Chapter 32: The Purpose
"Nothing is more creative…nor destructive…than a brilliant mind with a purpose."
-Dan Brown, Inferno
Sasuke & Itachi-Uchiha Hideout
'One explosion after another.' Sasuke wipes at his lips.
Tiny specks of white clay, torn skin, and dirt smear his fingers, Deidara's final words still buzzing in his ears.
"Brothers in Death: A fitting title for the explosion of art that will be you two's bodies scattered across this forest floor as your eternal resting place! People will discuss it for decades to come!" Deidara cackles. Blue eyes swirl with vengeance, anger rippling off of him at their continued silence.
Itachi faintly nudges at his arm.
"We should end this now and put him of out of his misery. He isn't going to stop until one of us is dead."
Sasuke shrugs him away, concentrates forming another chidori while Itachi unleashes another blaze of fire.
"Fire Release: Molten Hellfire!"
Rings of black and red flames encircle Deidara, ground beneath burning to ash.
Deidara scoffs, slams down a foot creating a wall of stone before the flames can touch his skin again, sneers that some of the embers are mere illusions.
"Earth Release: Mud Wall!"
It's only a temporary measure, bits of the wall exploding out stone, mud, and fireballs when Sasuke's chidori cuts through.
"What? You two thought you'd gang up on me and burn me to a crisp out here hmm? I've been studying all the abilities the Uchiha clan uses, trained my left eye to not fall to your genjutsus. I patiently waited for the day when eventually I could finally turn the tables on you both for demeaning my art!"
Though even as Deidara says this his breath is labored, brows creased at the effort. Itachi's flames have burnt at his attire and skin no matter how much clay and mud he uses to stop the fires revealing blackening flesh, body slowing with each attack he's done.
His C1 grade fleas lie burnt and melted at his feet, clay dragon blackened in pieces behind them.
But there's little fear of death in his eyes, minutes ticking towards his last hours, not bothering to escape while he still has the chance.
Deidara grits his teeth until they crunch. "Neither of you still have anything to say regarding my creations?!"
Itachi gets in front of Sasuke before he can launch a chidori current, sighs.
"Listen, you're getting low on chakra. Just give up now while you're still breathing so you don't die. Your anger with the Uchiha clan started with me; didn't it? Leave Sasuke out of this."
Sasuke bristles at him trying to protect him now after all he's done, lightning at ready to slam into his back to force him out of the way only for Deidara to let out a low growl of frustration.
"Ah, I get it. Nothing I say will ever get through to you assholes. Always acting so fucking smug and superior with those eyes! It's time I show you both my ultimate art, let it blind you two before you both go out in death!"
His body becomes translucent, and Sasuke notes the bomb right upon his heart as Deidara undoes its stitching and feeds it the last of his clay.
'A suicide bomb.' His stomach drops.
Deidara smacks a hand flat to the ground, soil rising up in a typhoon of mud and dirt shrouding everything in black.
"Are you ready? Look closely and witness this explosion neither of you will be able to escape!" He shouts before detonating.
'Damn it, we're too close in range!' Sasuke draws in a breath, clenches his eyes shut as all of Deidara's body starts to get enveloped in white.
He nicks his thumb, slams it to the ground.
"Summoning jutsu!"
Itachi turns to look back at him as heat engulfs the terrain, grins proudly.
"See you at the base Little Brother."
Manda curses him with his dying breaths once the blast and aftershocks cease, but Sasuke's gaze is on desolate fields going on for miles in every direction.
No Deidara. No Itachi.
'Focus. Focus.' His spits away dust on his tongue.
Slowly, he shakes away static and ringing from his ears, looks up to see a single crow circling above.
Itachi's crow.
It starts moving north and he gives follow to where he must've gone ahead.
He's only visited the Uchiha hideout once years ago as a child. He was more focused on the spiraling green hills, the deep forests where he played hide and seek with other clan members during long summer afternoons.
He pauses as he ducks under vines, blinks and sees his 5-year-old self twisting past moss-covered rocks, chirp of cicadas filling the woods.
"Wait up Big Brother, I want to climb to the top with you!"
He blinks again and the memory is gone, those days are gone...
The crow caws overhead, gestures inside towards the main meeting hall Father and the others once used to discuss business deals and opportunities for promotions with various assignments.
But now the air is thick with heat and blood, sun drilling on his back as Itachi meets him at the entrance.
Red eyes spin up in unison, blades drawn.
"I'm ending this. For everything you've done; now!" Sasuke declares.
Metal screeches out trading blows until the ground sinks in beneath them, fireballs scorching stone, tree, and grass all around.
He studies Itachi's calm posture even at blood dried to a copper brown clinging to his chin and lips, cough erupting out of him.
Sasuke's eyes widen. "So he was telling the truth. You're dying."
Itachi shrugs. "I can still fight, don't assume I'm weak due to-"
"How long?!" Sasuke cuts him off harshly.
Dark eyes flatten. "Why does it matter? It doesn't change that our parents are dead, that the clan is gone via my hand."
Sasuke steps forward until he's a foot away, blinks away his illusions, fire crackling at his feet.
Susanoo's armor can't last forever, not with him chipping away at his chakra like this, goading him to still trade blows.
"Tell me. How long have you been dying?" He repeats.
Itachi glances away for a moment, sighs.
"...I was diagnosed when I was 15 or 16. Around your age now Sasuke."
Sasuke stiffens. Not very long after the massacre then.
"What is this? Some blood disorder or respiratory thing?" He cracks out.
Itachi hums. "So many questions Little Brother. The illness is an interstitial lung disease. I possibly developed it from a mission or from the aftereffects of a prior war. To put it simply, inflammation to my lungs has been worsening over the years. My airways are probably littered with scar tissue from previous infections. I stopped taking my medication a few months after I learned you defected from Konoha."
His veins fill with ice, stomach knotting at Itachi's apparent bored look explaining this all.
'3 years. I left Konoha 3 years ago.' Sasuke counts back.
And he stopped all treatment then, has damaged his lungs and other organs beyond repair.
Itachi places a hand to his shoulder forcing Sasuke to look at him.
"It's okay Sasuke, really. You're so much stronger now! I knew everything I did having you relive the pain would work out in the end. Once you kill me, go back home to Konoha and be a hero, restore our clan's name. I couldn't do things exactly as planned, too many interferences from leadership..."
Sasuke pushes him off. "What?! Why go back to Konoha if they knew you had this illness? What 'interferences'? Are you talking about Lord Third back then or his advisors?"
Itachi's eyes swirl crimson once more, closes back in on him, hands curling at his throat until he gasps.
"No, Sasuke! You have to! The scrolls better explain it, they'll be inside our clan's old tunnels back at the main compound. Ever since...Ever since the Nine Tails Fox's attack, the Uchiha clan was believed to have controlled the beast. Our punishment was to be restricted to that back area of the village, our sacrificial gifts to the jinchuriki always had to be twice as much as the other clans. You can change that Sasuke, restore our honor." Itachi asserts, eyes turning wild and dark as he shakes him.
'Rain. I need storm clouds.' Sasuke pants while catching puffs of air, nails digging at his hands to tear him off.
This is his last gambit. Orochimaru has been completely sealed off, none of his flames and prior lightning attacks have stopped his brother.
The sky above thunders, ripping himself completely away from Itachi's grip.
"I don't take orders from you or anybody!" Sasuke roars.
Kirin slams down fully breaking Susanoo, Itachi stumbling briefly, coughs wracking his body.
But then he steps forward for him once again, grins as Sasuke tries to move back.
'How is he still moving?'
"I understand Sasuke. You'll know what I mean once you get to those scrolls and stone tablets. But for now, I'm sorry...this is goodbye."
His fingers reach out, tap the center of his head and for a flicker of a moment as lightning flashes he's 5 again, toddling after his brother's legs, hands curling at his figure.
"Stay still Big Brother, I'm not as fast as you!" Sasuke whines, clings tighter to his side at Itachi's chuckle.
He ruffles at his hair, taps his forehead gently before he gently pries him off, heads for the door.
"Next time Sasuke. I can't be late for this assignment. I'll do target practice and fireball jutsu training just like I promised by week's end when I'm off!"
The lightning dissipates, Itachi's body falls.
He hits the ground with a dull thud, onyx eyes now glassy and blank.
Sasuke looks over his still form, bites his tongue until blood erupts, drips down his chin to match Itachi's.
His gaze takes to the sky as rain sloshes in, sliding down beside his corpse.
Is he dead by his hand or illness?
He wipes at his face smearing ash and rain, shuts his eyes.
His heartbeat finally quiets, but his mind is still caught in a hundred thoughts.
Even in death, his brother is an enigma.
'Everything I wanted, trained for years for...'
Sakura & Jugo- Northern Hideout
Jugo crushes humans like insects, laughter bouncing off the walls.
"Hah, that's what you get for trying to steal my lunch Genta!"
Sakura shudders from up above as she observes, takes in as he swings around a corpse like a rope before smacking it against the closest wall, blood trickling out of the ashen body as it crumples to the floor.
He looks around for a new body to mess with from the pile.
Sakura's mind flits back in time. Naruto's, Ino's, and Lady Tsunade's warnings echoing up.
Sakura studies beads of sweat upon Ino's face, absently pushes her glass of water closer to her instead.
"Anything?" She questions gently as she comes out of the mind transfer, Karin curled up in her cell trying to look as small as possible. Ino blows out a breath, cerulean eyes softening on her figure.
"She's lived a hard life to put it mildly. From her mother to then her being used as a portable healer will do a number on anyone's psyche. Not to mention having to break through the constant walls she puts up." Ino sighs, takes a thankful sip of her drink.
"We can take a break?" Sakura offers.
Ino instantly shakes her head, stretches out her arms. "No, I like doing this. Keeps my mind busy and off of...you know."
Asuma's funeral was last week, Team 10 seems to be just as fractured as her own.
Sakura rolls at her shoulders, Inoichi and Ibiki giving the nod anyways they're done for today.
Ino instantly bounces from her seat, grabs Sakura by the hand to get them out of the dark and damp walls of the interrogation ward.
"So...how have you and Shikamaru been?" Sakura asks hesitantly. She doesn't bother in bringing up Sai knowing that he spends from morning to evening at Konoha's library trying to find a way to converse with them and others without coming off as rude.
Ino's gaze takes to the cloudy day, lips flattening. "Ehh, we've been better. Shikamaru's picked up Asuma's smoking habits right where he left off. Sai is being patient with us thankfully and keeping his distance, so there's that."
She stops in place by the dango and tea shop she used to see Asuma-sensei frequent with Kurenai-sensei.
From what Hinata and Team 8 have told her, Kurenai's barely left her apartment since the funeral services ended. They along with Shikamaru have been taking turns making sure she's eating and staying hydrated for the baby...
Ino's fists tighten at her sides, Sakura turning to look at her fully.
"We want to go after Hidan and Kakuzu so damn bad Sakura, lingering here about the village doesn't feel right. I-I don't know what to do with this rage except train and go to interrogation rounds with Dad, but...but it's not enough! I want to see them both dead, torture them the same way they did to Asuma-sensei before he died."
The venom drops from her voice as it breaks, tears mixing with her flushed face as Sakura pulls her in for a hug. She murmurs soft promises they'll come up with a plan eventually, taking on two Akatsuki members can't be rushed.
The next day she meets Naruto at the training grounds for a final practice round before she moves on for her next target.
"You don't understand, we can't just...Sasuke needs to know he has a home to go back to!" Sakura declares as she preps for this assignment. Jugo is hard hitter similar enough to Naruto.
And rumor has it that he has a temper that could probably match Naruto's too.
She's practiced her lines with Lady Tsunade dozens of times over on how to approach him, crafted this new persona she'll use to a T.
Sabotaging anyone who may want to join Sasuke down his dark path is one of the safest and effective options they can go with.
And really, the less members that join the Akatsuki or are associated with them, the better.
Naruto skirts Sakura's punch while she ducks under his spiral of wind, sparring session coming to an end. She clenches her teeth as he sighs in that same pitying way that's beginning to grate on her ears.
First Anko-sensei, then Lady Tsunade and Kakashi-sensei, now Naruto again...
"Is Konoha 'home' Sakura? We don't know if Sasuke feels that way y'know. I mean, I mean, I don't." Naruto snorts.
Sakura blinks, verdant twisting to him in surprise. She can't read Naruto's expression to tell whether he's joking or not. He wouldn't just up and leave Konoha too, would he? No, he can't, not when he's their village's jinchuriki and currently being targeted by the Akatsuki. Not to mention, haven't his annual appeasement gifts been better than previous years to make him want to stay?
She rolls her eyes, forces on a smile. "Of course Konoha is home Naruto. It's where Hinata is, Master Jiraiya, and not to mention, Ichiraku's!"
Naruto doesn't match her grin. "Hinata and I could always just move. As for Ichiraku's, well we could just import their food! Like Pervy-Sage, there's nothing that really makes me want to stay here long term."
Sakura purses her lips, words escaping her until Naruto breaks into teasing grin.
"Lighten up Sakura! Course Hinata and I are going to travel, I still plan to be Konoha's ambassador one day! An ambassador doesn't sit still is all."
Sakura kicks up blades of grass, changes the subject. "Sasuke may be the enemy now, but he doesn't have to be, not forever."
Azure sharpens to her as her tone softens with nostalgia.
"And what do you plan to do if he says no to coming back Sakura? Rejects your feelings and whatever his own may be for you? What do you want to do moving forward as a shinobi? What are your goals?"
Sakura counts her breaths until they calm, sprays out the lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary.
As long as Sasuke is happy and at peace, then she'll be fine.
Even if he never returns to Konoha or by her side...
Her heart skitters at the thought of that reality, if he'll always be a rogue shinobi.
She couldn't answer all of Naruto's questions back then, but she can now as she hops down and approaches Jugo in her medical attire, pinches her mask to her nose.
The poison should be thoroughly coated throughout the room now.
A doctor that can help in emergencies and in mental healthcare.
Orange eyes instantly turn to her as her footsteps approach, holds up a hand for him to relax.
"Who are you? Another scientist Orochimaru's brought in to study me? Or a prisoner?" Jugo questions.
Sakura smiles, clasps her hands together.
"Neither. I'm a doctor-in-training and I'm here to break you out of here. If you'd like that is."
Jugo studies her hard then.
"Break me out, huh? Are you aware of my abilities? What I've done to everyone who gets too close?"
Jade eyes drop to the corpse on his left, nods.
"I wouldn't be standing here eye to eye with you if I didn't. Your abilities for Sage transformation is what drew Orochimaru's interest in the first place. However, that's not why I'm here. I'd like to help you have better control over your emotions even if you tap into your powers."
He scoffs, arm forming into a blade.
"And if I don't?"
Sakura hums. "Well, do you want to end up like Kimimaro? Only living to serve another?"
His hand quivers by Sakura's neck as if bitten by that comment, wrinkles his nose.
He grits his teeth as his sclerae darkens.
"Bitch, what did you do to me?!" He snaps, drives up pieces of stone, wind howling about the cells.
Sakura dodges around his swings, tsks as his rampage start to bring down this very room.
'Okay, those scents aren't calming him down any. I'll need my heavy dosage.' She decides.
His axe arm swings too close, holds in a yelp at the cut he gets into her left elbow.
"We don't need to fight! I know that's what you're used to, but I'm not interested in that." Sakura relates as she starts healing at the wound.
Jugo studies the droplets of blood that hit the pavement, cracks his knuckles.
'Oh, that's his piston fist.' She marvels, pulls out her syringe as he poises said arm for her head.
She injects foxglove, jumps back raising up a hand.
"Water Release: Typhoon jet!"
It only knocks him back a few feet, Sakura sighing in relief as he starts to pant.
"I used a moderately high dosage of that foxglove based on my assumptions of your height and weight. Orochimaru and Kabuto don't have that many notes on you." Sakura regards, takes out a stethoscope to monitor his heart.
Jugo fidgets, eyes widening at the rash that forms around where she poked him.
"What...What have you done?" He rasps out.
Sakura assesses him over, crouches in front of him. "Nothing, I just wanted you to cool down. Foxglove leaves and petals used to be used in the Warring States period to control heart failure. Your heartrate is slowing now, but not enough to kill you."
Orange eyes burn into green, hears the edge in her voice.
And then his eyes move to the scalpel right by his neck.
"I can paralyze you; Lady Tsunade taught me." Sakura murmurs.
She smiles again but her eyes darken, expression making him shift back from her.
"Why are you doing this? You're the one they've been muttering about that liberated those prisoners in the southern hideout." He realizes.
Sakura sighs at that. Kabuto has subjected the prisoners to harsher punishments in the other hideouts because of her.
But at least he hasn't connected it back to her.
"So, this medicine will keep me calm, can stop me from hurting others?" Jugo questions, regaining her attention.
She nods. "And not just via herbal remedies. Ones to help you through anxiety attacks, mood swings, and depression."
Jugo stills for a long moment, cardinal flying down from the rafters.
He murmurs something to it before nodding as it takes flight again.
"It said you hail from the Land of Fire, that there's been a lot of activity there as of late in the surrounding forests."
Sakura shrugs, doesn't confirm or deny this.
'Suigetsu will be a challenge. I have nothing to offer or entice him.'
He can easily change his body into liquid, only airborne poisons will work on him and she isn't 100 percent certain on that.
She's heard he's a collector of rare swords, but she has no connections in that business.
'Maybe Tenten might know something?' Sakura absently considers.
Jugo shakily forces himself to stand despite his eyes drooping.
'She snuck some sleeping drugs in that shit too.' He grunts at the effort.
"I'll go, if only because you managed to clear my mind in an instant."
Sakura nods as his vision goes black slumping back against the walls, but he picks up on her last words.
"I don't want Sasuke or anybody using you as a weapon."
Jiraiya-Amegakure, Make-Out Pub
"Huh, not very often we get passing wanderers around these parts. Especially with how dreary our weather always is." Tezuna murmurs.
Her cowbell necklace tinkles as she wipes down the counter, offers Jiraiya a towel seeing how soaked his clothes are. Rain falls in an endless light patter behind him, clink of raindrops hitting metal filling the silence.
Jiraiya winks as he catches her gaze once more. "Even passing travelers get thirsty, in need to see a pretty face, and to fuel up on some grub!"
Tezuna giggles. "Oh how I wish my Ryusui still sweet-talked that way to me!"
Jiraiya searches around for said man, it's just them two here despite it being the lunch hour. He pulls his stare down to his sake; she painfully and amusingly reminds him of Tsunade all at once.
'I should've gotten a kiss to go before coming out here.' He bemuses if she'd slap him or return it. She's probably at the Hokage office right now or a pachinko den.
Customers pack gentleman clubs, brothels, and gambling houses similar to this in Konoha's red light district no matter the time of day.
Something is off about this whole village.
"Hey, what's got everybody so spooked around here? Normally villages like this are bustling."
Tezuna's smile drops. "Unlike the bigger nations that border us in the north and south, we have no bijuu or jinchuriki to count on for blessings. Our Angel is the one that protects us instead and we don't even need to provide her with sacrifices in return for her generosity."
'Angel?' Jiraiya repeats to himself.
He considers the photos in vest pocket, if he should ask her if they've seen any of those men before.
"Oh, a customer! Sorry, I was helping Eikichi in the back with handling some goods." Ryusui pops his head out from the kitchen, Jiraiya straightening his posture.
Tezuna beams. "No need to apologize Dear! A wandering merchant who goes by Junichiro is just getting a bite in."
Jiraiya waves, stands at the lingering odor coming off of him.
He's been around Tsunade and endured wars long enough to know the scent of decayed flesh.
'Are they hiding dead bodies around here?'
"Need some more help? I could use a good, quick workout!" Jiraiya offers.
Ryusui hesitates for a fraction of a second, glances to Tezuna who shrugs.
A silent communication passes between them before he reluctantly nods.
"Sure, a lot of my usual helpers are out today so I'm multitasking."
As soon as they go out back to the storage area, Jiraiya traps him.
He freezes up in shock as the room gives way to intestines, legs and arms stuck against the side.
"W-What are you doing?!" Ryusui yelps, Jiraiya covering his mouth before he can start yelling.
Jiraiya grins. "Relax! I just have some questions for you."
He flashes out the photos. "Do any of these figures look familiar to you?"
Ryusui twists his head away. "I knew you were suspicious! Tezuna never should've let some old perv in!"
Jiraiya ignores his barb, forces his head to look forward.
"Think harder Ryusui. The stomach acid is coming and it's strong enough to melt skin, maybe even bone."
He taps his index finger to his head.
"Or I can just turn you into a toad! No one, including your pretty wife will ever know what happened to you."
Ryusui squirms, studies the images again.
"Those are...the corpses I brought with Yudachi to the highest tower. I don't know what the Angel and God use them for though, I swear! We accept their blessings in protecting us from outsiders like you and ask no questions in return!"
'That term 'Angel' again and 'God'. It seems Hanzo was long ago overthrown as leader of this area.' Jiraiya considers.
He mulls over his memories of his time with the Ame orphans as he undoes the jutsu, pauses seeing a single sheet of paper on the wall opposite Ryusui now.
His eyes widen, leaps back as the paper bomb detonates.
Konan slides out of the shadows, glances to Ryusui.
"Go. Tezuna is already heading to the central square, you can meet her there." She orders.
Ryusui bows thankfully, rushes back out front.
"Thank you Angel!"
Jiraiya snorts as he leaves before grinning.
"Ah, Konan, you've grown up into a fine young woman! Where are the others?"
She ignores his question, takes flight with her paper wings.
"...You shouldn't have snooped where you don't belong sensei. Whatever secrets you learned will die with you."
Jiraiya draws in a breath as she rains down her paper into a torrent.
"Fire Release: Flame Oil Bullet!"
The destruction crumples at the walls, taking their attacks back to outside.
'She's using the same blitz attacks of paper, stalling me.' Jiraiya realizes.
And sure enough, a second figure approaches out of the rain.
'Yahiko?' Jiraiya studies him, tests out a theory.
He binds Konan with his hair, gazes between them both.
"Nagato, right? Are you using Yahiko's body? What happened to you three after I departed? It's been too long since I've seen all of you! I just need to know why you're going after Tailed Beasts! I'm sure you've all heard the stories of povery, famine, and war when jinchurikis are taken from their villages." Jiraiya expresses between sprays of toad oil.
Nagato summons a crustacean, cuts Konan free. He gestures with his head in the opposite direction for her to depart the area.
"Yahiko has been dead for decades sensei. And with his death, I learned your philosophies will never work. Sacrificial gifts to the bijuu and their jinchuriki holders haven't done anything to stop wars or calm their ire at humanity. Therefore, I will take them all and destroy every village, force peace through pain."
Jiraiya shakes his head at such an idea ever working and it clicks then at the photos Hinata collected for her assignment.
"You collect corpses of various shinobi from other nations. No wonder rumors state you look like multiple people all at once." He murmurs.
He eyes as the other 5 paths join him, same rinnegan eyes.
"Well done sensei. But I can't let you live knowing such intel."
'Coordinates. Coordinates.'
He repeats the mantra over, tightens the tourniquet on his severed left arm.
Somewhere within Amegakure, Nagato's true body is watching.
His blood is leaving a trail despite the rain, clenching his teeth not to pass out.
All of his attacks absorbed, summons as tall as the buildings overwhelmed his own.
He taught Nagato and in turn, he knows everything in his arsenal.
Fukasaku and Shima study him anxiously.
"Little Jiraiya, should we retreat now? As long as he has fresh corpses on hand, this will be an endless battle." Shima questions, studying the air and surrounding towers. All of the metal spires look relatively the same from this vantage point.
Jiraiya inhales in and out slowly.
"...Not yet. The intel I have are things we already know. I need his exact location."
His eyes roam to the tallest tower.
'There. That has to be the highest vantage point in the village.'
But it's only a guess, he needs tangible proof.
Fukasaku nods to Shima.
"We can slow some of them down with our genjutsu. Just bide us a bit of time."
Jiraiya nods, slips back into shadows along the walls.
One-handed he draws up a gust of wind.
"Wind Release: Cyclone."
He directs the scent of his blood the opposite way, turns left straight into the Deva Path.
"There's nowhere in this village you can run sensei." Nagato scoffs.
He raises up a hand drawing him in like a magnet, Fukasaku and Shima synchronizing their chant as 3 more Paths circle them.
They all instantly freeze, Jiraiya piercing in his stone sword straight through at the Deva Path.
A stab wedges into his chest from behind, a metal pipe from the Asura Path.
And Jiraiya instantly stills, hacks up glob after glob of blood. His shoulders drop as everything goes hazy, forces his mind to focus as he glances over his shoulder at the other Paths. Not all of them are used for offensive purposes he absently notes. One absorbs chakra, another can read into one's thoughts from what he saw earlier down below.
"Jiraiya!" Fukasaku and Shima rasp in unison, but Jiraiya's gaze moves forward again past the Deva Path to the tower.
A glint of light coming from the northeast side, calculates the coordinates in his head.
'There. That's where he's hiding.' His vision goes in and out.
Dark eyes shift to Fukasaku, signs with his fingers the direction and coordinates.
"Go. Don't worry about me." He mouths as his body topples, he needs to leave before the Animal or Preta paths can kill him too.
Fukasaku lingers for a second.
"I won't let you down." He whispers.
Jiraiya smiles in return as he poofs away with Shima, makes peace with himself as the Paths close in around him.
'Huh, is this how I'll go out? Not able to have saved my sensei, old friend, or get the girl?'
He pauses remembering the rare smiles Naruto gave him at how to peep on Hinata in her blind spot, training him at Mount Myoboku. Hinata jabbing him in the head when she learned of this, cooking recipes with her and explaining how to mix Hyūga clan techniques with her nature affinities.
Jiraiya smiles. 'Ah, I guess it wasn't all so bad. I'm sure Naruto and Tsunade will figure out a way to handle things...'
The Deva Path steps forward discarding his sword, crouches low to his ear before everything goes black.
"I'm going to send Konoha a message too. A warning that I'm coming for the Nine Tails."
Tsunade, Naruto & Sakura-Hokage's Office
Jiraiya's left arm arrives via package 3 days later.
All the sake in her stomach turns to acid recognizing white locks sticking to a rain-soaked sleeve, dried blood coating where his arm was severed from his body. But most haunting of all is pale gray skin still holding those same scars he got from a variety of missions and from her...
Tsunade pushes back from her seat away from the stench and sight, doesn't make it to the restroom before everything comes back up.
And when there's nothing left in her stomach to come up does her body wrack into sobs, Shizune and Sakura clamoring to her side leading her to the bathroom away from the guards watching her breakdown.
"I'm sorry. Little Jiraiya fought like hell until the end." Fukasaku came by this morning, but it still hadn't sunken in to her then.
But receiving this so called 'gift' takes away any possible hope that Jiraiya is still alive.
Shizune races to get washcloths, anti-nausea medicine, and towels from one of the break rooms, amber eyes abruptly jolting to Sakura.
"Naruto. Where is he? Has Fukasaku already given him the news?" She rasps out.
Sakura mutters a curse, ensures Tsunade is sitting up before she races back to the office.
The ground below is already starting to tremble, peering out the main window to see Naruto's familiar blond locks and orange attire already approaching. His hands are wound at his side, scrap of paper crushed between his fingers.
She follows his gaze to head guard Matsumoto who blocks him with a mix of katana and earth release.
From this far away, she can't make out what he says though Naruto studies him for a minute before walking around his blade, whips off a gale of wind that instantly smashes him into the nearest pillar unconscious.
The other approaching officers freeze, Naruto hopping over the rock needles with ease.
And then he walks inside.
Sakura goes back to Tsunade's side to see her now leaning against the bathroom wall, eyes shut.
"He's making his way over right now; isn't he?" Tsunade mutters.
Sakura swallows, nods. "How...How do you want to approach this My Lady?"
Tsunade shrugs. She has little idea how to deal with Naruto's volatile moods when he gets like this besides staying calm and keeping a level voice. Jiraiya was better suited for handling them and all her previous encounters never had Naruto so mad.
The ground beneath them quakes once more as Naruto comes up the stairs, Tsunade grunting as she moves to her feet.
"He's going to sniff out my vomit; let's get this over with." Tsunade mutters, gargles and splashes her face with water at the sink. Shizune returns with a hot towel, Sakura passing her an antiacid.
Tsunade takes in her sunken reflection. She looks just as shitty as she currently feels.
But she meets Naruto in the hallway anyways, guards that had been there now either gone or lying crumpled against the walls. Wind howls throughout the area, furniture and paintings waterlogged and torn caught in the storm of his path.
She blows out a breath seeing scarlet in eyes, gestures with her head back to the office.
"Let's do this in there."
As soon as she takes a seat Naruto drops Fukasaku's message on the desk.
It's the same note Fukasaku gave her earlier, sighing.
Naruto studies her quietly before speaking. "...What happened Granny? Explain."
Tsunade picks up the note before immediately pushing it aside. "It's as Fukasaku says. Jiraiya didn't survive his mission to Amegakure."
A cyclone begins to form in the room, Shizune piping up as plants and chairs start to lift.
"Now hold on please! You can't put all the blame on Lady Tsunade for this! Master Jiraiya knew the risks-"
Naruto glances to her, irritation fully creeping into his voice. "I wasn't asking you. The woman who just follows Granny around like a child and fails to stop her from day drinking or gambling."
Shizune shifts backwards as if stung, looks away.
His gaze returns back to Tsunade, jabs a finger straight at her. "It's your fault he's dead. You could've provided him with back up even if he wouldn't have asked for it. And you'll have to live with that knowledge forever."
Sakura adamantly steps forward between them despite Tsunade raising a hand not to challenge Naruto right now.
She rubs at her eyes before fully looking at Naruto, tears and all.
"Don't you think I know that?!" Tsunade hisses.
Her eyes move from him to that horrid package she tossed into the corner, Naruto following his gaze and wincing in shock.
The wind quiets as he takes in Jiraiya's arm, the finality of what was his last battle...
Cerulean swirls back into his eyes. "Alright. Where are Pervy-Sage's notes that he gave you regarding his suspicions? All those photos Hinata collected back on her assignment?"
Before Sakura or Shizune can argue against it, Tsunade unlocks her bottom drawer, pulls out a mini lockbox she clicks open with a key from within her haori.
She holds out Jiraiya's notebooks, lips pursed as Naruto steps forward to take them.
"Come to me first before you do anything reckless." Tsunade orders, holds them momentarily out of reach.
She wishes she could read Naruto's features better, malice coating his face for a flicker of a second again before it disappears just as fast.
"...Sure."
Naruto & Hinata-Hokage Monument
"Ah, is there where you've been camping out all day?" Hinata asks gently by way of greeting.
Naruto's back is to her, quietly observing as Konoha's citizens go about their normal evening activities. Salarymen head home, skirt through the marketplaces picking up dinner or a quick snack. Children race home from the Academy by the river in groups or with their parents.
Hinata settles beside him, gaze turning to above as pinks and violets darken the sky, moon rising in a small crescent of silver.
"Pervy-Sage is gone." Naruto eventually mutters, passes her an envelope.
His own stays in his lap.
Hinata accepts it, looks down to see her name written in Jiraiya's familiar messy scrawl. The white of the envelope has started to fade a bit into yellow and she wonders how long ago he wrote these letters for them.
When he knew there was a possibility he wouldn't come home...
They had no luck in finding Itachi's location or Sasuke's, but Yamato at least taught them a thing or two about genjutsu.
"Use these tricks when you're caught in a bind. Illusions like those can at least paralyze the enemy temporarily via hearing or smell." Yamato explains.
Naruto blows out a breath, nods.
'It isn't offensive, but better to know it than not.'
Hinata looks it over back to front before nodding to the bag of groceries Naruto brought along leaking onto the stone.
"Was that your lunch?" She questions, Naruto staring down at the mess before shaking his head.
"No, just some popsicles. Heh, Pervy-Sage used to buy them in the summer after we'd finish a training session, so I just thought..." He trails off.
He doesn't know what he was thinking. He's barely eaten anything all day, wasted ryo.
Hinata pulls it out of the package, breaks it into two and passes one to him.
Naruto simply stares at his, lets it drip onto his hands.
Hinata makes to move his letter out of the way, Naruto catching her hands tumbling both popsicles onto the stone.
Tears blur at his eyes, light wind rattling at their hair.
"He's really gone; isn't he? If...If I open this final letter of his, that will just make it all the more real." Naruto cracks out.
Hinata wipes at his eyes, blinks away her own tears. "It's okay to mourn him Naruto. Despite how you spoke of him, I know Master Jiraiya meant a lot to you."
Naruto blows out a breath, nods as he adjusts his sitting position. He has Jiraiya's notes and his dying message he just needs to get from Fukasaku. Pervy-Sage taking out some of the bodies will bide him some time to study, review, and train in preparation for Pain's arrival. Or better yet, he'll go to him.
His gaze moves to the coming stars before looking to the west.
Towards Amegakure.
Hinata squeezes at his hand as he gets to s standing position, glances to her once before shaking his head. He won't be able to rest until he sees for himself this man who killed a sensei they shared.
He's collecting Tailed Beasts for a reason, out of a desire for power or maybe a way to shake up power amid the nations?
"Handle things with the Hyūga. They don't deserve it, though help them coordinate with the other clans in setting up defense barriers around the village."
Hinata nods. There are other things she needs to talk with them about as well regarding the Branch and Main families.
Naruto tightens his fists at his sides, gives in to the beast's call for blood.
"Don't worry Pervy-Sage, I'll finish the job." Naruto announces to the breeze.
Maybe not in the way he would've wanted, but it will be done.
-x-
I love writing/reading about revenge lol. A lot happened this chapter and I hope it didn't feel too rushed or short. Yeah, I know it's not in Naruto's character to do this, but he's going to deal with the Pain/Nagato situation in a way that fits more in how his personality is for this story. That doesn't mean he'll be like going on a bloodbath, psychopathic rampage though maybe...just yet! I'm still working out the drafts of how violent I want him to be.
Same with Hinata dealing with the Hyūga clan's long history of Branch servitude/slavery.
As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters, bonus content, and my original writings! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!
Look forward to your thoughts!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!