sumie took a moment to count the directions she had checked already, using this town as its origin. The endless forest in the Fire Country would quickly make her search disorganized and confusing if she didn't use the villages and towns on the way as anchors.
It had been a week and two towns since she left Konoha. Yet, she had found nothing regarding the 'anomaly' that intruded upon Nature. If it were up to her, she might not have cared for the lack of progress - hell, she might not even try to be organized in her search. But for the two teenagers tagged along with them, it certainly wasn't encouraging news.
Once again, Sumie picked a direction that she hadn't searched yet and moved away from the town. After an hour of travel, she stopped in the middle of the forest and placed the client's lost cargo near a tree.
However, instead of bending down to touch the earth as she usually did, Sumie whipped her body around and caught the attacker that threw itself at her in an attempt that might be called suicidal.
The snake writhed violently in Sumie's clutch, but she held it right below its neck, digging her finger into its throat, effectively rendering its venomous bite a useless decoration.
Sumie glanced around her, seeing the horde of snakes that seemingly crawled out of every hidden crevice in the forest, closing in on her from all directions. Ninjutsu or summons, Sumie didn't care to distinguish the exact method. The only thing that mattered to her right now was that a shinobi was nearby and she was the target.
The wind seemed to blow harsher as the leaves susurrated in wailing whispers. The entire forest felt as if it was under a heavy veil as Sumie expanded her senses through the Natural Energy coursing the environment.
Sumie pinpointed the intruder at the exact time when the intruder revealed himself. It took her a moment to remember where she had seen that face before.
"It's been a while since we last met, so let me introduce myself again," the familiar face said, his skin looked paler compared to the last time that Sumie had seen him under the artificial lighting "I'm Orochimaru, a shinobi and advisor to Konoha, to put it broadly."
The snake continued to struggle in Sumie's hand, emitting a sense of blood lust that didn't quench despite the aura surrounding Sumie. At that moment, several options flashed in her mind, from simply running away to a more extreme plan of attacking first and then running away.
"I'm merely a shadow clone, by the way." Well, there goes the option of attacking. Sumie had only learned of this ninjutsu a few days ago, but she knew enough of its effect to realize that information about this encounter - and whatever else she decided to expose - would be transmitted to the real Orochimaru no matter how quickly she eliminated the other.
How much has he seen? How much does he know? With the way she put the snake in a chokehold, Sumie didn't think she could get away with the 'just-a-civilian' card, but it wasn't anything too outrageous - not yet. However, if she planned to run away from the aggressive swarm of snakes, she'd certainly have to do something much harder to explain.
"What business do you have with me?" Sumie asked after much debate. If there was no point in running, then she might as well try to have a civil conversation.
Orochimaru raised the corner of his mouth as if finding the flow of events favourable. He waved his hand, and the sea of snakes that surrounded Sumie quieted down. Still, hundreds of cold-blooded eyes continued to stare at Sumie.
"Two weeks ago, Three-Tail went into a rampage near the village border. My snake found a piece of flesh in the aftermath, belonging to neither Jiraiya nor Nohara Rin." Orochimaru explained, speaking too slowly for Sumie's liking. "That poor snake ingested a bit of the flesh and turned into a stone statue in mere seconds."
Sumie's fingers twitched as Orochimaru continued with a smile, "Sumie-san, Jiraiya and Minato are not the only shinobi in Konoha that are familiar with Senjutsu and Natural Energy."
"I'm not a shinobi, Orochimaru-san. I have no clue about this Senjutsu that you're talking about." Sumie tried her best, really, but it was already sounding like a lost cause.
"Indeed, you're not a shinobi, nor do you have chakra, but that's exactly what makes your case so interesting." In tune with Orochimary's words, the snakes started to act up and Sumie was again knee-deep in a pool of blood-lust and crazed fanaticism.
"You're able to absorb Natural Energy into your flesh without the balance of chakra, so what else can you do with this undiluted essence of Nature?"
On the last syllable, the horde of serpents attacked with the ferocity of starved beasts. Immediately, the earth under Sumie's feet became alive. The solid earth twisted and turned like liquid, shielding Sumie's body while spiralling upward. However, jagged protrusions on its surface remained rock-hard, impaling the first wave of snakes that dared to come close.
To avoid getting injured and revealing her inhuman regeneration, Sumie willingly gave up a piece of her secret to satiate the man's curiosity.
"Not a construct of chakra, but actually animating the inorganic earth. It's truly amazing." Orochimaru waved at the carcasses of snakes that splattered around her. In the blink of an eye, the dead snakes melted into mud puddles, their existence evaporating now that the chakra supporting their shape started to dissipate.
"It seems like you're familiar with this technique," Sumie commented, noting the recognition in the man's snake-like pupils. Despite what Orochimaru claimed, she didn't feel the touch of Nature in him, unlike Jiraiya or Minato.
It was her first mistake, it seemed, to assume that only those who had been enlightened by Senjutsu were familiar with Natural Energy.
"Once upon a time, I sought tutelage under another branch of Sage animals, hoping to learn Senjutsu," Orochimaru admitted with ease. "Inorganic Reincarnation is their leader's favourite Sage Art."
Past tense, Sumie noted, so he did not attain what he was looking for. Suddenly, it was starting to make sense and it made Sumie want to let out a snort. "So you seek to attain Senjutsu once again through me, is that it?"
"Certainly, if it can be done." Orochimaru didn't quite deny Sumie's accusation. Still, he did bother to clarify, "But if not, I'm quite happy with simply gaining more knowledge about this mysterious energy, if you're willing to cooperate."
She didn't bother asking what kind of plans Orochimaru had for her, because any experiment would expose more than she was willing to show. Sumie couldn't remember the last time she was angry to the point that she wanted to laugh. It was probably some time ago, and definitely predated her time in this world.
"Does your experience with Natural Energy not speak about the danger of greed?" Sumie said with coldness in her eyes. Once upon a time, some humans had also tried to use her and her kin to extend their privilege with Nature. To say that it did not end well was an understatement. "Natural Energy is not something that can be manipulated with shortcuts."
"Shortcuts?" Orochimaru repeated and his demeanour settled into something more serious and less irritating. "I am a man of science, Sumie-san. What I'm pursuing is the opposite of shortcuts in this world dominated by chakra, ninjutsu, and talents."
"I'm denied Senjutsu because of the incompatibility of my physical body. I don't blame anyone for that, but should I just accept the limitations without lifting a finger?" There was a sense of pride and defiance that flickered in Orochimaru's eyes as he raised his head and declared.
"What I seek is knowledge. The knowledge that's denied to those who aren't brave enough to search; the knowledge that brings both hope and disappointment; the knowledge that allows one to break free of the restraints of talent and mediocracy."
Sumie stayed silent for a moment. She admitted that she was inherently attracted to the aspect of humans that spoke of defiance against fate. However, she had seen many examples of what unrestrained ambition looked like. Balance didn't have to be achieved through the unchanging structure, but it also didn't do well when one had placed too much weight on themselves.
"Without restraints, you may become an outcast," and a disaster for others, Sumie left it at that. Where did Orochimaru stand, she wondered, on the verge of that line, or had he already crossed it? "How will your Hokage react, if he learns of your meeting with me?"
"Your concern is touching," Orochimaru replied and Sumie wasn't sure which sentence he was referring to. "As for Jiraiya and Minato, I wouldn't let them know if I were you. After all, if I get questioned about my interest in you, then I'd have no choice but to let Konoha know that their Hokage is hiding - and letting go of - a source of unknown power."
"Konoha is far from a unified place, I'm sure you've noticed that." Sumie did notice. "So, for all of our sakes - yours, mine, and the Hokage that helped you escape - let's keep this discussion between us."
How bold, Sumie exclaimed in her head. In a worst-case scenario, they could all be heading down a path of mutual destruction. Therefore, she couldn't help but ask, "Is the pursuit of forbidden knowledge truly worth it?"
Upon hearing her question, Orochimaru laughed. "For me, it's what makes life worth living."
"Again, my apologies for the suddenness of this meeting." The man bowed his head, just a little, as an apology. "So please take some time to think it over. I shall find you again." Sumie didn't flinch when Orochimaru stabbed a kunai right into his neck. The shadow clone disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Suddenly, the forest felt void of life, driven away by the pressure of Natural Energy leaking out of Sumie's body. The snake in her hand was still struggling weakly, its desire fixated on trying to attack Sumie. It was the only creature sent by Orochimaru that wasn't constructed by ninjutsu.
Droplets of venom dripped down its fangs and landed on Sumie's hand. The touch of liquid broke her out of her contemplation. She didn't bother to wipe away the lethal poison. Instead, Sumie changed her grip on the snake and pushed her thumb into its oral cavity, right against its fang.
Crack. The fang broke off against her nail and fell to the ground.
-o-o-o-
After months of being kept in the dark cave, Obito's right eye had gotten used to the darkness, almost as if he had lived all his life without the sunlight.
The underground cave had gotten unbearably quiet at one point. If Obito had to be specific, he would pinpoint it as when the elderly Uchiha resting a wall away no longer breathed. Madara's body was kept from rotting by White Zetsu's abilities, but the air of death lingered in the air, stained the walls, and gathered on Obito's hands.
That was right. Obito was awake and conscious when endless branches pierced forward, following the movement of his hand. Obito watched in silence when those branches stabbed through the chest cavities of Konoha-nin and threw them aside like toys. The red glow in his eye reminded him of the horror he had felt when the same fate was about to befall Kakashi.
Konoha. Kakashi. Rin. Sensei. Konoha, Kakashi. Rin. Sensei. Konoha, Kakashi—
"Stop!" Obito screamed in a hoarse voice as he clutched onto his head. Immediately, a bout of cackles echoed in the empty cave, originating from no other than Obito's own body.
"I can't control your mind, Obito. Really, wouldn't I like that? But no, so this is all you," the creature known as Madara's will whispered with a tone of mockery. "See, you already know, that you won't ever be accepted back to Konoha, not after what you have done."
"It's not me!" Obito rejected Black Zetsu. "It's you. You forced my body to do those things. I would never … I never wanted …" Even now, he struggled to speak about what had transpired.
"You really think Konoha will make that distinction? Even if it did, can its shinobi forgive what you have allowed to happen through your body?" Black Zetsu laughed, its voice gritted against Obito's ears. "You're a liability, if not a murderer. And Konoha has condemned their own for far less."
No, Konoha wouldn't do that, Obito wanted to scream back, except, he remembered the tale of the White Fang - of Kakashi's father - that Minato-sensei had once told him. At that time, Obito was so sure that Hatake Sakumo didn't deserve to be condemned. He already did the best he could under the circumstances. His values might not be what the village valued, but it was what Obito valued.
But now, as Obito stood in the place of a potential outcast, he realized that it wasn't just Hatake Sakumo's values that were condemned by Konoha, but also his failure. Competence was a shinobi's mantle and also their protection. In those voices that condemned the White Fang, surely, some of them whispered, if you want to be a hero so much, then why can't you ensure that the mission never went wrong in the first place?
"Why did you choose me? Why are you making me do this?" Obito asked, but the vulnerabilities in his voice only fueled Black Zetsu's mockery.
"Madara saved you from death, Obito. This is the price you pay for clinging on to your life." The echoing voice answered Obito while an unbreakable force moved Obito's head until he was looking in the direction of Madara's last resting place.
"But if you truly want something to blame, then ask yourself why you were crushed under the boulders and breathing through your broken lungs in the first place." Black Zetsu forced Obito to look down - to look at the stitchwork of transplanted flesh that ran across his body. "It's the conflict, the war, the inherent flaw of humanity. They cannot be trusted with reality, only those who see through it can. Madara did, and now, he wished for you to see it too."
The inhuman nature of his body sent Obito into a daze. But soon, Black Zetsu's puppetry over his limbs reminded Obito to fight for control of his body. "I won't let you do as you please. I'll expose you to Konoha, even if it's the last thing I do!"
For once, Obito severed the strings over his body so easily. Black Zetsu returned control to him without a struggle. It wasn't mercy, but condescendence.
"The next time they send their shinobi after you, it might just be your teammate Kakashi. You are going to kill him as you did with those Konoha-nin."No, that's not true. I won't … it won't … it was so unfair that Obito couldn't make Black Zetsu shut up as it had done to him so many times.
"White Zetsu said that your teacher became the Hokage. Are you going to walk back, let your sin taint his future, and make him agonize over your existence? Surely, not when he is already treading on thin ice with Rin being made into a Jinchuuriki—"
The cave shook when withered branches burst out of Obito's left shoulder and struck the stone walls. The world was plunged into silence by the violent outburst, until it was slowly filled again by Obito's heavy breathing and Black Zetsu's growing cackles.
"Madara does not wish for you to be ruined, Obito. He chose you so that you can change all of this," Black Zetsu tempted, its voice uncharacteristically patient while the branches surrounding Obito retracted shakily.
"Madara's plan - Infinite Tsukuyomi - is the only way to rid this world of its wrongs, its misfortunes, and its sorrow. Wars will no longer happen. Tailed-beasts will no longer cause strife. Everything that plagued Kakashi and Rin will no longer exist, and you can live peacefully with them again."
Just like that, the tension in Obito's body unravelled, The burning resistance in him quenched like dying embers. The shadow that enveloped half of his body smiled in delight, but only Obito knew the thoughts that kept being replayed in his head.
Kakashi, you won't be taking it lying down, will you? You, Rin, and Minato-sensei … you're not so broken that you have to rely on the will of someone else to be saved. Obito remembered Kakashi's fierce gaze in the jungle, latching onto him until the last moment.
Obito believed that Kakashi had seen him, connected by the pulsing red in their shared eyes. So now, Obito must learn that not all battles can be fought by attacking and defending head-on.
Black Zetsu stretched across Obito's skin, examining its handiwork with suspicion. But before it could come to a conclusion, a blob of white melted through the walls of the cave. White Zetsu grew out of the rocks as he shouted, "She sensed us, impossible! Not only that, she turned one of us into a tree!"
"Who are you talking about?" Black Zetsu questioned in irritation before the realization finally dawned on him. "Elaborate, now."
"That woman can use Natural Energy! But how can she sense us when not even the Hokage has realized?" White Zetsu explained in a panic, its words growing more incoherent by the second. "Is she going to hunt me too? Will I be turned into a tree? I don't want to be a tree!"
"Shut up," Black Zetsu growled, cutting off the rumbling noise. "There must be a limit to her sensing, Otherwise, you won't be here, screaming useless words."
White Zetsu whimpered, inching closer to Obito while sinking into the ground. To say that Obito was confused was an understatement, but from Black Zetsu's anger, he at least understood that something was going out of its control.
"We must leave before she catches your trace again," Black Zetsu concluded after a moment of thinking. "Make sure to stay away from her. We can't have her - or Konoha - follow us into the next step of our plan."
"Where are we going?" White Zetsu asked the question that Obito wanted to ask as well.
Perhaps it was because Black Zetsu had deemed Obito too weak to fight back, or maybe it didn't matter if Obito knew or not, not when it was his body that would have to make the journey. Black Zetsu answered, "We're going to Amegakure. It's time to collect what Madara had lent out decades ago."
Amegakure, the shinobi village shrouded in endless rain. Obito recalled in his mind, as well as the insignia that Ame-nin engraved on their hitai-ate, a simple design with four vertical lines.
"Speaking of Madara, what about his body? What about this cave?" White Zetsu asked, turning its head to face the giant Gedo Statue half-buried in the ground.
"Transport Madara's body away and bury him. As for the statue, we'll leave it here. It's too big to be moved." Black Zetsu decided. "Even if that woman arrived here, the Gedo Statue is indestructible to even Natural Energy. The white zetsu kept inside will also be protected. This will only be a dead trail."
White Zetsu nodded, following the orders without any thoughts of its own. It was at that moment that Obito thrust his arm forward. His fingers clashed against the hard ground so violently that his finger pads bled. Obito paid it no attention and he grabbed the jagged piece of rock that was closest to him.
Obito remembered closing his eyes as he stabbed the rock toward his neck. Yet, the pain and suffocation never arrived, as expected. The blanket made of darkness throbbed around his skin, stopping his movement at the last moment.
"I thought you're beyond such weakness, Uchiha Obito," the chilling voice said as its owner took away the last bit of Obito's bodily control. The rock fell from his grasp, hit the ground with a thud, and rolled to a corner covered in shadows.
"Death will not absolve your mistakes and sin," Black Zetsu said as it controlled Obito to stand up. A clone of white zetsu wrapped around them obediently, pushing him through the solid ground until he was once again breathing the fresh forest air. "If you want to find salvation for this world and yourself. Infinite Tsukuyomi is the only way."
Obito said nothing as if his last bout of energy - his rebellion - had been used up in that failed attempt of making amends. Black Zetsu snorted, finding his desperation rather pathetic.
But Obito left behind a prayer in that cave - a rock with four bloody marks freshly scratched on. It would lie in wait for days, weeks, even months until Obito's blood disintegrated into nothing.
Obito had no idea if anyone would find it. But if by chance, that woman who could sense White Zetsu had indeed made her way here, she might find a clue to continue her search and to share with Konoha.
I haven't given up yet. Don't give up on me either,
-o-o-o-
"Kakashi! Don't leave me! Find me—"
Kakashi let out a grunt when he rolled onto the cold, hard floor. His right shoulder blade was stinging from the sudden impact, but instead of dealing with it, he let his weight sink into the ground and let out a deep breath.
The image of Obito - in blood, under stone boulders, amongst white withering trees, whatever Kakashi's mind conjured up in his most vulnerable moments - faded in his vision. I'll find you, Obito, so long as you still walk this earth.
It took Kakashi way too long to raise his body from the floor. The first thing he saw past the bed was Jiraiya raising an eyebrow at him while sitting by the table, apparently finding Kakashi's display ridiculous.
"Keep your voice down. You'll wake up the young lady," Jiraiya-sama said in a hushed tone as he laid out another blank sheet on the table. Rin was sleeping soundly on the other bed. A scroll of medical ninjutsu was still clutched in her hands.
Kakashi looked out the window, finding that the sky was dyed a brilliant mix of orange and purple, signifying that the twilight hours were fast approaching. It was still afternoon when he was practising chakra conservation. So, he slept for two, maybe three hours and missed the inn's dinner time perfectly.
"The dinner time is over, by the way," Jiraiya mentioned, almost as if he could read minds. He winked at Kakashi and added, rather proudly, "But I asked Kaoru-chan to save some leftovers for the three of you. Remember to be sweet in your words when you go ask."
Kakashi frowned at many things in those sentences, but he did pick out the most important one. "Sumie has not returned yet?"
"No honorifics, huh? Didn't know you guys are already that comfortable with each other," Jiraiya teased, knowing full well that Kakashi's lack of formality was not due to the closeness of their relationship but instead, born from a distrust and caution that Kakashi had stubbornly held on to.
Kakashi had tried to justify it, despite everything Sumie had done for them - was doing for them. Right, it was totally because she was lying about her persistent amnesia, not because she had injured Kakashi's pride, in more than one instance.
"But no, Sumie-chan is not back from the forest yet. We'll see if she finds anything today." Jiraiya finished the sentence, voice light and carefree, such a contrast to the gut-wrenching feeling Kakashi felt whenever he heard the conclusion of 'nothing'.
"Then I should recheck the perimeter. If there's nothing to find here, I can scout ahead." Kakashi said, patting his forearms to make sure that the storage seal was secured in place. However, with one look at him, Jiraiya saw the flames of restlessness that were burning incessantly in his brain.
"Calm down, boy. You've done plenty of information gathering, my network certainly appreciates it. But too much restlessness does not mean more productivity." The white-haired Sage commented, then his gaze was back to the words being written on the page.
"Shinobi come and go constantly, you never know when there's one that might pick up your presence for the wrong reason." And we have so much at stake here. Obito, Rin. Sumie.
Kakashi was many things - stubborn, unfriendly, distrustful - but he wasn't, by shinobi standards, stupid. He recognized the logic in Jiraiya's words, even before he had to spell it out for him. It was just that the feeling of being unable to do anything gnawed at every inch of his nerves.
In the beginning, Kakashi pushed down his need to make things more efficient because Sumie - their only guide - could threaten him with her cooperation. But it didn't take him long to be aware of the fact that what he demanded to be sacrificed was the beginning of Sumie's new life.
For shinobi like them, it was just a mission. Regardless of whether they found anything, one day, they would return to Konoha without any attachment. But for Sumie, there was no detaching oneself from the mission environment. This was her life; her world to be experienced.
No matter how much self-loathing Kakashi had felt towards his uselessness, or how much Kakashi wanted to cover that feeling by focusing on nothing but mission progress, he had no right to go fuck up Sumie's new life. Well, more than what they had already done by barging into what was supposed to be her shinobi-free era.
"Why don't you check out my new work in the meantime? Give it some new perspectives." Jiraiya tapped the table, giving Kakashi a source of much-needed distraction. Still, in hindsight, Kakashi thought that he must not be fully awake. Otherwise, why would he go pick up the pages when their author was smirking with mischief?
Slap. Kakashi slammed the pages upside down on the table, trying to erase what he had just read from his memory, as well as the heat that was rising on his face. Jiraiya let out a quiet cackle and Kakashi glanced in Rin's direction, hoping that the ugly noise did not wake her up.
Unfortunately, it did. Rin let out a yawn as the scroll fell from her hands to the floor. Now, she was certainly awake. Rin examined the scene around her as she reached down and picked up what she had dropped. Her brows furrowed in confusion as to why Jiraiya-sama was laughing nonstop and why her teammate looked like he wanted to burn every sheet of paper on the table.
"Another retrieved cargo? I'm gathering quite a reliable reputation thanks to you, Fuyu-san." The muffled sound from downstairs came at a good time for Kakashi. That was the inn's owner, Kaoru-san, manning the front desk. Fuyu was the name that Sumie went by, at which Kakashi almost snorted at the lack of effort. Haru, Aki, Fuyu. What's she going to use next, Natsu?
Kakashi opened the door with a muted click and left it ajar, just enough for the occupants of this room to peek at the ones conversing downstairs.
"The wild animals got to the preserved food first, unfortunately. Please get the client to check over and pay me accordingly," Sumie said, quite out of breath, as she handed over the baggage.
"No problem. Oh, he'll be happy with whatever he can retrieve." Kaoru-san laughed lightheartedly. After all, whatever commission Sumie completed, she would get a cut out of it as the middle woman. Usually, the job would end there, but this time, Sumie had extra to show as she placed a woven basket on the counter.
"Oh my, what's in that basket?" the inn owner asked with curiosity. Just then, the basket shook slightly, making Kaoru step back in surprise.
"Snake." Sumie didn't extend the suspense. She lifted the cover, showing Kaoru the snake that had curled up weakly. "Don't worry, I defanged it, so it won't be venomous for a while."
"Oh, that's a shame. The venom would have been sold for a good price. Did you happen to collect some before defanging it?" Kaoru-san composed herself quickly, having seen her fair share while running the inn. Sumie shook her head, but Kaoru just waved her hand. "Don't mind it then. At least you kept it alive. The gallbladder also has a good market."
"Want me to deal with it? The standard cut applies, though." Kaoru winked at Sumie, who replied with a smile, "That would be helpful, thank you."
Kaoru fastened the cover on the basket and pushed it to the side. "Wait here. Jirō-san has asked me to save some leftovers." With that, Kaoru-san went to the back kitchen and came out with a food box used for delivery. Jirō was Jiraiya's cover.
"Jirō-san is quite a thoughtful man, isn't he? Slightly a womanizer, but still," Kaoru-san said in a hushed voice to Sumie as she leaned over the counter. Kakashi should have realized that this signified the start of gossip. Jiraiya-sama, though, looked rather pleased with himself.
"You can't be a womanizer without the ability to make others think you're thoughtful," Sumie replied, making Kaoru giggle in agreement. Speculations about Sumie and Jiraiya's relationship started the first day they arrived here, introducing themselves as a wandering writer - responsible for his orphaned niece and nephew - and the hired muscle he met on the way.
Some had speculated Sumie to be from a fallen house of Samurai. Some had even thought that she and Jiraiya had eloped together. Neither of them made a big deal out of correcting the truth. Using Jiraiya's logic, it was better to let people's impression about them being filled with juicy gossip than any other aspects of their unconventional party.
"I mean well, really, Fuyu-san. But being a travelling writer is not a stable profession, less so that he's bringing the children along, men like that seldom deserve your youth," Kaoru-san said in a more serious tone. Jiraiya let out a sigh behind Kakashi like he was somewhat offended.
"Of course not, but I do like to travel and the arrangement is favourable to me," Sumie replied, skirting over her concerns. "Still, I'll keep that in mind, Kaoru-san."
Against Sumie's calm demeanour, Kaoru said nothing else, understanding that it wasn't really her business in the first place. With a smile, the inn owner sent Sumie up the stairs along with the leftovers.
Kakashi closed the door at that moment, but it hardly mattered because the first thing Sumie said when she entered the room was directed toward Jiraiya. "Having fun eavesdropping on Kaoru's opinions of you?"
"Yours too, Sumie-chan. You wounded me," Jiraiya complained as he feigned his sadness. Sumie shook her head, placing the food box on the table that Jiraiya had just cleaned up. The dramatism died fast as the Jiraiya asked, "So, anything new?"
Sumie paused a little as she focused her attention on taking out the plates without spilling. Then, she answered, "No. I can't find anything."
Neither Rin nor Kakashi showed any sign of disappointment. It had been the same answer for the last week, enough for them to build a long-lasting immunity. Still, Kakashi wanted to propose - merely asking, not demanding - if they should move on from this town to the next. Before he could, Sumie spoke up again.
"I think they already knew that I'm chasing them - or at least, I can sense them - so they are staying out of my radar," Sumie said, picking up a pair of chopsticks for herself while handing the rest to Kakashi and Rin. The use of 'them' was vague in every sense, but no one here was confused.
"What do you propose then? Should we try other directions, in case they're using counter-tracking measures?" Jiraiya asked, his brows furrowed at the bleak prospect.
"Which direction? There are too many options, if we abandon the only direction we know." Sumie asked before shaking her head. "It's even worse if they set up decoys and led us astray."
She had a point. The creature fled toward the West when it was caught off guard. As outdated and limited as that was, it was the most genuine reaction they could get from their target.
The room fell into silence then, filled only with the sound of chopsticks hitting the tableware. Kakashi gulped down the rice in a few big mouthfuls. He placed the bowl back onto the table before finally speaking up. "Can you expand the range of your sensing?"
Sumie paused in her dinner and thought about it. Then she outlined the exact reason why Kakashi did not want to bring it up in the first place. "Well, the easiest way would be for me to die again. The restrictions should loosen quite a bit after I come back to life."
"Nevermind," Kakashi replied immediately. He was there, listening from another room when Sumie had expressed adamantly that she did not wish to go through another death-life cycle. However, Sumie looked at him with amusement and said, "I'm touched, but not so fast in discarding that idea."
"We don't want you to go through something that can be traumatic and damaging for our sake, Sumie-chan. You don't have any duty to Konoha, or to us," Jiraiya said, but Sumie merely shook her head.
"No, I'm not talking about dying again." Now, that got their attention and Sumie continued her explanation. "The seal on my body activates when my usage of Natural Energy reaches a certain level. Therefore, I try to steer clear of that region near the threshold. Theoretically, I'm not using the maximum of what I can use before the seal activates."
Jiraiya-sama let out a sound of understanding and Kakashi, too, got what she was trying to say. "I will try pushing my usage of Natural Energy to the limit - again, I don't know if that's enough to make a difference - but when the seal activates, it will be … unpleasant."
"Will you be okay?" That was the first thing Rin had asked after hearing Sumie's words. It was clear that she meant more than the physical aspect.
"Any expansion in sensing will help. Even if nothing turns up, it'll help make the overall search faster," Jiraiya added, confirming with Sumie once more, "But only if you want to do it."
Sumie nodded again, a confirmation to both Rin and Jiraiya, so Kakashi took it further and asked directly, "What do you need us to help with?"
"I need a bodyguard. I will be defenceless for a few minutes when the seal activates." Sumie answered, pausing a bit before adding, "Nobody can see my abnormality either."
"Bring Kakashi-kun with you." "I can do it." Both Jiraiya and Kakashi said at the same time. That settled it.
Sumie meant it when she said that she had no second thoughts. They went out to the forest right after dinner. Kakashi couldn't help but notice that Sumie had chosen to walk along the river instead of venturing deeper into the woods as she had always done.
Kakashi must be frowning in confusion because when Sumie stopped and turned around, she let out a quiet laugh at Kakashi and placed a finger to her lips. "I'll let you know a little secret. Compared to the solid Earth, my affinity with water is much better."
She knelt down by the river and dipped her fingers in the running water. "Unfortunately, Earth is far more continuous in this part of Nature and I'm less likely to miss things." Sumie might have glanced up into the sky before she finished her sentence. "But when rivers reach far into the distance, so can my Natural Energy. I might as well try something different."
Kakashi nodded, not that she needed to explain. Really, Sumie could have done anything with Natural Energy and Kakashi wouldn't be able to question a thing. But rather, it made it clear that no one was taking the excuse of amnesia seriously, not even Sumie herself.
Minato-sensei and Jiraiya-sama did not accept Sumie's explanation of amnesia because they believed it to be the truth - at least, not to the extent she claimed. No, they accepted it to imply their respect for her boundary, to only hear what was willingly spoken. Sumie was aware of that from the start.
"I'm ready." That was the only warning Kakashi got before Sumie placed her hand in the river and lowered her eyes. The forest remained asleep for a few more seconds before Kakashi felt everything and nothing all at once.
Kakashi did not know about Natural Energy other than the description of his teacher. Yet, he was aware that something much larger than chakra was at work, turning the slumbering forest around him into a beast that could swallow him whole.
The earth did not shake, but Kakashi couldn't help but feel like he was standing on something alive, like a dragon swimming underneath the surface. The stream did not splash up violently, but it felt like the water was dancing in invigorating joy.
Golden lines materialized on Sumie's arms, tracing the shape of scales over her skin. The colour settled deeper into bronze, and eventually, obsidian, but still pulsed with the glint of gold with every breath of air. It's ethereal, Kakashi must admit, for a lack of better word.
Yet, a minute into which Kakashi's eyes were glued to the One Favoured by Nature, the symphony of harmony around them snapped to an ugly halt.
-o-o-o-
Sumie was one with the river. Every droplet of water danced and Sumie - her consciousness, her feelings, her sensations - danced with them.
For a second, Sumie felt as if she was never freer, travelling with the waves, crossing thousands of miles in a passing thought.
The water flew down a steep step, tumbling in the air before crashing down again. The wave turned the corner and splashed onto the rock. The water droplets flew out and rolled into the soil. It sank deeper, passed by the plant roots, and finally seeped into a stony surface.
Finally, a droplet of water dripped down the ceiling of the cave and hit the ground. Sumie came face to face with a mass of disturbance - a black hole, really - that sent Nature awry.
Then, everything shifted. The water was no longer Sumie's companion; it suffocated her throat and crushed her lungs. The waves no longer carried her afloat; they pushed her deeper into the ocean until every piece of her bones was crushed by the increasing pressure.
For every life you wrongly took with the waves and the rain, you shall feel their vulnerabilities. Heaven had decreed long ago while Sumie lowered her head and accepted her punishment. The Heavenly Bindings engraved in her spine were to make sure that she never forgot her sin, even after her sentence in the depth of the ocean had long ended.
Sometimes, when emotions built up - like that time in the Namikaze household - Sumie couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation towards the endless punishment she was given. But most of the time, Sumie recognized that the punishment was deserving.
Sumie had no say over when it should end because the ones that had the right could no longer say anything. Perhaps, that was another reason why Sumie wasn't keen on rushing to her death - multiple deaths - just to get rid of the Heavenly Punishment.
"… Sumie … alive?"
When Sumie regained consciousness, she realized that her sleeves were drenched in water, but she was nowhere near the stream.
"Are you still alive?" The silver-haired boy asked with a mixture of worry, panic, and exasperation on his face. His sleeves were also wet, telling Sumie that the boy must have pulled her out of the water before she fully sank into it.
Kakashi scrunched his brows together and tried again. "I mean, are you continuing to be alive? No, that doesn't make sense … whatever, are you okay?"
"More or less," Sumie whispered, having a hard time getting her lungs to work again after the intense agony. She pushed herself up from the ground and looked down at her arms. Good, the black seals had already faded.
"Sorry for the scare, but I did warn that it's not very pleasant," Sumie said as she stretched her limbs, chasing away the last bit of lingering pain. Upon seeing that, the young boy let out a sigh of relief that was barely noticeable.
A pause, before Kakashi inquired, "Did you find anything?" It was straight to the point and easy to understand, Sumie kind of liked that about the boy. Unlike the many times before when Sumie could only crush his hope, she had good news this time.
"Yes. Farther West and curving towards North lies something disturbing to Nature. We should check it out."
-o-o-o-
Records of the Divine (天机录)
A grave sin against Heaven was committed by the Dragon of Obsidian Scales, the one who commanded the waves and the rain, a child of Heaven.
With her selfish desires and negligence, tens of thousands of lives perished under her power, one that was meant to be used against Devastation.
For those lives wrongly taken and the act against Heaven, she shall be sealed in the ocean's depth for five hundred years, repenting in unending agony. The blessing of Nature that was given to her by Heaven shall be stripped forever, leaving only immortality to continue the punishment, until Heaven deems otherwise.
May this be a grave warning; a betrayal never to occur again.
A/N: So ... that's three months, oops. To be fair, I'm supposed to be writing my thesis. Instead, I wrote 10k of this lol. But a guest comment really brought encouragement to me, so, thank you for that.
So, how will Sumie deal with Orochimaru? Can Obito escape Black Zetsu's clutch? What will happen in Amegakure? Stay tuned for the next episode XD