Chapter Thirty: Shikkotsu Forest

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Kakashi

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"I mean, we should probably talk to my dad and Uncle Fugaku about this. I don't know that I want to involve the Hokage. I'm not exactly a fan of his leadership these days," Shisui reasoned. "And with the way he's enamored with his grandson Konohamaru, I don't think he's too concerned about the rest of us." He rubbed at his right eye, as if still checking that it was still back in his face.

"You didn't even want to tell me," Itachi sulked, folding his thin arms over his chest and glaring at the two of them with a petulant expression. His dark eyes were unforgiving. They wouldn't be able to leave the village without him at this point.

Kakashi could feel a migraine forming. He adjusted his hitai-ate over his Sharingan, to make sure no light was peaking within to trigger a worsening of the headache. "How did you find out?" Kakashi asked. He and Shisui had gone for a run that morning, killing time before they were allowed to leave the village. It was going to take them a few days to reach the Mount Myoboku.

"I'm observant. And you two have been foul-tempered when you should have been rejoicing in a mission accomplished," Itachi pointed out. He grimaced and looked pointedly away. "And I may have been spying on you with my crows."

"Okay, first of all — impressive job spying on two top notch shinobi." Shisui grinned in spite of the situation. Then he pointed an accusing finger at Itachi. "And second, how could you? Using my own crows against me?"

"I started with the crow summons first," Itachi protested, dark eyes narrowed. "You copied my technique!"

"Did you?" Shisui scratched the back of his neck. "I don't really remember now." He rubbed the heal of his hand between his eyes. "Ugh. Seriously! We should let some authority figures know about Obito. I mean — he's alive!" He reached for Kakashi and shook his shoulders. "Obito Uchiha is alive!"

"And he kidnapped my time-traveling girlfriend," Kakashi deadpanned. Did this also mean Obito was the one involved in the Nine-tails attack? Was he the reason Minato-sensei and Kushina were dead? He sat on the ground and spread his legs in a V and started to stretch towards his toes. All his muscles felt stiff with tension. He didn't know what they'd face in the next few days, but he needed to be loose and ready.

The familiar smell of ozone and displaced air that heralded summons drew hit attention. Two of his ninja hounds had just self-summoned— the pack leader pug (Kakashi's unofficial best friend) and the little tan one with the white snout. "Pakkun? Guruko?"

"Hey Boss," Pakkun greeted, shifting anxiously on his front paws, looking between Guruko and Kakashi. The tan dog yipped excitedly. "I know, I know. I'll tell him." Pakkun turned back towards Kakashi and laid his paw over his knee. "Your mate? She and your pup are okay — best we can tell. She's got company — some scrawny kid that smells like scorpions and wood shavings. They were in our dimension somehow. A couple of mastiffs are carrying them to Shikkotsu Forest. They were too chakra depleted to make it themselves."

"Shikkotsu Forest?" Itachi asked. "Isn't that place supposed to be haunted?"

"I wouldn't be surprised, but it's definitely home to acid spitting slugs," Shisui reasoned. He crouched next to Kakashi. "So, you're saying Sakura and some other kid are traveling between dimensions and are making their way to Shikkotsu Forest?"

"That's what I said," Pakkun growled roughly. He turned his dark gaze back to Kakashi.

However, Kakashi had stopped listening after the mention of a pup. "What do you mean and my pup?"

Pakkun tilted his head to the side and then with his back foot scratched at his ear. "You know, your pup. She's expecting. Though, I think it takes you humans longer. I know my mate had our litter after nine weeks."

"Is Obito with them?" Kakashi asked, finding his voice. Though, his mouth had gone dry and his palms felt damp.

Pakkun turned back to Guruko and the two exchanged a few yips. Pakkun turned back to Kakashi with a shake of his head. "No, he left but he'll be back. We don't know if he can go to the forest or not. Your mate has a contract with the slugs and since she's got your pup and you have a contract with us, they're getting an escort. I don't think your old loud teammate will be allowed, but he seems able to get places without invitation."

"Change of plans, we need to go to Shikkotsu Forest. We can send a message bird to Jiraiya and Naruto in the mountains. They'll need to meet us there," Kakashi said, straightening and standing.

"What's to stop him from snatching her up again as soon as we leave the protection of the forest?" Shisui asked. "We've got at least another week before that time travel device can send her back."

"We talk to my father," Itachi said. "We must decide what to do with Obito. Do we kill him or do we try to capture him and rehabilitate?" He shifted his dark gaze between Kakashi and Shisui. "This is for the clan leader to decide. And as you are welding a Sharingan, Kakashi, you're an honorary clansman."

"You did good, can you try to keep an eye on Sakura and the pup?" Kakashi asked Pakkun and Guruko.

Both dogs nodded their understanding and then vanished in a puff of white clouds.

Shisui's familiar heavy hand fell upon Kakashi's shoulder. "Not everyone gets to put off fatherhood by ten years," he teased. "You should be over your broody-moody phase by then."

"You're going to have to do a good job of locking up these memories or else I'm going to go insane, possibly embark on a murderous rampage," Kakashi murmured. "Or I won't let her return. One or the other," he warned.

"I got you, brother. Let's go have a chat with Uncle Fugaku," Shisui said, looping his arm around Kakashi's neck and tugging him along with him. He wasn't quite as tall as Kakashi, but he made it work.

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Sakura

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The ninken's dimension had everything a dog could want. The massive elephant graveyard with ribcages of the behemoth mammals had dozens of ninken gnawing at the thick bones. There were fields of rabbits and dogs chased after them, running in circles with their tails wagging happily and yipping.

It was bright with sunshine and there was a constant cool breeze. It made her think of a lazy summer day when spring first melded into late June — peach trees were ripe for harvest and the sounds of grasshoppers soothed the soul.

"Oh thank Kami," Sasori groaned when they neared the border for Shikkotsu Forest. "This place was just too bright and loud." Instead of the cerulean summer skies in the dog dimension, the slug realm had forever twilight skies. The plants were massive, towering over their party with trees so thick and tall there were parts where the violet sky wasn't even visible and only dappled shadows danced around them.

During the last few hours, Sakura could feel her chakra slowly replenish. She pricked her thumb with her tooth and summoned Katsuyu. Her slug summons appeared on her palm. "Lady Sakura," she greeted.

"May we be granted passage?" Sakura asked.

Katsuyu angled her head past Sakura to see Sasori. "We've never had so many humans in the forest before."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

"Lady Tsunade is also training," Katsuyu said. "I'm sure she will be excited to meet you!"

"Who is that?" Sasori asked.

"The greatest medical ninja amongst the Hidden Villages," Sakura answered. She resisted the urge to touch the seal on her forehead. How was she going to explain that to Tsunade? The timeline was getting more and more tampered with each successive interaction. However, the alternative had been staying under the psychotic watch of Obito Uchiha. He was not the reformed 'I've seen the light' frenemy from the Fourth War's final battle. This was the man who unleashed the Nine-tails on the village, would have murdered children within his own clan, and was forming an international terrorist group that would extract the tailed beasts and kill their jinchuriki hosts. There were scores of victims!

This Obito was not the overly infatuated boy of twelve she'd seen on their foray into the past. Uchiha loved obsessively. And when they lost the one they loved, there was no reasoning — they'd rather watch the world burn or put everyone into a coma and let a rabbit goddess eat them.

"Ah, Tsunade Senju. I've heard Granny Chiyo speak of her." Sasori slid off the large mastiff ninken and looked around the forest. He sniffed and crinkled his nose. "It smells damp. Like the fungal-encrusted underside of a rotted log."

"Pretty accurate description," Sakura conceded. There was a lot of fungi within this forest. It all had medicinal properties — some healing and some poison. "There used to be a cluster of shelters that wasn't quite so moist." She turned towards Katsuyu for confirmation.

The slug summons nodded. "The sheltered area is intact. That is where Lady Tsunade is now in fact."

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Kakashi

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It was a school day, so while young Sasuke was off at the Academy, Kakashi stood in the family home of Fugaku Uchiha. He, Itachi, Shisui, and Taki were meeting with Fugaku in Itachi's bedroom — which was now half bedroom to the thirteen year old and half Fugaku's home office.

Mikoto had played hostess by bringing them all a tray of green tea and snacks. She then promptly left the home to pick up some fresh groceries because she didn't want to be involved in anymore schemes for the foreseeable future.

"So the Nine-tails attack really was the fault of one of our clansmen," Fugaku reasoned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "And this same man was the one whispering in the ears of my subordinates."

"The same subordinates he killed," Itachi added. "When I was ordered to murder the entire clan, I met with him — I knew him as the man in the orange mask. He's the one that killed my old genin teammate, Tenma Izumo. This Obito volunteered to kill the women and children so that I could complete Danzo's request." He turned towards Kakashi and Shisui. "I know you two were close to him when you were younger, but this man has no moral qualms."

"He was crushed in a collapsed cave, after pushing me out of the way." Kakashi touched the Hitai-ate covering his Sharingan eye. "I had lost my eye in an attack earlier, had a new blindside. We went back to rescue Rin and he pushed me out of the way. He had Rin transplant his eye into me — a gift for my Jonin promotion."

"You were twelve, Hatake. Stop dwelling in guilt. Your teammate is obviously alive now. How though?" Fugaku leaned back and stared at the younger men. His thoughtful brown eyes settled on Shisui. "He teleported?"

"It was different that flash-step," Shisui confirmed. "He seemed to rip a hole into the reality, snatch up our friend, and then slip right back through that hole."

"Kakashi, what does your Mangekyou Sharingan do?" Itachi asked quietly. "Mine burn an object into oblivion in the right eye and create an unbreakable genjutsu in the left."

"I can move objects from this reality to somewhere else," Kakashi explained. "Kamui."

"Can you retrieve the objects?" Fugaku asked.

"I haven't tried, but I was planning to learn," Kakashi answered. That had been his original plan in protecting the clan from Itachi's mission. Maybe that's why Sakura had nixed that plan. Maybe he couldn't retrieve things from that dimension in the future. And if he hadn't figured that out by then, he probably couldn't do it now. "It seems to be a long-range."

"I see." Fugaku opened the drawer to the desk, tucked into the corner of Itachi's room. He smiled apologetically at Itachi. "Thank you for not kicking me out of your room entirely, son."

Itachi shrugged. "I hardly need all the space to myself."

Fugaku set a small paperweight on top of the desk. He then rose from the desk and grabbed hold of Kakashi's arm and pulled him to the far side of the room. He gestured for the others to move aside. "Use your Kamui and move the paperweight. Then I want you to try and bring it back."

Kakashi slid his forehead protector into his hairline, closed his right eye and focused on the lump of iron that looked vaguely like a hawk sitting on the desk. He concentrated on just moving the paperweight. When he succeeded, the iron hawk was gone, as was a few layers of the desktop.

"Decent range. Not perfectly precise," Fugaku commented, moving the desk and running his hand over the divot in the surface. "So your eye is ranged. Likely Obito's is up close. Your power is offense and his is defense. So it stands to reason he can teleport himself and those in his proximity. That explains how he snuck up on my subordinates during our skirmish." He stepped back from the desk. "Now, try to bring it back."

Kakashi reached into his mind's eye and tried to visualize the realm of shadows. He could see the paperweight, but he couldn't seem to grasp it. He could feel the perspiration beading on his brow.

The familiar weight of Shisui's hand settled on his shoulder. "That's enough, Kakashi. It's not going to happen — at least no time soon. We can work on it in the future."

"Not many in our clan unlock the MS," Taki added. "Shisui's powers have to do with manipulation of reality or perception of reality. Itachi can destroy the body or the mind." He met Kakashi's gaze. "You and Obito can teleport — short range for him and long range for you."

"The presence of Mangekyou Sharingan regardless of its specialized power allows the control of a tailed beast," Fugaku explained. "That's why when I wasn't allowed to help Minato in the attack I was so very resentful."

"So basically Danzo is also the reason Lord Fourth died?" Shisui pointed out. "Can I just take a moment to remind everyone we really need to kill that guy."

Fugaku sighed. "We will deal with Danzo at some point— lethally. For now, we need to find a way to deal with Obito." He looked over the group assembled. "There is a way. I do not have Shisui's ability, but I do have knowledge of the Izanami Technique."

"That's forbidden," Taki warned with sharp hiss. "For a good reason."

Fugaku touched under his eye. "I would be dead now. I think sacrificing one of my eyes is my duty as clan leader for failing to protect my subordinates, for putting my sons in difficult positions, and for failing Obito as well." He turned towards Shisui. "I don't remember much of the boy. How was he treated by the clan in general?"

Shisui shifted his feet and shoved his hands into his front pants pocket. "Not well, Uncle. He wore goggles because he tended to cry a lot — he was very sensitive. People poked fun."

"I see," Fugaku sighed, leaning his hip against the corner of the desk. "I've only used my own Mangekyou Sharingan ability in my left eye." He folded his arms over his chest. "It manifested after your uncle's death," he told Itachi. "Your mother's brother. The Amaterasu ability does live in my right eye. My left eye allows me to see one minute into the future during battle, Mirai no kokei. However, I think Susanoo will be our most useful asset. I could still access that ability even if I sacrifice one eye."

"Susanoo?" Itachi asked.

"The Ultimate defense," Shisui explained. "You have to have two MS to unlock it, so Obito won't have it." He glanced over at Kakashi. "That's what future Sasuke used to transport everyone."

Fugaku turned towards his brother-in-law. "Taki, can you arrange the mission for myself and the boys? Using your new status as Anbu Commander."

Shisui's father nodded his head. "I'll get the approval."

"Good. Let's head out in an hour then," Fugaku determined. "Captain Uchiha," both Shisui and Itachi snapped to attention. "Right," Fugaku grimaced and rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "Captain Shisui — I'm putting you in charge of this mission." He looked between the young men — all Anbu Captains. "Is everyone in agreement?"

"Fine by me," Kakashi murmured. He didn't want to be in charge. He didn't trust his own judgement— not when this involved Obito, Sakura, and his unborn child. Obito saved Kakashi's life, gifted him the Sharingan that made him an even more effective shinobi, and rekindled the morality of his father. Who would Kakashi be without Obito's influence? If Fugaku truly did have an ability to bring Obito back from the mad journey he'd embarked upon, he would be grateful.

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Sakura

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"So, what do you call the chemist who has the cure for everything?" Sasori asked. He was carefully climbing after her over a massive fallen tree.

Sakura adjusted the bandana she'd tied over her nose and mouth and

haphazardly swatted away a cloud of gnats. She'd been lucky that Sasori had a couple of bandanas in his travel kit. He normally used them for sandstorms, but it was handy in the forest as well. "I don't know, what?" she answered, amused in spite of everything that the man who turned himself into a puppet and ran a sword through her abdomen once-upon-a-time was really trying his hand at telling jokes.

"A fun- guy. Get it? A fungi. Countless cures can be found in saprophytes," Sasori explained. "Fungi decomposition ability and how it lays in dormant on almost every living thing and as soon as the chemical of death is released it just takes over, breaking down the component until it's back to carbon, nitrogen, iron, magnesium — the base ingredients for life." He landed easily on the ground below and kicked over a half-rotted log no thicker than a cubit with the toe of his boot. "This place is just saturated with saprophytes and gnats."

"It's not just fungus that can serve in that capacity," Sakura added. "In regards to people, you have to remember that eighty percent of the human immune system lives in the gut. A proper balance with symbiotic gut flora makes all the difference when your body is facing a new infection. And of course, the insects play a role. The ground here is also teeming with worms — plenty of protein if you're desperate enough for it."

"You sound as if eating insects and worms as a food source you'd rather avoid," Sasori said, sounding amused. "Locust and scorpions are a common meat found on the tablets in Suna."

"I've been spoiled growing up in a forested land," Sakura answered, feeling a wave of nausea at the turn of conversation.

"Sometimes, I'd rather exist without the inconvenience of eating," Sasori murmured. Sakura said nothing as that felt eerily prophetic. "When I create my wooden puppets — it's easier to ensure there are no saprophytes laying in wait to decompose my art. The human puppets are substantially more difficult. As you said, all those gut bacteria are eager to consume." Sasori frowned. "I will need to begin the process soon for Lord Third. My scroll will keep him for a time, but I need my workshop. I have tools stored." He paused to scan their environment. "Though, I suppose if there is a part to this damp forest that isn't quite so humid I could do my work here."

Another wave of nausea hit Sakura. She had an idea of what he was walking about. As a shinobi of the Leaf, she'd been educated in hunting game and dressing a kill. She was a surgeon. She knew that preserving a human wouldn't be that different.

"He saved you," Sakura said, trying to dispel the visual. She glanced back at the Sand shinobi as he climbed down another massive fallen tree. She'd never thought about just who Sasori's puppets had been. Part of her had assumed they were all opponents and their bodies were his spoils of war. But then, Granny Chiyo had used Sasori's own parents in their battle— perfectly preserved. And like Sasori, Chiyo had modified her own body as well. "Do you want to go back to Sand?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Sasori asked. "There are obviously problems there, but it's home. Lord Third wouldn't want Rasa ruling unchecked. A man like that thirsts for more and more power and will destroy those around him to achieve it." He grinned faintly. "Mostly, my shop is there. I'd hate to have to start over."

"Okay," Sakura said, not really sure what else to say. She didn't know Sasori that well after all.

"Unless," Sasori started. Sakura turned back towards him to see a smirk lifting one corner of his mouth. "You're inviting me to go back home with you. You want to learn more about puppetry?"

There couldn't be that many people interested in puppetry. Did she seem the type? "It is fascinating, but my talents lay more in destruction of property and healing ailments," Sakura answered.

"Ah. You do seem the type," Sasori mused. "Do you know what those white creatures were? I've never experienced an enemy like that." He reached for her arm, his fingers strong and cold, and pulled her to face him, his amber eyes intense.

"I do. Sort of. They were following the orders of the man in the orange mask. Ten thousand years ago, they were people like us — with chakra capable of ninjutsu. However, they were placed under an Infinite Tsukuyomi — a dream coma — and were consumed by a giant— tree? And a rabbit goddess — who is actually an alien — ate them? And the husks that were once human became White Zetsu," Sakura explained. She grimaced throughout the explanation, yet Sasori remained expressionless.

"I see. So you don't really know what they are either," Sasori sighed. "No need for fanciful stories."

"We're here," Katsuyu announced, as they reached what appeared to be a grouping of gazebos. Their roofs were encased in lush, green ivy and trumpet vines crawled up the pillars supporting the roof. The floors were made of stone. It was a structure that seemed unlikely to have been made by the slugs. It didn't look much different than how Sakura remembered it from the future.

"Slugs made these structures?" Sasori asked skeptically.

"Oh, no. These were a gift from Lord Hashirama," Katsuyu explained. "He was always so kind and thoughtful." She shifted on Sakura's shoulder. "He did not much care for the buzzing of insects, so you won't be bothered inside the shelters." She twitched her antenna in Sasori's direction. "And I believe you will find one suitable to use as a workshop."

In the center gazebo, sitting on a bench with her legs crossed at the knee and arms folded in irritation over her ample chest was Tsunade Senju. Her honey-brown eyes widened at the sight of Sakura's Byakugou seal. She looked older than Sakura knew her as, perhaps this was her natural appearance before she started using Creation Rebirth to keep herself forever twenty-nine. Or maybe she just didn't see the need to keep herself looking young around the slugs.

"When Katsuyu told me that my future student had traveled back in time and gotten herself kidnapped, I didn't believe her," Tsunade said, without preamble. "I thought, maybe I drank too much sake at the last gambling hall I visited. But I can see that this is no drunken dream."

"Master Tsunade," Sakura said, bowing deeply at the waist out of habit.

"I'm going to check out some other gazebo," Sasori mumbled. "Get to work."

Tsunade shifted her gaze towards Sasori. "Hold up, brat. I haven't decided if I'm okay with sharing my space with you." She swiveled her attention back to Sakura. "Then Jiraiya of all people told me he found a woman with the same seal as me — a relative of Minato Namikaze," Tsunade continued. "I made my way here, thinking I might find some answers."

"This is Sasori, he's just survived a pretty terrible attack that led to the deal of the Third Kazekage," Sakura explained. She glanced towards the fiery-haired puppet master but he only arched an eyebrow at her to indicate for her to continue. "You may know his grandmother — Chiyo."

"Oh, I know Chiyo," Tsunade answered, frowning. "Does the attack have anything to do with the guy loitering outside my forest?" She gestured towards the pathway opposite of the direction they'd come. There were trees arching together to form a tunnel to the outside world.

Sakura straightened and then walked down the path until she could see the window into the regular world, outside of the Shikkotsu Forest. She could hear him before she could see him, he must have sensed her approach.

"You really hurt my feelings you know. Please come out to play with me, Sa-ku-ra," Obito called, his tone light-hearted and impish as he twirled a kunai in his hand. He stood just outside the forest along the path that separated the slug's dimension from the human one. Two large, over-arching trees met above the portal creating the illusion of a doorway. Even with his Kamui, he wasn't able to enter the forest without an invitation.

The slugs would dowse trespassers in acid baths that melted the would-be intruder almost instantaneously.

"Friend of yours?" Tsunade asked, coming up beside Sakura as they stared at Obito with his long cloak and garish orange mask. Sasori ambled up behind her as well.

"We're not friends," Sakura answered and then grimaced when Obito's kunai came rushing for the barrier only to disappear right before it could try and penetrate and manifest right back into his hand.

"Have you told Sasori just who your baby's daddy is, Sa-ku-ra?" Obito taunted.

Sasori turned towards Sakura, his expression bored. "You're pregnant? I didn't think you were that old."

"I'm not that old," Sakura snarled. At least he hadn't called her Ugly.

"You might be interested to know that the grandfather is Sakumo Hatake— the man who killed your parents!" Obito cried out before cackling.

"That's unfortunate," Sasori sighed. He met her eyes briefly. "I'll be setting up my shop now."

"Can we talk later?" Sakura asked, worried about his reaction.

"I can hardly stop you given our environment. You know where to find me," Sasori answered before turning on his heel and heading back.

Sakura tried to peer past Obito's shadowy frame. "Is he by himself?"

"Oh no. There's a shark-like man with a massive sword, a handsome man with orange hair and piercings along his nose and ears and his lavender haired girlfriend." Tsunade stretched and yawned. "They got here shortly after I did. Jiraiya is going to have quite a time when he shows up."

"Jiraiya is coming?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, he was going to come sooner, but he said there was something funny going on at Mount Myoboku." Tsunade sniffed and started back towards the shelters. "You didn't come with any other friends, did you?"

"They should have returned by now," Sakura answered. Only Naruto would have gone to Mount Myoboku. But Obito had only snatched Sakura away from the time machine. Right?

"Oh to be young and stupid again. I can't say that I wouldn't have time traveled if I had the chance." Tsunade rubbed at her forehead, her eyes tired, the creases around her mouth from years of frowning more obvious. "I tend to gamble and drink my way into oblivion." She gestured towards Sakura vaguely. "Though, after this I'm not sure you'd recommend time traveling as a fix for others."

"One of my friends was going to lock away the memories of those I interacted with — blur the details — so they just vaguely remember someone…," Sakura trailed off. Her hand reflexively going to her belly.

Tsunade chuckled. "I see. I guess he was telling the truth. Things got a little complicated, did they? Sakumo Hatake's kid, huh? I hear he's quite talented."

"Sa-ku-ra!" Obito's voice reached them distantly.

"Just a bit," Sakura agreed.

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A/N: This chapter was hard. The epic battle is coming up — Toad and Slug Sages, a troupe of Sharingan-welders, Akatsuki! I'm still trying to post at least every 2 weeks. Depending on the winter storm this weekend, I might be able to finish chapter 31 early. Home stretch my friends! I hope you're enjoying the ride!