Chapter 8
She watched the water flow by in a steady stream, never at rest. Every once and awhile it would be disturbed when a fish bobbed too close to the top. A few even outright jumped out and back in their scales gleaming in the rising sun. The silence was peaceful and calming to Kaiya as a breeze brushed back lose strands of her raven hair. It was also a peace broken when Zetsu’s familiar chakra formed from beside her. Kaiya glanced over in time to see his green foliage unfurling revealing a face with colours split in half, one wholly white and the other black. Zetsu’s shifting yellow-green eyes pierced into her. The white half spoke first “Why hello, Kaiya-san. How are you?” Before Kaiya could bother replying the darker half interrupted, “Stop the formalities. We have work to be done.” “Aww, but that’s rude, she’s a lady.”
For a few minutes Kaiya simply watched the two personalities bicker back and forth with a veiled expression, patiently waiting until he stopped and focused again.
Except her patience only lasted so long, “Who am I looking for next Zetsu?” His attention instantly snapped back towards her. “The nine-tails,” Black Zetsu replied instantly being followed by white, “Leader-Sama claimed you should already know something about the location.”
Kaiya sighed and nodded, she hadn’t known Pein had knew about that, “The Leaf.” Zetsu nodded and his white half spoke again “He suggested a stealth tactic for this one. Also, you are to meet up with Itachi and Kisame to give them this scroll at the border of Fire.” After receiving the Uchiha’s only response was a quick nod before she grabbed her cloak, slipping it on and flashing away just as quick. The duel personality Venus flytrap was truly the most disturbing to Kaiya, she’d only complain to Sasori about that. So Kaiya kept blank when he was around and questioned the spy’s entire creation when she was gone. Now though Kaiya could really focus.
Back to the Leaf. It would be the first time returning to her former-home since the massacre. None of her past missions had called for any reason to go back there. The only involvement she’d had was the incident with her old sensei. Sasuke would be nearly twelve. Kaiya sighed and picked up her speed, pushing off a branch, harder pushing her body further. She was already close to the outside of the border. After giving the scroll to her brother it would take less than two days travel to get to Konoha. Maybe less if she moved quicker. Quicker might be better in this case.
It was only a few hours before Kaiya had arrived right at the border at one of the small homes kept in possession by the Akatsuki for meetings like this. Kaiya stepped in and was met with a Itachi’s presence it made her pause.
“C’mon Itachi! How do you hide from me like that?” Kaiya burst out the second he appeared before her. Itachi let a small smile slip onto his lips, signalling to her that Kisame wasn’t here for the time being. She also knew he wouldn’t be answering her anytime soon, instead leaving her to figure it out for herself. “Annoying Onii-san” she mumbled under her breath. Shaking her head Kaiya brushed it off for the time being. Pulling into the pocket of her cloak Kaiya pulled out the scroll passing it over to Itachi.
“Courtesy of Zetsu, or rather Leader-Sama. Good luck Nii-San…” Kaiya couldn’t help trailing off before continuing in a smaller voice. “The mission’s in Konoha; their jinchuriki.” That’s all Kaiya needed to say before Itachi’s eyes softened and worry rushed through them before clearing once more. Itachi pulled her against his chest, towering over her with his height. “Kisame is almost here. Be careful, my butterfly.” A second later and he had pulled back and pulled a tight mask on, successfully clearing his face of emotion. At that moment as well Kisame’s large form stepped into the room. “Ah, twerp, here to fight?” he questioned cockily. Kaiya only spun around and gave him an eye roll, “Going on a mission, actually. Not today.” She flashed Itachi a wide smile behind her shoulder “Good luck on your job.”
Kaiya then left the room and immediately as the door shut her smile disappeared. Flashing up into a tree Kaiya paused, pulling her hand from her cloak where Itachi’s had brushed hers in their hug. A white scroll with Danzo’s Root emblem on it. Being in Konoha certainly would be interesting.
When Kaiya made it to the border of the Leaf, passing through the walls were easy. As a child Kaiya enjoyed sneaking out into the outer woods through an old passage by unused training grounds. Except as she passed through the small crack a chakra signature made it to her senses. Her eyes flashed red immediately, searching out through the trees and foliage.
There, a form similar in size to her, but male. His chakra though; it was massive and flowed through his body in tides. The sight made her pause. It couldn’t be…
Kaiya made quick to concealing herself, covering her chakra. Although when she arrived, perched at the highest point in a tree, the boy never in looked around. His attention was thoroughly on three targets in front of him nailed into trees. Shuriken and kunai were scattered around. From Kaiya’s deduction the kid missed, a lot. But her suspicion was correct. From him leaked the same type of energy she’d grown accustomed to when spying on jinchuriki. And this one much like all the others was secluded, although not much disguised with the vibrant blonde hair and orange ninja outfit. The vibrant colour made a grin twitch onto Kaiya’s face.
The expression was soon wiped off though when the boy beneath her paused and a vicious growl echoed through the clearing below her. Two massive animals appeared from the trees blood coating their fur and foam dripping from their muzzles. They were rabid then—and hungry. It made Kaiya pause as she watched the young Genin beneath her stare at them in a terror. The kid barely had time to hold up a kunai before both were bouncing on him in a blur.
And Kaiya was frozen in uncertainty. She couldn’t let this innocent kid die, or even be attacked by rabid animals. Not when she could stop him and the kid was already drained of energy from training. Then, something flashed through her mind. She couldn’t allow a jinchuriki to die; the problem of re-sealing with the Leaf in possession would cause to much problem. An excuse.
Barely a second had gone by and Kaiya sent a soft genjutsu floating down over the animals, making them pounce away growling as it released just as quickly. Kaiya’s form disappeared and butterflies then swarmed in front of the host’s vision as he pushed himself onto his elbows. The animals backed away further. Then Kaiya’s body slowly formed together holding two glinting metal needles in her fingers. The beasts poised to lunge once more and Kaiya launched her hand forward. A second upon impact and the animals collapsed to the ground, motionless. Staring at the brown furred creatures thoughtfully Kaiya’s voice floated through the clearing, “What’s your name?”
She glanced over around her shoulder to look at the blue-eyed host. The baby blues only widened taking her in whispering “Naruto.” Before Kaiya sent a butterfly flashing in his vision; his eyes rolled back into his head falling limp. No matter her speed there was still a three slashes across his chest and blood was steadily staining his shirt. From immediate attention Kaiya could tell they weren’t deep, in animals this kind of blow was meant to maim and slow down prey. Either way Kaiya couldn’t allow him much more sight of her. But to make matters worse there was also no way she was leaving him alone in the middle of the woods, at the borders of the village.
Disregarding everything in the clearing Kaiya made her way to the host, Naruto, gathering him up in her arms with a grunt before jumping off into the trees towards the village. Within a few moments she’d made it onto a rooftop near Konoha’s marketplace. When there though, Kaiya had to take a moment to pause, taking in the entirety of the village.
So, without her noticing, the blonde–who she’d laid down in front of her–slowly, opened his eyes. His vision was blurred and disoriented as he pulled out of the haze. Then when Naruto glanced up, for a moment he saw Sasuke looking out over Konoha, “Sasuke-teme, I had it!” But when Kaiya looked down at him and Naruto’s own eyes widened when he caught better sight of her features. Even more, blazing crimson Sharingan were her eyes.
Before anything could be said from either surprised party Kaiya tensed as chakra appeared behind her.
“Who are you? Naruto!” Kaiya tilted her head looking out of her peripherals at the Copy-Cat Ninja of the Leaf. Panic rolled through and Kaiya’s eyes flickered. In another second her body burst into the black butterflies that flew away and disappeared in moments.
Kaiya finally reformed by the entrance to Root. She leaned against the nearest object, her breath coming in heavy spurts. From the chakra strain or panic she wasn’t sure which, but probably both. It took a few minutes until she settled her mind. “Phew. You’re okay, Kaiya. They won’t be able to track you and everything there is enough information for now” Kaiya whispered to herself. A few deep breaths later and she was fine. With that Kaiya faced towards the hidden entrance to Root, then made her way in. The way to Danzo’s secret office was the same as ever and currently, no Root members were there. She supposed that had to be Itachi’s planning. When she paused at the door Danzo’s very presence was seeping through it.
Her face lost all expression and life, draining away to nothing, but blankness. As she eased open the door and stepped in Danzo was already staring up at her, through her. She stepped forward and gave him a slight bow of acknowledgement. Kaiya slowly pulled out the scroll and tight-lipped set it on the desk in front of Danzo.
“From my brother.”
Not deigning to wait for any response Kaiya turned sharply on her heel feeling her cloak drift around behind her. At the door she paused with his voice. “The innocent Kaiya Uchiha is dead. Shi no Gensō, seems to have made a name for herself.”
Kaiya tilted her head back towards him, “So it seems, Danzo-Sama” she murmured lightly. Not waiting a moment more, once again Kaiya activated the butterfly technique. Deliberately, allowing a butterfly to perch on his desk before following after the swarm. And Kaiya departed from the village immediately after, watching as the Hokage Mountain disappeared behind her.
In the village behind Kaiya, Sasuke watched sharply as Naruto came running towards him and Sakura at full speed. A smile was blazing on his face.
“Guys guys guys! You’ll never believe what happened!” The second he was close enough Sakura bashed him over the head, mumbling about knuckleheads as Naruto was momentarily distracted whining. He quickly focused again.
“I was out training in the woods! And then when these animals attacked me this girl saved me, believe it! And she was pretty…” Sasuke only rolled his eyes looking away from the loser with disinterest, “Whatever.”
Naruto stopped a foot stubbornly, “It’s true!” the blonde paused a moment and side-glanced to the Uchiha, “And she looked kind of like you, Sasuke.” Sasuke’s head whipped back around and he sneered, “What?” causing Naruto to nod animatedly.
A scowl formed on Sasuke’s face and he gripped Naruto’s collar, urging the blonde to continue. “Yeah, except, ya know, a girl. She had long black hair, up in a braid thingy I think. And she had Sharingan!” Sasuke’s scowl deepened and he released Naruto pushing him back and away from him, storming away. As soon as he was out of their sight Sasuke cursed and shook his head. No way, it wasn’t possible. He had the memory of her dead body engrained in his mind, Kaiya was gone forever, and she’d helped him in the massacre as well. Sasuke should hate her. But that idea in his head, of her alive, he couldn't stop the question… “Was it possible?”