Confrontation
The wind whispered across the open country, carrying with it the scent of rain yet to fall. Konan stood alone, her eyes scanning the horizon. Konan enviously stared at the whisping wind, carelessly floating about. For a moment she closed her eyes and envisioned herself being as free as the wind.
However, she detected a presence and was cruelly pulled away from her day dreaming.
With a deliberate motion, she raised her hands and removed the veil from her face. For a moment, the air shimmered, as though bending to her will, and a figure emerged from the distortion.
A man stepped forward, his presence commanding and dark. His single eye, visible beneath the swirl of his orange mask, locked onto Konan with an intensity that made the air feel heavier. The silence hung between them, brittle and sharp, before Konan spoke.
"Madara," she greeted, her tone clipped.
"Konan," he returned, his voice equally curt.
Madara's gaze swept over her. "You're risking too much by exposing yourself needlessly. Have you forgotten what's at stake?"
Konan's eyes narrowed. "My duty is to investigate threats to the Akatsuki."
"Don't begin this again," Madara snapped,
She stood her ground, her face stoic. "This is the second time we've intercepted encoded communications from Uchiha Itachi to unknown contacts. Are you saying this isn't cause for concern?"
Madara's visible eye narrowed, and a sneer crept into his voice. "Pray tell, what was on those messages?"
Konan's jaw clenched, and her silence was enough to draw a low, mocking chuckle from Madara. "You don't even know, and yet you're here accusing one of my men of treason? How pathetic."
Her voice remained steady. "Such behavior violates the organization's rules and every best practice of shinobi conduct."
Madara's eye gleamed with dark amusement. "And I suppose you're here on some noble crusade? No, this is nothing but a power play."
Konan's expression didn't falter. "I have no need for a power play. I'm satisfied with the leadership as it stands."
Madara's laugh was cold and unrestrained. "Satisfied, are you? Interesting, since the word on the grapevine is that Nagato has been sidelining you ever since your… unfortunate failure in capturing the Mist Jinchūriki. Funny how failure seems to follow you lately."
Her lips thinned, but she held her tongue, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
"Amegakure-sama won't like this." Konan said.
Madara continued, his tone dripping with derision. "If Nagato has a problem, he's very welcome to bring it to me personally. Until then, Konan, you're not even a big enough fish to warrant my attention."
He stepped closer, his shadow looming over her. "And let me warn you… do not bother me with your petty suspicions about Itachi again. Cross me further, and the consequences will not be to your liking. The organization's morale is frail enough already with Orochimaru's defection."
"I wonder who was it that bought him to the fold?" Anko thought aloud.
"Careful, kid. Nagato won't be around her forever to protect you." Madara said before vanishing in a swirl of space-time.
Amegakure
The air was fresh, carrying the unmistakable scent of impending rain. Atleast it smelt better on the upper floors.
Konan walked briskly, her cloak fluttering as she approached the tower looming over the city. She stepped inside, where a maid immediately greeted her with a bow.
"Lady Konan," the maid said softly, taking Konan's belongings. "The Lord is waiting for you inside."
Konan gave a brief nod, her lips pressing into a thin line. Reaching the office door, she paused, glancing down the empty corridor before shutting the door firmly behind her.
"Nagato?" she called gently. A frail figure lay upon the large bed, his eyes dimmer than they had once been. The whispery voice came again, barely audible over the weight of his condition.
"Konan…"
Konan knelt beside him, her arms wrapping around his thin frame. She pressed a tender kiss to his clammy forehead. "I'm here, Nagato."
Nagato's lips parted as though to speak, but the words dissolved into a fit of violent coughing. He leaned forward, his gaunt form trembling, blood staining his lips. Konan patted his back gently, her other hand deftly reaching for a cloth to wipe his mouth. Without hesitation, she retrieved the prepared injections from a nearby tray and administered it.
A faint color returned to Nagato's cheeks, his breathing evening out as his hand reached weakly to squeeze hers. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice still strained.
Konan smiled faintly. "Take it easy, Nagato. You're pushing yourself too hard."
Nagato nodded faintly before his gaze sharpened, though the weariness never left his eyes. "How did it go?" he asked, his voice rasping.
Konan's sigh filled the room. "Madara shut me out completely. He refuses to even entertain the idea of treason."
Nagato's eyes closed briefly, his lips tightening. "And the messages?"
"We're not close enough," Konan admitted. "Itachi covers his tracks too well. Whoever he's sending messages to, they're buried deep."
Nagato's shoulders sagged as he released a heavy sigh. Konan's expression softened before it grew wary. "There's more," she said hesitantly. "Madara… he suspects. He implied that he knows about your condition."
Nagato's gaze darkened. "If he knows, then…"
"It won't be long before he makes his move," Konan interjected, her voice laced with quiet urgency. "To take full control of the organization, and in the end…" She hesitated before gesturing subtly toward Nagato's eyes. "To take them."
A grim silence fell between them, the weight of her words sinking into the air like stones. Nagato's voice broke it, calm but resolute. "What can we do?"
Konan's lips parted, but no words came. For a moment, she sat with her old friend.
"We build our own army. Not all of Akatsuki will be with him. He knows this. We know this." Konan said.
"Ordinary men won't last long against him." Nagato said.
"Then we look for the extraordinary." Konan replied. "There are plenty who have been trampled by his kind."
She looked at Nagato before wondering. "Didn't Itachi leave behind a younger sister?"
The Arrest
"All right everyone!" The lead shinobi in uniform clapped loudly enough to gather everyone's attention. "Civil emergency! Pack up and leave now!"
The crowd groaned at that, but the shinobi were unrelenting unlike previous times where such things had happened. The stragglers were baton charged and the more belligerent ones were immediately cuffed.
Two retired shinobi smooked hookah atop a rooftop, puffing some circles while looking at the scene below.
"They are not going easy, are they?" One remarked.
"Must be something big." The other said. Shadows flickered that would've been ignored by an untrained eye, but they caught on.
"ANBU, huh?" The man said.
"I don't pity the son of a bitch on the receiving end of that." The other chuckled.
Meanwhile, in her little slice of heaven, Anko sat in her snug bathrobe. She whistled a jaunty tone as she picked at her drink. Life was going great! The brats were forming into a cohesive team. The Uchiha would soon be ready for her master's grand design. Even better, this was a 2 for 1 deal. Not only did she have Uchiha ready for delivery, but the Kyubi jinchuiriki was within her sphere of influence.
A quick shadow passed by her window and Anko stiffened. She gripped her glass as her sixth sense roared at her in a bestial manner to run. Anko forcibly gulped and evaluated her past days. She had been careful. Her cover was immaculate. Her tracks weren't available much less spottable or traceable.
Anko had frequently evaluated her surroundings and she wasn't under surveillance. This was a precursor to arrests.
THUK! THUK! THUK!
"Anko Mitrashi! Opened up!" A voice commanded from the outside.
A heavy knock wracked her door. Anko evaluated her options. She was no fool.
The area around her apartment most likely had been surrounded by spotters and ambushers for multiple blocks. She could surrender, maybe this was a misunderstanding?
No, don't be foolish. She thought to herself. She had worked in the Torture and Interrogation department before becoming a sensei. She had no delusions about being exposed to Ibiki's tender mercies. Once she was in chains, there would be no heroic resistance against torture. Her resistance will be measured in days. Hours if Ibiki knew the context of his interrogation.
THUK! THUK!
The new knock nearly tore the door of its hinges.
"KONOHA POLICE! OPEN UP!" The voice barked.
"Coming! Coming! Damn you! Let a lady be decent!" Anko barked, hoping to buy some time. She thought back to her escape tunnel. She had dug it as a last resort and Anko channeled her chakra for an earth meld jutsu.
Nothing happened. Her tunnel was sealed by anti-chakra measures.
Anko's heart jolted as her door broke down under a firm smash. She grabbed her necklace, the one with a poisoned vial, death will be better than what she was about to experience.
Powerful arms suddenly wrapped around her and she was brutally shoved to the ground. A vicious electric jolt went through her and Anko screamed before unconsciousness claimed her.
Court Martial
Shikaku cleared his throat and began. "Naruto, Uchiha Satsuki, Hyūga Hanabi," he intoned, his voice calm but firm. "You stand before this court accused of high treason against Konohagakure. These charges include, but are not limited to, actively working against the interests of this village. High treason to be exact."
Naruto exchanged a nervous glance with Satsuki, whose lips curled into a scowl. "We were following orders," Satsuki snapped, crossing her arms defiantly.
Shikaku raised a hand, silencing her without so much as a word. "Orders do not absolve accountability, Uchiha. The charges concern your active participation in missions detrimental to Konoha. Such actions demand thorough examination."
The trio exchanged looks, feigning shock. Naruto's brow furrowed as he muttered, "That's insane…"
Ignoring the comment, Shikaku's voice took on a graver tone. "Potential penalties range from fines to incarceration and, in severe cases, execution. You will have the opportunity to speak, but I advise you to tread carefully."
He gestured for them to rise. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you?"
"I do," the three answered in unison, their voices subdued.
Satsuki and Naruto were then escorted under guard from the room. Hanabi was the first one up.
Hanabi
"Hyūga Hanabi," Koharu began sharply, adjusting her glasses. "What was your relationship with Mitarashi Anko?"
Hanabi straightened her posture, her voice trembling. "She was our instructor. An unrelenting one. She never allowed for—not even the slightest—deviations."
"Define 'unrelenting,'" Homura prompted, his quill scratching notes on parchment.
Hanabi's hands tightened into fists. "Any missteps were… punished. Beatings. Humiliating tasks. Endless drills until we collapsed from exhaustion."
Shikaku's asked. "And these punishments occurred often?"
"Yes," Hanabi whispered. She swallowed hard before continuing. "We were also made to undertake… under-the-table missions. These were assigned by Orochimaru-sama."
At the name, Shikaku's tone sharpened. "Careful. Do not defame the name of a Sanin lightly, Hyūga."
Hanabi's voice broke as she pleaded, "It's true! Orochimaru needed people kidnapped, and genin… genin were perfect for infiltration. Anko said it was our duty." Tears welled in her eyes as she lowered her gaze.
Satsuki
"Uchiha Satsuki," Koharu addressed, her voice cutting through the chamber. "Do you deny allegations of narcotics smuggling during your so-called delivery missions?"
Satsuki's jaw tightened. "We didn't know what we were delivering at first," she replied, her voice steady yet simmering with frustration. "Everything we did was under Anko's supervision."
Homura raised an eyebrow. "At first? When did you find out?"
"When one of the deliveries went wrong," Satsuki admitted. "We… we confronted her. Told her what she was doing was wrong."
"And how did she respond?" Shikaku's voice carried an edge.
Satsuki's glare was filled with a mix of anger and humiliation. "She stripped us naked. Made us… humiliate ourselves. Called it discipline for questioning a superior."
The room fell silent for a moment before Satsuki continued, "Anko said it was for the village. That good shinobi don't question orders."
Naruto
Uzumaki Naruto," Koharu called, her gaze piercing. "It has come to our attention that you have significant technical acumen. Specifically, with information technology and electrical work. Is this accurate?"
Naruto nervously fiddled with his hands, nodding hesitantly. "Yes."
"And have you applied this skill in your missions?" she pressed.
"I guess," Naruto admitted. "Why does that matter?"
Homura leaned forward. "It matters because several homes of retired or injured shinobi that you supposedly 'helped' repair were found laced with electronic surveillance devices. Care to explain?"
Naruto's eyes widened. "What?! That wasn't me! I mean… it was, but only because Anko ordered it."
"Ordered it," Koharu repeated, her tone laden with skepticism. "Did you question why?"
Naruto's face fell. "She said it was for village security. That… that we were helping protect Konoha from threats within."
Shikaku sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "This is getting messier by the second."
The Cabal
"Ah!" Kabuto greeted Satsuki and Naruto with a wide grin as the two marched towards them. "I'm so glad that the two of you chose to forego mistrust and join us on our noble mission!"
Hanabi pointedly refused to look at them out of sheer embarassment alone. Neji looked concerned but didn't say anything.
"Kabuto." Satsuki said. "It is done."
"I know. I know." Kabuto said. "And how gloriously it was done! Anko-chan is now being shown T hospitality within inches of her life. And all of you have been cleared of all charges!"
The two looked shaken at the prospect of their former sensei's grim fate but said nothing.
"And of course, let us not forget yours truly in planting false evidence all over to hide your involvement." Kabuto said and Satsuki glared at him. "But I digress. I am sure you two will more than make it up to me."
"What happens now?" Naruto asked.
"What happens now is we take this partnership to the next level." Kabuto said.
"How?" Satsuki asked and Kabuto took out a thick stack of folder and placed it infront of her.
"Tell me, what do you know about slave seals?" Kabuto said.
The two exchanged a glance but said nothing.
"I see." Kabuto said. "Without overwhelming you with all the boring details, a slave seal is used to remotely inflict punishment upon the wearer by an external party."
"This concerns us how?" Satsuki asked.
"Not us. You." Kabuto said and looked at Naruto. "You can leave for this part, Naruto-san."
Naruto turned to leave before Satsuki forcibly shoved him back down on the bench.
"He stays." Satsuki replied. "He goes, I go."
Kabuto pursed his lips at that. "Satsuki-chan. Do you remember what I said earlier about unequal partnerships?"
"The deal's revised now." Satsuki said as Naruto shuffled. "Anko is in jail. We are no longer threatened. Unless of course you if you wish to reverse all this? I doubt you are going to the Hokage to explain how you "planted evidance.""
Kabuto stared at her for a while before smiling and bowing.
"You learn fast, Uchiha-san." Kabuto said and Satsuki snorted. He turned to Naruto and bowed his head in an apologetic manner.
"My apologies, Naruto-kun." Kabuto said. "Now about the slave seals. We are trying to untangle this particular knot and could really use your kekkai genkai."
"I don't know much about seals." Satsuki said.
"Don't worry. All we need you to do is tell all the symbols your eyes tell us once they bypass the genjutsu." Kabuto said and Satsuki got started.
Home Sweet Home
"Say what you will about Kabuto," Naruto muttered to himself, "but he knows how to reward a job well done."
The puppetry scroll captured from Suna shinobi had been intriguing.
It had been a long day. The court-martial proceedings earlier had drained him completely. Though they were ultimately declared innocent, the ordeal left him uneasy. Satsuki had spent the afternoon under Kabuto's supervision, sifting through layers of genjutsu and analyzing the mechanisms behind the accursed slave seal they had encountered on a previous mission.
Naruto rubbed his eyes and leaned back, letting the scroll rest on his lap. Through the open window, the setting sun painted the walls with a warm, amber glow. He glanced over to see Satsuki seated by the weapons rack, sharpening her blade with single-minded focus. The rhythmic scrape of steel on stone punctuated the quiet room.
Without looking up, Satsuki spoke, her tone dry but pointed. "You'd better not be thinking about going to sleep."
Naruto snorted, pushing the scroll aside. "Come on, give me some credit. I'm not that lazy."
"Could have fooled me," Satsuki replied, her gaze still fixed on her weapon. "We haven't even gotten a chance to raid the compound yet, and you look like you're ready to call it a day."
Naruto stretched his arms behind his head and let out a theatrical sigh. "It's called pacing yourself, Satsuki. Not all of us are fueled entirely by revenge and sarcasm."
This time, Satsuki spared him a sidelong glance, her lips twitching in the faintest hint of a smirk. "Just be ready when the time comes. If we miss anything important, I'm blaming you."
Naruto chuckled, standing and rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. By the time we're done, that compound won't have a single secret left."
Fin.
Author Notes: Read and Review!