Chapter 7: Meetings
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
"You know what sucks?" Kori asked as the group were walking in the desert.
"What's that?" Chikara said.
"Because of that whole ordeal, we never got a chance to actually eat!" Kori said, whining: "Makes me regret not killing them outright."
"While I wanted to kill them, what we did to them will be sufficient for now; but you do have a point, Kori-chan. We never did eat now, did we?" Yuina said, agreeing with her cousin.
"I feel fine." Sayuri said offhandedly.
"Well, that's because you're dead!" Kori bickered.
"I guess it's a 'benefit' of it?" Sayuri said while shrugging.
"We have two options." Yorukō said as he reached in his pocket and grabbed a soldier pill and held it up for the squad to see: "Either we muscle it out on these or camp out again and return to the Leaf in the morning."
"I don't know how you did it, but I am not eating any of those pills." Kori said in protest.
"I wouldn't want to eat the pills, but it'll take too long for us to get back if we choose to camp out." Chikara countered before folding his hands: "Frankly, I just think we should push on with the pills."
"I don't want to eat those food pills either, but I agree that we should tough it out with them and get back to the village as fast as we can." Yuina said, pitching in her thoughts.
"Well, the consensus seems to be the pills." Yorukō concluded as he turned around and handed Chikara, Yuina, and Kori a pill, the latter begrudgingly taking hers: "Eat up, and push on." He ordered.
"Fine." Kori said as she ate the pill, the others eating theirs in quick succession. Yorukō retrieved another pill and ate one himself, the bland and bitter taste causing him to slightly squirm before he shook the feeling and started walking.
"Say, Yorukō-kun." Yuina said after some time, catching his attention: "You told us your mission is to kill your father, but have you really put some thought into how you're going to do it?"
"To be honest with you, not really." Yorukō admitted, catching Yuina and everyone else off guard. Chikara for his part seemed to look away, a sliver of pure raw anger leaving his face that no one saw.
"Are…are you being serious right now, Yorukō-kun?" Kori asked, anger evident in her voice: "You're hell-bent on killing him, but you're not sure about how you'll go about doing it? Do you want to kill us with worry?"
"I'm guessing there's more to this?" Sayuri asked her son.
Yorukō nodded while he walked. He stopped and turned around to face everyone with a serious expression and continued: "It's not that I don't know how I'm going to kill him – that I already have planned and covered; all I need to do is execute it. The problem is that he's still a high-ranking shinobi in the village. Making even an attempt on his life will cause an international incident due to me not being a Frost Shinobi anymore."
"But you were born there." Sayuri commented.
Yorukō shook his head: "You're right, but I had basically denounced my status when I became a missing-nin and became solidified when I fled to the Hidden Leaf. When you guys went to the leaf, you also lost your citizenship statuses."
"So, what I'm hearing is that if you even consider attacking him for example, it could possibly escalate to war?" Chikara asked: "Why risk it at all then?"
"Chikara-san's right, Yorukō-kun. How you explain it, this is going to end up completely being a lose-lose situation for you." Yuina explained.
"Remember what I told you guys a couple of days ago, before Chikara was added to the team?" Yorukō started, each member listening attentively: "I said that I'll protect all of you, even if it costs me my life. Leaving Reiki unchecked will no doubt cause problems in the future, and he needs to pay for everything he's caused over the years."
"Well, remember what I told you?" Yuina countered: "About how you and I are a package deal?"
"I remember." Yorukō said with a slight chuckle before his expression returned to how it was before: "You of all people do not need to fight this battle. If anything happens to you, I could never forgive myself."
"But think about us!" Yuina protested: "We'd never be able to forgive ourselves if anything happened to you!"
"How about we just focus on going back to the Leaf first?" Yorukō suddenly asked, the teen jōnin shooting the previous topic dead: "We can finish this then."
"But-" Yuina argued.
"-No buts. This is an order." Yorukō commanded, wafting his hand in dismissal.
"You're going to pull this card again?" Sayuri asked: "Seems to me there's a lot more to this than we initially thought."
"Think what you want." Yorukō coldly retorted to his mother before swiftly turning and began walking towards the direction of the village. 'My father is like no other. If my mother is correct, he had a serious hand behind the circumstances of my rather unceremonious exit from the village.' The teen bit his lip so hard that he drew a small amount of blood while clenching his fist so tight the knuckles popped as he kept thinking to himself: 'Besides, he's the one I need gone to complete one of my main objectives in life – that being to liberate the people of the Frost Village from his clutches. The times I saw that old bastard Taiyōkage in the village with Reiki, it was clear to me that he was the one pulling the strings, not the Taiyōkage himself.'
"Something's off." Kori said once Yorukō was a good distance away.
"You felt it too, huh?" Yuina asked her cousin.
"So did I." Chikara added: "It's an all too familiar sensation."
"Yeah, it is." Sayuri finished: "Seems my son is finally being consumed by hatred. At first, I thought it was something else, but every time we bring him up or even when he brings him up, its nothing but contempt. Yorukō's allowing his father to live rent-free in his head until he somehow manages to kill his own father, the source of his pain."
"There has to be some way we can stop him before he does something he's going to regret." Yuina said.
"I think it's a little too late for that, Yuina." Kori said solemnly. She shook her head to dispel the tears forming in her eyes as she looked at Yorukō's retreating form: "If he's the same way he was when we had to fight him, once he sets his mind on something, that's it."
"That's bullshit! Doesn't he love us enough to reconsider?" Yuina protested.
"I think…" Sayuri cut in: "…this is his way of showing his 'love' as you put it, Yuina-chan." The reanimated woman placed her right hand on her chest as she continued: "Most, if not all of it is my fault. If I were still alive, maybe I could've had a more positive influence in his life. All of this is caused by the same man he's hell bent on killing."
"Still…" Yuina simply said as she dropped her head in defeat. The Hasegawa matriarch walked over towards the dejected kunoichi and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not as if we don't understand where you're coming from, Yuina-chan. Everything I just said is true, but it doesn't mean we can't stop him if push comes to shove." The reanimation said sweetly.
"Then…" Kori cut in.
"If he does go too far, we have to be the ones to stop him." Sayuri finished.
"Yorukō's gaining distance on us. We may need to finish this later." Chikara suggested to the girls.
"I suppose you're right. We need to catch up with Aya's progress anyway." Yuina said.
In the Frost Village…
"It's been a year now, hasn't it?" The fake Taiyōkage asked out loud in his office: "Okiri-sama and that Akatsuki leader made that little partnership, leaving me with managing this village's resources for their use and gain." The impostor Kage reached for a bottle of sake and poured it into a small cup. He grabbed the cup and gently swirled it around for a few seconds before taking the shot, the alcohol giving him a slight buzz: "Now that I think about it, why didn't I just allow the boy to leave with no strings attached? Made no sense for me to have him kill those men."
A knock was made at the door during the man's musings which snapped him back to reality. Quickly removing the cups and the sake bottle, he fixed his posture around the desk and used his transformation jutsu once more.
"You may come in." The man gestured. Immediately, the door opened which revealed a brown-skinned man, his deeply crimson red eyes so intimidating that it would paralyze lesser beings in his presence. He kept his flowing dark hair in a ponytail which gave a more detailed look of his rugged face. He wore dark slacks with a grey tank top on which was mostly obscured by the trench coat he wore over it, the hidden frost insignia embroidered in the back. He had a female companion with him, her shade being a bit lighter than her companion. She had her hair kept in braids, allowing one to fall down her right cheek while keeping the rest in a bun. Her brown eyes seemed to give a calming feel about her, much unlike her partner. She kept her hitai-ate wrapped around her neck while wearing a light blue shirt which was only made visible due to wearing a large yet fitting trench coat. There was also a mask attached to her hip which was barely visible due to the obfuscation of the coat.
"Sure has been a while, hasn't it…Seiji?" asked the man.
"Seiji? Who's that?" the Taiyōkage asked.
"You can drop the jutsu. This girl is with me; she won't be revealing many secrets." The man instructed.
"…Fine." The now-Seiji complied, dispelling his transformation jutsu. He looked at the two shinobi once he was done: "To what do I owe this honor…Reiki?"
"Has sitting in that seat over the last couple of years made you that confident, good friend?" Reiki answered with a question: "Seems to me you forgot who really runs this here."
Seiji began to feel sweat almost immediately roll down the back of his neck from the interaction he's having with the Hasegawa head: "N…No, I haven't. I'd just want to keep up appearances in front of your companion."
"No need." Reiki told him: "Right now, pretend it's just you and I."
"Then why bring her?" Seiji asked.
"I'm the one asking the questions here, Seiji. Don't forget that." Reiki coldly reminded the impostor before pointing at her: "However, if you must know – this is Maki, my daughter."
"Nice to meet you." Maki politely said with a small bow.
"P…Pleasure's all mine." Seiji nervously replied.
"So, I believe we have some things to discuss about." Reiki said, bringing the attention back to him.
"What about?" Seiji asked the man.
"Your leader's agenda and Hasegawa Yorukō." Reiki bluntly answered: "Depending on your answers, you may or may not live past this."
"Is that a threat, Reiki-sama?" Seiji incredulously asked: "You know Okiri-sama wouldn't like it if you were to harm me in any way; the Hidden Frost will become the brunt of his future attacks."
"Right now, Okiri is the least of your worries." Reiki told the 'Taiyōkage'.
Seiji seemed to ponder Reiki's last comments for a moment before letting out a sigh: "…Last I heard, he's informed me and a few more of his high-ranking supporters that he's formed a partnership with the Akatsuki leader, Pain."
"Pain, huh?" Reiki mulled for a moment. The Hasegawa head placed his arms behind his back as he walked around the room while deep in thought.
"Like I said, that's really all I know." Seiji fibbed.
"Oh really?" Reiki asked, broken out of his stupor. Maki looked at her father intently as the older man suddenly reached at the fake Kage and grabbed him by the collar.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Seiji frantically asked.
"Did you seem to forget I have a jutsu that allows me to pick up on deceit?" Reiki asked the man.
"Okiri…Okiri-sama won't like this!" Seiji screamed: "Let me go!"
"I'm beginning to think you're hard-of-hearing, Seiji." Reiki said, the crimson-eyed shinobi tightening his grip on the fake Kage's collar: "Didn't I just say Okiri is the least of your worries? If you want to live longer, I suggest you start telling the truth." Reiki threw the man back into his chair before walking over towards his daughter with his arms folded.
"F…Fine." Seiji said after relenting for several minutes to readjust his collar: "Okiri-sama and Pain created a partnership as I just told you, but that's not all. The basis of the partnership is founded on me providing Okiri-sama with the resources from the Frost Village for his and Pain's disposal."
"I'm guessing that it isn't limited to just rations?" Reiki asked as he raised his eyebrow.
Seiji nodded: "Yes. He's also demanded me to send shinobi on "long excursions" so that he would be able to use them for his needs and purpose."
"So, sending my men for your cult is a thing, and I'm just now finding out about it?" Reiki asked as his tone dropped several octaves.
"I meant to tell you, but…" Seiji said, his gaze wandering.
"Let me guess, you got swamped in 'thousands of paperwork'?" Reiki said less than impressed: "I can't read minds, but not only can I sense deceit, but I can also tell when I'm being bullshitted."
"I can't hide things from you, huh?" Seiji asked with a dry chuckle: "Well, either you'll kill me, or I'll be ex-communicated from Okiri-sama's following after this, so I may as well reveal everything to you."
"I'm not interested in his grand plan. Tell me what he plans on doing with my village." Reiki ordered.
"At some point, he intends on using the Frost as his base of operations." Seiji told the man.
"Sounds to me he doesn't care for the civilians." Reiki said.
"And you do?" Seiji bitterly retorted. Reiki walked over towards the impostor and decked him flush in the face, breaking his nose in the process.
"Strike one. Say something witty like that again and you may not like what happens next." Reiki warned.
Maki looked on at the exchange between her father and the Kage, the girl's eyes filled with pity for the latter. She remained in her spot, not wishing to incur his wrath as well.
"What was that for?!" Seiji shouted while clutching his bleeding nose.
"I agreed on a partnership with your leader as I felt it would be necessary to learn their ways and techniques, and all I've been hearing is disappointment after disappointment…after disappointment. Need I go further?" Reiki condescendingly asked: "The people of the Frost Village do not need to be involved with this matter."
"Getting rid of me will definitely start an incident with His cult!" Seiji cried.
"Oh, trust me…I completely intend on starting an issue with that son of a bitch." Reiki told the man: "However, I'm not killing you just yet. There's still another matter at hand."
"T-That is?" The man shakingly asked.
"According to your reports, you let my son, Hasegawa Yorukō out of the village while allowing him to murder three of the village's esteemed shinobi while losing two more during a failed execution mission and having one defect and join his cause; someone who I also hold in a rather high regard. Mind explaining what you were thinking?" Reiki demanded.
"Yorukō-niichan?" Maki asked with stars in her eyes.
"Not now, Maki." Her father commanded.
"Aw…" Maki said, hanging her head dejectedly.
"What about him?" Seiji asked.
"Why did you allow him to leave the village under the dumbest of circumstances? Better yet, why did you allow him to leave without my say-so?" Reiki critically asked.
"I-I…" Seiji began but felt himself squirm under the Hasegawa patriarch's piercing stare.
"I'm not going to ask again." Reiki warned.
"I…I didn't know what I was thinking at the time. Despite posing as the Kage, it does get busy with dealing with the village and satisfying Okiri-sama, so it fell under my radar when he came to me about it. As for the circumstances, that wasn't my idea." Seiji admitted.
"Whose was it?" Maki now asked.
"It was Okiri-sama." The man told the girl.
"Why would Okiri want for my son – despite his weakness – to murder my men?" Reiki asked: "Doesn't make much sense to me."
"He never explained the specifics, only just telling me to do it." Seiji told Reiki before receiving a leveling stare from him which caused him to throw his hands in the air: "I'm not lying to you, honest!"
"…Hmm." Reiki said as he went deep in thought: "I guess I won't kill you just then, but there will be a change to our agreement."
"W-What would t-that be?" Seiji nervously asked.
"Your duties are…no longer required." Reiki informed the impostor: "If you leave within the next minute, we won't kill you."
"Father's being generous, Seiji-san. You may want to take him up on his offer." Maki informed him.
"Hypothetically, w-what if I r-refuse?" Seiji asked.
"Well, Maki here will kill you. Sullying my hands with a low-level threat as yourself would be very much beneath me." Reiki very bluntly explained.
Something inside Seiji snapped at Reiki's last comment. Despite not having the same capabilities as his adversary, hearing him label him as a 'low-level' threat seemed to irritate him to his core. He clenched a fist behind him, subliminally infusing chakra into it. He looked at the pair as they stared back at him nonchalantly.
"That closed fist isn't going to help you any, small fry." Reiki told Seiji before letting out a dark chuckle: "Maybe you don't understand the situation you're in. That girl alone is enough to annihilate you and a good portion of your leader's squad. My son is almost as ruthless as I am; with him as a nuke-nin there's no telling what he can do."
Now it was Seiji's turn to chuckle at the pair: "Seems you haven't been keeping up with your son then, Reiki-sama. He's taken up asylum in the Leaf, and according to my sources, he intends on hunting you down and killing you."
Reiki looked wide-eyed for a second before shaking his head. Several silent minutes pass between the trio before he began laughing loudly which startled both Maki and Seiji. The latter looked upon Reiki in abject fear as he continued laughing; not once has Reiki ever laughed in his presence which made him more and more uneasy as the seconds dragged on. Almost immediately, Reiki quickly recomposed himself and lunged at the man and grabbed him, not giving Seiji any room for escape. Reiki restrained the fake Kage on the wall behind him using an ice jutsu as Maki continued looking on.
"I'm fully aware of my son's actions. However – I will give you this: I never fully expected him to seek the Leaf out for asylum." Reiki began explaining to Seiji who had pure fear in his eyes: "After everything you've told me today, I have no reason to keep you alive if all you're giving me is outdated intel and asinine statements."
"I thought you were going to let me kill him, father." Maki pointed out.
"…No. I changed my mind – I'll allow him to live, under certain circumstances of course." Reiki told his daughter while his eyes remained fixated on the man: "I'll allow you to kill him then."
"Okay!" Maki said with a smile.
"What…are these conditions?" Seiji asked.
"I'm glad you asked. For starters, until further notice, you won't be working under Okiri anymore. You'll be under my command." Reiki informed the man: "Whether or not your leader kills you for not following orders has nothing to do with me."
"So, I'll be under your command completely?" the man rhetorically asked.
"Seems you instantly understood your position." Reiki answered with a nod: "Now, for your next condition, you'll be removing the bounties of Nogami Yuina, Nogami Kori, and my estranged 'ex'-wife, Hasegawa Sayuri."
"D-Done! I will get to it i-immediately!" Seiji instantly replied.
"Good. Now, for the final condition…" Reiki said with a pause.
"…the final condition?" Seiji asked.
"I want you to issue an update to my son's bounty from A-Rank, 20 million ryō to S-Rank, 35 million ryō." Reiki instructed: "Additionally, make it to where it can only be claimed if he is to be brought back here…alive."
"I…I don't get it. Why would you set a bounty that high for someone if you only want them alive?" Seiji asked, confusion clear in his voice.
"Because my dearest Seiji-kun…" Reiki started as he flipped his hand over and rested his knuckles on the fake's face: "Not only does he have something I need, but I also want him to see the product of what a certain kunoichi has done to him in the past. Maybe then will he have the incentive to challenge me sooner rather than later." Reiki removed his hand from Seiji's face only temporarily before using extreme force to bring it back and delivered a mighty backhand in the process. The Hasegawa heir turned on his heel and headed towards the exit, his daughter following suit while Seiji was on the ground clutching the side of his face.
"Wait, a-aren't you going to let me go?" Seiji frantically asked.
"The ice will melt itself after a while if I don't maintain it with chakra. Use this as a reminder and a warning – do not betray me, lest you risk my wrath." Reiki said. Within seconds, neither father nor daughter's signature could be found anywhere around the Kage's Estate. The two resurfaced within the village's streets not long after as Reiki started heading for the compound with his daughter firmly at his side.
"So, father…" Maki said, catching his attention: "When will I ever meet Yorukō-nii?"
"I thought I told you multiple times over, Maki." Reiki answered as he pinched his temple in slight frustration: "The only way you're meeting him is if we somehow lure him back here."
"It shouldn't be that way though! He's your son, and you're his father!" Maki cried: "Why can't you just repair what you lost with him?"
"It isn't that simple, my daughter." Reiki said to her before letting out a sigh: "The hatred he already has for me would only intensify should he meet you."
"And why is that?" Maki asked, her tone slightly commanding.
"I'd advise you to watch your tone around me." The girl's father warned as he gave her a withering stare which caused a cold chill to run down her back, making her squirm: "However, to answer your question: I basically lied to him."
"Lied to him how?" Maki asked. Before she received an answer, the duo returned to the Hasegawa family manor which is guarded by a series of seals that can be only manipulated using the same chakra from that clan. Both father and daughter performed a series of hand seals in quick succession which caused certain seals to glow in a different color than others. Several seconds pass before the other seals began glowing in the same color as the first set when a large gate adorned in gold began to appear and open itself to the pair, allowing them to walk into the estate. The Hasegawa clan did not care for the flashiest appearances or overly materialistic collections (save for the gate). A large temple greeted the duo at the front, its design resembling that of a traditional Sengakuji temple with the Hasegawa clan symbol embedded at the top. Different houses and small establishments seemed to connect itself to the temple in some capacity, with even some houses connecting directly to the temple itself. Maki and Reiki walked towards the temple and slighted to the right when they arrived at their house which was attached to the back of the main temple.
"To answer your question, you don't exist to Yorukō. You were born around two years after Yorukō." Reiki started: "In the beginning, Yorukō's mother – your aunt – had an affair with another shinobi from a completely different village during a two-year mission, which gave birth to her bastard son, Tagami Kazuma. When I found out about this, I was enraged and most importantly, embarrassed. I managed to get ahold of this man and killed him myself for his actions, and I ensured Kazuma received nothing but his rightful punishment for disrupting the flow of this clan. Not only did he not inherit his mother's Ice Release, but he also didn't even share the same primary affinities as Yorukō or me."
"What did you call this 'rightful punishment'?" Maki asked.
"Irrelevant." Reiki dismissed.
"But-" Maki protested.
"No buts." Reiki said, cutting her rebuttal off. The current patriarch dazed off into the household for several minutes as he tried composing his next set of words for his daughter. Several more minutes pass when he let out a somewhat wistful sigh and returned his gaze upon his daughter as he continued: "Before you were born, he was the black sheep of the clan due to his origins. I couldn't let word of this reach the other elemental nations; if he were to be found, he'd be hunted just for the ties he had with the clan. Eventually, he did end up leaving the village of his own free will, albeit a large part of it is due to how he was treated."
"I'm not following this. All you're telling me is that I have another half-brother whom I'd want to meet and get to know more." Maki said as she tilted her head in confusion.
"I'm not sure you'll ever be able to meet Kazuma." Reiki admitted: "Last time we met, I left him for dead due to him sticking his nose in my business. Whether or not he died then does not matter to me."
"That's awful! Why are you so bent on harming your own kids?!" Maki asked: "What are you going to do to me?"
"Relax." The girl's father told her before pulling her in for a hug: "I never got to your part yet. You see, your very existence defies my own word and logic for this clan. Unlike your brother Yorukō, both you and Kazuma were born out of wedlock, making you bastard children; the difference between you two being that one's alive and loved for and the other is not as clear. Having you was one of the best days of my life, Maki. Don't ever forget that."
"Thanks, father." Maki said as she wrapped her arms tightly around her father. A couple seconds pass when she released her grip and looked up at him with a pouty face: "I still want to meet Yorukō-niichan at least!"
"And you will." Reiki promised: "However, it'll be as enemies. If you're fine with that, then it'll happen sooner than you think."
"But I don't want to be his enemy!" Maki cried.
"And I wanted to actually love my son, but we can't get what we want now, can we?" Reiki bitingly countered.
"I guess…you're right." Maki said in defeat before loosening herself from her father completely. She gave him a slight bow before heading indoors first, leaving Reiki to himself and his thoughts.
"Soon…soon we'll finally reunite, Yorukō. It's inevitable that we must fight, and for your sake, I do hope that you get stronger than me. I won't hesitate to kill you…" Reiki said to no one before looking towards Maki's direction: "…and anyone else that has a connection to you, all for the sake of becoming a 'ninja'…" Reiki chuckled evilly to himself before turning on his heel and walked towards the interior of his house.
"I can see the village from here!" Yorukō announced to his squad who all made an affirmative shout. After the verbal spat between him and the rest of his squad, Yorukō decided to put all his energy into getting back to the leaf as fast as possible.
"Just how much time have passed since we left the Sand?" Chikara asked from behind.
"Yeah-" Kori added: "-the distance definitely feels shorter going back to the village than it was leaving it!"
"Well, you know what they say: it's always shorter going back than it is leaving." Sayuri said.
"Who says that Sayuri-san?" Yuina asked with a slight chuckle.
"Well, you know…" Sayuri answered with a wide grin: "Just some elderly people."
"Elderly people, mom?" Yorukō yelled from his position with a cheeky grin on his face: "Aren't you getting to be one as well?"
"Very funny." Replied the jōnin's mother with an eye roll: "Technically I'm years away from being considered 'elderly'."
"You're right!" Yorukō said in mock surprise: "How could I have forgotten?"
"Smartass." Sayuri retorted. During the small back-and-forth between the pair, Yuina managed to gain some speed to run directly beside Yorukō while he was distracted with his mother.
"Hey, Yorukō-kun." Yuina said, slightly startling her boyfriend.
"You caught up that quickly without me sensing you?" Yorukō asked with praise to his girlfriend.
Yuina nodded with a small smile. "Yeah. Part of it was because you slowed down a little though."
"Don't sell yourself short. You're plenty fast right now and you could get even more power with the chance of awakening your clan abilities." Yorukō explained.
"Yeah…" Yuina replied with a hint of sadness in her voice, her smile now fading away. She shook her head to rid herself of any lingering thoughts for the moment before she continued her conversation with Yorukō: "Hey, I've been thinking about something since what you said before you left that quickly."
"What's up?" Yorukō asked.
"Everything can be going so well between all of us, but any time someone references Reiki-sama or anything remotely close to him, it's almost like you're an entirely different person." Yuina explained as her eyes were locked onto him: "It hurts me to see you like this, Yorukō-kun – it really does."
"Yuina-chan…" Yorukō said before seeing his girlfriend raise her hand to stop him.
"I'm not trying to stop you from fighting him anymore, not since you helped me avenge my mother's murder and more recently, her rape." Yuina started: "However…as someone who'll always love you for you, it's really beginning to wear me down with the way your mood changes on a dime about your father; its worse when you're helping us but you're not willing to let us, or even me for that matter help you at all. What kind of logic is that?"
"Man…" Yorukō answered with a soft chuckle: "How did I ever deserve you?"
"What do you mean?" Yuina asked, confused.
"You always see through most of my bullshit and manage to counter my logic whenever and however you can." Yorukō explained to his girlfriend as his eyes fixated on the journey ahead: "I wanted to protect all of you from my father because I have the closest of ideas of how capable of a shinobi he is, as I've said multiple, multiple times on end."
"I've known you long enough even before I fell in love with you. I've a fair idea of how you do things." Yuina said as she stuck her tongue out at him: "Let's move forward with this. No more secrecy, no more lies – at least between us, got it? When you fight your father, all of us will be there…not just you."
"Well, if we're on the topic of secrecy and lies…then I won't lie to you and say yes to your idea." Yorukō said after some thought which earned an even more intense stare from Yuina. Yorukō took a deep breath as he continued: "However…I'll be truthful and tell you that I'll most definitely keep it in mind. That sound like a good enough compromise for now?"
"…It's not what I wanted to hear, but you're being completely honest with me, so I'll take that compromise." Yuina said, her gaze softening for a brief moment before becoming intense once again: "You do owe Kori and your mother an apology though."
"I suppose…you're right." Yorukō said in a slightly mocking tone.
"You better or you won't get the things I promised you when we camped out." Yuina told Yorukō before playfully smacking his arm.
"You wouldn't!" Yorukō whined.
"Don't say anything to them and see what happens." Yuina warned as she looked intently at Yorukō.
"You…you monster!" cried Yorukō as Yuina gave him a devilish look. Hanging his head in defeat, he continued: "I planned on talking to them when we got back to the Leaf, but I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Smart man." Yuina answered. She looked forward after her joust with Yorukō and realized she and the group arrived at the Leaf's A-Un gate, Kotetsu and Izumo waving at the group.
"Welcome back, you guys." Kotetsu greeted first. Izumo waved at them but said nothing.
"Thanks." Chikara said from behind. He walked towards the front and faced everyone as he bowed slightly: "This is where we part for now. I was given orders to report first to Danzō-sama before anything else upon my return."
"I understand, but are you going to tell him everything?" Sayuri asked half-jokingly.
Chikara laughed as he shook his head at the reanimated matriarch. "No. Just that the mission happened without a hitch."
"Thanks." Yorukō spoke up towards his 'comrade' before extending his fist towards him: "It was fun having you on that mission. I'll definitely look into what we talked about."
"Even if you fail, I genuinely appreciate the effort." Chikara told the jōnin before fist bumping with him. He slightly bowed at team 1 once more before vanishing with a smokeless shunshin.
"Well, I think we ought to report our mission to Lady Tsunade, shall we?" Kori asked, earning nods from everyone.
"Before we leave," Yorukō interrupted as he turned his attention towards the two guards: "Is Aya-chan safe?"
"Yes. Per Lady Tsunade, she's been under her care since you guys left for your mission." Kotetsu explained to the jōnin.
"Excellent." Yorukō said with a smile as he turned to face his team: "Well then, shall we?"
Everyone nodded at Yorukō as they began walking in the direction of the Hokage's office. Kotetsu and Izumo watched the group leave for a few moments before returning to their posts and resuming their duties.
"Time flies, doesn't it?" Izumo asked.
"What do you mean?" Kotetsu replied.
"Well…" Izumo started, his gaze fixed on the direction of Yorukō's group: "It's been over a year since those guys came to the Leaf. They remind me of Naruto's and Kazuma's situation. Naruto was – and still is to others – hated by his fellow peers and adults while Kazuma was treated as a pariah when he first came here; yet they both worked for and earned the trust of many, if not all the people here."
"Yorukō and his family also had to work hard to earn the respect and trust of the villagers here as well." Kotetsu observed.
"I want to see how far these guys go in the village along with Kazuma. Since they've all been here, things have only gotten more and more interesting." Izumo said, earning a nod from his partner.
With Yorukō and the others…
"I just realized something." Kori said, catching everyone's attention.
"And what is that?" Sayuri asked.
"We're about to be in so much trouble…" Kori said as her skin began to turn pale.
"Trouble for- oh no…" Yuina said in realization.
"We'll be fine. We were cleared by Temari before we left, remember?" Yorukō informed.
"I… I don't even know where to begin with you guys." Tsunade said as she frustratingly pinched her temple while letting out an equally frustrated sigh. Team 1 – Yorukō especially - all hung their heads in shame at the Hokage's words, each of them unable to look their new leader directly in her eyes.
"Cleared, huh?" Yuina whispered to Yorukō.
"Okay, I was wrong." Yorukō replied as he began to laugh nervously. Tsunade managed to catch Yorukō's last comment which led her to slam her fist onto the table and startle the team.
"You!" My report told me that you allowed these events to occur!" the Hokage screamed at the jōnin leader as she pointed her finger at him: "I thought you'd be the first one to enforce the rules as strictly as possible!"
"Lady Tsunade, with all due respect…" Yuina said.
"No! I do not want to hear anything from you right now, understood?" Tsunade warned.
Yuina nervously gulped and nodded at her leader.
"Kori…my reports tell me that the ex-shinobi you placed that genjutsu on died within hours of you placing it on him due to you literally BREAKING HIS MIND. Yuina at least had a reason to seek revenge, so why did you help her?" Tsunade asked.
"We're blood related, Lady Tsunade. I promised her the night of her mother's rape and murder that I'd help her get revenge against the people that did it." Kori truthfully answered.
"Wait. Rape?" Tsunade asked with her eyes wide, cutting the teen off.
"Yes. Officially from what one of them told me, they did indeed kill my mother." Yuina explained to the Kage before her cousin could: "However, they went in great detail telling me about how they raped and defiled her with them planning to do it to me next."
"Wow." The Hokage replied with disgust evident in her voice: "It's now justifiable on why you retaliated. However, it still wasn't your call to make. What if this turned into an international incident?"
Kori and Yuina looked away in embarrassment, both kunoichi unable to meet the older woman's gaze.
"I take responsibility for this, Lady Tsunade." Sayuri spoke up after some time and caught everyone's attention.
"Mom, what are you-" Yorukō said only to be met with a serious glare from his mother's grayed out eyes.
"I should've done my part to keep them more in check, but after hearing them speak, I didn't want to interfere with anything else. Seeing Yorukō act against them first only added fuel to the fire." Sayuri explained.
"I'm willing to take any punishment instead of the squad. As the older and more experienced of them all, it was poor judgement to condone the act and possibly jeopardize the mission." Sayuri finished.
"There's no need for you to take responsibility." Tsunade informed the reanimation as she sighed at the group: "While I am in no way pleased with this outcome, you did complete the mission as told without a hitch, so I will overlook it this time."
Team 1 took a collective sigh before Tsunade continued, this time with her gaze locked directly on Yorukō: "This will not happen again, understood? Should word that you and/or your squad go off course and you could've done something to prevent this…you will be stripped of your ninja rank and duties." The Hokage pointed at everyone in the room as she spoke: "…and your squad. I also think a fun little session with Ibiki Morino will be part of the punishment as well."
Yorukō briefly shuddered before nodding at his leader. "This will not happen again."
"Good. Then you are all dismissed." Tsunade informed the team.
Team 1 all bowed towards the Hokage before turning on their heels and heading for the exit. No one spoke a word while walking out of the Hokage's office which served to leave a slightly tense and palpable air around the room.
"Sayuri. A word?" Tsunade asked before the Hasegawa matriarch left the room.
"Sure." Sayuri answered as she looked at her team: "You guys go on without me. I'll catch up later."
Yorukō, Yuina, and Kori all nodded before leaving in a swift manner and reappearing in the village square. Yorukō looked back at the Hokage's estate one more time before shaking his head and looked towards the two girls.
"Everything okay, Yorukō-kun?" Kori asked.
Yorukō nodded at the sensory ninja: "Yeah. I found it a little off that Tsunade would want to speak with mother out of nowhere, but I'm sure it's for a good reason. More importantly though…" He pointed towards Ichiraku Ramen, stars now forming in his eyes: "…we need to get something to eat!"
"Ah, you're right!" Kori said as her stomach began to growl. Yuina looked at the two in mild amusement before her stomach began to growl which managed to catch her cousin's attention: "Even Yuina-chan is hungry! Now we got to go!"
This earned a laugh from Yorukō and Yuina before Kori joined in on the laughter. A couple more seconds pass before the laughter subsided from the trio before they began walking in the direction of the shop. Yorukō walked further ahead of the two kunoichi which allowed them some time to talk amongst themselves.
"Hey, Yuina-chan." Kori called out.
"Yeah?" Yuina answered.
"Are you busy later?" Kori nervously asked her cousin: "There's…something I really need to talk to you about, preferably alone."
"If Yorukō-kun doesn't have anything planned then I should be free." Yuina answered: "What do you need to tell me in private that you can't just say here?"
Kori pointed towards Yorukō's back as a sad smile formed on her lips: "It's because it completely involves Yorukō-kun."
"What…do you mean?" Yuina asked with a hint of confusion in her tone.
"To keep it simple, I messed up. Big time." Kori cryptically told her cousin: "Don't bother asking me for more details right now. If I were to say everything and Yorukō-kun hears it indirectly, killing his father will no longer be his main goal; but he'll also most definitely excommunicate himself from me, and by extension, you."
"…And you think telling me this is a good idea, why?" Yuina asked her cousin, her left eyebrow raised: "I could just tell him afterwards considering the claim you just made."
"Because I guarantee that you'll keep it a secret once I tell you." Kori answered: "Sayuri-san also needs to know; it involves her also."
"Kori…what exactly is this secret?" Yuina asked: "Sounds like it's a lot bigger than you're saying about it right now."
Kori nodded as she wiped a tear that began rolling down her cheek: "Because it is. This news will change everything."
Yuina relented for several moments before letting out a sigh which concerned her cousin. She looked towards Kori for a moment and realize more tears beginning to form in her eyes before she continued: "…My only condition is that whatever you tell us, you will tell Yorukō-kun before he finds out on his own. Understand?"
"Alright." Kori merely answered before Yorukō called out towards the pair, the teen jōnin standing at the restaurant's entrance.
"You guys coming, or what?" Yorukō shouted, catching some of the villagers' attention and stares but remained unfazed at his actions.
Kori and Yuina chose not to answer the teen but began to pick up their pace and meet Yorukō at the entrance. Yorukō saw the different looks between Kori and Yuina, the former having a hint of shame on her face while the latter briefly smiled at her boyfriend but maintained a neutral expression overall.
"Is everything alright between you two?" Yorukō asked the girls concerned: "Both of you took a while to get here."
"We're fine, Yorukō-kun." Yuina answered with a small smile while slightly glancing at Kori: "We were just talking about 'girl stuff'."
"Oh, okay." Yorukō simply answered, not wanting to know more about what they talked about. Turning his back to them, Yorukō headed towards the entrance to the restaurant: "Well, we're here, so let's get something to eat!"
Both girls nodded at the Hasegawa heir as they followed him inside. Once they were certain Yorukō had good enough distance from the pair, Yuina once again turned to look at her cousin with a chaotically neutral stare: "Just don't forget what we talked about."
"I won't." Kori affirmed.
"How soon do you plan on telling this to us, and more importantly, Yorukō-kun?" Yuina asked.
"As soon as the opportunity presents itself." Kori answered which earned a stare from Yuina. Quickly waving her hands, she continued: "It'll be within today, I promise!"
Yuina simply sighed before entering the restaurant, not bothering to respond to her cousin's statement. Kori followed behind her cousin while taking wayward glances at Yorukō, fresh tears once again beginning to well within the former Frost ANBU.
Inside the Hokage's office…
"What was it that you wanted to talk to me about, Lady Tsunade?" Sayuri asked.
"It is a lot to talk about, Sayuri. I chose to talk to you over Yorukō over this." Tsunade answered.
"Okay? I'm a little lost on what you just said." Sayuri admitted.
"It's about the Frost Village…and some of my findings." Tsunade explained.
"…I see." Sayuri answered, both her demeanor and mood darkening: "What about it?"
"Thanks to a close friend and his spy network…" Tsunade started.
"…You mean Jiraiya?" Sayuri interjected.
Tsunade nodded: "Yes. Thanks to Jiraiya's spy network, we found something interesting about your home village."
"And that would be?" asked the reanimated shinobi.
"Your Taiyōkage has been killed about a good year or two ago." The Hokage revealed.
Sayuri's eyes widened at the revelation. She looked at Tsunade with a shocked expression as she stumbled backwards for a few seconds when she felt her back hit against a wall, allowing her to slowly regain her composure. Several seconds pass before she looked at the Hokage as she started: "What…what do you mean he's dead?"
"He's been dead for a while. On a recon mission, one of Jiraiya's spies found a corpse in a ditch on the outskirts of the Land of Iron, which isn't too far from the Frost Village." Tsunade started: "He wore the chain we last saw him with when I visited the Frost Village a while back." She gave Sayuri an apologetic look: "I'm sorry that it happened. He seemed like a good person."
"I don't get it. All this time for the last year at the very least, our Taiyōkage was a fake?" Sayuri asked.
Tsunade nodded: "Yes. What's even more is that we learned that his death is connected to two groups."
"And those would be?" Sayuri asked.
"Okiri Nobaru and a group known as the Death 13." The Hokage answered: "Okiri we know about, but Death 13 is unidentified, even to Jiraiya's sources."
"No…" Sayuri said as she walked towards a window, barely suppressed venom in her tone: "Just when you think it couldn't get any worse."
"I take it you know something about that group?" Tsunade asked.
"When I was there, the group was in its infancy." Sayuri began as she hollowly chuckled while Tsunade listened attentively: "He wanted it to be stronger than one great nation, then another, and more and more until this group was the strongest opposing force in the shinobi world." The reanimated woman turned around to look at Tsunade with her emotionless eyes which were further enhanced by the greyed sclera: "Reiki-kun wanted to do something like that."
"So, your husband conspired to kill his leader along with a cult leader?" Tsunade asked, earning a nod from the matriarch: "The question is: why?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure. This is news to me." Sayuri honestly answered with a slight shrug: "I couldn't tell the difference that he was a fake or if he was the real deal." She placed her fingers on her chin as she assumed a thinking stance: "If Taiyōkage-sama's death is connected to both groups, my guess is that they're working together in some way."
"I'll have Jiraiya look into this 'Death 13' some more." Tsunade proposed but was interrupted by Sayuri raising her index finger at her.
"If even one of the world's greatest spy masters didn't know about this group until now, what makes you think he's going to find out more about it?" Sayuri pointed out to the Hokage. The reanimated kunoichi folded her arms as she continued: "Right now, your best bet of learning more intel is from me, considering I'm the one with the most knowledge about the group, aside from someone else, of course."
"And who would this person be?" Tsunade asked.
"Achoo!" Yorukō sneezed.
"Are you alright, Yorukō-kun?" Yuina asked, Kori also taking concern.
"Yeah." Yorukō simply answered as he looked outside a window in the restaurant: "You know the usual, when you sneeze out of nowhere, chances are someone's talking about you."
"Oh, okay." Yuina said as she returned to gleaning the options on the menu alongside Kori.
"So, he's also a member?" Tsunade asked, earning a nod from Sayuri: "Interesting."
"He lost his position once he defected. He led the group at one point." Sayuri explained.
"We'll have to meet once more to talk about this further. There's still more we need to discuss." Tsunade said.
"Such as?" Sayuri asked.
"While you were on the mission, I managed to have Aya enrolled in the academy. She'll be taking the Genin exams soon." Tsunade told the woman as she reached in her desk and handed her a file.
"That's good to hear. I know Yorukō is going to love that news." Sayuri happily replied. She took the file from the older woman and read through it. She closed the file and kept it in her right hand as she looked on satisfied: "If that's all, I think I'll head out. Yorukō and the others should be worrying about me by now." Giving Tsunade a slight bow, the Hasegawa matriarch headed for the door.
Tsunade sighed for a moment as she watched Sayuri head for the door, unhappy with what's about to happen next: "…Sayuri. How many kids do you have?"
"Two. Why?"
"Jiraiya's network found two chakra sources that are similar if not identical to your son." Tsunade explained which caused Sayuri's eyes to widen: "Now you see why I wanted to talk to you specifically. Explaining this to Yorukō would confuse him more than I can sense."
"I…I don't get it. I have two sons, and now you're telling me that I could have two more I don't know about?" Sayuri asked while shaking her head: "How is that humanly possible?"
"I'm not sure either. I asked Jiraiya to check this matter out further." Tsunade told the woman who still looked shocked: "Are you positive that you only had two kids?"
"I'm…positive. I remember that Yorukō would've had a twin brother, but he was stillborn." Sayuri said as she chuckled mirthlessly: "We were supposed to name him…Hiriko."
"That's a lovely name." Tsunade replied: "Have you ever considered the possibility…that he could be alive?"
"He died on arrival. That's impossible." Sayuri told the woman: "I remember the doctors and nurses telling me that there was nothing they could've done."
"Hmm. From your account, then it should be impossible." Tsunade surmised: "I'll have Jiraiya look more into this matter."
"Wait, you said there was two chakra sources. You only explained one, so who's the other?" Sayuri asked.
"From what I learned, this source isn't exactly identical to Yorukō, but it is very similar." Tsunade informed the reanimation who looked on attentively: "Maybe it could be a half-sibling of sorts."
"Reiki-kun was unfaithful?" Sayuri asked as she clenched her fists in anger which caused Tsunade to slightly raise her guard around her: "I died four years into Yorukō's life, and that gives him free reign to do as he pleases?"
"According to Jiraiya, this source and Yorukō based on the closeness, they seem to be no more than two years apart. What's more, this signature shares similarities with you, Sayuri." Tsunade said.
Sayuri stumbled into a wall after Tsunade's revelation. She felt tears beginning to roll down her face, something she haven't felt since she was alive. She began hyperventilating as she frantically paced around the room with her hands atop her head. She looked at Tsunade after a few moments which felt like an eternity: "There could only be one explanation behind that, but I don't want to even think or talk about it right now. If it's okay with you, I'll take my leave now."
"That's fine. I'll summon you again should any new information become available." Tsunade said with a nod.
Sayuri numbly nodded as she turned to face the door and exited the room. The Hokage looked on as she watched the woman leave, feelings of sadness developing for the departing woman. The Sannin rose from her seat and walked towards the window to briefly gaze upon the stone faces when she took a sigh and returned to her seat where mountains of paperwork awaited her: "The more I learn about this family, the more confused I get."
"I'm stuffed!" exclaimed Yorukō after finishing his fourth dish.
"You just ate four meals without stop, Yorukō-kun!" Yuina cried: "Aren't you worried you'll get a stomachache?"
"Yeah!" Kori agreed.
"We spent almost four days on that mission and only ate something 'proper' once when we were camping out." The teen explained as he took a swig of the beverage in front of him: "I'm just a little hungry."
"If you call that 'a little hungry', then I really wouldn't want to see you starving." Kori remarked.
"You guys ate a good amount too!" Yorukō complained in a child-like manner: "Why are you getting on just me?!"
"Because we didn't order four extra steaks with our food!" Yuina cried: "Who's going to pay for this?"
"Hasegawa clan money." Yorukō told his girlfriend as a waiter returned to their booth with a check which Yorukō promptly took. The teen gleaned over the bill for a few moments before taking a small scroll from his pocket and unsealed it which revealed a checkbook. Yorukō promptly took a check slip and wrote the exact number on it before adding extra as tips and handed it to the waiter who was patiently waiting. He looked over the check to ensure its validity and walked off after giving the group a small bow.
"Technically you're not in that clan anymore, you know." Kori pointed out to Yorukō who looked at her: "You're basically stealing from your father."
"What part of me cares?" Yorukō countered: "Unless he's made an official attempt to disown me – something he hasn't done yet for some reason or another – then I'm still in the clan as its heir, allowing me to use and appropriate the funds as needed."
"You really want to piss him off, don't you?" Yuina asked.
"I mean, with the amount of food we all just had, sure we could pay it out of our own money and not wince at it too much, but why do that when we have other funds?" Yorukō explained.
"Still…" Yuina said.
"It'll be alright. Trust me." Yorukō said as he leaned over to give Yuina a peck on the lips, causing her to slightly blush. The trio exited the booth and began making their way towards the exit when something caught Yorukō's eye and his subsequent attention.
"Is everything alright, Yorukō-kun?" Kori asked, having seen his eyes move first.
"Y…Yeah." Yorukō fibbed. He looked at both Kori and Yuina as he continued: "Something just came up that I have to take care of – mind going back before me?"
"Are you sure? We can help if you want." Kori offered.
"-We'll go home." Yuina said as she looked at Kori out the side of her eye.
"Alright. I promise I won't take too long, okay?" Yorukō reassured the girls who merely nodded. Yorukō exited the restaurant first and hopped onto some rooftops and headed in a completely different direction than he and the girls would've headed in.
"Why'd you cut us off, Yuina-chan?" Kori asked while they both exited the restaurant: "We could've backed him up if he needed it."
"You already must've forgotten your little promise to me, haven't you?" Yuina asked, her eyes narrowing: "I sensed Sayuri-san heading in our direction, so we can use this little window of opportunity to hear what you have to say. Or have you already forgotten?"
"Fine." Kori answered her cousin: "Let's go home then; maybe we can get there before Sayuri-san does."
The two girls subsequently exited the restaurant and headed in the direction of their compound as the sky began to get darker, signaling the time of day. The pair walked down the street of the village where Kori would notice a young boy and girl playing together which caused a smile to subsequently grace her lips. Yuina saw a young couple and their child sitting on a park bench which also put a smile on her face as they continued heading home. The two turned into an alley and jumped onto a rooftop and began traversing them further when they felt Sayuri's chakra closing in on them, stopping them cold in the process. Both Yuina and Kori came face to face with a rather distraught looking woman which left them both confused.
"Sayuri-san, is everything okay?" Yuina asked, Kori opting to observe.
"Yeah, I guess. I found some things out I'd actually want to talk to you both about without Yorukō around." Sayuri explained.
"Funny, we had also wanted to talk to you about something without Yorukō-kun being around too." Yuina said.
"What would that be?" Sayuri asked, curious.
"Kori's the one who wants to break the news, not me." Yuina informed the reanimated woman as she flicked her thumb towards her cousin.
"Very well. I think we should continue our journey." Sayuri told the girls before jumping rooftops ahead of them, both kunoichi following immediate suit.
"That can't be who I thought it was, right?" Yorukō asked out loud while jumping rooftops. The teen would stop at sudden intervals and mask his chakra signature as to not get caught. He laid on his stomach as he gained visuals on the Toad Sage, Jiraiya.
"Hey, Naruto. I just remembered something I need to do; let's get some food and finish our training some other time, okay?" Jiraiya suggested.
"Alright, Pervy Sage!" Naruto answered: "You owe me a free meal at Ichiraku Ramen!"
'Pervy Sage?!' Yorukō thought to himself: 'That is fucking hilarious!'
Jiraiya paled as he felt a familiar pain hit him in his wallet: "F-Fine." Recomposing himself, the Sannin went in a different direction from his student, prompting Yorukō to keep on his tail. Jiraiya would keep taking turns and detours from time to time which served to only confuse and (slightly) irritate the Hasegawa heir. Things took a confusing turn when Jiraiya headed for the village exit and left which in turn made Yorukō follow him in a discreet manner. As the older man walked in the forest, Yorukō would be traversing trees at a distance to keep his eyes on him, going as far as to use the Wind Release: Blend technique to further conceal his tracks. Several more painstaking moments for Yorukō passed before Jiraiya emerged at Training Ground 32 when he abruptly stopped.
"I'm a little honored and confused on why the Hasegawa heir has been trailing me for quite some time now." Jiraiya seemingly said out of nowhere with a finger on his chin.
"Busted, huh?" Yorukō replied, appearing in front of the Sannin after dispelling his jutsu.
"Had you not used it, I wouldn't have known who the leaked chakra belongs to. The jutsu itself is fine, but it's still imperfect from what I'm seeing." Jiraiya explained.
"I do appreciate the input." Yorukō told the Sannin with a bow before facing him once more: "I'll work on improving it as fast as I can."
"No problem." Jiraiya told the teen with a smile before his expression became serious: "Let's skip the small talk. Why were you trailing me in the leaf? Thanks to you, I have to pay for Naruto's next ramen bill, and trust me, it is not cheap."
"Seeing as you have a spy network and I have something of a spy network of my own, why not work together?" Yorukō proposed.
"What do you mean?" asked Jiraiya: "No offense, Yorukō, but you're intermediate at best with espionage compared to me." The older man started to walk past the teen as he headed for the exit after seemingly shutting down his idea. Sighing, Yorukō turned around and folded his arms as he watched Jiraiya's figure starting to dissipate into the dark embrace of the night.
"I suppose you wouldn't want to know more about the Death 13 now, would you?" Yorukō asked, bringing the Sannin to a complete stop. Yorukō took the moment to press further: "I'll admit. You're a better spy master than I'll ever be at this level, but there's things I can find faster than even the likes of you."
"What do you know of the Death 13?" Jiraiya asked, his back still turned to the teen.
"I know enough that my information would be genuine and truthful." answered Yorukō.
Jiraiya pondered Yorukō's offer for several moments while the teen waited patiently for the conversation to continue. More moments pass before the toad sage turned to face the teen, his smile returning. "Let's say we do work together. How exactly can you procure me information faster than my network?"
"I know you told Tsunade and by extension Gaara about the Akatsuki's and Okiri's collusion." Yorukō explained: "I'd be willing to join the Akatsuki for the sole purpose of accruing as much information possible from both the Akatsuki and his group, which can protect the Leaf Village, and by extension, the entire shinobi world."
"How did you find out about our conversation?" Jiraiya asked: "You weren't here when I gave my report to Tsunade."
Yorukō reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll and handed it to Jiraiya who opened it, revealing a seal with intricate markings within it: "I made this seal myself. My girlfriend Yuina taught me the basics of fūinjutsu over the last year and despite many failed attempts, I managed to create a transmitter seal that allows me to hear any conversations within a village depending on where I placed it."
"You are aware that if you were caught, you could've been detained right?" Jiraiya asked.
"Only masterful seal masters, sensory masters, or a skilled Sharingan user could've picked up on this seal." Yorukō explained: "Unlike my blend technique, this takes little to no chakra whatsoever to maintain; only time chakra is needed would be to dispel it, and even then, it wouldn't be noticeable except by the aforementioned people."
"If you do go through with this, what's really in it for you? Someone of your caliber will always have a hidden agenda." Jiraiya told the teen.
"Well, I'd just want to ensure my family, especially my girlfriend is safe while in the Leaf. There're possible bounty hunters that could go after them due to their connections with me." Yorukō explained.
"Considering this meeting and your proposition are off the books, I'm in no power to grant those wishes, but I can definitely ask someone who has the sufficient power…provided you keep your word." Jiraiya said with a warning.
"I fully intend to keep my word if you keep yours." Yorukō said with a nod.
"What's the other goal?" Jiraiya asked, his expression serious.
"What do you mean?" Yorukō asked.
"Again, someone of your caliber and history will always have a hidden agenda." Jiraiya reiterated: "So tell me, what is it?"
"…I can't hide anything from you, can't I?" Yorukō asked, defeated.
"I'm aware of your exploits in Tempest, your alliance with Orochimaru, and most recently, your blind eye to your team's actions." Jiraiya explained: "Frankly, I do believe the last one was justified."
"No one else but the higher-ups know of that incident, along with the fact that it just happened." Yorukō said, impressed: "You really are worthy of being called the greatest spy master."
"You give me too much credit." Jiraiya told the teen with a smile. His expression turned serious after several moments when he folded his arms and continued: "So, what is your other goal?"
"Well…" Yorukō started as he began explaining his goal to Jiraiya. The Sannin's eyes bulged at the teen's other goal before looking at him with a dumbfounded expression almost locked on his face. Yorukō for his part laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head.
"Are…Are you mad?" Jiraiya asked incredulously: "If you do such a thing, you'll literally be amongst the most wanted people in the world, not just the Leaf!"
"I need its power if I want to be certain that I can defeat my father without a hitch." Yorukō explained: "Plus, it'll do good having it as I can hinder both Okiri's group and the Akatsuki at the same time."
"I can't say that I want you to do this if you're also planning to do that, kid." Jiraiya informed Yorukō as he sighed: "But I won't deny that your help and spy network can help me and my network."
"So, we're in business?" Yorukō asked.
"If you don't target the Leaf after obtaining your next goal, sure." Jiraiya answered.
"I don't bite the hands that feed me." Yorukō bluntly told the Sannin: "If I did, Orochimaru would've been long dead, along with that shit stain of an assistant that he has."
"You're rather obscene for a teenager, you know that?" Jiraiya asked.
"I try to work on it." Yorukō said before extending his right hand at the older man: "Let's shake on our partnership to better the Leaf, and by extension, the shinobi world."
"Again, I am reserved on this, but I am willing to see how this works out." Jiraiya responded as he shook Yorukō's hand: "Although, how are you going to actually get into the Akatsuki?"
"I'll worry about that. I'll let you know when the time is nigh." Yorukō answered the Sannin. He turned around and faced an opposite direction to the man with a hand seal already formed: "Let's disperse, Senpai. I wouldn't want this conversation to fall on lying ears."
"Agreed." Jiraiya said before both men vanished with their own versions of the shunshin.
The three kunoichi arrived at their home not long after Kori and Yuina met up with Sayuri. They all walked inside the house without sharing a word to one another as they walked to Yuina's and Yorukō's room with the former leading the way. Aya spotted the three women walking towards the room when she ran towards Sayuri and latched onto her leg.
"Miss Sayuri, can we train together? I want to practice some techniques before I eventually join the academy!" Aya eagerly expressed towards the older woman.
Sayuri bent down to face the young girl and gently removed Aya's grip from her leg as she said: "Not right now, Aya-chan. I need to talk to Kori-chan and Yuina-chan for a moment, then I'd be more than willing to, okay?"
"But…" Aya said with a pouty look.
"Tell you what, why don't you practice these techniques some more and they'll be really strong by the time we're done?" Sayuri suggested. Aya seemed happy with Sayuri's suggestion when she gave her a bubbly nod and happily skipped towards the back of the house where she'd use to practice her jutsus.
"Do we ever get to train with her?" Kori asked: "I feel as if we always lie to her."
"I train with her spontaneously." Yuina admitted: "However, I leave that to Sayuri-san and Yorukō-kun."
"She has potential." Sayuri said with a smile: "I want to break the news to her that she did indeed make it into the academy, but I want Yorukō to be here to hear it as well."
"That's wonderful!" Yuina exclaimed, clasping her hands together. Kori nodded in agreement.
"We're wasting time. Let's get into this room and share our findings." Sayuri instructed, earning nods from both girls. Within seconds, all three women went into Yuina's room when Sayuri shut the door and placed two privacy seals around the room which served to completely soundproof the surrounding area.
"Why two?" Kori asked.
"I wouldn't want Yorukō to breach through what we're about to discuss." Sayuri explained: "I made the second seal myself – Yorukō hasn't even seen it to try and break it yet, so it'll take him a while."
"You knew fūinjutsu, Sayuri-san?" Yuina asked: "I could've learned so much from you!"
"Well, my skills are nothing compared to your mother's." Sayuri told the teen, praising her mother in the process: "She was considered to be one of the best non-Uzumaki seal masters of her time. It was only a matter until you also developed the knack for it."
"Wow…mother was considered to be one of the best?" Yuina asked with stars in her eyes before shaking her head, a determined look clear on her face: "If she was considered to be one of the best, then I want to be known as the best seal mistress of my generation!"
"That's the spirit, girl!" Sayuri proudly said before her expression once again became serious as she looked at both girls: "So, who wants to go first? Me, or you, Kori-chan?"
"You can go first." Kori told the reanimation, earning nods from both Sayuri and Yuina.
Sayuri began explaining her conversation she shared with Tsunade, recapping Aya's acceptance into the academy (something she already told both girls), the death of the Taiyōkage, Reiki's and Okiri's partnership, and made a brief mention of the Death 13. Both girls listened attentively to the older woman as scowls were soon fixated on their faces after absorbing the information.
"It's gotten that bad, huh?" Kori asked: "Makes me glad I chose to defect after fighting Yorukō-kun."
"The Taiyōkage was dead this whole time?" Yuina asked: "Then who was the one that gave Yorukō-kun that dreaded order?
"Likely a fake that was placed once the original died." Sayuri answered: "I was informed that his death was directly related to Reiki-kun and Okiri."
"This changes everything! If Yorukō-kun finds this out, then his revenge could be directed to Okiri instead of his father!" Yuina exclaimed.
"I doubt that would happen, Yuina-chan." Sayuri countered: "However, I'm not finished with my findings, and none of this is to be told to Yorukō-kun until the time is right. You'll know why soon."
"What else could there be?" Kori asked.
"Yorukō has a half-sibling with chakra similar to my own." Sayuri told the girls. A long silence traversed the room after her statement, both girls slowly processing the information they just received. Sayuri took the chance to continue before either girl had anything to say: "What's more, I lied to both of you about Yorukō."
"What…What do you mean by that?" Kori asked.
"How could you have lied about him? I'm lost." Yuina added.
"He had a younger twin brother." Sayuri answered. Both girls' eyes bulged almost immediately.
"What…how?" Yuina asked in disbelief: "How come we're just knowing about this?"
"He supposedly died during childbirth. After I gave birth to them, I was too exhausted to do anything, so I passed out." Sayuri explained: "I was told that I wouldn't have made it after I woke up, but he wasn't so lucky. His chakra pulse was so feeble that he wouldn't have lived another minute."
"What was his name?" Kori asked.
"I named him Hiriko." The reanimated woman told Kori: "I wanted it to be a play on light and dark, thus giving me Hiriko and Yorukō."
"That's so adorable!" Yuina said with a smile before it quickly dropped: "If you're telling us about this now, then something must've happened, right?"
Sayuri nodded at the girl's deduction: "I don't want to believe it, but if what Tsunade told me is true, then Hiriko was alive after all these years."
"If he is, then what are we going to do?" Kori asked: "Try to track him down and convince him to join us, or put him down if he poses a threat to us?"
"Kori!" Yuina hissed: "That's Sayuri's son, Yorukō-kun's brother for crying out loud!"
"As much as I'd want to see my son be with us again, I'm not certain if he'll be on our side. If now's when we finally heard his movements after this much time, then something must be up." Sayuri explained as she folded her arms: "Staying here in the leaf may not be wise for us in the future. If we want to figure all of this out – without Yorukō – then we'll have to go back home soon."
"Are you sure?" Yuina asked.
"I'm positive." Sayuri answered the girl with a nod before turning her attention to Kori: "I've said all I need to say. You had something to tell us, right?"
Kori nodded at the older woman as both her and Yuina gave the teen their undivided attention. Taking a deep breath, Kori took one last time to play the words right in her mind before saying them in order to not say anything that could make her upcoming reveal any more volatile than it has to.
"Sayuri-san." Kori called out.
"What is it, dear?" Sayuri answered.
"Remember how I told you when I was 'dating' Yorukō for a year?" the kunoichi asked.
"Yeah?" Sayuri replied, confused.
"I'd rather not relive your admission, Kori." Yuina sternly cut-in: "Get to it."
"I'm getting there, I'm getting there!" Kori assured the teen.
"It seems what you have to say is crushing you, Kori-chan. Yuina-chan and I won't interfere until you're finished, okay?" Sayuri suggested which earned a nod from the teenager.
"There's more to it than just our dating phase." Kori said. Suddenly, bells and whistles began going off in Yuina's head, the kunoichi having an idea of where this is headed: "There was one night, something I must've had made me extremely aroused, and well…"
"…you had sex with Yorukō-kun." Yuina finished, earning a nod from Kori and a side glance from Sayuri.
"It would've ended there, but I messed up…" Kori started sobbing as she fell on her knees, both Sayuri and Yuina rushing to her comfort (and partially for Yuina to hear the rest of the story): "I…ended up having a child! Her name is Nozomi!"
A/N: Chapter is FINALLY over. I want to take the time to apologize for the extreme delay between chapter six and this one. Once I had came back to campus, the time I had to write was reduced to 1%, and that's me being generous! I had to take whatever time I was given to try and continue writing this in the direction I wanted it to be in originally, but it was WAY easier said than done. Through thick and thin however, I got it done! We're getting into the end stages of this arc, so give me any constructive reviews you can, or even any review for that matter. The attention this gets helps motivate me to keep going further.
A/N #2: If you read the omake chapter, I made a direct reference to something that happens in the end of this chapter.
