Back with a new chapter everyone! But before I begin, I just wanna mention two things.
Firstly, I know it's been a heavy minute since I last uploaded. Again, nothing new, but usually my absence lasts a few months in between uploads. This time it was six months, and for a reason. I recently went back to school with a heavier schedule than I'm used to, and the program I'm in has very strict scheduling rules. So, with the many courses, assignments, tests, and studying in general, I barely have any free time to do even basic stuff, never mind writing stories. I just wanted to reassure you guys that I still plan on finishing the story and posting the others I have, in due time.
Secondly, the 'Stuck in the Dark' arc is barely over so for those who are getting tired of it… sorry? I want it to mainly focus on Itachi and Katsumi and I have a list of things that I REALLY want to include in any and all of their encounters. So, until the list is completed, this arc will go one. And as for the search, it basically ends here but I may make some exceptions along the way. We'll see. Now that that's out of the way, on with the story!
And as always, thank you everyone for your patience and support!
Chapter 37: Stuck in the Dark (Part 11)
Kabuto's POV:
"Sasuke, do you still sense her nearby?" I asked him eagerly, anxious over the unknown.
I was merely inches behind, following the older raven while we flew past the high tree branches towards a presence that was supposedly Katsumi. Presumably, she miraculously found a way to escape the Akatsuki's grasp and was currently somewhere in this forest, according to Sasuke who sensed her.
"Yes. We're getting very close…" He answered curtly, sounding a bit absentminded.
"Do you know if she's alone or—?"
"Wait!" He interjected as his aura spiked.
"What is it, Sasuke?" Hana inquired curiously from my shoulder during our high-speed travel.
"She stopped moving." He informed stoically, his eyes sharpening at his view ahead.
I sensed the eeriness in his tone; he was skeptical about something he detected on his radar.
"Can you tell us why?" I questioned insistently.
"Look, down there!" Hana exclaimed precipitously, motioning her wing downward.
I followed where her delicate wing was pointing and within seconds, I noticed something laying on the green earth. After a brief inspection, I was appalled to see Katsumi laying there unconscious for God knows how long. The raven took notice of this to and wordlessly, we headed straight for the helpless girl. We landed right next to the ravenette and I went ahead to grab the girl and pull her into my arms. From first glance, Katsumi didn't look too badly injured.
However, there was no telling what had happened during her time with the Akatsuki. Was she tortured in any way? Was she abused? Was she interrogated? Did they drug her? Did they mess with her memory? Did they somehow take her jutsu? When it came to the deadly, formidable organization, there was no telling what sort of hell they chose for the girl to go through. Seeing her in this state and the fact that she was at the Akatsuki's mercy made my blood boil and my chakra to spike up dangerously. It didn't help that one person in particular crept into mind for being responsible for feeding her to the group.
'I swear to God, when I see that bastard, Itachi… I'll make sure he'll die a very painful death…! I'll make him PAY for what he did to her…' I seethed internally, holding the female closer to me.
It was then I heard a meek, struggling voice. I wasn't sure if Hana or Sasuke heard it but I subconsciously glanced down and was stunned to see Katsumi using her willpower to pull herself out of unconsciousness. She succeeded such task when her eyelids opened to see the light but only slightly.
"Katsumi?" I called gingerly.
Katsumi didn't respond but she was able to open her eyes a bit more and instinctively scanned her surroundings out of instincts as if to check if she wasn't in any sort of danger. Her beautiful orbs then landed on me and blinked weakly with me in her direct line of sight. My breathing staggered by this; did the mad bastards messed with her memory? Her mental state? She looked as if she didn't recognize me, or even register any living thing in her vicinity. On top of that, she apparently was having a hard time to communicate from the way her lips were pursing, parting, and pressing in frustration. I worriedly studied the girl with the glossed-over look in her eyes as I gulped down a sob that lurked inside my throat.
"Please, say something…" I entreated weakly, squeezing her desperately.
"Something's not right." I overheard the Uchiha boy's abrupt comment.
"What do you mean, Sasuke?" Hana questioned warily.
"I sense her chakra in Kabuto's arms… but it isn't behaving normally…" He analyzed with his crimson visual prowess.
"Do you think the kidnappers had something to do with it?" Hana propounded curiously. "Maybe genjutsu?"
"Her chakra isn't behaving in a way where it's influenced by genjutsu." Sasuke debunked monotonously.
"Maybe they injected some toxin or something that affects chakra flow?" Hana hypothesized hesitantly. "Preventing her from using it as a chemical restraint."
"I can't say. I don't excel in medical situations like my sister…" Sasuke rejoined hoarsely.
"Whatever they did to her… they're gonna pay. I'll make sure of it!" I growled angrily, glaring at my lover's weak form.
I winced at the feeling of being tugged softly by my shirt. It dulled my anger enough for me to look at the source and was pleasantly surprised by the frail but tender smile she struggled to hold for me. This precious sight was enough for the feeling of my eyes welling up to brew. I felt my eyes gloss over my soft gaze at Katsumi while biting down my lower lip to contain my emotions I tried so hard to kill.
"K-Kab… Kabu-to…" She stuttered feebly, wincing and mewling in pain.
"Katsumi…" I breathed painfully, dreading the fact that she was in pain. "What the hell… did they do to you…?"
Before she could even make a sound, Katsumi suddenly went through a series of bad coughs. It didn't take long for the blood to spew out of her mouth as she held her stomach and chest tightly. During her coughing fit, I immediately scanned to see any intentionally fatal injuries on her and sure enough, there was a large dark red, wet patch on the robe she was wearing at that moment. Taking this as a warning sign, I quickly but carefully took the robe off of her and sure enough, there was a large, gaping hole in the middle of her abdomen that oozed the crimson, iron-scented liquid.
I was appalled—no, horrified—of this massive, deep wound the ravenette sustained. I had been a medic ninja for most of my life, but I'd never seen an injury as large and as shocking as this one. Maybe because of my bias towards my patient who sadly was suffering at the moment. Still, this injury was like no other, nonetheless. I snapped my gaze over to Sasuke who wasn't as horrified as I was for the girl's wellbeing but in his eyes, it was evident enough that he was concerned for his sister's health.
"She must've been attacked when they realized she escaped." I theorized fretfully as I placed her flat on the ground.
I laid both my hands Katsumi's midsection and instantly activated my medical ninjutsu to heal her as quickly as possible. Luckily, Katsumi's body was capable of healing on its own like mine, so her chances of dying were lower than the average ninja. As I funneled my healing chakra into the Uchiha girl, her coughing slowed down until she was lying there breathing very deeply at a slow rate. I was reluctant to take a glimpse of her face because I knew my emotionless façade would crack the moment I dared to look, hence I opted to just focus on treating her wounds.
"Kabu… Kabuto…" She called my name weakly in between wheezes. "Please…"
"What is it, Katsumi?" I questioned somberly, refusing to give her eye contact. "Stop talking… you're just making it more painful for yourself…"
"S-Stop… helping me…" She demanded between each desperate breath.
"What?" I frowned perplexedly at her request. "What do you mean?"
"Don't… waste… your c-chakra… on me…" She rasped pleadingly, grabbing my forearm.
She then tried to pull my hands away from her body, but to no avail.
I didn't verbally respond to her demand, but I did allow my actions to answer her request. I proceeded in treating her, outright declining her plea. I heard a weak grunt in defeat from her, realizing that she was too weak to match with my stubbornness. I vaguely watched the ravenette turn her head to the side from the corner of my eye, seemingly looking at her brother.
"S… Sasuke…" She strained hoarsely.
Said raven kept quiet but did lean in slightly to pay full attention to her. I waited with anticipation for something to come out of her mouth, but nothing came of it. What made me more confused was how Sasuke was eyeing his sister as if he was listening to nothing. It literally looked like they were having a telepathic conversation. Was this a part of the unheard power of their Sharingan? After a long moment of pure silence—with the exception of the sound of my healing chakra—the Uchiha boy leaned back from his sister and slightly gave himself a nod.
What happened next occurred so swiftly and so fast, I couldn't even make a single move to register what took place to stop it before it was too late.
All I did was sit there on the soft earth with my glowing hands retracted from the girl's midsection. Why did I remove my hands when my lover was in critical condition? The answer was simple: her brother spitefully struck his long, slender sword through Katsumi's chest, piercing through her heart.
My eyes widened appallingly and continued to grow as the bastard sunk his blade deeper and deeper into his sister, as an insult to injury. Thick, dark blood gushed out of the ravenette's chest while she threw up said crimson substance out of her mouth. My level of expertise indicated a major artery being punctured by the blade. The blood geyser squirted its contents on me and Sasuke, however neither one of us was fazed in the slightest.
I hesitantly glanced at the female who somehow managed to beat the odds and not die right when she took the blow. However, it was more than obvious that she was barely hanging on by the way the life. Her dark eyes wavered by each passing second and her breathing grew shallower. She proceeded to hack and wheeze as blood spilled everywhere in front of her.
"So, that's how it is, then..." I heard the perpetrator holding the sword mused stolidly.
"Oh no, Lady Katsumi!" Hana cried in horror.
I didn't know what was going on inside of me. My heart was pounding so loud, most of the noise surrounding me was muted. I could hear my hollow muscle beating faster and harder against my ribcage, being fuelled by anger and despair for what had occurred and especially who caused it. My dark pupils shook erratically on furiously stretched eyes as my chakra-cloaked hands gripped into fists that were so tight it drew blood on my tanned palms. Since my medical ninjutsu was still activated, my healing chakra automatically started tending to my self-inflicted wounds. Once my palms were clear of any damage, I stopped funnelling anymore chakra to save it for a savage punishment for the person in question. My head shakily turned to glare darkly at the raven who stood over me, unfazed of my immense anger.
"Sasuke Uchiha..." I gritted menacingly, gritting my teeth.
"Hmph." Sasuke huffed indifferently, dismissing my aggrievance.
The boy's snobby attitude didn't help with my brewing rage and my freed hatred for him. If anything, it just made it even worse for his safety I swore myself not to jeopardize for Katsumi's sake.
"You bastard..." I spat deeply as my hand inched itself closer to my kunai pouch.
"Ngh... ugn..." The familiar sounds of painful moans partially snapped me out of my vengeful trance.
Turning my attention to Katsumi, I flinched at the sight of my lover using every bit of strength she had left to lift her fragile hand. She looked as if she was desperately reaching for something or using her touch to find something despite her groggy vision. I parted my lips in awe for how spiritually powerful the ravenette was after everything the Akatsuki could possibly do to her. It was a miracle that she avoided death numerous times.
'Katsumi...' I gazed at her solicitously, almost taking my mind off of the terrible deed her own brother did a moment ago.
Without thinking, I raised my hand from my side and slowly but firmly grasped her raised hand. Apparently, that was what she was looking for because she feebly tightened her grip on my hand securely. As I held her hand in mine, I brought our hands downwards to my lap, resting my grip on her there. Once settled, I adjusted my grip by letting my fingers entwine with hers then firmly holding her hand in support. She did the same but much frailer.
'I envy you... as much as I love you...' I admitted fondly. 'You're so much stronger than I am...'
I watched her slowly moving her head to the side, gazing me with almost-lifeless, pleading eyes. The sight of it was enough to choke up a sob that wanted to escape from within.
"Kabuto..." She stammered weakly. "R-Run... get... away...!"
My brows furrowed questioningly at her instance.
As if on cue, I felt Sasuke tense up behind me.
"Kabuto, we have to get out of here!" He urged in fraught. "Katsumi's—!"
"SHUT UP!" I spat tetchily, snapping my glare at him.
"Tsk." He grunted impatiently.
I remained seated next to my lover, clenching her hand as I continued to glare coldly at her sad excuse of a brother. Sasuke took a vigilant glance at Katsumi as if he expected something bad to happen. But what could possibly happen? And how in the hell could she pose any threat in her current state?
Was he out of his—?!
"Wha—!?" I gasped as I felt myself being lifted off the ground.
Before I knew what grabbed me without permission, my eyes stretched in horror the second I sensed Katsumi's chakra suppressing itself under extreme pressure. It felt as though a very reactive chemical contained in a bin with high concentration accidentally came into contact with oxygen coming from tiny hole. It was as if her chakra had a mind of its own; it was behaving not under the ravenette's accord.
Suddenly, her chakra expanded in a millisecond.
It was unclear to me what happened next because by that point, the person holding on to me from behind jumped back, escaping what appeared to be some sort of ignited explosion. I was blinded by the dust and large debris caused from the blast waves as I felt the force pushing against my front form. Despite the fact that I was pushed back in midair, I could feel the earth trembling beneath me demonstrating the scale of the blast.
It took a while but I somehow managed to get myself up onto a high tree branch located a safe enough distance away from the destruction. Cleaning and adjusting my glasses, I was dumbfounded by the extent of the damage. It was just like the crater Katsumi was last located before being taken away. I heard bits and pieces of trees falling even after the explosion subsided. I felt myself being released from the rough grip I was in and I finally took this time of brief peace to see who it was.
My eyes quirked wide when the first thing I saw was Sasuke who towered over me nonchalantly as he kept his attention on the aftermath of the explosion.
'I can't believe it... Sasuke just saved me...!' I mused in disbelief, taken aback by his sudden act of decency while still on my knees. 'But... why...? Why would he… after everything…'
"We made it in a nick of time." Said raven's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Be lucky that you're still alive."
I blinked puzzlingly up at him which presumably impelled him to give me eye contact.
"If you acted stubborn for a few more seconds, you would've been consumed in that blast and that would've been the end of you." He explained bluntly, glancing back at the destruction from afar. "All because you thought you were helping Katsumi..."
Hearing the name of my beloved sent a jolt to my heart, realizing that it was her who combusted into thin air. The anger and vengeful hate that lurked behind me finally caught up and I welcomed it to consume me whole. With gritted teeth and clenched fists, my body shook with rage; I was itching to take my anger out on someone, anything that was living. I impulsively considered Sasuke to do me the honor; he wasn't the culprit of using his sister as a bomb, but I wasn't too happy of him for pulling that stunt earlier.
But because of his heroic act, I was now obliged to leave him be since he basically saved my life. Plus, I had no clue how to explain or excuse myself to Katsumi on why I murdered her brother.
Speaking of the boy, I jerked bafflingly when I felt said Uchiha place his hand on my shoulder in an awkward attempt to comfort me. Since when did he "comfort" anyone? And why did he allow himself to touch me without the intention to kill?
"Don't worry, Katsumi's not dead." He informed me evenly, unfazed by everything that just transpired. "In fact, that wasn't her when she blew up."
I snapped my surprised gaze up at him. I was almost in disbelief by what he said since I didn't want to get my hopes up too soon.
"But... how can that be?" I questioned incredulously, glancing at the large hole and ruined sight in front me. "You said you sensed her chakra and that led us to her?"
Sasuke sighed at me for being in denial.
"You sound like you want to believe she's dead." He commented dryly, indicating an undertone of amusement.
I shook my head subconsciously then turned my pupils over to him. "Of course not. But what you're saying doesn't add up..."
The raven grunted in response, seemingly annoyed that he had to explain everything as if I was clueless. To his defense, I slightly was, but merely because my feelings were shadowing over my intelligence and common sense. Fortunately, the boy was in a "good mood" at the moment because he nonetheless filled me in with what he gathered.
"You're right, I did sense Katsumi's chakra and that did lead us here." He mused plainly. "But that's only because she carried Katsumi's chakra."
"You're implying that the person we were just with was a decoy with her chakra?" I questioned sternly, furrowing my brows.
Sasuke nodded calmly. "They probably found out that we were tracking them to get her back, so they used a decoy that carried her chakra to get us off their trail." He theorized as he slid his blade back into its long holder.
"Then why did they make the decoy of her as a bomb?" I questioned indignantly, insulted by the mockery.
The raven-haired male slightly shrugged. "Probably to give themselves more time to get away." He answered insouciantly.
I took my time to process what had been said by the raven. I moved towards the thick tree stem and laid my back against it when I started to feel lightheaded. Trying to keep my nausea in check, I gulped most of my anxiety down then laid my eyes on the male who remained where he stood on the branch.
"You said something earlier..." I remarked intently. "... about her chakra..."
From where he stood, Sasuke cocked his head to the side casually and gave me an emotionless look. After one grunt, he returned his eyes ahead before providing context.
"When we arrived at her body, I noticed that her chakra flow was off and acting non-accordingly." He clarified, sounding a bit preoccupied by his thoughts.
"How exactly was her chakra behaving?" I questioned intriguingly.
"Her chakra didn't flow throughout her body like it's supposed to. It didn't travel throughout her system like it should and instead gathered itself in her entire torso." He elaborated phlegmatically. "Plus, her chakra network was dormant which explains why she wasn't able to focus her chakra control; she couldn't stop it even when she wanted to..."
"That still doesn't explain why she just blew up." I grumbled impatiently then snapped my displeased glare at him. "And that certainly doesn't explain why you pulled that stunt earlier."
Sasuke scoffed at my frustration.
"While you were wasting your chakra on the decoy, I also sensed another chakra source within her—one that was unfamiliar to me. It happened to mix with her chakra and somehow hid itself until we arrived." He explained aloofily, dismissing my latter question.
'He sensed unfamiliar chakra inside of that clone, mixed with Katsumi's own chakra which resulted in the clone to explode? That doesn't make sense to me?' I inquired hypothetically in though. 'What kind of jutsu is this? Or is it some sort of kekkei genkai I haven't heard about?'
My hand subconsciously reached my face and cupped my cheek which was stained with dry blood as I thought deeply to myself, trying to comprehend the situation.
'But how does a decoy make any sense when there was blood coming out of it? If it was a clone or a substitute, it would've vanished in a puff of smoke the moment Sasuke's blade made physical contact.'
It was after that thought when I flinched bemusedly at the blood's texture on my skin. It was squishy, yet it held its shape when left alone.
Like a gummy substance.
'Wait... this material...' I thoroughly examined the thick, dark-coloured substance on my fingertips. 'It smells like… clay…'
"Sasuke." I spoke up sternly, my eyes still glued to the thick substance. "That... still doesn't explain why you—!"
"It's too complex for words." He injected swiftly in a dull tone. "To put it simply, the point in me injecting my blade into Katsumi was to send my chakra into her to override and halt her chakra activity."
"But... why...?" I asked slowly, not understand the concept.
Sasuke grunted impatiently. "As I said before, her chakra wasn't behaving like it should as if it had a mind of its own. The only way I could suppress her chakra—or otherwise, buffer the impact—is using my chakra to cancel her chakra off." He explained grimly.
That logic didn't make any sort of sense to me. Then again, my brain was having trouble gauging the information because of how shaken up I still was, leaving me more lost.
"Where did you learn a technique like that?" I asked inquisitively.
"It was something Katsumi used to do back when she was a medic in the Leaf." He answered, carrying a bit of fondness in his words. "She tends to use it on her patients when their chakra turns on them and attacks its host; it's a basic technique where you use your own chakra to cancel off the other person's chakra."
After hearing this, it made more sense to me. It also cleared my confusion as to why I wasn't familiar with it right away. Only a select few of people—majority of them being medical ninja—had the capability in mastering that chakra technique. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them, but it appeared that Katsumi was definitely one of those select few shinobi whose chakra control was spotless and extremely precise. But the fact that Sasuke mastered this trick before me was a surprising and impressive feat. Not doubting his capabilities nor his abilities, but according to his sister: his chakra control was only close to perfect. Plus, he wasn't a medic ninja so why would he want to master it and why did Katsumi bother in teaching him when it was basically useless to him?
"So… you used the chakra technique to cancel off her chakra completely, right?" I surmised lowly, wanting a confirmation.
Sasuke nodded slightly.
"But it still detonated regardless." I contended skeptically. "It shouldn't have blown up if you stopped her chakra."
"Apparently, when I funnelled my chakra into her, the unfamiliar chakra I also sensed caused a strong reaction within her, triggering the decoy to explode." He propounded ruminatively.
"Any reason why that happened?"
"That unknown chakra inside that clone was an Earth Nature, so that may have something to do with the explosion." He hypothesized glassily.
But how, though? It made no sense. Earth was vulnerable to Lightning and Sasuke possessed Lightning Chakra Nature. It shouldn't have caused such a huge reaction like what we had just witnessed. Unless…
"The unknown chakra and Katsumi's chakra were gathered in that clone." I spoke pensively as I lowered my head.
From the far corner of my eye, I could see the raven slightly turning his head in my direction, granting me a bit of his attention.
"Maybe… funnelling your chakra into the clone to cancel off her chakra caused the Earth Style chakra to detonate." I theorized huskily, then my tone started getting darker. "Those bastards probably rigged the whole thing as a trap."
"Hmph." It was all the male had to say before he completely turned away, leaving himself with his own thoughts as I did the same.
'There isn't any clear indication if Katsumi's and the unknown chakra were legitimately mixed together or coexisting separately in the same area. Either way, Sasuke intended to use that chakra technique to stop Katsumi's chakra. As a result, the Earth Style chakra reacted aggressively, causing it to explode.' I thought hardly, then turned my attention back to the thick substance now on the palm of my hand. 'Then does that mean this thing has something to do with it all? Damn it, my mind is drawing a blank, yet it's on the tip of my tongue! Who in the Akatsuki is capable in—!?'
My train of thought broke from the shock of witnessing the dark red moulding object progressively turning eggshell white the more I manipulated it. This slight physical change was the catalyst to the recognition, the feeling of which felt like a phantom slapped me hard in the face. I gazed strongly at the now white substance with wide eyes as my lungs went rigid.
'Wait, this is… clay! No… detonating clay!' I thought incredulously, then narrowed my eyes with knitted brows. 'If I remembered correctly, Lord Orochimaru mentioned someone who wields clay for their jutsu…'
I glanced over at Sasuke who surprisingly looked calm as he scanned the area with his Sharingan as a precaution. As I watched him from a short distance, I slowly removed my glasses while aimlessly rummaging in my weapon pouch for a cloth.
'It seems he still doesn't know that the Akatsuki is the one solely responsible for this predicament. But I wonder… is he finally starting to suspect that Itachi has something to do with it?' I mused curiously while cleaning my circular lenses. 'I know I'm obliged by Lord Orochimaru to keep quiet about any mention of the Akatsuki or Itachi… but how oblivious does he think Sasuke is? Surely, he's not clueless… and it would make sense for him to accuse his older brother for kidnapping their sister. Normally, most kidnappers personally know their victims. I wonder when he'll get the hint…'
Once I was done cleaning off the dust and dirt that built up on my lenses, I put the cloth back in my pouch then placed my glasses, adjusting it for comfort on my nose bridge. My fingers left the temples of my glasses which was when I felt an uncomfortable pain taking place on my left shoulder. I tried ignoring it, but it got bothersome to feel the mocking agony every time I moved my left arm. Fed up, I placed my right arm on my shoulder and used medical ninjutsu to heal whatever damage that was causing this pain. I sighed peacefully at the cool, tender feeling of my healing chakra seeping into my shoulder.
Just when I felt the brief feeling of peace, I gasped in realization once again. Apparently, it was loud enough to gain the raven's attention, who snapped his crimson eyes at me cautiously. I dismissed his reaction and frantically looked at my left shoulder, then my right, then everywhere randomly while anxiety increased by every turn my head made.
"Hana! Where's Hana?" I finally probed, laying my worried eyes on Sasuke.
"Wasn't she on your shoulder?" He asked casually, unfazed by the dove's disappearance.
"Well, she isn't right now!" I hissed irritably at the boy's lack of concern. "Damn it, she must've been thrown off my shoulder during the blast."
"She has to be nearby." He placated monotonously. "She probably took cover."
"She would've been here right now if she did!" I snapped impatiently, rising up to my feet as I continued to search for the dove.
I was so caught up in Hana's disappearance, I completely dismissed the Uchiha boy lazily pointing his index finger downwards while staring in that same direction.
"She's over there." He tonelessly notified.
"What!? Where?" I snapped my wide eyes at the boy.
"Right there." He indicated vaguely, beckoning his pointer finger.
I followed his finger pointing downward. After squinting my eyes to sharpen my vision, I gasped to see what Sasuke was pointing at: an unconscious little dove on the fresh, soft dirt.
"Hana!" I exclaimed concernedly, diving from the high branch.
I landed in a crouching position then immediately rushed towards the little, still bird who hadn't moved a muscle as if she was dead. My hands hesitantly reached to Hana, not wanting to hurt the poor thing even further. I used my left hand to gently slide the dove onto my right hand as I felt myself shaking anxiously. I heard her grunt and groan in pain which sent a wave of relief in me.
'At least she's alive…' I thought gratefully, instantly activating my medical ninjutsu and started healing her.
I was more than glad that the innocent dove was alive. From the moment she informed me about Katsumi's kidnapping until now, we had built a decent foundation as friends thanks to the one thing we had in common: that stubborn but precious ravenette. I could confidently say that she was a friend of mine. I could see why the Uchiha girl relied on her so much; the young dove was noble and very loyal. It would be very tragic if she were to die for both the ravenette and I.
Luckily, she only sustained a broken wing, fractured vertebrate and cuts and bruises.
"Kabuto?" She croaked weakly, opening her heavy lids.
"How are you holding up, Hana?" I inquired benevolently, throwing her a friendly smile.
"I-I think I'm fine." She grunted in pain, trying to move. "Could've been better, though."
Though Hana was young, she was an average-sized bird. I reposition my hold on her so that she was laying along my lower forearm and palm while my free hand did all of the healing.
"Where's Sasuke? Is he okay?" She inquired altruistically.
"He's fine. He's left untouched, unsurprisingly." I exhaled tiredly at the thought of the raven. "He was the only one who knew what was coming."
"Y-Yeah…" She groaned in discomfort. "That explosion came out of nowhere."
"Well… then again, the Akatsuki is known for stunts like that…" I grumbled bitterly with a displeased glare.
"Does that m-mean… that they're onto us…?" She asked nervously.
"Maybe. It's more likely they did this to guide us away from them as much as possible." I replied softly.
"Kabuto?"
"Yes?"
"How did you get past that detonation without getting hurt?" She asked with confusion.
"Well…"
"It's because I was the one who saved him." A stoic voice answered before I could get the words out.
I briefly looked over my shoulder to see Sasuke landing on his feet effortlessly then sauntered towards us.
"Sasuke…" Hana acknowledged respectfully once said male stood over us.
"Hana." Sasuke nodded in response. "I'm surprised that you survived."
"Well, barely…" She sighed wryly. "If it weren't for Kabuto coming to my aid, who knows if I would've made it or not."
"You wouldn't have endured for so long it I had noticed sooner…" I mumbled apologetically.
"Don't blame yourself, Kabuto…" She insisted comfortingly. "I would've been injured either way. The fact that you're helping me now is more than enough…"
I slowly nodded then went back to healing the dove until she had completely recuperated. After calling off my healing chakra, I assisted Hana in standing up in my cupped hands so that she wouldn't have to worry about balancing her weight in her frail state.
"I've treated every injury you've received." I informed her seriously. "However, you should restrict yourself from flying at all until you give your body some time to fully recover. Your skeleton is much more fragile than the human skeleton."
"Alright." She nodded slowly. "Thank you, Kabuto."
"No problem…"
"It's getting late." Sasuke interjected emotionlessly, earning both of our attention.
Hana and I looked up to see the raven examining the sky which turned fiery orange and yellow to my surprise; we were so consumed about the explosion, we never registered how much time had passed.
"We're still ways away from the hideout." The Uchiha boy noted, deactivating his Sharingan.
"Well, it wouldn't be too big of a problem if we arrive there by morning." I commented nonchalantly. "I'm sure Lord Orochimaru wouldn't mind…"
"Let's set up camp then." He prompted dully.
"Not here, Sasuke. We're out in the open." I nagged matter-of-factly.
"That's what I meant."
"You didn't specify…"
"Hmph." Evidently annoyed, he spun around and marched towards the dense trees and bushes.
Meanwhile, he left Hana and I amused at his annoyance.
"Now I see why Katsumi enjoys pushing his buttons…" I chuckled waggishly.
"Thing is… she can get away with it. You… I don't think so." Hana pointed out lightheartedly. "How much are you willing to push him…?"
I shook my head at her question. "No, I don't think we should do anything. I know that there's a lot going on in that head of his. The last thing he needs is us mocking him." I declined with an entertained grin.
"Then maybe you should talk to him, Kabuto." Hana suggested seriously with an innocent tone. "You should address it so that he won't have to beat himself up and drown in his own feelings…"
"I did that, remember? He didn't take my honesty too kindly. He thinks that I'm obnoxious and arrogant with my words. He won't bother to listen to what I have to say." I frowned, disinclined with the idea of having another heart-to-heart with the raven.
"Nothing personal, but according to Katsumi… you sort of are…" She hesitantly remarked, earning a shocked look from me.
I pouted at the dove, insulted by her—of all people—agreeing with both the Uchiha siblings.
"Also, I think it's because he has no one to listen to…" She added compassionately. "Maybe that's why he's so dead silent; he's conversing with himself but can't agree nor properly listen to himself which results in him getting aggravated."
"You think so?" I questioned doubtfully.
"Obviously his problem is Katsumi and he doesn't know how to express or even talk to her about it, Orochimaru doesn't care about anything that doesn't help him reach his goals and Sasuke just doesn't trust him… but you…" She then paused then moved her eyes from the raven walking away to me. "… he might be able to talk to you about it."
"Not to insult your intelligence, Hana… but I strongly believe I'm the last person he wants to talk to about his 'problems'…" I averred in disagreement.
"It'll be easier for the both of you if you push your personal feelings and opinions aside and actually listen to what he has to say." She insisted confidently. "And who knows? Maybe having one normal conversation with him will be a step in the right direction to get him to dislike you less. Less enough for him to not mind you and Katsumi being lovers, at least."
I remained silent, processing her words in consideration. Hana suggested that I should have a deep conversation—or a normal conversation—with Sasuke to get himself out of his head. I understood her thought process, but at the same time, why should I be the one getting spit in the face with fire? Why should I have to be at the end of an Uchiha rage? I already had Katsumi; wasn't that good enough?
All jokes aside, I do believe that Sasuke needed to talk to somebody—just not me for a list of reasons. But like Hana said, I was the only other option that could.
The only thing right now that was tempting to me in talking to him was the possibility in finally gaining some of his trust and not minding me being in love with his sister. That would be great because I wouldn't have to sleep with one eye open every night.
Besides, I wanted to know one thing that only Sasuke could answer: why did he save me from that explosion?
If he really hated me as much as he acted, he had the opportunity to get rid of me by leaving me out to dry. But he didn't. In fact, he had so many chances in killing me from my blind side so many times, but he never took it. I always thought the theory of this boy was what Sasuke said, Sasuke does. But now, I was seeing the complete opposite.
Does he really want me dead and planned on doing it or does he want me dead but wasn't going to do anything?
Lately, Sasuke had been acting strange ever since… since I fought with him back at the lair. But I never registered any difference—mostly because I was unconscious, so thank you for that, Sasuke—but also because naturally thought that it had something to do with him being very unreadable/unpredictable. I basically thought it was an Uchiha thing.
But maybe there was something else. Something that was much deeper because what I believed didn't correspond to his actions. Does he really hate me as much as he said he does? Or does he hate something that I happened to be connected with?
Now that I think about all this, this begged a certain question: why did he suddenly agree to help me with this mission? He could've flat out said no and go out on his own to find his sister himself. He could've done anything else if it had nothing to do with me but instead, after a while of persisting, he agreed to help us.
Even if that doesn't prove much and he simply wanted to use me to make it easier to find Katsumi, it still doesn't explain why he went out of his way to save me.
Why did Sasuke Uchiha save me?
Why?
What changed his mind?
"Ngh…!" I suddenly felt sharp pain piercing through my head, causing it to throb.
"Are you okay, Kabuto?" Hana asked in worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I groaned lowly, holding my head tightly. "I suffered a whiplash when the explosion happened, and I think the stress over Katsumi is just making it worse…"
"You should rest, you outright deserve it." The dove urged proudly. "And you didn't fail her at all. You gave it your all and I know she would be more than grateful of you for that…"
"It still doesn't change the way how I feel about it…" I grunted dejectedly.
"So, are you going to talk to Sasuke?" She then asked, trying to distract me from feeling depressed.
"Does it look like I have a choice?" I muttered rhetorically in slight annoyance. "We're going to share a tent when night falls."
Hana's only response was an encouraging giggle at my discomfort and exasperation. Sighing deeply, I started walking back into the dense forest from the large, newly created clearing. With Hana as my only company who sat comfortably in my hands, we proceeded to have light-hearted conversation about various of things, trying to take our minds off of the fact that our precious loved one was no longer within our reach and in the hands of cruel sinners.
I'm cutting this chapter short. Originally, I was going to put Katsumi's POV but that would make this chapter way too long. Plus, it would take me a lot longer to finish. So, since this chapter was dedicated to Kabuto only, the next chapter will solely be on Katsumi's POV. After that, it'll probably stay in her POV since the search is basically over. We'll see if we get to see Kabuto for a brief moment. Stay posted guys!
Also, thanks again for your undying patience and support! I'll be sure to upload the next chapter soon, at least before I go back to school!