Chapter 39: Red Tulip (Sound Four Liquidation Arc)
Kimiko's mind worked rapidly, assessing the battlefield in an instant.
Sakon and Ukon. The strongest among them in terms of raw taijutsu. Dangerous in close quarters, but they relied on their element of surprise. I already know their ability. They won't be catching me off guard.
Her gaze flicked to Tayuya. The moment she plays that flute, it's over. I need to reach her before she gets the chance.
Then to Kidomaru. A frown crossed her lips. T his one's deceptively dangerous. The moment he creates distance, he'll be impossible to track, and his teammates will box us in while he picks us apart from afar.
Jirobo. He was a brute, pure and simple. His raw strength meant that if he got his hands on either of them, it's over.
Her gaze snapped to Sasuke. That was the real danger. If they can get inside his head before I can end this fight…
"I already told you," Sasuke's voice cut through her thoughts. "I'm not going with you. Who the hell are you four, anyway?"
"Tch, arrogant shit-faced brat," Tayuya sneered, glaring at him. "Orochimaru-sama offers you power, and you throw it in our face like this?"
"Now, now, Tayuya. Sasuke asked a question," Kidomaru grinned, the six-armed shinobi stepping forward. "We're the Sound Four. I'm Kidomaru, of the East Gate."
"I am Jirobo, of the South Gate."
"I am Sakon, of the West Gate." The silver-haired man flashed a smirk.
"And I am Tayuya, of the North Gate."
Kimiko didn't hesitate. "You're not welcome here." Her tone was flat, devoid of humor. "We're chuunin of Konoha, and you're associates of a missing-nin who led an assault against our village. That makes you criminals. We'll be taking you in."
Tayuya rolled her eyes, scoffing. "Tch. Another bitch trying to sound cool. Listen here, you little cunt—"
"Shut up." Kimiko cut her off sharply, glaring at her. "You're a crass harridan playing at being tough. I wasn't speaking to you."
Even Sasuke flicked a glance in her direction.
"Hoh. This one's feisty," Sakon mused, his smirk widening.
"Maybe she's here to replace you, Tayuya," Jirobo mused. "Maybe that's what Lord Orochi—"
"I wasn't asking for your opinion, you tub of lard," Kimiko interrupted coldly.
Piss them off. Buy time.
But Kidomaru had other plans. In an instant, he lunged, a blur of movement as his fist shot toward Sasuke's chest.
Sasuke reacted immediately, forearms crossing in a tight guard, absorbing the impact. As Kidomaru's momentum carried him downward, Sasuke planted his hands against the shinobi's back, using him as a springboard to flip over him. In the same motion, he lashed out with both legs in a sharp backward kick—just as Sakon appeared behind him.
Sakon took the blow full-force, sent careening backward.
Kimiko barely had a second to register Tayuya moving behind Sasuke, her flute already in her grasp. Too late. I'm already here.
Byakko was in her hand in a heartbeat. The blade slashed in a clean horizontal arc, its bone-white gleam leaving a pale streak in the air. Tayuya barely had time to leap back, the tip of the blade missing her by centimeters.
But Kimiko saw the faint.
She twisted her body at the last second—just in time to see Jirobo closing in from her blind spot, his meaty fist rearing back for a devastating punch.
Kimiko reacted instantly, bringing Byakko up in a sharp parry. The impact of Jirobo's strike reverberated through the sword, but she held firm, absorbing the brunt of it.
Tayuya was already closing in again. Predictable.
Kimiko pivoted on her heel, her leg shooting out in a vicious kick that caught Tayuya square in the chest. The redhead was sent flying, skidding backward across the ground.
The moment her foot touched the ground again, Kimiko dropped low, sweeping her leg in a sharp arc toward Jirobo's ankles.
He saw it coming. He leapt.
Expected.
Kimiko was already in motion, her body twisting mid-rise, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick before he could land. Her heel smashed into his forearm, sending him crashing back—straight toward Tayuya.
As the dust settled, Kimiko's sharp eyes immediately caught sight of two logs where Jirobo and Tayuya had once been. Her gaze flicked upward—there, perched atop a thick tree branch, the real Sound Four grinned down at her and Sasuke like wolves circling their prey.
"Oh, this is exciting." Sakon's smirk widened, his bloodthirst palpable.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, his tone ice-cold. "I'm not in the best of moods with you people walking around like you own the place. You sure you want this?"
"Heh. Quit acting tough." Sakon cracked his knuckles. "Come here, I'll play Do-Re-Mi with your ribs." He gestured mockingly at Sasuke, beckoning him forward.
Kimiko felt Sasuke stir beside her, the tension in his body coiling like a spring. Before he could move, her hand was already in motion, dipping into her pouch and drawing senbon between her fingers. A thin wisp of scarlet chakra curled around the needles, turning them into something lethal.
With a flick of her wrist, she hurled them toward Sakon and Ukon. Their eyes widened as the twin needles, wreathed in her caustic chakra, honed in on the center of his forehead.
"Tch!" At the last moment, Tayuya lunged forward, shoving Sakon aside. The senbon slammed into the bark behind them, instantly rotting the wood from within, a blackened wound spreading outwards as the chakra took hold.
"Hmph," Tayuya exhaled, flicking her eyes toward Kimiko. "Looks like we can't take these two lightly. I'll be helping you, Sakon."
Sakon scowled, glaring at her. "Tch, I don't need your help." A pause, before he relented. "...But fine. Oh, and just to be sure—"
A wicked grin spread across his lips, and suddenly, the air turned heavy.
Kimiko's eyes narrowed as she felt the foul chakra expelling from both Tayuya and Sakon's bodies, surging like a storm breaking through its restraints. She watched as their skin darkened, black markings unfurling like veins across their flesh, slithering up their arms, their legs, their faces.
The Curse Mark.
She felt Sasuke take a step back, his eyes widening, shock flickering across his usually composed face. As if realizing—he wasn't the only one marked by Orochimaru.
Before he could even speak, they moved, and in an instant, they were upon them.
Kimiko barely had time to react before Sakon was in front of her, his fist swinging in a sharp arc toward her face.
She slid back, avoiding the blow by a breath.
But he was already following up. A sharp pivot—a sudden step forward—and his foot lashed out toward her midsection.
Kimiko jumped over it, just as his hand snapped up for an open-palmed strike to her chest the moment she landed.
Too slow.
She disappeared in a blur of black and red petals—and reappeared behind him, Byakko already arcing for the kill, her blade whispered through the air, a flawless horizontal stroke aimed at beheading Sakon in one clean motion.
But then, a third hand shot out, fingers locking around her wrist like a vice.
Ukon. Damn.
Sakon's grin widened as both his arms cocked back, Ukon's strength surging into his movements, twisting into a brutal twin-fisted strike.
Kimiko didn't fight it.
Instead, her body melted into a puddle of inky black water just as their fists swung through the space where she should have been. The caustic liquid splattered across their arms and torsos, sizzling on contact as it ate into their flesh.
"AAGH!" Sakon snarled, recoiling. "You bitch—!"
But she was already rising from the ground behind him, reforming in a smooth, effortless motion—right at her optimal range.
Byakko gleamed under the dimming light.
"Konoha-ryu Kenjutsu: Song of the Dreaming Moon."
Kimiko vanished.
For a moment, all that remained were blurring afterimages, flickering phantoms surrounding Sakon from every angle.
Her blade moved—again, and again, and again.
A dance of razor-edged silver and bone-white steel.
Streaks of white slashed through the air, a relentless storm of strikes aimed at every vital point.
Sakon cursed, spinning on the spot, a whirlwind of force erupting around him, forcing Kimiko to break away. The sheer momentum of his spin deflected her strikes, and their blades clashed mid-air in a violent crescendo of sparks.
Kimiko landed beside Sasuke, heels skidding across the dirt. Her grip on Byakko remained firm.
Her eyes flicked toward Tayuya.
The red-haired kunoichi had already summoned one of her Doki, the monstrous figure looming behind her as she raised her flute.
"Hold on, Tayuya." Sakon sneered, his grin widening. "I think these two need a little more… persuasion."
Kimiko's eyes sharpened as their curse marks surged, writhing like living ink across their bodies. The dark patterns twisted, spreading further, morphing them into something monstrous.
Sakon's transformation was grotesque—his skin darkened to a deep crimson, his pupils slit like a predator's, his arms now metallic and jagged, exuding raw power. He looked like an oni from myth, a demon of war, forged in blood and rage.
Tayuya, too, shifted before her eyes. Her flesh took on a deeper hue, her muscles subtly enhanced, but most striking of all—horns. Two curved, grotesque protrusions sprouted from her forehead, completing the image of a fiend straight from hell.
Kimiko cursed under her breath. Stage Two. That wasn't ideal.
Where the hell is Hin—
Her thoughts were interrupted not by Sakon and Ukon, nor by Tayuya, but by Jirobo.
Her danger sense flared a split second before the hulking brute came crashing down like a meteor. His fist, wreathed in an aura of raw chakra, plummeted toward them, the force of his descent tearing through the air with a howling shriek.
Kimiko and Sasuke moved at the same time, stepping away just as Jirobo's fist slammed into the ground. The impact sent a jolt through the earth, cracking the surface beneath them. Dust and debris kicked up, obscuring the air for a moment.
Then, from the side, she felt another presence.
From above, Kidomaru struck next.
Perched in the treetops like the spider he was, his grotesque six-armed figure, now fully transformed, peered down at them. His mouth opened wide, and in an instant, thick webs shot toward them—strong, sticky, and reinforced with chakra, meant to ensnare them like prey caught in a trap.
Kimiko acted on instinct.
"Konoha-ryu Kenjutsu: Implacable Defense."
Byakko blurred through the air.
Her blade whipped around her in quick, precise arcs, the steel glowing faintly as she enhanced it with chakra. The webbing met her swings head-on, and though they were sturdy, her blade sliced clean through them, severing the threads before they could reach her or Sasuke.
For a moment, she thought she had regained control.
Then Sakon moved.
A shadow rushed through the dust, and before Kimiko could adjust, his fist was already swinging toward her midsection.
Kimiko reacted fast, bringing her sword up in a vertical guard.
The impact landed against the flat of her blade, the force pressing down hard enough to make her shoulders tense as her feet dug into the dirt. But it held.
Unfortunately, it left her open.
Jirobo, recovered from his earlier attack, rushed in from the side. Kimiko barely had time to shift her weight before his broad shoulder barreled into her.
The force sent her stumbling back, her balance momentarily thrown.
Before she could hit the ground, something caught her.
A hand.
She turned her head and found Sasuke standing behind her, one arm braced against her back to keep her steady.
"You good?" He asked, voice low but even. His three-tomoed Sharingan glared at the enemy, bouncing between them.
Kimiko exhaled, rolling her shoulders before shifting Byakko back into position. "Yeah," she muttered, dryly. "Never better."
"Yeah..." Sasuke muttered, eyes narrowing as he took in the four figures before them. The transformation had fully set in, leaving them more monster than human. Their chakra twisted and warped, something vile clinging to it—something familiar.
Kimiko recognized it too. That same corruptive taint that had flared when Sasuke first struggled under the Curse Mark's influence. Only this time, it was worse—thicker, more invasive, Orochimaru's presence laced through it like a parasite.
"Fatass," Tayuya snapped, glaring at Jirobo. "You were too slow. If you'd been faster, I could've caught them in my trap."
"You're so unladylike," Jirobo sneered, crossing his arms. "A woman shouldn't—"
"Bite me, lard-ass." The crude dismissal made Jirobo's face twitch in irritation, but before he could retort, Sakon's voice cut through the tension, smooth and amused.
"Now, now, let's not be rude," Sakon said, his yellow eyes flicking toward Sasuke with something between curiosity and calculation. "Can't you see? He's interested."
Kimiko's gaze flicked toward Sasuke. He wasn't speaking, wasn't reacting, but she could see the way his fingers twitched at his sides, the slight tension in his jaw. Sakon was testing him.
"I see why Orochimaru-sama wants the both of you," Sakon continued. "Though, of course, you could never compare to Kimimaro... still, you wouldn't be far behind." Despite his casual tone, Kimiko could tell he was on guard. He knew that, even four against two, this wasn't a guaranteed fight. But he also knew they had a mission.
And that mission wasn't just combat.
"Imagine how much stronger you'd be," Sakon mused, "if you didn't waste your time in a stagnant, mediocre village like this?"
Tayuya smirked. "Come with us," she pressed, "and Orochimaru-sama will give you power beyond what this shithole could ever provide. You'll be able to take vengeance on your brother, Sasuke. You'll finally fulfill your purpose as an avenger against Uchiha Itachi."
Then her gaze shifted, sharp and deliberate. "And you, Yuhi Kimiko… Orochimaru-sama knows the truth about your father's death."
Kimiko's breath caught.
"What?" The word left her lips before she could stop it, her grip on Byakko tightening. "Who?! Who killed my father?! Tell me!"
But before she could step forward, Sasuke suddenly winced.
Kimiko's eyes snapped to him in alarm. His hand flew up, clutching at his neck—right where the Curse Mark lay.
Shit.
Sakon chuckled darkly. "Ah, there it is. Did you think you were Orochimaru's only chosen, Sasuke?" He shook his head, amusement dancing in his grotesque features. "Even if you refuse to use it, that Curse Mark is still eroding you from the inside. Slowly, sure—but it's only a matter of time before your body starts breaking down."
He made a slow, taunting slit-throat gesture with his thumb, his grin stretching unnaturally wide.
"Of course," Tayuya chimed in, "power like this comes with a price. We lost the luxury of 'freedom' a long time ago."
Kimiko hated the way her stomach twisted at those words. The way a sliver of doubt, of temptation, threatened to sink into the edges of her mind.
Tayuya saw it. And she pressed harder.
"But you? Lord Orochimaru has special plans for you, Kimiko." Her smirk widened. "He's willing to teach you everything it took him decades to master. You would be his sole disciple—his heir.
"And with that power… you could not only seek justice from the one who killed your father…but bring your father back to life."
Kimiko froze.
The world stilled.
Her mind screamed at her to react—to move, to strike, to do something. But all she could hear, all she could feel, was the weight of those words settling in her chest.
It was no more than she deserved.
She, who had given so much for her village.
She, who had brought honor to Konoha.
She, who had saved countless shinobi, trading away her own safety—her own family—for it.
But something inside her stirred.
No. That is your duty as a shinobi of Konohagakure. You are owed nothing.
Was she greedy? Yes. She wanted power. All the power this world could offer. But not at the cost of innocents. She did not crave strength for its own sake. She had a purpose. A goal. A reason to wield it.
To protect.
And if the power she sought did not serve that end—if it demanded the blood of the people she swore to safeguard—then it was useless to her.
Orochimaru's poisoned fruit would bring her no closer to the future she desired. It would taint everything she loved.
She would not betray her purpose.
"Remember your desires," Sakon pressed, his voice smooth, coaxing. "Being shackled to this place will only hold you back. Cut your ties, and you'll see what real power means."
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."
A roaring hurricane exploded into the clearing.
Kimiko had barely a moment to react before the wind tore through the battlefield, a spiraling vortex of raw force, shrieking as it barreled forward. Leaves and debris whipped into the air—trees groaned as their roots were ripped from the earth—even the ground shuddered beneath the sheer pressure.
Kimiko raised an arm to shield her face, stepping back against the violent wind.
The Sound Four sprang away, leaping toward safer grounds, eyes flicking around in alarm.
"Crap!" Jirobo snarled, barely finding his balance before he stumbled back a step. "Who the hell—"
"LOOK UP, IDIOT!"
Their heads snapped skyward.
Kimiko followed their gaze—and there he was.
Naruto.
Suspended in the air like a thunderbolt waiting to strike.
The wind trailed after him, swirling violently around his outstretched arm—but it wasn't just any Rasengan.
It was huge.
A glowing, spiraling sphere of blinding blue chakra, nearly half his size, whirling with enough force to distort the air around it.
The Sound Four's faces twisted in horror.
"Shit!" Sakon hissed, already moving.
Naruto came crashing down.
Jirobo reacted first, slamming both palms onto the ground.
The earth rumbled as a thick, earthen dome erupted around them—a defensive shell of pure rock, reinforced with chakra, meant to withstand the impact.
It shattered.
The moment Naruto's Rasengan made contact, the barrier disintegrated.
A deafening shockwave rocked the battlefield as the ground beneath them gave way, caving in on itself as Naruto's attack drilled a crater into the earth. The sheer force sent chunks of rock hurtling outward, kicking up a cloud of thick dust and debris.
The Sound Four barely had time to scramble away, leaping from the collapsing terrain before they were swallowed by the blast.
"Don't interfere!" Sakon snarled, already lunging toward Naruto—
But something moved in their periphery.
A shadow.
Sakon's instincts screamed at him, and he jerked to the side, barely dodging as a tendril of darkness snaked toward them—silent and deadly.
Kimiko's eyes flickered upward.
Shikamaru.
Perched on a thick tree branch, his eyes sharp and calculating, fingers already forming another seal to extend his shadow's reach.
"Fucking interloper!" Tayuya spat. "Let's take him out first!"
They dashed toward him—
Only to be intercepted.
A blur of white and blue cut through their vision. A fluid, effortless movement.
Neji.
The handsome Hyuga materialized before them, his stance already set, his body shifting with a practiced, lethal grace.
He was already spinning.
"Eight Trigrams: Rotation!"
A perfect, spherical dome of impenetrable chakra erupted around him, expanding outward in a powerful, controlled arc.
The shockwave slammed into the Sound Four with punishing force, sending them hurtling backward—crashing through trees, branches snapping and shattering beneath the impact.
"Kimiko-chan, Sasuke, are you two okay?" Naruto's voice was tinged with concern as he turned toward them.
"Yeah, we're fine," Sasuke answered, brushing dust off his sleeve. "Took you long enough."
"We got here as fast as we could," Naruto shot back, crossing his arms. "Shikamaru and I were outside Konoha when we saw Hinata running like hell, saying she needed to find the Gate Guard to call for a jonin. When we asked what happened, she said something about Kimiko being in trouble. No way were we leaving that to chance."
"I happened to be in the area as well," Neji added, his Byakugan still active as he swept his gaze over the battlefield. "When I saw them moving with urgency, I decided to follow."
Shikamaru exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Can you two still fight?" His eyes flicked between Kimiko and Sasuke. "From the way those guys dodged our attacks and the fact that they aren't either burned to a crisp or dissolving into sludge after fighting you two, I'd say they're stronger than the average chuunin. Maybe even jonin level. We need every advantage we can get."
"Who are they, anyway?" Naruto asked, still scanning the debris as if expecting them to emerge at any second.
Kimiko adjusted her grip on Byakko. "We can fight, yeah. Those four… they're Orochimaru's top enforcers. They called themselves the Sound Four."
Sasuke's expression darkened. "Yeah, I recognized them. They were the ones who helped Orochimaru escape during the attack on Konoha. They're not nobodies."
"That, we are."
A voice slithered through the dust, followed by the Sound Four reappearing, surrounding them on all sides.
Immediately, the five shinobi closed ranks, backs pressed together, weapons raised. Kimiko's senses sharpened as she read their movements—but something was off.
Sakon kept glancing to the side. His stance wasn't entirely steady. He looked… anxious.
Kimiko narrowed her eyes. They don't want to fight us. Not really. Not with the odds shifting.
Between the five of them—Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Shikamaru, and herself—they had a real shot at holding their ground, if not outright winning. And with the level of destruction they'd already caused, she was certain reinforcements were on the way.
Sakon must have realized it too.
"...We're leaving," he finally said, and the moment the words left his mouth, their Curse Marks receded, fading from their monstrous forms back into human ones. His gaze flickered toward Kimiko and Sasuke. "But remember our words. What we said. You'd know where to find us."
And with that, the Sound Four leapt into the trees.
Naruto immediately prepared to follow, his body tensing to lunge—but Kimiko's hand shot out, catching his arm mid-motion.
"No, Naruto." Her voice was firm.
"What?!" Naruto turned on her, eyes burning with frustration. "They're right there! We can take them down and get them captured!"
"Yes," Kimiko admitted, her grip tightening, "but it's not a sure thing." She exhaled, steadying herself. "Those four… as a team, they're about as strong as Kakashi-sensei. We have a chance, sure. But if we chase them now, they'll bait us into fighting on their terms, in their territory. Besides…"
She hesitated, biting her lip, before glancing at Sasuke.
He met her gaze, already knowing.
"They're not going to be far, their real mission…" Sasuke murmured, his voice quiet but heavy, "wasn't to fight us. It was to take us."
"What?!" Naruto sputtered, his eyes wide as he turned to face them. "Is this about that Curse Mark he put on you, Sasuke? And why the hell does he want Kimiko? Does it have to do with that weird chakra of hers, or—"
"Naruto." Kimiko's voice was calm but firm. "We're going to talk about it. Okay?"
She turned to Shikamaru and Neji, who were both watching the exchange with thinly veiled discomfort, like siblings caught in the middle of an escalating argument.
"Neji, Shikamaru. Please find Hinata. Let her know it's over. And…" her expression hardened, "get word to the Hokage. We have an urgent situation."
The two nodded without hesitation and vanished in a flicker of motion, leaving her alone with Sasuke and Naruto. Both were looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to speak.
Kimiko exhaled, turning to Naruto. "Alright. What do you want to know?"
"Why that freak wants you two, of course!" Naruto snapped. "I get that you're strong, and I know he marked you both, but that doesn't define you! You can reject it! You need to reject it! You're not seriously thinking about taking him up on his offer, right?!"
"Never," Kimiko said immediately, her voice unwavering. "My home is in Konoha. With you guys. My family. And that power? It's mine, not his."
Her gaze flickered to Sasuke.
He looked… conflicted.
Like he was trying to process too many thoughts and emotions at once. Like his mind was a battlefield, torn between reason and the weight of everything that had just been thrown at him.
Crap. Kimiko's fingers curled into her palm. That line about Itachi got to him. I need to shut this down now. I can't let him out of my sight.
"And you, Sasuke?" she asked carefully.
A long silence stretched between them before he finally spoke.
"...I don't know," Sasuke admitted, exhaling through his nose. "I don't know what to feel." His expression darkened, his voice tight. "I'm going home. I'll come when the Hokage calls for me."
He turned on his heel and started to walk away—
Kimiko's hand shot out, gripping his shoulder and yanking him back.
"No, you're not."
Sasuke stiffened. "Kimiko—"
"I know what you're about to do," she cut him off. "You're going to go home, sit in your room, and let this eat at you. You'll stew in it until it warps into something ugly."
Sasuke shrugged her off, his glare sharp enough to cut.
"You don't understand," he growled. "I need to get stronger. I have to avenge my clan. You have a family, Kimiko—you don't know what it's like!"
And then, suddenly, he shoved her back.
It wasn't a hard shove—just enough to make her take a step back, to put space between them. His voice had cracked just a little.
Kimiko stared at him for a moment. Then, with no hesitation—
She punched him square in the jaw.
The impact sent Sasuke staggering back, and Naruto gawked, completely caught off guard.
Sasuke whipped his head back toward her, eyes burning.
"Um…Kimiko? Sasuke?" Said Naruto, eyes shifting between them.
He didn't hesitate either. His fist shot forward, jabbing her in the stomach, making her double over slightly—but Kimiko's fingers curled into his hair, yanking his head down as she slammed her forearm into his face.
Only then did she release him, letting him stumble backward, palming his nose with a hiss.
"You bitch," he spat, checking for blood.
Kimiko didn't even flinch. "Don't raise your voice at me."
Sasuke scowled, but her tone was too calm, too final, like she wasn't interested in arguing.
"What the hell do you think you've been doing these past few months?" she continued, voice even but cutting. "You're the best in our year. You became a Chuunin in half a year."
"It's not enough!" Sasuke snarled. "Those guys proved it!" He gritted his teeth. "If Naruto and the others hadn't shown up, how long do you think we would've lasted against them?"
"I don't know," Kimiko admitted. "But that's the thing, isn't it?" She took a step forward, eyes locked onto his. "We didn't lose. We survived because Naruto and the others did come. And the moment they did, those four ran like cowards."
Sasuke opened his mouth but hesitated.
Kimiko pressed on. "They were afraid. They knew how powerful we are. They knew they were going to die if they stayed. You heard what Shikamaru said—they were near jōnin-level shinobi.
She let that settle.
"Half a year as a ninja, and you were already strong enough to fight them and walk away."
Sasuke's jaw clenched, irritation flickering across his face—but doubt, too.
One.
"Tch," he muttered, looking away. "Whatever. It's still not enough. You saw how powerful Itachi is. Even Jiraiya-sensei couldn't stop him. No matter how much I train, I'll never—"
"Do you know what Gai-sensei said?" Kimiko interrupted, and Sasuke flinched, caught off guard. "During your match against Gaara?"
He turned his head slightly, eyes flicking toward her.
"He said you were better than your brother was at your age."
Sasuke stilled. His fingers twitched, just slightly.
Kimiko didn't stop. "And think about it—Itachi didn't leave the village to get strong. He found his power right here, in Konoha." She tilted her head, watching him carefully. "Did he ever take shortcuts? Did he ever sell himself to someone like Orochimaru?"
His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
"You know the answer," she said quietly.
Two.
"But..." Sasuke looked down, his fists clenching at his sides.
"But what?" Kimiko pressed, her voice steady but firm. "You said you wanted to restore your clan. How the hell are you going to do that if you betray the very village your clan helped build?"
She took a step closer. "Leaving the village to gain the power to kill Itachi—betraying Konoha—wouldn't be honoring their memory, Sasuke. It would be erasing it."
His grip tightened, knuckles turning white.
"You are the last of the Uchiha," she continued, unwavering. "The only one left to carry their name, their legacy, their dreams. Avenging them is part of that, yes, but it isn't the end goal. It never was. And I know you know that."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. Then, softly, she reminded him:
"Besides, you told us your ninja way, didn't you?"
Sasuke closed his eyes. His voice was barely above a whisper. "...I'll never let any of my comrades die."
"Exactly," Kimiko said. "And if you betray this village—if you abandon us—you might as well kill us yourself."
She let the silence stretch for a heartbeat before her voice dropped, cold and unwavering.
"And if you do go through with it, Sasuke—I'll kill you myself, right here."
His eyes snapped up to hers, wide with shock.
Kimiko didn't blink. "And then, I'll take my father's sword and open my own stomach to regain my honor after killing someone I consider my family."
A flicker of something passed through Sasuke's face—anger, disbelief, something unreadable.
"We need you," she said, her voice quieter now. "You heard what Itachi said. He's coming for Naruto—for the Nine-Tails inside him. Do you really want to leave him to face that alone?"
Sasuke's breath hitched, barely perceptible.
"You want to kill Itachi?" Kimiko pressed. "Then stay. Stay by Naruto's side. You're more likely to cross paths with him that way. You'll get your chance. And when you do?" She met his gaze, her red eyes steady. "You won't just be avenging your clan—you'll be honoring them."
Sasuke exhaled, his tense shoulders slumping slightly, the fire in his eyes dimming. His expression turned pensive, thoughtful.
Then, finally—resigned, exhausted—he sighed.
Three.
Kimiko knew then. She had won.
Not just against Orochimaru, but against fate itself.
The future had shifted irreversibly, the course of this world no longer bound by the chains of inevitability. Naruto would no longer chase after Sasuke, no longer spend years searching for a friend lost to darkness. There would be no defection, no desperate pursuit—Sasuke would remain, standing alongside them as a loyal shinobi of Konoha.
And for the first time in a long while, Kimiko felt satisfied.
A part of her still feared the unknown—feared that by altering this moment, she had doomed the world to an outcome worse than the one she had once known. Would Sasuke, without Orochimaru's brutal training, still reach the heights of power he had in the anime? Would he be strong enough to stand against the trials yet to come?
She exhaled, glancing at him.
Yes.
She had seen firsthand how much stronger he had already become under her subtle guidance. And if she had to, she would find a way to push him further—beyond even what he had achieved in the original story.
That was a battle for another day.
"Okay!" Naruto's voice cut through her thoughts, bright and full of relief. He grinned widely, his energy infectious. "Now that that's settled, let's go back to the village!"
Kimiko let out a quiet breath, allowing herself a small smile.
For now, that was enough.
On their way back to the village, a blur of movement intercepted them. Kotetsu and Izumo appeared in front of them, their expressions lined with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
"The Hokage wants to— Oh, seriously," Kotetsu sighed, rubbing his forehead. "How many times have we given you guys this exact message? You know where to go and what she wants."
Without further prompting, the three of them made a beeline for the Hokage's office, cutting through the quiet, dimly lit streets of Konoha. The usual bustling energy had long since settled into the tranquility of the night, but Kimiko's heartbeat refused to match the stillness around them.
This was it.
They were on the cusp of something significant. Another mission, undoubtedly. One that might mirror what she had known before… or one that would shift the course of their lives irreversibly.
She was only pulled from her thoughts when the heavy doors of the Hokage's office swung open, revealing Tsunade. Her usual casual air was absent—she looked severe, her eyes sharp as they took them in.
She wasn't alone.
Seated in a wheelchair to her left was Hiruzen Sarutobi, his presence lending a quiet but undeniable weight to the room. To her right stood Danzo, his hand resting on his cane, his impassive gaze betraying nothing. Shikamaru and Neji were already present, standing to the side, their expressions unreadable as they turned to glance at them before refocusing on Tsunade.
The tension in the air thickened.
"Alright," Tsunade said at last, her tone brokering no nonsense. "You're going to tell me exactly what happened."
Her gaze shifted, locking onto Sasuke.
He didn't hesitate. Stepping forward, his posture straight, he met her eyes directly as he began his report.
"After Uzumaki Naruto, Shinobi Identification Number 012607, and I completed our sparring session, I went for solo training west of the village in Training Ground Sixty-Six, approximately three kilometers from the West Gate," Sasuke stated, his voice measured and precise. "After finishing my exercises, I was on my way back when I detected four unidentified presences trailing me. I instructed them to reveal themselves, which they did. Shortly after, Yuhi Kimiko, Shinobi Identification Number 012605, arrived to provide backup."
Kimiko resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Trust Sasuke to be so formal about this.
"After identifying themselves, we informed them that, due to their affiliation with a village that had recently attacked Konoha, we would be taking them into custody. They responded with hostility, declaring their identities as the Sound Four of Otogakure—Kidomaru of the East Gate, Jirobo of the South Gate, Sakon of the West Gate, and Tayuya of the North Gate."
He paused, his expression hardening.
"They engaged us in combat immediately, demonstrating abilities and strength roughly equivalent to that of a high-level chuunin, potentially even jonin. They each possessed a Curse Mark similar to mine," Sasuke continued, tilting his head slightly.
Kimiko noticed how Shikamaru and Neji subtly shifted their attention to Sasuke at that revelation.
"However, unlike mine, theirs appeared to be more advanced. They were able to harness its power without suffering the same pain-induced drawbacks."
Kimiko nearly furrowed her brows. So he had been feeling pain from his mark and kept it from them.
Sasuke exhaled before proceeding.
"Eventually, we received reinforcements from Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Neji, Identification Number 012587, and Nara Shikamaru, Identification Number 012611."
Another brief pause.
"The Sound Four then chose to retreat, presumably realizing they were at a disadvantage."
Tsunade leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. "And what do you believe their objective was?"
Sasuke's gaze flickered toward her before he responded. "They expressed Orochimaru's intent to bring Kimiko and me under his tutelage—for different reasons."
Tsunade clicked her tongue in irritation, her brows furrowing. Hiruzen's face darkened with concern, but Danzo remained as impassive as ever, his one visible eye cold and unreadable.
Kimiko clenched her fists at her sides.
She had known this conversation was coming. But now, standing before Konoha's highest authorities, she felt the weight of their scrutiny settle heavily upon her shoulders.
"And why didn't they take you by force?" Tsunade asked, her tone sharp and probing.
Kimiko responded this time. "They wanted us to come willingly," she explained. "They used words designed to provoke us, to trigger something deeply personal. They mentioned Uchiha Itachi to Sasuke… and my father's death to me."
She caught the brief glance exchanged between Hiruzen and Danzo, and a frown tugged at her lips. They're thinking about Itachi and what happened back then…
Hiruzen sighed. "Your father died a hero. I was not awake to see who struck him down, but—"
"It was chaos," Danzo interjected, his voice quieter than usual. "I was barely standing myself after sealing one of the Hokages. He was the last one on his feet. I could not see who struck the final blow, nor could our medics determine the cause."
Tsunade leaned forward, lacing her fingers together. "I personally re-examined Shinku-sama's body. The findings were… inconclusive. I wish I had more answers."
A pause hung in the air before she refocused. "But let's return to the matter at hand. You believe the Sound Four are waiting for you two, then?"
"They are," Kimiko confirmed. "They said we 'know where to find them.'"
"And do you?"
Kimiko gave a slight nod. "I can make an educated guess. They'll need to be far enough from the village to avoid detection, but close enough for a quick departure. Since their likely destination is Otogakure, they're probably stationed a few kilometers north of the village."
Tsunade exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "Alright. Good work bringing this to me."
"Indeed," Danzo agreed. "But we cannot afford to overlook an opportunity like this. These are Orochimaru's elite subordinates. They likely hold invaluable intelligence on Otogakure and the man himself. This is not a chance we can let slip through our fingers."
Tsunade's brow furrowed as she turned to him. "What do you propose?"
Danzo tapped his cane lightly. "We send a team to intercept them. My ANBU are more than capable of capturing these shinobi."
Hiruzen coughed lightly before speaking. "No doubt, Danzo. But we must remain vigilant. Iwagakure is surely deploying operatives into the Land of Fire, and only your division of ANBU has the capacity to counter them. We cannot afford to neglect our security."
Kimiko's eyes flickered. A clever way to tie him down. But is it the wisest move?
Danzo's expression remained unreadable. "And yet, we lack available forces for a mission of this magnitude," he pressed.
"Yes," Tsunade admitted, rubbing her temple. "Most of our jonin are deployed—either on assignments or stationed in the Land of Grass. The closest unit we have is Shizune's team, but they won't return from their mission in Takigakure until tomorrow. By then—"
"It will be too late." Kimiko finished, drawing their attention.
Straightening her posture, she faced them with unwavering conviction.
"Danzo-sama, Hiruzen-sama, Hokage-sama," Kimiko addressed them formally. "There is only one viable course of action." She let a beat of silence settle before continuing. "We must use the resources available to us."
Then, she spoke her proposal.
"Sasuke and I will go with the Sound Four."
"What?!" Naruto burst out, turning on her. Sasuke stiffened as well, his gaze snapping to hers in disbelief.
Kimiko raised a hand, cutting off their protests. "Let me finish."
"We will go with them… while Neji, Naruto, and Shikamaru assemble a team to tail us from behind. Once we've drawn the Sound Four deep enough, the team will ambush them from behind while Sasuke and I attack from within their ranks."
Tsunade's expression was unreadable. "That is incredibly dangerous," she warned. "Are you aware of the risks?"
Kimiko remained resolute. "A kunoichi is trained in deception and concealment. I will ensure we misdirect them long enough for the backup team to trap them. The advantage will be ours."
Tsunade's sharp eyes narrowed. "And how do we ensure this isn't a ploy for you to defect to Orochimaru?"
Kimiko had expected this. Tsunade's past encounters with Orochimaru made her cautious—rightfully so. And Kimiko herself was, at best, a suspicious figure, someone who had provided the village with valuable intelligence and aid… but not yet someone fully trusted.
"Tsunade," Danzo interjected suddenly, turning to her. "Forgive my impudence, Hokage-sama, but Kimiko and Sasuke have consistently completed high-risk missions for Konoha. They have proven their loyalty and capability time and time again, despite their young age."
Tsunade's lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing, studying them in silence.
Danzo coming to my defense…? Kimiko narrowed her eyes slightly. What's his angle?
Tsunade exhaled heavily, rubbing her temple before addressing the room.
"Very well." Her voice was firm, decisive. "Shikamaru, Neji, Naruto—gather the most skilled genin you believe can handle this mission. Sasuke, Kimiko—debrief the pursuit team with all the intelligence you have, then prepare for infiltration."
Her gaze swept across them, weighty with authority. "This will be classified as an A-rank mission, both in complexity and risk. Approach it with full commitment. And be clear—no one should feel pressured into taking this mission. If anyone hesitates, they are to stay behind. Understood?"
A pause. Then, a final, resolute nod. "Good luck to all of you."
Kimiko pressed her fist into her palm and bowed deeply in formal acknowledgment. She expected Sasuke to remain standing, his usual aloofness intact—but to her surprise, all the chuunin beside her mirrored her gesture, heads bowed in quiet respect.
Here's a refined version with improved pacing, tone, and emotional weight:
It took them less than an hour to finalize their strategy. Shikamaru, Naruto, and Neji were gathered in the planning room, hunched over their hastily scribbled notes. Kimiko had given them as much information as she could about the Sound Four. The fact that she and Sasuke had forced them into their second-stage Curse Marks meant the team had a clear picture of just how dangerous they were.
She was equally grateful that the Sound Four had revealed enough of their skill sets for her to make "educated guesses"—or, more accurately, use her knowledge from the anime to fill in the gaps. Thankfully, no one questioned her deductions too closely. The weight of the mission and the firsthand experience she'd had fighting them made her words gospel.
Still, as the others planned, Kimiko remained outside, leaning against the wall, eyes on the dark sky. She had been on dangerous missions before—several times. But something about this one felt different . There was an unfamiliar weight to it, an ominous edge she couldn't quite shake.
"Premonition? Or just nerves?"
"You okay?"
She turned slightly. Sasuke stood beside her, arms crossed, mirroring her stance against the wall.
"Yeah," she said, though it didn't feel entirely true. After a pause, she sighed. "I just… have a weird feeling. That, and I don't even get to tell my mom I'm leaving on yet another potentially fatal mission."
Sasuke exhaled. "The life we signed up for." His voice was steady, but there was something almost resigned in it. Then, after a pause, he added, "Listen… Kimiko, I… really have to thank you."
She turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
He looked away, the faintest blush on his cheeks. "I honestly don't know what would've happened if you hadn't talked me down."
I do. She swallowed the thought. You would've left. Become a missing-nin. An international criminal.
Instead, she smiled. "Don't mention it."
A beat of silence passed before she added, softly, "I love you, you know that, right?"
Sasuke's lips parted slightly, then he sighed, tilting his head back to the sky. "…I love you too."
The moment was interrupted by the creak of the door.
"Hey," came Naruto's voice as he, Neji, and Shikamaru stepped out.
"We've assembled the team," Shikamaru announced, slipping his hands into his pockets. "We'll go inform them now. Good luck, you two."
With that, he and Neji turned, heading off into the night.
Naruto lingered. He shifted his weight, hesitated—then exhaled sharply.
"…You two better be safe," he said, gaze flicking between them. "I won't forgive either of you if you die."
Kimiko smiled. Sasuke merely snorted.
That wasn't enough for Naruto, apparently, because in the next instant, he surged forward and wrapped them both in a crushing hug, making Kimiko grunt in protest.
"Tch, let go, loser," Sasuke grumbled—but didn't actually push him away.
As Naruto loosened his grip, Kimiko reached out, pressing both hands against the backs of their heads, tilting them together. Foreheads met in a three-way triangle, their breaths mixing in the cool night air.
She closed her eyes. A promise.
"We'll be safe," she murmured. "I promise. We'll all come back alive."
With a final glance at the two of them, Naruto stepped back, his expression shifting between reluctance and determination. Then, without another word, he turned and sprinted after Neji and Shikamaru, disappearing into the night.
Left alone, Kimiko and Sasuke exchanged a glance. Neither spoke, but the weight of the moment settled between them.
Sasuke gave her a small nod, and she returned it.
They exhaled almost in unison before turning in the opposite direction, their path set.
The streets of Konoha were silent at this hour, the moon casting long shadows across empty roads. Not a soul stirred. Kimiko kept her back ramrod straight, every step purposeful, but to her surprise, Sasuke reached out—his hand slipping into hers.
She glanced at him, but he said nothing, eyes fixed ahead as they crossed the quiet thoroughfare. His grip was firm, steady, and she allowed it, their hands entwined as they walked through the hushed village.
The chuunin stationed at the northern gate barely spared them a glance as they passed, though she could feel their eyes lingering. They had been informed. The mission was in motion.
Beyond the gates, the night was alive only with the chirping of crickets, the rustle of leaves in the wind. The air smelled of damp earth and cooling stone as they moved uphill.
She felt them before she saw them. Four distinct, vile signatures just beyond the rise.
The Sound Four stood waiting, their forms becoming visible against the dim moonlight. Sakon was at the forefront, his gaze locking onto hers and Sasuke's.
"Sasuke-sama, Kimiko-sama," he said, voice oddly reverent. "We have been waiting for you."
And then—he dropped to one knee. A hand on his thigh, head bowed.
The others followed suit.
Kimiko's mask of imperious indifference never wavered, but Sasuke blinked, visibly taken aback before smoothing his expression into neutrality.
"What's with the change in attitude?" Sasuke asked, arching a brow.
"The moment you left the village, you became our leaders," Sakon answered without hesitation. "That has always been the plan."
There was something in his voice—subtle, but there. Surprise. As if he hadn't actually expected them to come.
"Forgive our earlier conduct," he continued, head still bowed.
Sasuke scoffed. "Yeah, whatever. Let's just get on with it."
Kimiko, however, arched a brow. This is an opportunity.
"Sasuke-kun," she said smoothly, turning toward him. "I will take command."
Her voice was arch, carrying authority. "As Orochimaru-sama's heir and chief disciple, I will take responsibility for leading us to Otogakure."
The Sound Four offered no protest, merely waiting.
Sasuke, to his credit, caught on quickly. He released her hand, stepping aside without argument. She noted the subtle glances exchanged between Tayuya and Kidomaru—both had noticed. Good. Let them wonder.
"Whatever," Sasuke muttered. "Let's just get a move on."
"Good," Kimiko said, eyeing the four kneeling figures. "Stand up. We have a journey ahead of us."
The Sound Four rose without hesitation.
"We only managed to evade detection because we knew the back alleys," Kimiko continued. "But it won't take long for the rest of Konoha to be alerted to our departure. We need to move quickly."
"Your orders, Kimiko-sama?" Sakon asked.
"We'll be avoiding the main roads. Any unnecessary combat is to be avoided—it will only slow us down," she stated coolly. And prevent unnecessary casualties.
"And," she continued, "I will be taking the rear. My passive sensory abilities will act as our radar. I know this country better than you—I will determine the safest path, avoiding detection and evading pursuers if necessary."
Her gaze swept over them, unwavering. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Kimiko-sama!" they answered in unison.
Satisfied, she turned toward the road ahead.
And so it begins.