This chapter has been revised as of 8/10/2021
Chapter 10: Caged Again
Kakashi and Pakkun cut through the neighboring forest, following tangled up scent trails obscured by the smoke, ash, and blood. Most of the traps ahead had been tripped or disabled already, but Kakashi took extra care not to stumble into the still active ones spread all over the outer edge of Hanamoto Greenhouses. Whoever took the effort to set this up must've been at it for days, building and carefully obscuring the trip wires, pits, and falling logs. It was only the sudden sense of choking on fumes and fear itself that made Kakashi stumble on a branch. Pakkun came to a halt even faster.
"What in the world is that?" the dog asked, sniffing the air. "I thought we were looking for Genin, not…" He struggled to find a word for it. The thing that just woke up out there!"
"It can't be…" Kakashi said from behind his mask. He focused on the feel of the air. That aggressive, smothering chakra. He remembered it clearly from 12 years ago. The Nine Tailed Fox.
When he adjusted to the malicious chakra filling the area, he realized that it wasn't strong enough to be the real thing. Not all of it. The seal still existed, it hadn't been broken yet. Some chakra must be leaking out though, which was worrying. He wasn't sure how long Naruto would last, so it just became even more imperative that they caught up with his charges. Using the Sharingan wore him down so he covered it up as they traveled, but odds were he'd have to rely on it to clean up this mess, or even sedate Naruto to save everyone's lives.
"Ignore it, Pakkun. We're almost there." He pulled out a portable radio and strapped it around his neck, then tuned it to the signal the radio in the Hanamoto basement used. He stuck the earpiece in and opened up communications. "This is Kakashi to base, I'm in pursuit of the rogue Leaf ninja. Are the rest of you holding up?" he asked. He hoped someone answered.
"Captain Sanada here…" It was the samurai from earlier. "My men have regrouped and are pushing back against any stragglers. It appears that the majority of their ninja aren't as effective without the element of surprise. I'm retaking the border gates as we speak. Don't worry about us." Kakashi nodded for Pakkun to go on, and the dog only hesitated for a moment before he was off again.
"Good, hold your positions until I return. Make sure no backup slips by your forces to chase me. I'll be silent from here on out. Don't try to hail us until we make contact again." The last thing they all needed was to lose the stealth advantage.
"Affirmative." Kakashi continued to sense the demon fox's power the closer they got, but it didn't seem to be getting any stronger. Maybe the seal had a failsafe that slowed its deterioration under strain.
"Pakkun, I need you to pinpoint the one Sasuke and Naruto fought as soon as you can." If he had a clear opening, he could take care of her soon. Well, depending on how skilled she was, but his time in the Black Ops hadn't been forgotten. Quick and efficient assassinations were still doable if needed. Pakkun looked confused.
"I'm definitely picking up more than one rogue." Kakashi glanced at him, and then looked ahead in silence. More complications to consider.
Naruto's fist slammed into Kenzou's club, and the impact made the older ninja's bones shake. He took a step back to regain his bearings and pushed against his attacker. Naruto was tossed away, but he righted himself in the air and skidded to a stop on all fours. With only another glare, Naruto kept his stance low before closing the gap between them as fast as he did the last time. He lashed out at Kenzou with a series of wild punches and claw swipes. The club was dented and weakened under his fury and the demonic chakra. Kenzou fell backwards and sank into the earth itself, like it was quicksand. Naruto pounced on the spot, creating a burnt patch of dirt yet accomplishing nothing. He huffed and stalked around the area, searching for the target.
Haruka took the opportunity and fired a few wind boosted arrows at Naruto, but he swung his arm in her general direction, and the force of the chakra wave emitted sent them tumbling off course. He faced her and bared his teeth. She hurried to arm herself again as he made his approach. He caught another wind arrow and snapped it in half, and then ran straight through an explosive tag without flinching.
Haruka drew her crossbow and fired, only for Naruto to dodge around her shots while he picked up speed. Naruto threw himself to the side, and a barrage of shuriken littered the ground where he'd been moments ago. Kenzou, now with his shield and a heavy battle axe stepped out to meet the feral ninja.
"Come at me!" he bellowed, staring right into the half possessed boy's eyes.
"I'll kill you!" Naruto moved without a second thought, throwing himself across the woods to collide with Kenzou. The shield helped distribute the force of Naruto's tackle, and Kenzou took a quick swing back. Naruto rolled around to the left side and tried again. It turned into a series of strikes and parries, Kenzou keeping Naruto at bay with the shield. Not even solid steel was enough to handle the assault, the shield bending with each blow. Haruka took some time to catch her breath and regain her composure, and then aimed her crossbow at Naruto's exposed back.
She had to dodge a stab from Kakashi at the last second, the shifting of the wind her only warning. He landed on the branch Haruka just vacated, readjusting the grip on his knife.
"Better than I thought you were…" he said to Haruka, appraising her openly. "But what did you do to my Genin?" She seemed to lock up until Kenzou called out to her.
"Run, you can't beat him!" he yelled, before stumbling back from Naruto's kick. "That eye of his is dangerous!" Kakashi looked at Kenzou, taking in Naruto's current state as they fought. He knew most of the people in Konoha's bingo book by memory, so he identified who Naruto was fighting. Kenzou Tengoku was a highly skilled Chunin that had great potential to reach a Special Jonin rank with his tool usage and strategic mind alone. And yet he defected due to disagreements with the Hokage's diplomacy decisions after the last war. An unexpected person to encounter this close to Konoha . The kunoichi's identity remained a mystery, however. Hinata and Sasuke were on the ground, but alive as far as he could tell. He left them under the pug's watch, directing Pakkun to stay by their side.
"You know, your partner in crime is right. You really can't beat me. How do you feel about surrendering?" he asked. He twirled the knife around his fingers.
"I know what they do to people like me…" she answered. They both knew that a crossbow wouldn't keep him away, but the giant shuriken hurtling his direction was another story. Kenzou summoned it after abandoning his axe, but Naruto wasted no time taking an opening to punch him hard enough to crack a rib. He hissed in pain, and then backhanded Naruto into the dirt. That stunned Naruto enough to let Kenzou speak.
"I said run!" he commanded. "Don't you dare get sentimental!" Haruka threw a handful of smoke bombs down and sprinted off. Kakashi disappeared to hunt her down. Kenzou spat a few specks of blood out of his mouth and straightened up, watching Naruto stand once more with a wild look in his eyes. The red chakra that once filled the waterfall area was losing strength.
At first, only the dull throb of pain accompanied his sleep. Then it felt like he was suffocating in a burning building. An unfamiliar voice said something in the distance, and the rest of his senses slowly returned. Sasuke flinched and forced his eyes open. A groan escaped him as the rest of his beaten body realized he was awake. He'd be feeling that steel club for the next few days at this rate.
"Get up, kid!" A little brown dog dressed like a ninja stared at him. "Finally. Kakashi needs you two to get out of here while he handles these guys." Sasuke noticed that Hinata sat up too, though she wasn't doing much better than him. Since she'd been fighting Kenzou by herself, he could imagine how much that hurt. And further away, Naruto tried to do the same. Since when could he move that fast? And what was that red chakra? He couldn't process everything right now.
"Naruto…" Hinata said under her breath, watching him attack Kenzou over and over. The ground was littered with weapons and smaller scrolls as Kenzou fended Naruto off with waves of blades. He summoned another pair of giant shurikens and threw them, only to multiply their amount with a cloning technique. Naruto rolled to the side, but the rogue ran in and caught him with a knee to his stomach. Kenzou looked like he'd been worn down, but he still moved fast enough to follow up with a right hook. That last hit sent Naruto flying across the clearing, and Hinata somehow forced herself to catch him, knocking them both down.
"We need to leave," Hinata said to him as he tried to get up again. Sasuke suspected his ability to keep going was beyond human. "He'll kill you. We can't keep up with him anymore." Whatever force that let Naruto break even with Kenzou seemed to have abandoned him, and now he looked as beaten as they were.
"No, I won't let him win!" Naruto wiped some blood off his face with a shaky hand. "All that stuff they said about us and the village… I gotta prove him wrong! We can't back down!"
"This isn't a game, Naruto!" Sasuke told him.
"Seriously, you don't have any real combat experience. There's no need to throw your life away!" Pakkun said, hurrying to stay with the kids.
"I know it's not, and that's why we shouldn't run! I don't know about you guys, but I can't call myself a ninja if I act like a coward as soon as I'm about to die! What happened to your pride?" Hinata stared at him with wide eyes, and then looked down at the ground, deep in thought.
"What…?" That was the only thing Sasuke could think to say. What was the point of fighting a lost battle? An honorable death? And yet...how would he ever grow strong enough to avenge his clan if he ran from these obstacles? Surviving wasn't the same as living, he knew that feeling well.
"You know…" Kenzou said with a slight smile, getting the Genin team's attention once more.
"You kids can run, and maybe I won't catch up before your babysitter returns, but I'll kill off the kid hiding in that cave. You'll never get away if you take him with you."
"But that's- You said he'd be a hostage!" Hinata said.
"You brats ruined my plans, I've got nothing to lose. Might as well drag someone down with me," he countered. He was oddly calm for a condemned man. "So which is it gonna be? Your mission, or your lives?"
"I told you, I won't let you touch him! It's my responsibility to protect him." Naruto was right. How could they wear this headband if they didn't have the spine to do anything that actually mattered? Sasuke got to his feet, making his way over.
"If you're both staying, then I'm stuck here too," he said. "Someone has to save you from this out of practice drop out." Sasuke smiled at the pissed off expression Kenzou made. Good. Maybe he'd screw up and let them beat him. Pakkun sat down with a sigh.
"Why are children so stubborn these days?"
"You remember the bell test?" Naruto made the cross seal. "Let's do it again. You can stick around with us or head back home, puppy." Pakkun growled.
"I'm pretty sure I've fought more shinobi than you have!"
"You're not out of chakra?" Hinata asked. Naruto began to glow blue, and Kenzou took a step back.
"I'm not running out until we're done here. Don't worry about me!"
"He'll die of exhaustion at this rate," Sasuke said. He drew two more kunai. "Or at least he would if he wasn't so stubborn." Might as well not waste his efforts. Hinata supported Naruto long enough to get him standing, and then called on her Byakugan. Sasuke let out a slow breath and focused his chakra to his eyes. He didn't notice how it activated the first time, but he needed it again. His irises turned blood red and his pupils shifted.
"If I can get close enough while his guard is down, I think I can immobilize him." Hinata fell into a Gentle Fist stance, glaring as Kenzou brought his axe and shield up.
"Just leave it to me!" A small army of clones appeared and surged into Kenzou. Hinata and Sasuke followed behind. Kenzou jumped between the trees and ran through a set of hand seals.
"Earth Style: Fissure!" He brought his axe down and dug the blade into the dirt, creating a crack that expanded into a jagged valley. Naruto's clones caught the brunt of it, many of them falling down and dispelling. At the same time, they ended up plugging the fissure with bodies, allowing Hinata and Sasuke to avoid the same fate. The shadow clones made a good enough makeshift platform to launch a counterattack. Sasuke threw the first knife at Kenzou to bait his shield up, and then slammed on top of it with both feet. Before he was pushed off, Sasuke looped his second kunai around the shield. He jumped away as Kenzou tried to slam him into a tree trunk.
"Now!" Sasuke called from his perch on a branch. He ran down the side of it, revealing the wire he attached to the shield with his knife. The makeshift pulley setup was enough to rip the shield out of Kenzou's hands, and somewhere among the mass of clones, the real Naruto catapulted himself towards the rogue at high speed.
"We're not done yet!" His punch met Kenzou's jaw, and before he could regain his bearings, Naruto jumped on his back and restrained his arms.
"Get the hell off me!" They stumbled further into the woods as Kenzou grabbed at Naruto. Pakkun charged out of the brush and sank his teeth into the rogue's leg for good measure, slowing him down further.
"You're in range…" Kenzou froze up as Hinata stepped in front of him, taking a low, wider stance. Naruto grinned and let go, kicking Kenzou forward. Her fingertips dug into the chakra points on his chest with a brief flash of blue on contact. "Eight Trigrams: Two Palms!" He tried to retreat, but she pivoted and followed up with another set of strikes. "Four Palms!" He coughed, his muscles seizing up. "Eight Palms!" Hinata kept up the assault, her attacks gaining speed as she struck almost every part of his body. "Sixteen Palms! Thirty-Two Palms!" This was it. This was the part she couldn't complete, but she'd do it anyway. This was for her friends' lives. She locked eyes with Kenzou as he staggered from the damage she'd already done, tuning out everything else around them. Hinata pushed ahead, trusting her reflexes to keep up with her sight. She knew where the chakra points were by heart, she just had to be accurate. Her hands moved at a speed impossible to keep up with right up until the last hit, an open hand strike to the chest. "Sixty-Four Palms!" Kenzou and Hinata stilled, and then his knees gave out. He fell to the side, wheezing to draw breath properly. Kenzou tried to push himself back up, but his muscles failed and he fell over again. Sasuke and Naruto came closer to examine the awake, but unmoving ninja. Pakkun sniffed his leg.
"Well...you got him," he declared. Hinata's whole body relaxed. She almost fell over before catching herself on a tree. Her Byakugan faded.
"Woah, I've never seen that move before!" Naruto said. "So, uh…" His smile dropped. "What did you do to him?"
"I sealed his chakra network. He won't be capable of much for at least a few hours."
"That's impressive." Sasuke shoved Kanzou over and went about securing the rogue's hands.
"You have the Sharingan now," she said.
"I do." There was a hint of pride in his voice. "Now we're on an even playing field."
"See? I told you we could do it!" He crouched down to look Kenzou in the eyes. "How's it feel knowing some rookies beat you? Not so tough now, huh?" Kenzou spat at him, and Naruto backed off. "Gross!"
"Keep talking and see what happens, boy…" he grunted weakly.
"Wow, I can't believe you did half my work for me." Kakashi appeared beside them, covered in specks of dirt and blood but otherwise unharmed. "Very convenient."
"Your students are crazy, Kakashi," Pakkun said. "...Can't really complain if their ridiculous plan worked though."
"Excellent job. I chased the other one off the property, and I doubt she'll be back soon with their manpower this low. As for this guy..." He hauled Kenzou to his feet by the rope binding his arms. "He's coming back with us. You've got a date with the Anbu."
"We just did all of your work." Sasuke took a moment to rest on the ground, closing his eyes. When they opened again, the Sharingan disappeared.
"Aw, don't be like that. I left Pakkun with you"- He paused when a bush rustled. The whole team turned as unsteady footsteps approached them from near the waterfall's base. Katsuo stumbled onto the makeshift battleground, eyes wide.
"Is it over? I heard fighting and the ground kept shaking, and...and…" he trailed off, taking in their appearances. Hinata blinked and wiped a few specks of blood off her face. Sasuke and Naruto were no better off, their clothes stained and slashed. Pakkun tilted his head. Kenzou coughed up a few drops of his own bodily fluids before looking at the newcomer, and Katsuo went pale. "Nevermind, I'll just...be over here. Far away from him."
"Don't be shy. We'd be glad to escort you back to your father." Kakashi sounded a little too cheerful.
"No! No, I can find my way there." Katsuo fled into the woods, towards the greenhouse in the distance.
"There's still traps out there!" Naruto called after him.
"...Pakkun, go help." The pug groaned, but complied.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll make sure he doesn't land in a pit."
While the Hanamoto family's property took heavy damage along its walls, the greenhouse losses were minimized. Even if a handful of samurai had died in the initial assault, the greenhouse workers were either not present for the attack or able to lock themselves in the main building. Repairs began by the end of the next day once the farm had been cleaned up and all the bodies collected. The aftermath looked gruesome in daylight, but Kakashi insisted that they focus on what they accomplished.
"There's always a chance of death on a mission. Not everyone can be saved, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be proud of the ones you did protect. You didn't fail your objective and that's all I can ask as your leader."
A squadron of ninja dressed in dark gray tactical gear and porcelain masks showed up the following morning to take Kenzou into custody.
"It's not often that three Genin capture a bounty the first time they leave the village," a Black Ops member said to them. His mask was based on a bird, and so that was his codename. "Especially The Tiger himself." Kenzou's body was soon covered in a variety of paper and ink seals along with a special set of handcuffs Bird secured on his wrists. Chakra disruptors, or maybe a paralyzing jutsu. Hinata could only guess, she didn't know much about the art of seal making. He'd also been sedated for the trip back to the village.
"What, is he really that strong?" Naruto asked, his eyes lighting up. "See? I knew we could handle a better mission!" The Anbu shrugged.
"More of a...local legend. Abandoned the Leaf after the last war, a master of traps and tools. The rumors said he could kill a ninja with anything he got his hands on. He's been harassing merchant caravans for the last few years, so you've definitely pulled a thorn out of our side."
"I'm sure the Hokage will award us a bonus, don't worry," Kakashi said. Sasuke adjusted his backpack and frowned.
"But the other one ran away."
"She'll be flushed out into the open soon enough, we're searching the surrounding forests for any more bandit activity," another Anbu member said. This one wore a cat mask. The other three members of the squad reappeared.
"I believe we've finished questioning the witnesses, Captain." Bird nodded and looked at Kakashi.
"If no more assistance is needed, we'll be going." It was lucky this team possessed a decent medic, or their return to the village would have been delayed by her and Sasuke's injuries. Hinata felt sore and a little chakra drained even after the attention, but walking wouldn't be impossible. More trouble on the road was unlikely after that massive battle. Kakashi gave them a salute, and the Anbu unit disappeared.
"So...what's the deal with those guys again?" Naruto asked.
"How about I tell you on the way back?" Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "I think the convoy's ready for us." Daichi approached them at the main gate, or at least what part of the gate survived, his cart not far behind him.
"Turns out that I paid for some good help after all," he said with a soft smile. "I'm glad I didn't pull you in over your heads."
Kakashi once again assigned them positions around the main cart, but Katsuo stopped them from leaving at the last moment.
"Don't go yet! Hold it!" Hinata considered running ahead of the convoy to avoid him when she recognized the voice. No, that would be childish. She turned to face him as he stopped in front of her, keeping her expression disinterested.
"I.." Katsuo shifted his weight awkwardly and then bowed. "Thank you for saving me! I thought we were going to die and it would be all my fault but...you still protected me." That was unexpected, but did he really have to act like this in front of everyone?
"Um, that's really not...I did it because it was the right thing to do," she explained. He shook his head.
"That's not what I'm getting at. I meant that I apologize for saying that you shouldn't be a ninja, and for bothering you since you appeared again. I was just too focused on something that happened years ago and only thought about my own feelings." Her face turned redder as it sank in that he'd been serious about the marriage idea.
"...I should apologize for not being firmer with you earlier, then," she admitted.
"I would like to start over as friends, if you'll permit me." Beyond his weird infatuation, Katsuo wasn't an awful friend even back then. They both loved gardening and flowers, and she really did think the greenhouses he showed her were nice. As long as he dropped the thought of them being betrothed.
"I think I can forgive you, but never call me Princess like that again." Sasuke made a noise that was very close to a laugh, and Naruto punched him in the arm.
"I will keep that in mind," Katsuo said. "I would hate for this to end up hurting relations between the Hanamoto family and the Hyuga Clan." He cleared his throat and stuck out his hand. "From one future head to another, of course." Hinata accepted the handshake, the lingering dread of dealing with Katsuo starting to fade. These politically loaded discussions would be unavoidable once she took her father's position, so it was best that she grew used to them now. Not everything could be solved with a fight. Negotiations were just as important, weren't they?
Kenzou woke up in a dark room, forced down on his knees. The amount of time that had passed since the Anbu Captain knocked him out was impossible to discern. Could have been a few hours...or a handful of days. Kenzou's arms stuck out, bound with tight chains connected to posts at either side, their thick shackles cutting into his wrists. His chakra felt unstable, and he could feel countless pieces of paper stuck to his body. Seals to render him unable to mold energy or trigger a summoning, probably. His body still complained from the beatdown he'd taken, but he could tell that someone patched up the worst of it.
It felt like he was in a sand pit of sorts, and as his vision adjusted, he took note of the circular wood and metal walls that wrapped around his position. Nothing to see and nothing to hear. This was a high security prison. Most likely underground. He'd been arrested, but he thought they'd just kill him, not hide him away. A far away door opened with a loud creak. He squinted at the harsh light pouring in from a hall as multiple figures entered the chamber. The door shut behind them, and various candles lit up his solitary cell. He kept his focus on the old man wearing red and white robes, flanked by two more masked ninja in dark cloaks.
"Kenzou Tengoku," the Third Hokage said, glancing down at his clipboard. "I did not expect to see you again like this." Kenzou snorted and looked away.
"Don't waste time with formalities, just torture me if that's what you want. Not like I've got much to lose." Lord Sarutobi shook his head.
"You're still upset about the end of the war…" he said. "That is understandable, growing up through it's duration. It made you who you are today, and yet you felt as if you had no closure. You wanted to keep fighting."
"I wanted to win," Kenzou said. Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut? "I gave so much to this place, and what was it really for? A false peace that won't last anyway?" One of the masked men beside him twitched.
"Do you want him to stop speaking, Lord Sarutobi?" the one with the fox mask asked.
"No, leave him be." He took a few steps closer to the chained man. "Tell me, Kenzou. Who told you news about the village since you left? We know that you obtained leaked political information from the mission report."
"Who cares? I know a lot of people," Kenzou mumbled.
"Let's try a different question. Where are the remnants of your forces hiding? We already identified your partner based on her description. The Missing In Action kunoichi, Haruka Washioka. A survivor of the infamous 12th Long Range Division." He breathed in through his pipe and pulled it out of his mouth, exhaling a trail of smoke. "Interesting choice as your right hand conspirator. Did you convince her to see things your way?"
"So what if I did? Not my fault she almost died over an order from an unfit platoon leader"- he gasped and jerked in pain when the seals attached to his body kicked in, reacting to his emotional state. "Gods, that hurts…" he hissed. "I don't know where she is. I'll give you the base coordinates, but it's abandoned by now. She's not a moron." He hoped that she covered her tracks well enough in the hurry to escape. "You could've sent trackers out there to confirm that yourself, why are you asking me? Aren't I just a traitor?" The Hokage ignored his outburst.
"...Who were you going to sell the Hyuga and Uchiha heirs to once you captured them?" Sarutobi continued.
"Mist Village," Kenzou answered. "You want more, you're going to have to do more than just stare at me, Old Man. I'm not scared of you anymore."
"Oh, I don't think we need to call in the interrogation unit just yet," Sarutobi said. "You do have something else beyond dignity to lose. Or should I say something to gain." Kenzou looked up from the dirt floor he'd been studying.
"What?" he asked.
"Suzuki Kinoshita. That name is familiar to you, I take it?" Kenzou's eyes widened slightly.
"What, you're gonna torture her instead? It's been over ten years, she doesn't care about me anymore. She could be dead and you're just lying to me."
"Oh, I'm not referring to her directly," Sarutobi clarified. "About… 13 years ago, she gave birth to a child that she then dropped at an orphanage in order to return to active duty. We believe that child is yours, and so did she. Do you want to know more, Kenzou?" The chained man went silent, staring off into space while processing the news.
"...I want to see him," he said. He didn't know why, but the thought of anyone being out there that was related to him felt both terrifying and incredible. It wasn't like he'd ever get to raise the child, but at least a small part of his life wasn't a complete waste.
"Her," Sarutobi corrected him with a well crafted smile. Like a proud grandfather. Kenzou hated Konoha so much. "So you're interested? The more you cooperate, the more reasons we'll have to make your accommodations a bit...nicer. Maybe we'll arrange a meeting between you and your daughter."
"You didn't tell her about me, did you?"
"No, that would set a bad example for a budding young ninja, wouldn't it? Bringing up a father who abandoned his homeland. It'd be cruel to make her grow up with that knowledge, living in your shadow. It's classified."
"I figured. Fine, I'll tell you whatever."
"Excellent. I will return with food and water, then we can begin the questioning tomorrow. Goodbye, Kenzou." The Hokage walked away, back to the prison cell's entrance. His two Black Ops guards flanked him dutifully on the way out. His mind stayed distracted even as his arms were loosened slightly to eat a meal, trying to picture what Kino's child looked like. He couldn't even think of the girl as his own, she seemed so distant. He drifted off to sleep hours later, thoughts jumping from Haruka to that final night with Kino, and then to the burning red eyes of that whiskered boy, controlled by a demon.
AN: There's gonna be a little bit of downtime before I get to the Chunin Exams, but stuff has definitely changed in the overall timeline because of the lack of the Land of Waves mission. I'm pretty excited to bring the rest of the rookie squads back into the story, since the scrambled teams gave me the opportunity to change the dynamics between characters and add on a few new skills. And yes, Kenzou and Haruka have a full backstory that might get dragged up in more detail later.