Chapter 6: Strings and Swords

This in not my book BUT I have asked for permission from the author but he still hasn't replied if anyone can get in touch with him let him know if he wants me to I can remove it from here

go check out the book at https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13522981/1/Reincarnation-Ok-Pal-The-Story-of-Kenta-Yamanaka-Book-2

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Hiiiiii!

Apologies that this chapter is coming later than I planned. I struggled HARD writing this. I had all these ideas in my head that I could NOT get translated to the screen in a way I wanted.

I'm NOT happy with this chapter. I'm hoping that it's just the perfectionist in me and that it's enjoyable enough for you all…. But I have a feeling this isn't going to be a memorable chapter overall. Oh well! At least it isn't as bad as my first 3 or so chapters. I re-read those and had to update my A/Ns… Why didn't anyone tell me how CRINGE AND CRAPPY they were?

Good size today.. 16k words.

HOPEFULLY you all enjoy this enough that it isn't a slog to get through.

Kenta's mancrush list is now CLOSED. Results at the end.

CHECK PROFILE WEEKLY FOR NEW HOGWARTS SORTING HAT POLLS! NEW ONE IS UP! KENTA HOUSE AT BOTTOM AS WELL!

Enjoy! I HOPE

I bounced excitedly as I leaned against the fence near the main gate to the village. It was 0700, my team would be filing in over the next half hour as the 0730 reporting time drew nearer. The news of yesterday still made me giddy every time I thought about it. S-Rank! At 17! Only a handful in our entire village had managed to achieve this rank, even a smaller number at or before my age. As soon as I left Lord Fifth's office, I flickered all over town, telling my closest friends to meet at my place for dinner.

Mom and Kono, Naruto, Fú, Ami, and Ino were the only ones that were available, but it was enough. Lord Inogi was planning a much larger celebration upon my return. With Ino being at dinner last night, I knew she had probably already managed to get herself involved. Mom was in tears for almost an hour when I told her the news. The waves of pride and happiness rolling off her after showing her my updated entry were almost suffocating. Kono was also incredibly proud. However, waves of determination were the primary emotion she was exuding. She swore right then and there that one day she would join me among the elite of the elite. That was when it was my turn to break down into manly tears and crush her in an oxygen-inhibiting hug.

Naruto and Fú were both over the moon as well. The unexpected flash of jealousy didn't escape my notice. Naruto quickly caught himself though, managing to stamp that down, his own determination not to remain behind for long quickly replacing it.

Fú was nothing but pride, happiness and love. We talked long past midnight about the future and what would happen now that I had, unintentionally I might add, put my name in the discussion for the next in line for Hokage. That is something I did NOT want to do, ever! Hokage was a fine goal, and I would do everything I could to make sure Naruto was the one to be named Lord Sixth. The only way they're getting that hat on me is if there's literally no one else worthy of it. I still had Kakashi and Cpt Genma ahead of me.

My reminiscing of last night was cut off by a presence closing into my location at a moderate pace. I looked up and smiled into the easy smile of Haku.

"Haku! How are you? It's been awhile." I greeted enthusiastically, shaking the older man's hand.

"Cpt Kenta. I am well. I recently got a promotion so I have been keeping busy with that. How are you?" Haku replied in a friendly voice.

"Promotion?! To what? Congratulations!" I exclaimed excitedly.

"Promotion? Ooooh to what, Haku?" Sakura's excited voice called out. I turned towards the young woman and sent her a small smile. "Kenta, good morning! I'm excited for our mission!"

Haku frowned slightly. "Miss Sakura. You must not forget your professionalism. Cpt Kenta is our squad leader. You must remember your customs and courtesies." Haku said in a slightly chastising voice.

Sakura's eyes widened slightly at being reprimanded and focused her attention on me. Unease and wariness quickly replaced the happiness and excitement she had just felt a moment ago.

"You're right, Lt Haku. I apologize Cpt Kenta." She said in a controlled voice.

I nodded. "I'm not a stickler for titles, but as you can see, some are. Haku's right, don't forget customs and courtesies." I said in a neutral tone.

She nodded. "Of course. I let my excitement get the best of me."

I nodded before turning back to Haku. "So, promotion?"

Sakura's excited energy returned after she realized I wasn't going to chew her out for her slip up. This time. "Yes, Lt Haku! Please, tell us!"

"Yes, Lt Yuki. You were a Special Jonin as I recall. Did you get the full promotion?" Sasuke's voice suddenly called out from behind our group.

Haku turned and smiled at the younger teen. "Lord Sasuke. Good Morning. No, not a military promotion, it was at the hospital. I have been promoted to Director of the Pediatric Wing." He said with a bright smile.

I glanced at the time keeping seal engraved into my wrist plate. 0729.

"You were almost late, Chunin. Don't make that a habit." I reprimanded the boy.

Sasuke scowled and opened his mouth to retort. I pinned him with a glare.

"No, Uchiha. No back talk. We are in mission mode. I am team Captain. What I say goes. I'm establishing that right here and now. You will do as I say, when I say it. Does everyone understand that? If I tell you to fall back, you do it immediately. If I tell you to retreat, you had better already be moving. If I tell you to leave me and escape, you had better hope I don't survive if you mouth off to me or attempt to argue. I know Kakashi drilled that 'those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash' into your heads, but I'm not Kakashi. I will personally maim you if you ignore my orders. Do I make myself clear?" I accentuated my point with a shot of bloodlust and seriousness into the air.

Haku immediately snapped a salute. "Of course, Cpt Kenta."

Sasuke stared at me as if I had grown a second head for almost a full minute. Finally he sighed. "As you say, Captain. I will follow your orders."

I nodded. "Thank you, Sasuke." I turned towards Sakura who was biting her lip nervously. "Haruno?"

"I…" She took a deep breath. "I don't think I could-"

"If you do not give me your word now, this mission is cancelled." I cut her off with a hard voice. "I have forty-four S-Rank missions under my belt. Completed, with no loss of life. I will NOT let my perfect record be tarnished because a Genin decided she knew better than me. I haven't seen your strength Sakura, and that is what this mission is for. I will save my opinion on that until I am writing up my report for Lord Fifth on your performance. What I do know, is that you have completed 28 D-Ranks, 2 C-Ranks, 1 A-Rank, and 1 long term S-Rank. You have never led a single mission. I can say with 100% confidence that in this scenario, I know more than you do. Agree, or go home. That's final."

She hesitated only for another moment before she steeled her resolve. Her determined emerald eyes met my teal ones. "You're right. I'm sorry. I can't look at you as my friend until this mission is completed. I know that every commander is different. I trust you. I will do as you say."

I smiled widely. The tense atmosphere I was exuding vanished in a flash. "Perfect! Now that that is out of the way… Haku, congratulations! That is amazing. We can talk about it on the road. Let's get checked out and be on our way!"

******************************Mission Mode Kenta ain't playin*****************************

We had been running at a steady pace for the last twelve hours. Intelligence had Kakuzu intercepting Raiga in six days, which gave us plenty of time to track and set our ambush. This wasn't going to be a walk in the park. I was highly prepared to have to jump into the fight at any given moment. Haku would definitely be putting his skills to use. Hopefully he didn't have to fix anything too serious.

"Alright team, that's enough for the day. Sun is setting in just over an hour. Let's get camp set up." I called out. Everyone nodded and dropped to the floor beneath us. We were about a four hours from the Land of River's border. Land of Rivers bordered the Land of Fires western border. We actually passed through it on our way to rescue Lord Kazekage. It's a beautiful country, but the humidity is no joke!

"Sasuke, firewood. Sakura and Haku, set up the tents. I'll run a sweep and put some seals down. Let's try and get this done in thirty minutes so we can relax a bit before first watch." I called out. Everyone agreed and went about their assigned task.

I first sat down in the middle of the clearing and stretched my senses out. Not a single soul within twenty miles of our location. I smiled to myself and began pulling out various sealing tags. They were mainly detection and early warning tags, but a few had some misdirection and shielding tags as well.

Within twenty minutes, we were all sitting around a nice sized campfire. I pulled out some cooking supplies. I began whistling a happy tune. I had no idea where I had even heard it. It didn't even sound like something that I would hear anywhere in Fire Country. Maybe I heard it on a mission in a land that was well away from the traditional culture that seemed to be similar to the surrounding lands?

"Cpt Kenta, is that fish even still edible?" Sakura's inquisitive voice suddenly called out.

I stared in confusion at first and took a whiff of the filets. "Yeah. It's still cold. Have you never used a stasis seal?"

She shook her head. "Only for halting a medical emergency until we could prepare a sanitary work area."

Haku looked impressed at that. "You've done field surgeries? Wait, you know medical arts?"

Sakura nodded eagerly. "I did and I do! I learned everything I could from Orochimaru and his creepy assistant Kabuto. What they couldn't teach me, I taught myself!"

"That's amazing, Miss Sakura. Are you going to come work in the hospital? We could always use more fully qualified medics." Haku asked hopefully.

Sakura smiled. "I do want to work in the hospital, but…" She trailed off, a faint blush on her face.

"But what, Miss Sakura?" Haku asked.

"I… want to focus more on research and development." She mumbled out.

"That's wonderful! Researchers are just as, if not more important than a medic! A groundbreaking technique or improvement to current standards can potentially save many more lives than a single medic ever would." Haku enthusiastically encouraged. "What field do you have the most interest in?"

"Genetics." Sakura said hesitantly.

I frowned at that. Genetics was one of Orochimaru's biggest fields of research. Was Sakura…? No, Kenta. No jumping to conclusions. "What got you into genetics?" I asked instead.

Sakura slightly brightened at that. "I want… I want to develop new ways to read the genetic code of those with a bloodline. My hope is that I can find the specific DNA Sequence in relation to a bloodline."

"Why would you want that?" I asked, now genuinely curious. It sure didn't sound evil or nefarious.

"A few reasons, but the main two are to, hopefully, be able to fix any mutations or repair the nucleic acid sequence that would determine if a bloodline was faulty, or if it decided if a person did or did not receive the bloodline of their family. For one, in the future, I could hopefully make sure that all of Sasuke and Lord Fifth's children and grandchildren would all receive the Sharingan. Same with the Hyuga. It would also explain rare bloodlines, like Kimimaro's and yours Cpt Kenta. If I could find the correct sequence, I could hopefully activate a dormant or recessive gene for 100% inheritance to all offspring!" Her entire speech progressively picked up speed until the very end where it all came out in a breathless rush.

"That would be a huge boon to our forces. You could also possibly revive long dead bloodlines if the genetic code lay dormant. But what did you mean 'determine if the bloodline was faulty?' Isn't it you either get it or you don't?" I asked.

She bit her lip nervously. "That's what I'd like to find out…"

"Who do you think has a faulty bloodline?" Sasuke suddenly spoke up.

"Well… For one, your clan, Sasuke." Sakura said truthfully.

Sasuke looked absolutely offended. His face reddened, so I took the reins to steer this conversation before it got out of hand. "Why do you think that, Sakura?"

She shot me a grateful smile after seeing Sasuke's darkening face. "Sasuke told me about his brother's eyes. How they evolved and gained new powers. However, each use of the eyes damages them more and more. Eventually, Lord Fifth will go completely blind if he continues to use them."

I nodded, knowing full well that Lord Fifth had an advanced Sharingan. "Medical Techniques don't work on the damage?"

"No. Even Lady Tsunade is stumped." Haku piped in.

"It's the sacrifice we make to use the power granted to us witnessing the death of someone we care for deeply." Sasuke growled out.

"But what if it's not? What if the evolution is an unnatural mutation of your eyes due to the trauma of witnessing such an event? What if we could correct that mutation? Use that power willingly, whenever you want, without such drastic consequences? What if we could re-write the genetic code that all Uchiha could unlock such a power with training?" Sakura said excitedly.

"That… would be wonderful. But there is no way you can do such a thing. There is only one known way to restore the eyesight and prevent further damage." Sasuke haughtily replied.

"And what is that?" Haku asked.

"You have to take the evolved eyes of a blood relative. A close blood relative. Usually a brother."

"What if you're an only child?" I asked seriously.

"I… A parent might work, but… It doesn't matter, the Mangekyo Sharingan has only been awakened in only a handful of members in our entire history."

"That doesn't make sense. The Uchiha Clan has been fighting since the Warring States Era! I'm sure many your ancestors saw multiple people they cared for die right in front of them!" I yelled out abruptly.

"That's true, but only real trauma can-"

"I'd say watching your best friend, mentor, family member… Basically anyone you care about would cause severe trauma. Especially for a clan with eyes that capture everything they see in painstaking detail." Sakura said aloud, hand resting in her chin with a look of concentration.

"I'm sure they have but-"

"I agree. I think there are a lot of holes in your story. Also, why would taking a close family members eyes magically make them like new? I'm assuming since you said the procured eyes had to also be evolved, they are damaged as well? Like, if you took Itachi's eyes right now, you'd be almost blind, wouldn't you?" I said staring at Sasuke, eyebrow raised in challenge.

"Well I'm not sure, but what I-"

"Exactly! This can all be solved if we take a look down at the DNA level, I'm sure. Sasuke! Do you think Lord Fifth would donate his eyes to science if he ever went blind?" Sakura asked, eyes alight with excitement.

"ENOUGH! You all have no idea what you're talking about! Stop making such insensitive and baseless comments about my dead ancestors!" Sasuke shouted, jumping to his feet.

"Woah, chill, Uchiha. We're just hypothesizing. Wouldn't it be nice if Sakura could crack the code?" I said in a placating manner.

"Well, sure, but how would she even figure it out?" Sasuke asked, sitting back down. His face was still flushed, but his temper had died down as quickly as he ignited.

"I apologize, Sasuke. I didn't mean to make insensitive remarks. But all I would need would be blood samples from you and your brother, maybe some from other's that you knew had also awakened their eyes. Compare them to those we know for sure hadn't evolved their eyes. See if there is any difference." Sakura said with a kind smile.

"I… suppose that wouldn't hurt anyone. But I will be involved in the process from step one. There is no bartering on this. The offer stands, as is. And Itachi would have to agree as well, since he is technically also Uchiha Clan Head." Sasuke said, eyes softening seeing Sakura's eagerness.

"Yes! That's one down! If I could see any major differences between the two, that would give me a starting point knowing which sequence to look at for others!" Sakura cheered loudly.

"Which other Bloodline did you want to compare to?" Haku asked with a smile on his face. I could feel his excitement at the prospect of "healing" something even Lady Tsunade was stumped on.

"Oh… Um… A friend of mine." Sakura mumbled out with a blush. Her chakra was all over the place.

"A friend? Or a friend?" I asked with a playful smirk on my face.

"W-what? What kind of question is that, Kenta? He's just a friend!" Sakura's embarrassment skyrocketed.

'Oh my. This is a development. Let's poke the wasp nest.' I internally snickered to myself.

"So? Who is he? Is he hot? Hotter than Prince Broody? Does he actually have a personality? Where did you meet? How did you meet? Does Sasuke know him? Are they friends? OH! Am I going to get a drama filled buffet with a side of love-triangle?!" I was now crouched in front of Sakura, bouncing excitedly.

If Sakura could, she would first liquefy me with one of her super punches, then melt into the floor herself. I grinned cheekily at her.

"I… I am not answering any of your questions, Cpt Kenta. What goes on in my personal life is none of your business." She answered smoothly.

I pouted. "You're no fun, Sakura."

"Wait, do you actually like him?" Sasuke suddenly spoke up, looking at Sakura in confusion.

"No… I mean… Can we have this conversation some other time?" Sakura asked slightly panicked.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "No, let's have it now."

I flickered back to my seat, eyes wide and darting back and forth between the confused lovers. This was already so much better than what I had envisioned.

"Fine. But don't say I didn't try to spare your feelings, Lord Uchiha." Sakura spat. "As a matter of fact, YES, I do like him! I'm sorry if that bruises your ego Lord Uchiha, but you never showed any interest in me past being friends. So, I moved on." Sakura crossed her arms over her chest, and narrowed her own eyes dangerously at the Uchiha, daring him to say something.

What happened next shook me to my core.

"I'm glad." Sasuke smiled warmly at Sakura.

Jaw, meet ground. Oh, wave to Sakura's jaw while you're down there!

She actually recovered before me!

"You… You're glad?" Sakura asked doubtfully.

"I am. I never pursued you romantically, because even though I admire you greatly, I never felt anything more than platonic love for you Sakura. I… would have married you, if it had made you happy. You're my teammate, and you've helped me in more ways than one. But, I knew I could never make you as happy as someone else could. The fact that you moved on from your early feelings of me… It makes me happy for you." Sasuke replied, that uncharacteristic smile still in place.

"I… I don't know what to say. You're not upset? I was so worried to tell you. I always thought I was somehow leading you on, or making you feel obligated to return my feelings."

Sasuke shook his head. "I'm not upset, at all. As I said, I'm happy for you. I hope that he can be the man for you that I know I couldn't be."

Sakura smiled wryly. "That… was the lamest thing I've ever heard you say. Stop trying to be all noble, Sasuke."

Sasuke chuckled. "Sorry. I'm still trying to figure out this whole "feelings" thing."

The two shared a moment.

Unacceptable.

"So, who's the mystery man that replaced Lord Uchiha in your heart, Sakura?" I asked innocently.

"Oh!" She shook herself out of her little cute moment with Sasuke. "His name is Jugo. He's the one whose bloodline makes up part of our seal."

"HIM!? Sakura, you can't! He's too dangerous! He can snap at literally any minute. I watched him kill one hundred men in less than five minutes!" Sasuke had risen to his feet in his panic and bounded over to Sakura, looking down on her with concerned eyes.

Sakura stared back, completely unimpressed by his unexpected showing of chivalry. "I'll have you know, Sasuke, that Jugo is the gentlest person I've ever met. You can't demonize him for something he can't control! That's the same thing we did, however unknowingly, to Naruto!"

"This isn't the same. Naruto doesn't go berserk and murder people for fun!"

"Neither does Jugo! He can't help it! Besides, I can control him when he's with me. I spent a year with him."

"You- what?! You can control him?"

Sakura nodded. "When he begins to berserk around me, I'm strong enough to beat him back to his senses. I'm the only one he trusts, Sasuke! Did you know he hadn't been out of his cell since before Kimimaro fell ill! He sat in isolation for almost three years! No one should be locked up like that. Especially since it was a self-induced isolation. He's so afraid of hurting anyone. He has all these dreams to see the world and just be normal and I'm the only one who can help him!"

"And how are you going to help him? You can't spend every waking minute with him. What happens when he goes berserk and you're not around? How many die?"

"You bumbling oaf! Did I not just spend an hour talking about genetic research and DNA manipulation?! I have blood and tissue samples. I have all of my notes, as well as Kabuto and Orochimaru's on his bloodline. I'm close to a breakthrough for a serum he can take if he starts to feel an episode come on. Even if I can't cure him, I can still make sure he can live his life!" Sakura had risen to her own feet. She only came up to Sasuke's chin, but at this moment she looked as if she towered over Sasuke.

"I, well, oh… That's good then, I guess." Sasuke mumbled lamely.

"Yes, it is good. Now, do you have anything else you can say to make yourself look like a total ass?" Sakura said with a dangerous tone. I prayed I had helped Sasuke enough in his social graces to not take that bait.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"No, Sakura. I shouldn't have doubted you. You're not an idiot. I should trust you more. I know you wouldn't let such a dangerous man out around innocent people." Sasuke said looking down at the irate teenager.

She huffed. "Thank you for saying that. You're right. Until I develop and test this serum thoroughly, I wouldn't allow him out of my sight."

"You're talking like he's waiting for you back in Konoha. He's still with Orochimaru." Sasuke said with a frown.

"I know that. One day, though, I'll bring him home." Her eyes glowed with a fierce determination. She was completely confident she would make that happen.

"So… You spent a year with him, eh? What drew you to him?" I asked trying to re-diffuse the tension. Damn teens and their hormones.

She turned a shy smile on me. "He's… sweet. And gentle. He loves nature. We would just go take a walk in the woods and talk. Literally about anything and everything. Conversation with him was so easy. We had a picnic one time. You know how animals have a better sense of character than humans? We were surrounded by every type of animal you could imagine. At one point, this little red fox had crawled into my lap and took a nap for almost an hour. Jugo… he has a way with animals. They see his kindness and gentleness. They also know long before an episode starts so it's a great early warning detection. I would get him a dog, so he would always know when to take his serum."

I nodded with a smile. "I can't wait to meet him."

She beamed brightly at me. "Now, enough about all this. A little blonde birdie told me you have some news to share with the class of your own." Her beaming smile turned into a mischievous smirk.

"About…?" I asked in confusion.

She glanced at Sasuke and the smirk turned down right evil.

Oh shit. Cue inferiority complex pout session.

"Oooooooh just that you managed to get that 'S-Rank' you've been dreaming about since we were kids, finally."

"You, WHAT?!" Sasuke shouted in outrage.

I had no idea what to say or do to diffuse this situation.

I did the only thing I knew would work.

"Yup" I said as I disappeared in a swirl of dead leaves.

"Yamanaka! Get back here and fight me this instant! I'll prove to you who's the strongest once and for all!" Sasuke yelled into the night.

**************************Damn you SAKURA! You set Kenta back!**************************

"Target just activated one of my detection seals. You two ready?" I asked the duo.

Sasuke nodded but Sakura answered first. "So, five hearts. Have to destroy them all or he will survive. Can use all five elements. Detaches arms to attack from long range. Body is filled with those threads, so damage to any organ that would normally be a fatal won't work on him. Sound about right?"

I nodded. "Yes, that was all the information that Fú was able to get from Taki. I'll be on standby if you two need me. Remember. This man is a century old. He didn't survive that long on luck. He's skilled. Do NOT underestimate him."

Sakura joined Sasuke in nodding this time.

"Alright. I'm falling back with Haku. We'll be within striking distance at all times. Fight your hardest, show me everything you've got. Remember, I'm reporting to Lord Fifth on your performance. That includes individual strength, as well as how well you can work with others."

Both teens snapped salutes my way before disappearing in bursts of speed. I turned to my fellow feminine looking male.

"Ready?" I asked.

He smiled. "Yes, Captain. I'll be prepared to render any type of healing required."

"Then let's go find the best seats in the house!" I cheered excitedly.

Soon, we were perched in a tall tree overlooking the wide road Kakuzu was traveling down. We'd have a clear line of sight to the entire battle. I began placing a dozen different Naruto grade seals that would make us virtually invisible unless you somehow walked right on top of us. I couldn't see neither Sakura nor Sasuke, and I could only feel their chakra because I had become very familiar with it over the last week. Had I not, I might have mistaken them for a large woodland animal or a pair of civilians out hunting in the woods. They were good at masking their chakra signatures.

On the edge of my senses I felt him approaching at a steady, but quick pace. Closer and closer I felt his signature approach. Ten miles. Five miles. Two miles. One mile. 4000 feet. 2000 feet. 1000 feet.

"Where the hell is h-" I grabbed Haku and flickered away just as the tree we were perched in exploded in a cascade of blistering heat.

We landed in the middle of the dirt road. I pushed Haku behind me and took in my surroundings. We were surrounded by five signatures.

"Shit. Where- What the hell?!" The five separate signatures were now on top of each other. If I could describe it, they seemed to merge without becoming one. Each signature was still a unique identifier. But they were all so close they'd have to be hugging it out!

Kakuzu appeared.

"How the hell did you sense us? I had a dozen different seals surrounding us that should have rendered us invisible. Even the Byakugan can't pierce that veil." I asked in suspicion.

"Ah. The dangerous Yamanaka boy. I am a chakra sensor, but my methods are unorthodox." Kakuzu drawled.

"I don't suppose you'd like to share with the class?" I asked hopefully.

"Did you see the update I gave you to your bounty?" He asked in his gravelly monotone, changing the subject completely in an attempt to divert my curiosity.

It worked.

"You? You're the one who had my bingo book entry updated? To S-Rank? I love you! You made my dream come true! Thank you, Mr. Kakuzu." I gushed in my excitement.

He tilted his head in confusion. "You are welcome? Most people aren't too excited to receive such a large bounty. They know the collectors will hound them. I was going after a missing Kiri Nin, but his bounty is pocket change compared to yours."

I blinked. I didn't even notice I had a bounty. I tunnel visioned on the rank, if I was being honest. "How much am I worth?"

"200 Million." Was his reply.

My jaw fell open. 200 million?! That… That's how much Konoha was offering for a dead Danzo!

"Why is it so high? Are all S-Ranks that high?" Haku asked from behind me. I could feel his chakra simmering below the surface, ready to lash out at a moment's notice.

Kakuzu shook his head. "No. It seems Kumo doesn't like someone not under their command with their village's bloodline."

I snorted. "That's rich, coming from a village that attempts to steal other village's bloodlines."

Kakuzu shrugged. "I do not care for the petty differences and squabbles amongst the villages. I care only for money. Today, I'll be getting a nice pay day." His chakra spiked.

I held up my hands. "Well, as much as I want to test myself against an S-Rank shinobi of your caliber one on one, I'm afraid I must decline. You see, I'm only here to observe."

"I do not care if you are here to draw my self-portrait. I will kill you, add your heart to my collection, and collect the hefty reward on your head." He said with narrowed eyes.

"As I said, I'm not here to fight. I'm not your opponent today." I said rolling my eyes at his audacity.

"Then who is?" He growled in annoyance.

"I am" Sasuke whispered in the man's ear, his lightning coated hand bursting from his chest.

I grinned happily. "My minions are your opponents today! They spent four years training under Orochimaru. This is their evaluation. Enjoy!" And with that, I grabbed Haku and retreated a safe distance away.

"H-how? I didn't even sense you?" Kakuzu groaned out, slumping forward.

"We trained for four years with a snake. They are creatures of opportunity. They hide for as long as they need, unnoticed." Sasuke drawled as he withdrew his hand. Kakuzu fell to the ground. I felt his chakra spike, happy with the ambush by Sasuke. One heart down, four to go.

"W-what do you mean, we?" I heard Kakuzu whisper in a fake death throe.

"ME! Shhhaannooorrrrooo!" Sakura's war cry having not changed since our younger days. She came plummeting from the sky, her fist crashing heavily into the back of Kazuzu. He screamed in rage and pain. Flying to his feet and retreating away.

"How did you know?" He snarled. "How did you know I couldn't be killed by one strike alone?"

"Like we'd tell you, idiot." Sasuke sneered.

Kakuzu's face morphed into a look of pure rage. He grabbed his robe and discarded it in a single sweeping motion. At once, three creatures burst from his back, a fourth falling limply to the ground. The white porcelain mask shattered into a dozen pieces.

"I'm going to replace the heart you destroyed with yours, Uchiha. It will make a suitable substitute until I can find a stronger lightning heart. Like your team captains, for instance." Kakuzu yelled in rage.

'Ah. So that's how he sensed us. It isn't every day you meet someone who can instantly tell the strongest elemental affinity you possess. It must be an ability granted to him by his Earth Grudge Fear.' I thought to myself with a wry smile. The sneaky old miser.

Sasuke scoffed. "Please. You won't even live long enough to even attempt to collect his bounty."

"Enough!" Kakuzu weaved a string of hand seals at blinding speed. Sasuke's Sharingan spun, copying the man's moves.

"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!" Two voices called out simultaneously.

Sasuke released his own small ball of flame, a second launched from one of the creatures to Kakuzu's side. The balls of flame rushed forward and collided. The inferno created by the two powerful flame techniques was stifling.

"You damn Uchiha and your monkey-see, monkey-do tactics! You're nothing without those eyes. Let's see you copy this!"

Kakuzu's skin noticeably darkened. Without warning he blitzed forward, arm cocked back. Sakura stepped forward, the first level of her curse seal activing. With a savage grin her own cocked fist shot forward, meeting Kukuzu's. The explosion of displaced air kicked up dust around the pair, its strength enough to ruffle the clothes of Haku and I. Sakura's grin never left her face. Kakuzu on the other hand was grimacing, glancing down at his own hand. Visible cracks ran through the appendage, all the way up to the elbow.

"That shouldn't be possible. Earth Spear makes my skin as hard as diamonds." He muttered allowed. He jumped back, creating distance between the two. His gaze snapped up to the two teammates. "It matters not. Let's see how you handle this."

From within one of the monsters, flames began to flicker into existence from its gaping maw. From another, the winds began to churn.

"Earth Grudge Fear Collaboration Technique: Simultaneous Arson!" Kakuzu shouted. A stream of flame launched forward, only to be instantly fanned by the rush of wind from the second mask.

Sasuke smirked. "He underestimates us, Sakura. Let's show him a real collaboration technique."

"You read my mind, Sasuke," Sakura said, palms already flat on the ground.

Sasuke quickly flipped through a quick set of hand seals. His own first level of the curse mark activating. He inhaled.

"Collaboration Technique: Mud Flow Wall!" Sakura called out. A thick slab of earth rose rapidly, however, it wasn't solid. It seemed to be malleable. At the same time, a wall of water quickly engulfed the rapidly rising mound of earth.

The wind enhanced flames crashed into the dampened mound of earth. An audible hissing sounded throughout the area and steam quickly engulfed the entire area.

"Wind Release: Breakthrough," Sasuke's monotonous voice called from within the warm steam. Within moments, sight was restored to all those in the area. I chuckled out loud, seeing the results of the two collaboration techniques. Where the wind-stoked flames met the chakra enhanced mud, a single hardened wall of earth now stood. Sakura rose from her crouched position, manic grin still in place.

"Yeesh. I can see why Sakura and Ami had become such fast friends. They're both a little blood thirsty in battle." I mumbled out loud.

"Lady Sakura does seem to be enjoying herself, doesn't she?" Haku giggled. "Those markings along her and Lord Sasuke. That is the curse seal that has been mentioned?"

I nodded. "Yes. That is the first level of activation. From what I can gather, it enhances mainly their physical measurables as well as bolstering their techniques. The boost isn't large, the equivalent of Rock Lee opening the first, maybe the second of the Eight Gates."

Haku hummed in acknowledgement, his attention turning back to the quickly escalating fight. I observed as well. Kakuzu stood staring at the two teenagers that had already been able to push him so far. For someone so powerful and experienced, he sure was losing his composure quickly. I suddenly had an internal thought and grinned widely.

"What are you planning, Cpt Kenta?" Haku asked suspiciously.

I simply winked his way before turning back to the fight. "Wow, Kakuzu. You seem to humble brag a lot about surviving your battle against Lord Senju. These two teenagers must have already surpassed him if they're giving you such a difficult time. There's good news though! If you do end up surviving this, and realize the whole Ninja thing doesn't work out for you, you could always be a male escort! You might be a century old, but that body is bangin, Daddy!" I cat called loudly.

The reactions made me shudder in pleasure.

An audible smack could be heard as Sasuke's palm met his face in utter disbelief.

Sakura blushed but giggled loudly, subtly doing a once over of the shirtless Kakuzu.

Haku was blushing the most though. "L-lord Kenta. P-please don't talk in such lewd terms!" He squeaked out.

I cackled loudly, savoring the waves of bloodlust and rage that Kakuzu was sending my way. "Oh relax, Haku. You're almost 20 years old! You can't be a prude your entire life. Tell you what. I'm going to loan my complete collection of Icha-Icha to you. That should help loosen you up. The plot really isn't half bad, either."

"Cpt Kenta! Can I borrow them when Haku's done?!" Sakura shouted.

"You cannot be serious. Those books are nothing but smut. No Lady should ever lay eyes on those filthy pages." Sasuke hissed out in agitation.

Sakura gave the boy a saucy wink. "Good thing I'm no Lady then. I'm the perfect blend of deadly and beautiful kunoichi, as well as a woman with dignified taste in literature."

Sasuke sputtered like a mad man, but no coherent sentence could be formed.

"Sure thing, Sakura! Just work out the details with Haku. Once he finishes the first one, you can pick it up from him. Or whatever works best for you two!" I beamed brightly at her eager thumbs up and turned towards Haku.

"Absolutely not! I will not read such vulgar literature. It isn't proper!" Haku exclaimed in an offended manor.

I clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Aw, c'mon, Haku. Just give the first one a browse through. Who knows? You might learn a good pick-up line, or maybe even a new idea for any late night adventures." I finished with a lecherous grin, waggling my eyebrows.

"I-I, that is to say, I don't thin-"

"You do have a lady friend you're crushing on, don't you?" I asked, grin still in place.

It shouldn't have been possible, but the red in Haku's cheeks deepened even further. "There… is one young woman that I fancy. But, I've only spoken to her a handful of times. We haven't even had a proper conversation."

"Oh? What's her name? I'll hook you up. The only catch is that you must name your first born child after me. In all my years of match-making, not a single person has agreed to such a simple request. If not for me, they wouldn't have even found each other! It is a tragedy, dearest Haku. Please, agree to such a simple request, and I will do my part to ensure you and your female love interest will find true happiness." I finished with a dramatic sweeping bow.

"I… I suppose that is a reasonable request. It would be a discussion for later though. I think I would need to survive the first date before thinking of children." Haku said in a quiet voice. A small smile in place thinking of the lucky lady.

"That is better than what others have given me! I will work my magic. Now, what is her name?"

"ENOUGH OF THIS FARCE!" Kakuzu shouted, waves of pure chakra and pressure exploding from the man. My eyes widened momentarily at the display before they narrowed.

"Oi! You grumpy old miser! You wait a damn second before you go on a murder rampage! We're discussing young love over here!" I shouted back, waving my fist angrily.

A bestial roar was my reply and Kakuzu launched himself forward, murder blazing in the eyes pinning me in place. I shrugged, grabbed Haku by the scruff of the neck, and flickered across the open space. Kakuzu stared in confusion for a second before his eyes whipped over to my new location. Sasuke and Sakura stepped in front of us.

"We are your opponents. You shouldn't lose your cool in this manner. It is unbecoming of a shinobi and sets a terrible example for the new generation." Sasuke drawled.

Sakura giggled. "Yeah, what he said!"

"Fine, you two want to die that badly? I shall comply." Kakuzu snarled.

The three masked creatures were immediately at his side. Water, wind, and fire began to gather in the openings where the mouth should be.

"Earth Grudge Fear Collaboration Technique: Three-Headed Elemental Serpent!" Kakuzu yelled out. At once, three serpentine bodies launched forward, twisting and snapping as they rushed Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke smirked in confidence and the slightly unhinged grin returned to Sakura in full force. I felt the chakra gather in their legs… and nothing. Both looked down in shock, my eyes quickly following. From underneath them, Kakuzu had sent his arms underground. Each hand now gripped an ankle of both teens.

A large 'boom' crashed into my eardrum as the elemental technique scored a direct hit against wide-open pair of teenagers.

Haku gasped beside me, and I felt him ready his chakra. I held out an arm, holding him back from rushing forward.

"Just watch," I whispered. "I can still feel their chakra. It's steady, not distressed. They are fine."

Unfortunately, Kakuzu seemed to draw a similar conclusion. His arms twitched, and from the smoke two bodies rose high into the air. Kakuzu brought his arms down in a snapping motion, and the pink and black blurs quickly crashed into the ground. As soon as they hit, he spun on his heels, Sasuke and Sakura's bodies following his motion. He completed the brutal onslaught by smashing the teenagers into the trunk of a thick tree. The impact strong enough to splinter the wood, an ominous creaking sound soon following.

I winced. "Ok, maybe they aren't fine."

Just as I prepared my chakra to jump into the fray, both Sasuke and Sakura rose slowly to their feet. Sakura's hands ignited in the familiar green glow. She placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, the other went to her own abdomen. She removed them almost as quickly.

"Nothing broken. No internal injuries. We can heal the bumps and bruises later." I heard her relay to Sasuke. He nodded, and his crimson orbs locked onto Kakuzu, narrowed in anger but with a new respect for the man.

Haku whistled lowly.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"How quickly she performed a diagnostic technique on the two of them simultaneously. Even though she was only looking for dangerous or debilitating injury, the speed was very impressive. I can only name four others in our village with similar skill." Haku replied, a hint of pride in his voice. There was also a tiny pang of jealousy in his chakra, but that's normal seeing someone just as skilled as you in your craft.

"Ok, now I'm mad. Let's finish this up Sasuke. My hair is now ruined." Sakura called out.

Sasuke nodded, the black seal marks on his body writhing and expanding rapidly. Sakura's were quick to follow.

There she stood, the crimson haired demon that I had watched in Naruto's memory shatter his arms to pulp. Her second level hadn't changed at all. The only difference was she now went straight into the 'filtered' form; blocking out the vile chakra with ease.

Crimson hair and burnished copper eyes stared imperiously at Kakuzu. She glanced at Sasuke, my eyes following her.

I burst out laughing.

"Oi! Haku! Think we should invite Sasuke to our 'Girly-Man' club?! He's even prettier than Sakura when he's in that form!" I cackled loudly. Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously at my teasing.

Haku's hand covered his mouth as he attempted to control his own amusement. "Yes, I think we should. He would fit in perfectly."

I laughed harder at that. "You heard my co-founder! Welcome to the club, Sasuke! Take pride in knowing that many females will be extremely jealous of your feminine beauty."

Sasuke snarled at me, his skin beginning to lighten slightly. Sakura cut off her own laughter and pinned me with a glare.

"Cpt Kenta. Please refrain from provoking Sasuke while in this form. He doesn't have as much control as me. If he doesn't isolate Orochimaru's chakra, he could go berserk. Do you want that?" She asked in a disapproving tone.

I sobered up and frowned. "No, ma'am. Sorry about that. The peanut gallery will silence themselves."

She nodded and turned her attention back to Sasuke. She whispered a few short words into his ear. He closed his eyes, and his skin began to revert back to the warm brown color, replacing the sickly gray pallor it had been turning into.

He opened his mouth once he was back in control but Sakura cut him off. "You and Captain can trade barbs back and forth once this is over. Now focus, Sasuke."

He nodded and put all his attention on Kakuzu. Kakuzu gazed impassively at the two, his emotions back in check.

"So, lab rats of Orochimaru it seems. Do not think that tainted power will be enough to defeat me. I have spent 80 years honing my craft. You two are still about one hundred years too young to take me on." He said in a monotone drawl. His chakra told a different story. He was slightly nervous.

"Hn." Was Sasuke's eloquent reply.

"I will translate for you, Kakuzu of Taki." Sakura spoke up, glaring slightly at her teammate. "We could have defeated you without using anything above the first level of our curse marks. This fight, no, I should correct myself. This execution is for the sole purpose of Cpt Kenta observing our fight and reporting our strength back to Lord Fifth. We are going 100% on you to show Cpt Kenta what we can do. We want to give an accurate report."

She flipped her crimson locks over her shoulder, not used to them being this long. "Unlike the "lab rats" you referred to, we are not like them. We have mastered these seals, using only the benefits it provides and isolating the negatives. You will see the true potential of these seals without Orochimaru's tainted influence."

"Oh? The True Potential? And what is that, little girl? A slight boost to your chakra? An increase in speed and strength? I assure you, it won't be enough." Kakuzu replied.

Sakura disappeared, reappearing right in Kakuzu's face. She grabbed him on either side of his head, and with lightning quick movements twisted the skull in a full rotation. She was back to her original position in another eye blink.

"I know that doesn't do any good against the likes of you. I just wanted to show you how easily I could have killed you if you didn't have that Forbidden Technique. What my kind is capable of." Sakura said in an easy tone, a lopsided grin aimed right at Kakuzu's widened eyes.

"And what would your kind be exactly?" He said, attempting to keep the nerves he was feeling in full force from entering his voice.

"Pseduo-Sages." Sasuke answered, his cocky grin back in place.

"What do you mean?" Kakuzu hissed, fear and nerves at an all-time high. I was bouncing on my toes, enjoying the fear they were putting in this legendary shinobi.

"This seal gives us the ability to passively absorb natural energy and assimilate it into our own network. That is the sole reason this seal can be so dangerous." Sasuke informed the bounty hunter.

"Why are you telling me this? A good shinobi never reveals the true nature of his ability." Kakuzu said in an attempt to regain control.

Sakura's high pitched laughter of derision cut across the clearing. "Knowing about our power does nothing for you if you can't counter it. Plus, you know nothing of our true power. Enough talk, we will just show you. You can lament your defeat from the pure lands."

With that, Sakura rocketed forward, her hyper-charged fist connecting solidly with Kakuzu's face. His jaw detached instantly and he was sent careening away at high speeds. I grabbed Haku once more, pulling him out of the line of fire. Kakuzu's broken body soared past us, Sakura and Sasuke in quick pursuit.

Kakuzu regained his bearings and righted himself. His skin darkened once more, and he began to weave hand seals.

His arms instantly fell to the floor, cut clean at the elbow. Sasuke's electric charged blade screaming its song of death as it pierced his chest once more. Kakuzu let out a groan of pain. The groan became a scream as black lightning erupted from Sasuke's blade, frying every inch of the missing ninja. The black tendrils that had been about to launch at Sasuke halting in their tracks as the nature empowered lightning jolted his entire system.

"Earth Release: Stone Prison of Subjugation." Sakura's voice called out. The earth lashed out, snaring Kakuzu's arms and legs like living vipers. They instantly drug him to the ground, pinning him down and coating him in a thin layer of liquid earth. It instantly hardened, turning a dark grey in color. He sunk down into the malleable earth, stopping only when his entire body from the neck down was no longer visible.

Kakuzu strained to break free, the effort showing clear on his face. He sneered up at the two demonic teenagers standing over him.

"It won't take me long to break free of this." He boasted.

Sakura snorted. "Go ahead and try. The earth around you is reinforced with my potent chakra. It can only be broken by strong lightning or someone with excellent earth manipulation." Her smile turned savage. "And judging by the remaining masks you have, you seem to be unable to use either element as it stands. Pity."

Kakuzu's fear reached new levels. "What do you want? Money? I have plenty. I'll leave the Akatsuki. I won't go after your Jinchuriki. You have my word. Just allow me to leave."

"He's begging now. Pathetic. I'm bored. I thought this would be a challenge." Sasuke said in disdain.

Sakura pouted herself. "I did as well. Aside from a few bruises and scratches, he wasn't really that impressive."

"Whatever, let's get this over with." Sasuke turned around, facing the three masked creatures. "I'll take the wind mask, you take the other two."

"Got it." Sakura chirped in reply.

"Wait, no!" Kakuzu shouted, but it was for naught. He grunted in pain as Sakura bulldozed her way through a stream off fire. A thin layer of water had materialized and clung to her skin. She smashed the white porcelain with a single strike, her attention focusing on the remaining mask of water.

Demonic wings sprouted from Sasuke's back, and with a powerful leap took to the sky. He dodged gracefully around as the mask of wind fired high pressured spheres of wind at him in rapid succession. Every dodge brought him closer and closer to the elusive creature.

I walked over to the buried Akatsuki member who was giving off waves of primal fear. I crouched down and tapped him on the head. His head jerked around, eyes wide with panic.

"Please, stop them. Anything, I'll give you anything!" He hysterically begged.

I leaned down, until I was right next to his ear. "This is justice. Your greed led to Team 10 being called out to pursue the men who attacked the peaceful monks of the land of fire. Your sins are finally being brought to trial. Say hello to your partner in hell for me, will you? Though I destroyed his soul completely, so I don't even know if he exists anymore."

Kakuzu opened his mouth, but only a groan of pain and panicked panting were my answer. Sasuke had managed to pierce the mask of wind with a lance of pure black energy. The addition of the natural energy turning his lightning to shades of moonless nights.

"I… I will change. I will disappear from the elemental nations. I won't bother anyone again. Please… just let me go. You are captain. They will listen if you tell them to stand down. My last heart. Don't let them destroy it!" Kakuzu was frantic now. His breaths were coming out in quick pants. The fear he was exuding was near overwhelming.

I loved every second of it.

"Let me ask you one question. Your answer may save your life." I whispered menacingly.

"Anything!" He near shouted. Sasuke and Sakura who were now playing with the last creature like two kids with a stray dog glanced over at us. Sakura waved cheerfully before her fist shot forward. The force of the punch was so great, it incinerated half of the body of the water masked creature. Sasuke rolled his eyes at me, his eyebrow raised in question.

"Who was assigned to take Fú, the seven tails Jinchuriki." I asked casually.

"We were. I mean, Hidan and I were. I'm the only one who knows how to get into the village. I was to take her and the hero water back for our Leader! Now please, let me go!" Kakuzu's hysterical reply carried across the clearing. Sakura stopped her charge and turned towards me. She was waiting on my reply.

I bent down further until I was eye to eye with him. "I already knew that. We know everything. Akatsuki will cease to exist in the very near future. I'll make sure your friends know to say hello to you when they come and join you. I just wanted to hear the words from your own mouth." I turned to Sakura. "Do it."

The water mask launched a high pressure stream at Sakura. She dodged effortlessly. "Let me show you how that technique is actually done."

She inhaled. "Water Release: Severing Wave!" Sakura called out. A needle thin stream of water erupted from her mouth. She twitched her head once, and the highly pressurized water cut straight through the mask effortlessly.

Kakuzu screamed in agony, his eyes were wide with fearful desperation. I stood up, walking away from the dying man. I stopped and dug into my pouch, unsealing a small scroll. I tossed it to Sakura.

"His chakra is fading. I'll tell you when it's gone. Seal him up in that. We should be able to extract 'Earth Grudge Fear' from him. It'll be a good bargaining chip when the time comes to send Fú back to Taki. Like I'm going to let that happen." I finished with a growl.

"What do you mean? I thought she was a citizen?" Sakura asked, the curse mark receding back to its original shape.

"The agreement was we were to harbor and protect her until the Akatsuki threat was dealt with. They would never freely give up their weapon." I spat on the ground, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "In return, we get some of their hidden techniques once she's returned home. If we have that, it'll make them think twice when they attempt to make demands when I refuse to let her go home. Clan politics is a tricky game. Taki risks losing more than they know if they try to take my woman from me."

"Like what? I don't doubt your sway in the politics game, but I doubt it's large enough to convince a hidden village to willingly part with their Jinchurirki." Sasuke asked with a frown.

"Like war." I said simply.

"War? Would Konoha really go to war?" Sakura asked.

"If Taki demands Fú back, there are two outcomes. One, we refuse and destroy their village. Two, they comply, get back their forbidden technique, as well as a formal alliance and promise to provide aid should they ever be threatened. The choice seems clear."

"But what if they don't accept that and the village decides to avoid war and meet their demands?" Haku asked quietly.

"Then the Yamanaka Clan leaves Konoha." I said simply.

"They can do that?!" Sakura gasped.

I nodded. "Any of the clans have the power to up and leave at any point. It's written into our village's founding charter. We provide our strength to the village, the village supports us with its power as a whole. If a clan feels slighted, and that the entirety of the village puts its needs above that of the entire clan, we can break ties and leave. This is why each clan has their own governing body and laws. This is why things like the Hyuga marking their branch members is allowed and the Hokage has no power to halt the process."

"Wow. I never knew that." Sakura said in wonder.

"If that's the case, then why did my clan…" Sasuke trailed off, his frown deepening.

"Power and greed." I said bluntly.

Sasuke turned his frown on me. "Explain."

"They were the co-founding clan along with the Senju. They saw the village as their right to rule. They let their pride get in the way of the rational decision. Had they decided to up and leave the village, their bargaining power would have increased tenfold." I explained to the boy.

Sasuke nodded slowly. "You're more than likely correct. It's just… troubling to know that at any point we could have left Konoha and started over. My mother and father would be alive. My cousins. It's just… senseless."

"I have no evidence, but I suspect there's more to this story than we actually know. Maybe more than we'll ever know." I mused.

"Outside interference?" Sasuke questioned.

I nodded. "Possibly. Manipulation. False promises. Any number of reasons."

"It is plausible. So do you think the threat of your clan leaving would be enough for my brother and the council to potentially go to war over Fú?" Sasuke asked neutrally.

"No. My clan is a valuable asset, but more in logistics than our actual military power. However…" I trailed off, a smirk on my face.

"Wait. I know this one. The Nara and Akimichi would most likely follow you, wouldn't they?" Sakura said, eyes widening in realization.

I nodded. "Yup. Konoha is barely over one hundred years old. Our three clans have been allied for almost a millennia. If my clan felt slighted enough to risk leaving the village, their clans would also take it as a personal insult. My clan leaving is a blow, but not crippling. Three of the six major clans though? Konoha loses a lot of their firepower, as well as many businesses that our civilian members own and run."

"Damn. Clan politics is more in depth than I thought. Oh, is he fully dead, yet?" Sakura asked, the furrowed brow disappearing as she pointed to the deceased 'immortal.'

I focuses my attention on the man, all signs of life in a twenty mile radius were gone.

I nodded. "Yup. He's dead. Seal him up, then have Haku double check for any injuries you may have missed. No, Sakura, I'm not doubting your abilities. But this is why Haku is with us. Do it or I give you an F on your report card." I had to raise my voice at the end as Sakura had looked affronted at my request.

She nodded grudgingly at my request. "I'm not doubting your ability, Haku. I hope you know that. As a medic-"

Haku's stifled giggles cut her off. "Of course, Miss Sakura. Asking a medic to get examined by another is like asking a rival carpenter to judge your work. No offense taken, I promise. But Captain is right. The adrenaline is still in your system which could be throwing off your senses. I'm confident in your ability, but better safe than sorry, right?"

Sakura smiled and nodded at the Yuki boy before ending her prison technique. As soon as Kakuzu's lifeless body was stored safe away, she rose to her feet. She walked over to Haku who had just given Sasuke a clean bill of health, healing the few scrapes and bruises he had suffered.

"Kenta." Sasuke said suddenly. "Why would your clan back you up? I'm just curious."

"Fú is already written into our family tree. Upon our betrothal, she was added tentatively. Once we're married, it's a permanent change. As such, the clan already views her as one of us. We protect our own." I said simply.

Sasuke smiled at that. "That is good to hear. I wish you the best of luck and hope it doesn't escalate that far."

I nodded. "Personally, I hope we can just go to war, wipe their forces from existence, and make them an annexation of Konoha."

Everyone frowned at that. "You would go to war?"

"Damn right I would. I'd personally lead the charge. The way they treated Fú is reprehensible." I growled out.

"But… Naruto wasn't treated much better?" Sakura said timidly.

I nodded at her. "I know that, but Naruto at least had a few people. Then he had my clan. Fú had no one aside from Shibuki. They removed her from her home to save their sorry asses. They can spin it any way they want, they see her as a monster and a weapon. I'm afraid if they do get her back, they'll extract the Biju, killing her in the process."

"Well, let's hope that Taki is reasonable and we have no conflict or bloodshed over this matter. Protecting your fiancé is admirable. I very much enjoy Lady Fú and wish you two the best. Now, shall we get a move on? We still have one more person to kill before we can go home. Miss Sakura's idea of a nice, long bath sounds heavenly right now." Haku chirped in, serene smiling sweeping our group.

I nodded. "Let's go. Raiga should be only a few hours from our current location."

With that, our group took to the trees.

Finally, it would be my turn to cut loose! This pent up frustration with Taki really got me in the mood for some psychological torment.

********************************Bye-Bye Kakuzu **************************************

"So what's the plan? He has about fifty men under his command. We shoul-" I cut off Sakura's whispered planning by standing abruptly.

"I'm over this mission. I want to get home. I wanna see my sister and brothers, I wanna see my family, I wanna see my woman. I'll take care of this. You two take notes. This is what an S-Rank shinobi can do." I finished with a cocky grin aimed towards Sasuke. My taunting working as his face flushed and the audible sound of grinding teeth could be heard.

I turned around and swept grandly into the large clearing. Hundreds of trees had been recently cut down, leaving the area clear and open.

"Gentleman!" I called out, all eyes turning towards me. Raiga had been in the middle of talking with a middle-aged man, his furious gaze snapping towards me instantly. "I thank you all for coming. I hear there have been many funerals in this area lately. 'Tis a shame that I have missed such morose events. Tragedy is my muse." I nailed the performance letting a few tears slip down my cheeks.

Raiga's eyes lit up, a crazed grin split his face. "Someone who appreciates the tragedy of death! Come, my friend! We were just about to have a funeral."

I chuckled. "I know. This is why I arrived when I did. I knew that multiple funerals would be happening on this dreary day." I looked skyward in mock dramatics. Clear blue skies unmarred by even a single cloud ruined my monologue.

Raiga's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean you knew? Multiple funerals? Who else are we having a funeral for?!"

I locked eyes with the crazed lunatic. "You and your men." I said with a cruel smile.

"KILL HIM!" Raiga screamed. The entire battalion of men he had assembled charged forth as one.

I stretched my senses out, feeling the chakra of everyone closing the distance between us. Only two had chakra levels comparable to an average Chunin. The rest were Genin or below.

What a pity.

"Storm Release: Quick Shot Light Blitz Barrage," I said outloud. I raised my hands, fingers splayed out. Pinpricks of light gathered on the tips of my eight fingers. Without warning, dozens upon dozens of small arrows of light became to bombard the area in front of me. I swept my fingers slowly from left to right across the clearing. Dozens of holes punched through the line of men, uncaring of who they cut down. None survived today. These men had been forcing innocent men and women to work for them. Killing them when Raiga's insanity took over; burying alive the most unfortunate. That ended today.

I lowered my hands, glaring at Raiga. "Will that be 50 individual graves, or one mass one?" I asked in a mocking tone.

"My family! What have you done, you monster?!" Raiga screamed in horror, thick tears spilling down his face.

"I killed them. The same as you killed innocent and defenseless civilians. The same way I'm going to kill you. The same way I'm going to kill that child that's hiding on your back." I smiled in savage triumph at the twin spikes of terror at my last declaration.

"How do you know about Ranmaru?!" Raiga screamed.

"My gods, you are dramatic! And that is saying something coming from me." I mumbled loudly. A pair of snorts could be heard behind me.

"Answer me!" He yelled even louder.

"I'm a sensor, moron. I can feel his chakra." I said plainly.

That seemed to calm him down a bit. "I see. Then it makes no difference. You will be punished for killing my family." He unsheathed the twin silver swords from his waist. "Prepare yourself!"

He held the Kiba Blades aloft, electrify began to arc between the pair. The static bolts began to gather, forming into a spherical shape.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Orb!" Raiga screamed, thrusting the twin swords forward, a large ball of lightning racing towards me.

I focused on the orb, making the judgement. I smirked.

The orb made direct impact with my chest.

"Yes! Your judgement is here! You will die for your sins! I will then burn your rotted corpse, the ashes will give birth to the trees where my family will rest!" Raiga's insane laughter echoed throughout the clearing.

"Is that all?" I drawled, giving Raiga an unimpressed look.

"How?! My attack hit you directly! Ranmaru told me it was the real you!"

"Tell me, Raiga. Have you ever completed the second stage of lightning manipulation training?"

"I have no need. These blades convert the chakra for me. It is their special ability. My lightning is just as strong as anyone who has trained for years!" He yelled in confidence.

"I thought as much. If you had, you would know a weak lightning attack like that won't do anything to me. It involves being hit with lightning, expelling the foreign chakra, and then directing the currents out of your body. Or, if mastery is achieved, absorbing the lightning into your own chakra system." I smirked in triumph. "Thanks for the meal, even if your chakra feels vile."

"Why you! I'll ki-"

"Give up now, Raiga. If you come peacefully, we'll spare the boy. Continue to resist, and I'll cut you both down. Do you even know who I am?" I shouted over his insane ramblings.

"You? You think you can kill me? Ha! I am one of the former Seven Swordsman! You are nothing but some child!"

I laughed derisively. "Yeah. A dishonored swordsman, regarded as the weakest member, by a mile. You attempted to use Zabuza's failed assassination as an excuse for your own defection. The whispers though say you saw an opportunity to escape your shame as the weakest."

"Don't you mention that cursed name around me! All of them were sinners! I was by far the weakest member. Those are all lies!"

I sneered. "The words of a failure and weakling." Raiga's chakra roiled with rage and shame. Bingo. Those rumors were true then. "You couldn't hack it as one of the only loyal swordsman, the pressure to lead and rebuild too much for a failure like you. You tucked your tail and bolted at the first opening. You're pathetic. A disgrace."

Raiga roared in bestial rage and charged forward. I raised a finger, firing off a single laser. It narrowly missed his head, taking a chunk of the greasy black hair that hung lank across his scalp. He halted his charge, glancing back, eyes widening seeing the perfectly spherical hole in the cloth knapsack that hid his young passenger.

"That was a warning shot. I aim for the heart next time which will easily pass through your lanky frame, right through the head of the boy. Put him down, and fight me. I will not hold back because of a child." I said in an emotionless monotone, staring at the missing ninja with deadened eyes.

"Ranmaru and I are a team! We fight as one!" Raiga's patienent reply came after only a moment's hesitation. His chakra was in turmoil.

Fear. Hesitation. Rage. Concern. Doubt. Hatred.

This hodge podge of emotions was doing things to my mind. My thoughts were slightly clouded, the haze of euphoria slowly taking hold.

I smiled savagely.

The demons were awakening from their slumber.

"Then so be it." I announced imperiously.

I rushed the sword weilder. He raised his swords in preparation. When I was within striking distance, I disappeared from his sight, reappearing in his blindspot to his right. I lashed out with a lightning coated kunai, my grin widening as it drew closer to the target.

I felt the chakra on his back spike.

Raiga instantly spun, without hesitation, easily blocking my killing strike with unnatural ease. His own insane grin splitting his face while mine turned to a frown.

Impossible.

Raiga lashed out, but I was already gone. I reappeared thirty feet away, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

'A sensor? If so, he's a naturally powerful one. His chakra usage was too large for a simple sensing technique. I wonder…' I ended my internal musing, plan in place. I sent a small surge of chakra to one of the seals on my gloves. Four senbon appeared in my dominant left hand.

I made eye contact with Raiga, drowning out the noise spewing from his insane lips. My chakra glided easily through my pathways, molding in the all too familiar way I had grown accustomed to. With only the barest of thoughts, I disappeared from view. Near instantly, over 100 copies of my smug mug were surrounding Raiga and his passenger. Raiga's smile slipped, his eyes widening. His gaze searched around frantically, eyes darting left to right. He was muttering something, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

Mirror feelings of sheer panic invaded my senses.

I grinned widely in satisfaction, my tested theory proven correct.

I threw one senbon and moved. The second. The third. The final senbon. Each coming from a different direction. The first one in Raiga's blind spot. The following senbon from areas that would become a blind spot when he turned to repel the attacks.

One, Two, Three, Four. All blocked with pinpoint precision.

I reappeared directly in front of Raiga.

"The boy has an eye technique." I stated out loud. Not a question. A definitive fact.

"H-how do you know that?" Raiga asked in disbelief.

"You blocked my first attack from your blind spot with relative ease. It was too perfect. There is no way you should have reacted in time to my attack. I felt the boy's chakra spike right before you turned. At first I assumed he was a sensor, a powerful one at that. I crafted a theory and tested it. An eye technique is the only plausible answer." I smirked in confidence.

"What theory? What test?" Raiga asked, licking his lips nervously.

I internally rolled my eyes. This guy was former ANBU? Either Kiri was just that trash of a village, or Raiga had lost a lot of what made a shinobi a shinobi.

"I used chakra to unseal four senbon. I then continuously used chakra to perform my 'Body-Flicker Dance' technique. The entire time, both of your chakras were panicked and in disarray. Had the boy been a powerful sensor, he would have been at least able to follow me to a degree. I move too fast for all but the most powerful sensors to track me. I move too fast for all but the absolute strongest eyes to follow me."

I then threw those four senbon at your blind spot, predicting where you would turn to keep attacking from outside your peripheral vision. An eye bloodline may have not been able to keep up with my location and speed, but they would easily pick up the projectiles I threw. You keep him in that knapsack, preventing the world from glimpsing him. However, he also has no way to see the world around him. Unless he has enhanced vision. Vision with powerful penetrating abilities…"

I narrowed my eyes dangerously at the man. "If that boy is a lost member of the Hyuga Clan, I will personally break you, then drag you back to Konoha to allow our T&I clan, as well as Lord Hyuga their own opportunities to have their way with you."

"He's not a Hyuga! I swear!" Raiga's panicked voice called out before I had even finished my sentence.

"Good. Then I'll feel only slightly guilty when I put a hole through his head."

Pure. Primal. Fear.

Unhinged Hatred.

I took a deep breath, savoring the emotional turmoil I had caused.

I opened my eyes and grinned evilly at the older man, disappearing in a burst of speed.

*********************************Kenta is BACK!****************************************

"He's the absolute real deal." Haku said out loud.

Sakura hummed her agreement.

"He's certainly dramatic. He could have ended this fight a dozen different ways already." Sasuke grunted in annoyance.

"He could have. But I think…" Sakura trailed.

"What is that, Miss Sakura?" Haku asked quietly.

"This is his test for himself to make sure he's mentally ready to use his tactics when the fights really matter. This Raiga guy, as Sasuke put it, should be dead a dozen times over. Kenta is toying with him. Using that silver tongue of his to cause as much emotional and psychological damage as possible. I just hope this is his Kiba bluff all over again. You don't think he'd actually kill a child, do you?" Sakura's face pinched in worry, her voice mirroring her body language.

"No. He isn't that far gone." Sasuke said, not elaborating further.

"I will agree with Lord Sasuke. He may make the threats, and he might actually make it believable, but I do not think he would actually harm an innocent. Kenta can be… vicious. But he is not a monster." Haku quietly said.

Sakura heaved a pent up sigh. "You're both right. I guess he still makes me nervous. I can't read him anymore. One minute I think we're back on track to being friends, the next I'm walking on eggshells and biting my tongue. I hope this goes away."

"It will. He just needs time to trust you again. Kenta isn't a blind optimist. He's a realist. Give him no reason to doubt you and he'll eventually thaw out. The fact that he still jokes with you should show you that he's leaning on the side of forgiveness." Sasuke shot a quick smile at Sakura before his eyes snapped back to the one-sided slow burn slaughter. His crimson orbs attempting to absorb every detail.

"Sasuke?" Sakura called out hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"What do you think about Kenta? What is he to you?"

Sasuke glanced over at Sakura before returning his eyes to the fight. He seemed to take a few moments to gather his thoughts.

"I think it would be easier to answer what Kenta isn't to me. He's many things. A rival. A goal. An infuriating source of annoyance. A comrade. A friend." He paused and this time locked eyes with Sakura. "My first and best friend at that."

Sakura's mouth slightly opened in surprise. "I didn't know you two were that close."

Sasuke snorted. "The annoying blonde bastard didn't give me any choice. We started out as sparring partners after wave. From there, we'd just have small chats here and there. Eventually those small chats grew more personal. Before I knew it, he was the first person I thought of when I needed to get something off my chest. The first person I knew to go to when the anxiety and loneliness were too much to push away on my own. I don't know how. I don't know why. We were never close as kids. The nicest way I can describe our relationship was a grudging respect for the other. In the real world, this relationship shouldn't have been possible. For whatever reason though, it is. The only thing I truly know is that without Kenta, I wouldn't have grown into the man I am today."

"Sounds like someone is in love." Sakura teased lightly.

Sasuke pinned the girl with a flat stare. "Hardly. One, despite the rumors, I am not a fan of the same sex. Two, even if I was, Kenta and I would kill each other. The only reason he was able to worm his way in is because he's so versed in psychology. He knew what to say. When to say it. When not to say anything. I don't know why he decided to befriend me, but the way I was after graduation, he was the only one capable of such a miraculous feat. He's never pushed me to open up more than I was comfortable with. Never pressed me for answers I didn't want to give. He took what I gave him and was content until we next spoke. He had the happiest childhood, full of love. Yet somehow, someway, he understood me."

"I get it. Kenta is an enigma, yet so easy to read. His love for the village extends to every single person that lives in it. He saw a lonely boy in pain. He reached out to you. However, you give him too much credit. If you truly weren't looking for such a connection, you wouldn't have let it happen. Consciously or not, you reached out to him when extended the branch of friendship. I'm happy for you, Sasuke. I'm glad he was there when you needed him most." Sakura said softly with a small smile on her face. She turned towards her former crush and shot him a mischievous smirk. "We all owe Kenta a lot. Without him you'd still probably be an antisocial, moody bastard."

A giggle sounded to Sakura's left, causing her to turn wide eyed toward the third member of their little gathering.

"Haku! I am so sorry. We completely ignored you!" Sakura said in rush.

Haku waved her off with a light laugh. "It is fine, Miss Sakura. I was enjoying the conversation. I'm much more a wallflower than a social butterfly." Haku explained. "Besides, Kenta's fight is growing boring. He truly does seem to be practicing his craft more than actually attempting to finish this fight. I never thought I would see myself feeling sorry for such a repulsive creature, but Kenta is being exceptionally brutal today."

"He's finished playing with his food. This fight should be ending soon." Sasuke announced, eyes trained back on the fight.

********************************Cute Scenes Are Lyfe!***********************************

I sneered at the panting man across the clearing from me. I had been bombarding the man with disparaging remarks and cutting words for nearly an hour, wearing down his body and spirit. The demons roared inside, telling me to finish him. I was pleased that their influence was much easier to keep at bay than I initially thought.

"I think I've had enough practice. The rust has been shaken loose. I wish to see my friends and family, so I will be performing your funeral now." I called out to the cornered beast.

"You! You! I will kill you!" Raiga screamed in outrage.

I rolled my eyes, injecting chakra into one of my seals. I was going to finish this. In the most dramatic way possible.

I charged forward, Raiga mimicking my moves.

I was within striking distance, my habits causing Raiga is downfall. He twitched, ready to spin and intercept my blindside attack.

I didn't vanish this time, I continued straight forward. Raiga's eyes widened, he lashed out with his left sword. I ducked the sloppily thrown strike, spinning out of the way of the hasty stab he made with his right arm. Letting my momentum carry me, I pivoted on my heel, driving the senbon I had palmed deep into the tricep muscle on his right arm. I flashed back, flashing a smirk in victory.

"Game over." I called out.

His answer was a crazed howl and bull rush forward. He made it six steps before he stumbled. Three more steps and his face was in the dirt. I stalked forward towards my prey, the promise of death in my eyes.

"W-what d-did you do to me?" He asked weakly.

"Paralytic." I said quickly. I lunched forward with my kunai, his eyes widened in panic. I slashed the knot holding the bundle on his back. It sprung open a terrible small and frail child blinked up in terror at me.

I felt my heart clench. He was Kono's age. His tiny clothes hung loose on his skeletal frame. Hallowed cheekbones and gaunt eyes stared back at me. He was pale, and not just from his terrified disposition. This boy was on death's door.

The demons inside me called for blood. This time, I complied.

"What is this?" I hissed at Raiga in righteous fury, arm holding the boy in place, shaking him ever so slightly to get my point across.

"Ranmaru," he replied weakly. "He is… Precious to me. Please, do not hurt him."

I snarled like a diseased animal. "You pathetic piece of shit. Don't you lie to me. This boy has one foot in the grave. He's sick! He needs medical attention. He needs food! Do not spout to me the lies you fed to this boy and yourself to justify your insane actions."

"I'm not… lying." He said, eyes swimming with tears.

I turned to the bow, eyes softening. "Ranmaru, right?"

He nodded hesitantly.

"We're going to get you out of here. We're going to take you back to Konoha. We'll get you medical treatment. I promise you I will take care of you." I said in soft voice. The boy's fear, which had moments ago had me on cloud nine, had my stomach roiling in disgust.

"W-what about Mister Raiga?" He asked in a small voice, concerned eyes glancing at the downed man. "He's not a bad person, I swear."

"I know you think so, Ranmaru. But I promise you, he is a very bad man. Once we get you better, we'll have a grownup discussion. Do you know what Stockholm Syndrome is?" I asked in a kind voice. Arms rubbing his disgustingly skinny arms to warm the shaking boy.

He shook his head. "N-no. But… Will I be hurt in Konoha? The village I grew up in… everyone was scared of me because my eyes were strange. They said I was a demon. Mister Raiga was the only nice person to me, ever. I… I don't want to leave him." Tiny little tears were leaking from the boys eyes.

I glanced up at the three comrades standing in the tree line. I motioned for them to come over. Ranmaru jumped at suddenly being surrounded by three more shinobi. His eyes ignited in a crimson glow, the pupil becoming a vertical line.

"S-stay back! Please don't hurt me!" He cried in desperation.

Waves of agonizing sadness poured off Haku. This was the newly named director of the pediatric wing. The man loved kids. He knelt down slowly in front of Ranmaru, not making any kind of sudden movements.

"Hello, Ranmaru. My name is Haku. I am a medic of Konoha. Your eyes are very pretty, did you know that?" He spoke to the poor in a kind tone, sending soothing and calming vibes towards the tiny child.

He shook his head and answered Haku in a low voice. I tuned them out momentarily turning to Sakura.

"Do you know what those eyes are?" I asked the resident budding bloodline expert.

She nodded enthusiastically. "The Ketsuryūgan. I thought it was completely extinct. It's a very powerful Eye Bloodline. On par with the two we have in Konoha. Kenta… If we bring him back to the village and they learn about a new eye bloodline…" She trailed off, her face pinched in anxiety.

I nodded. "I won't let that happen. Besides, Lord Fifth is one of two surviving members of a clan with an Eye Bloodline. Do you really think he would subjugate the boy to that?"

Sakura's eyes widened and then her face crumpled in relief. "You're right. I apologize for the negative thoughts. Orochimaru told me stories and I-"

"I get it, Sakura. There will be push from a few of the power hungry councilmembers, but it will be just background static. We'll protect him. I promise." I said in a low but kind voice to the concerned woman. I turned to Sasuke and motioned with my head towards the boy. Sasuke sighed dramatically.

He walked over to the quietly chatting duo of Haku and Ranmaru.

"Hey, kid. I want to show you something. Don't freak out." Sasuke demanded. Sakura cleared her throat and sent the boy a withering glare when he turned her direction.

"Um… Ok, mister." Ranmaru replied anxiously.

"I'm going to close my eyes, when I open them, you'll see we weren't lying about your eyes." Sasuke explained in a MUCH kinder voice this time. He shut his eyes, a heartbeat later, he slowly opened them, revealing his own crimson colored orbs.

Ranmaru gasped, and the first smile we had seen on the boy lit his face up. "Miss Haku was right! There are others like me! Your eyes are very cool, Mister…"

"Sasuke," he supplied. "Your eyes are also… very cool." He grimaced at the use of slang.

"Ranmaru." I called out.

He turned to me, his eyes wary, but no longer fearful. "Yes?"

"Would you like to come with us? Would you like a real home?" I asked with a smile.

His face lit up once more. "Yes, sir! That sounds amazing!"

I laughed loudly. "Ok. Would you be uncomfortable if Miss Haku or Miss Sakura carried you?"

He shook his head rapidly. "I don't mind at all." He turned towards Haku. "I can ride piggy back if that's more comfortable for you. I know I don't look it, but I'm strong enough to hold on for a bit."

Haku laughed lightly. "We will start with a piggy back ride and adjust as we need to." He knelt down in front of the boy. "Climb onboard the Haku express!"

Ranmaru laughed in childish delight, complying with the request. Haku stood up and looked to me for direction.

"You three go on, I'll catch up." I murmured quietly so that Ranmaru wouldn't hear. He was talking animatedly with Haku who kept one ear open for the boy.

My three minions nodded, and vanished as quickly as they appeared. I turned towards Raiga.

"Heh. Not such a hard ass as you pretend to be are you?" He had a drunken smirk on his face, the paralytic strong enough to dull most of the facial muscles.

"To innocent children, absolutely not. I'm a big brother after all." I said with no inflection in my voice.

Raiga's face softened and he glanced towards me. "Thank you. For taking care of Ranmaru. He… was the only good in my life. Give him a good home for me, will you?"

The demons unleashed the rage that had been building. The calls for blood echoed like war drums in my ears.

I flickered over to the paralyzed man, a mask of sheer and unabashed hatred on my face. I grabbed him by his disgustingly greasy hair, and pulled hard. His grunt of pain was only the beginning of quenching the flames of rage that had been stoked.

"You do not get to pretend that you actually cared for that boy. You are a disgusting, worthless, piece of shit. I have more empathy for the bacteria that cling to my sandal after stepping in a pile of animal shit. That boy is neglected, malnourished, sick, and shows absolutely abhorrent signs of mental abuse. You would have rectified at least one of those things if you truly cared. I will make sure you suffer. Your reign of insane terror ends today, Raiga." I threw him away, his face impacting the ground hard enough for the sounds of cartilage snapping to be heard.

I pushed chakra into a hidden 13th seal on my gloves. A senbon landed in my palm. This one was different than all the others. I only carried one on me at a time. It was only for the most vile pieces of shit on the planet.

I turned back to my helpless victim, primal pleasure coursing through my veins at the thought of what was about to happen. I waved the senbon in front of him. It was a matte black in color. Slightly thinner than my normal throwing needles.

"I have a surprise for you." I whispered in his ear in childish glee. "You're only the second person to ever receive this gift. Do you know what it is?"

"Poison, I'm guessing. Good luck. Kiri made me immune to the vast majority of toxins that grow naturally in the world. Also, most animal venom." Raiga sneered.

I clicked my tongue. "You should use that wittle bwain of yours. If you were immune to them, would my paralytic have worked so quickly or potently…?

I grinned viciously at his widening eyes as the gravity of my statement sunk in.

"Since I was three years old, I helped my older brother and mother raise plants. By the time I was six, I was advanced enough to begin crossbreeding my own plants. I excelled at it." I explained, my manic gaze never leaving his. "There are only three ingredients in this lovely little brew. Unlike the rest of my poisons, this one is extra special. The ingredients were made from my own personal breed of flora. Flora I have been cultivating and improving for over a decade."

I shuddered as the creeping sense of foreboding began to permeate the air. He understood the implications.

"Basilisk Venom," I whispered in his ear. "That is the name of this marvelous creation."

I jabbed the needle into his calf muscle, the furthest area from the heart. I wanted this to hurt.

"The first symptom you will begin to feel is a slight tingle in your skin and the numbing of the roof of your mouth." I changed my tone. My clinical tutor voice coming into play. "Within twenty minutes, max, the tingling will become a slight itch. Within the hour, that slight itch becomes maddening."

I savored the unease and fear coming from the man in increasing quantities.

"For the next 3 hours, your entire body will experience an overwhelming sensation of complete and utter maddening irritation. Every inch of skin will scream its need to be scratched. Normally, you would be able to oblige… Scratching and scratching until you begin to break skin and create abrasions all over yourself."

I withdrew a different needle, jabbing it into his left arm.

"That, is my strongest does of paralytic. It's just weak enough to allow the lungs to expand, but strong enough that you won't even be able to utter a scream." I explained to the quickly panicking man as I removed the second needle.

"Once the itching fades, you will send your prayers to the gods, thanking them for ending your nightmare." I met his gaze. "You will soon begin to pray that the itch returns. The second step to my poison will over stimulate your entire nervous system. A gentle breeze that we savor on a sweltering day will feel like knives raking across your skin. The clothes touching your skin will feel like the coarsest sandpaper you've ever felt. The grass beneath your face will feel as though spears are piercing your flesh bit by bit…"

I walked over to a tree and began to rig a trap. "Before I continue to explain what my poison will do over the course of the next five days, I just realized. The worst part of stage two is all those little abrasions you gave yourself over your body from the maddening itch will feel like untreated gaping wounds. I'm setting this trap to launch the antidote when the itch reaches its climax. A well trained shinobi may be able to resist the urges as the sensation builds over time. I can't have you missing out on the best part!" I cheered happily.

I brushed my hands off, happy with my little antidote delivery rig.

"Now, stage 3. This is where it gets really fun. The poison will continue to overstimulate your nervous system, but the itch will return! Isn't that exciting!?"

I laughed in pleasure at the sheer terror the man was experiencing now.

"Oh I can feel it. You know what that means, so I won't explain myself. Stage four. Hmmmm… What was stage four again?" I paced back and forth, attempting to "remember" what stage four was. "Oh yeah! The true purpose of this poison. After 24 hours, the poison will begin to target your chakra. It will corrupt and poison it slowly over time. Eventually, the poison will have reproduced enough that your entire chakra system is compromised. As it circulates your body, it will fill your cells with its life giving energy." I smiled darkly at the man, wishing I could be here to witness this part.

"Its true purpose is to halt the natural occurrence of cellular division. After 48 hours, you will begin to painfully and quickly die; cell… by… cell."

I wish I had a word to describe the feelings I was bathing in at the current moment. Terror wasn't strong enough. I don't think there was a word for the waves of absolute mind-shattering horror rolling off the man.

I laughed loudly. Savoring the feeling one last time.

I bent down, scooping up the Kiba Blades and storing them away.

I turned on my heel, taking one last look at the soon to be corpse.

"Savor it, Raiga. The fear you feel now is only a fraction of what your victims you buried alive felt. The wicked will always be punished. It may not be immediate, but the cries of vengeance from the pure lands reach our plane at some point. Goodbye, Murderer."

And with a slight gust of wind, I left the clearing. Mind already tossing the doomed man I left to rot out the window.

The demons quieted for now, their bloodlust sated.

Hopefully one day, I could quiet the demons permanently. I hoped that one day, I could become who I was before I lost my father.

Today was a big step forward. I dove back into the darkness, and I this time I didn't lose myself.

My father would always be in my heart and memories. I will continue to strive to make him proud. I knew the only thing he truly wanted though was for me to never fall to darkness.

I would not settle for anything less than perfection. I would not let my father down.

Never again.

Yeah?

How was it? As bad as I thought it was? Let me know! Don't hold back!

Kenta's Mancrush list! This will be worked into the story as a running gag (if you haven't figured it out)

Legacy Members: Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi. Shisui Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha.

Fifth Place…. Gaara!

Fourth Place…. A!

Third Place…. Nagato!

Second Place…. DADDY Shark! Kisame :D

And the winner… Kaka-Sensei!

Should we have a scene where Kenta declares his eternal love to Kakashi?

I asked where y'all thought Kenta would fit in Hogwarts… We had some diversity, but it seems that Slytherin was the most mentioned, which I completely agree with. Kenta is a total Snek.

This week I SHOULD be able to have an actual POLL. GO VOTE!

Question! Which Hogwarts house would NARUTO UZUMAKI be in :D

Thanks for all the love, support, critiques, everything. You all are amazing.

See you next week.

Remember, my PM box is open to anyone for ANYTHING. It doesn't have to be story/Naruto related. If you just need to vent to an unbiased stranger, I'm your dude.

Have a great week, Kenta Fans! Stay safe. WASH YOUR NASTY HANDS!