Chapter 11
While they made the rest of the trip Kaiya took each blade one at a time and clipped the fabric onto it before wounding it tightly around the handles. Deciding to keep them out for today she sheathed the first long thin blade before repeating the process with the other. As she finished the second sword Kaiya paused a moment, pursing her lips at the hilt. Then a brilliant grin lit up her face and reaching quickly into her pouch she pulled out the Uchiha clan keychain Itachi had given her so long ago. Smiling, she carefully attached it onto the end of her hilt, adding chakra into it delicately to hold it there.
“A small piece of home,” Kaiya murmured softly.
At that moment she and Kisame had made it to the building and she could feel the faint pulse of Itachi’s chakra from inside. Her eyes lit up, immediately shifting back to their onyx blue and she leapt over ahead of Kisame and into the building. Out of the other Nin’s sight she spotted Itachi immediately and wrapped her arms around him. Just as she always had, except now her head was a tad higher on his chest. Pulling back Kaiya beamed at him, “Just you wait Nii-San; I’ll be taller than you soon.” Itachi only rolled his eyes at her but couldn’t hide the twitch in his lips. From behind them Kisame spoke up, “What are you talking about, twerp?” You’re still a little midget to me.”
She spun around, the Uchiha turning a dark glare on Kisame who grinned sharply at her. “I am not a midget, you’re just monstrously tall!”
“Kaiya,” Itachi’s composed voice interrupted her from going any further making the girl shoot him a pout.
Taking her silence as a reason to continue her brother did so, “Do you have the scroll for us?” Kaiya’s full attention returned and her tone levelled out, “Yes.” She pulled it out of her cloak setting it in his pale hand, “Your first target is the four-tails; his jinchuriki is Rōshi of Iwagakure. All other details are there. Good luck, Nii-San.” On the tail end of Kaiya’s words she saw as Kisame began opening his mouth but she interrupted, “Do me a favour and get killed Kisame.”
She shifted back to Itachi who shook his head at her in amusement before tucking away the scroll.
“You’ll be going to Sunagakure immediately Kaiya, to investigate their tailed beast, the one-tailed Shukaku. According to Leader-Sama, Zetsu has had too much trouble getting in to find information. So you’ll be going in with a different technique. He said to follow the orders to the T.” Kaiya nodded accepting the sealed scroll. She backed away from the partners, bowing slightly before disappearing out the door and into the woods. Instantly she began heading for the Wind Nation. While she leapt through the trees Kaiya unsealed the scroll. Opening it up her eyes ran over the words quickly, when she finished a broad smile made its way onto Kaiya’s face. She’d had plenty of missions before, but in ways of espionage and whatever waited for her in Suna; this one would by far be the most exciting.
Before going ahead with the mission, Kaiya first dropped off where she was to meet Sasori at the end of it. Entering the building the door creaked along with the floor irritating her. Sighing Kaiya took the sheaths of her blades and removed them from her waist, placing them on the round table in the room. A grin lit on her face, she couldn’t help it. This would surely annoy Sasori, since there was no doubt in her mind he would beat her there, something always managed to hold Kaiya up; she’d learned that lesson quite well.
With nothing more to be done, Kaiya then left just as quickly as she’d arrived after restocking her supply of water and food pills. The desert was wreathing heat all around in their spring season. Making her exit she locked everything, reassuming the security placed so Kakuzu wouldn’t chop her head off if someone managed to break in. Then the kunoichi was off.
“I remember something in one Itachi’s reports from the attack on Konoha. Apparently the Shukaku had nearly gone on a rampage there but was stopped” Kaiya murmured to herself as she crossed the desert landscape steadily. “That could say different things about his level of control, or lack thereof. But he was the Kazekage’s kid and apparently he and his siblings have taken over a good part of control in Suna since then.” The teen paused and shook her head looking out across the desert where faint mirages of water lay ahead of her. “There’s not much for me to go on yet,” she mumbled finally. “I’ll just have to figure it out on the fly...Until then,” Kaiya’s smile turned gleeful, “How shall I go about getting in?”
When the tall canyon came into sight, so did the guards. Studying them Kaiya crinkled her brows and pursed her lips in thought. With the goal in mind and her instructions Kaiya had far too many options on how to go about this. And all of them were guaranteed to be fun. For her at least. So when the dark haired teen arrived at the gates and the first call of, “Introduce yourself!” sounded, she let out a giggle. “I think I’ll take the scenic route to being arrested.”
In a flash Kaiya’s Kekkei-Genkai activated and she counted each guard, nine total in her immediate sight. She pulled out her senbon; all grasped between her fingers, and launched them at lightning speed. Six guards dropped. As Kaiya entered the large archway into the village the three remaining jumped in front of her. The center one growled out “What do you think you’re doing?” Kaiya tilted her head, letting him catch sight of her face through the tassels of her hat.
“Oh not much,” she murmured silkily. “Just taking a pleasant afternoon stroll. And you’re preventing it.”
The two remaining Suna Nin froze when their comrade dropped to the ground eyes rolling to the back of his head as a genjutsu settled over him. Kaiya smiled sweetly at them, her hand blurred and then they had dropped to the ground with two glinting silver needles protruding from their necks. Her lips still turned up the Leaf rogue continued on her way stepping over their bodies agilely. She continued walking past the archway to step back into the light, into Suna. Sight switching up to above her she lodged four more senbon in guards stationed above and hidden on the wall. The resounding thumps made Kaiya grin before she continued into the village. No further hindrances followed.
The sandy streets stretched out before her. Except now people were wounding their ways along, going here and there on different menial chores before moving onto the next. Their bustling was so unlike Konoha’s had been to Kaiya. There was nothing precisely hectic about how everyone went about their lives here. But they weren’t quite relaxed either, as she’d seen in Kumogakure. It was…different.
Everything here was. The buildings shaped to match the landscape around them. Made of similar material to sand they blended in with their rounded shape and beige colours. There were no flowers amidst the houses except for cacti sprouted sporadically. One house she caught sight of had an entire garden of them surrounding their home. “Defence system and hobby,” Kaiya murmured contentedly. Different things came from each house from then on, although they all still managed to have small little things that varied from one another; one house had a bit more oval shape, one only had one wide window, another had a round door to match the building’s shape. She loved it. For just a moment, only a moment, as Kaiya carelessly wandered the Suna streets; she could see herself living here. For the teen, the image was enticing. Kaiya, walking around the streets, wearing the Suna headband, a proud ninja of the nation known for its profound strength and viciousness. Except that was an idea quickly thrown away to the winds. She was here now; adorning the Akatsuki cloak. No, this was not a place for her to have.
As Kaiya refocused her thoughts she finally detected chakra signatures of Nin heading quickly towards her. Glancing around briefly she noted she’d come upon a shopping centre in a way, it was deserted. The inhabitants had disappeared as soon as they caught sight of her. Kaiya paused in her stroll just as five ANBU ninja appeared around her. She could sense more in the shadows of buildings. Their faces were perfectly hidden to her dismay. Making eye contact with the apparent leader Kaiya announced with underlying mocking, “Wow it took you long enough. I’ve been here nearly ten minutes! Imagine if I’d tried hiding!” she giggled on the tail end when even with a mask the man’s body in front of her tensed in anger. Quick to anger were the Suna Nin, apparently. She supposed it made sense since this was where Sasori-Senpai came from.
After a quick clench of his fists the masked man announced sharply to her, “You’re under arrest for unauthorized entrance to Suna, attacking its citizens and affiliation with the Akatsuki.”
Two shinobi were instantly latching hold of Kaiya’s arms and she only tilted her head back to smile slyly at the elder ninja. “Where’s your proof I have anything to do with the Akatsuki?” They began marching her off and the captain’s fists re-clenched, “Your cloak.” His voice was razor sharp and dripped venomously. Kaiya’s smile only widened at him, “Oh really? Huh, never knew wearing clouds was a crime.” Then, seeing the way his anger shot up Kaiya continued even as he turned his back to her storming, towards prison cells most likely, in front of her. Her tone was mischievous, “A black cloak seemed too boring, you know?” No doubt he didn’t bother to give her a reply. It only made the kunoichi laugh.
When they’d made their way to the grand Kazekage building she recognized from pictures immediately three chakra presences made themselves known. One of which included that familiar oddity of all jinchuriki. That didn’t take too long, Kaiya thought to herself idly. The only female of the group, a blonde with her hair held up in four pig-tails and a fan strapped across her back, was the first to approach, she heard a guard murmur her name; Temari. She looked just a few years elder to Kaiya’s fifteen and her face was strict and stern, more so Kaiya thought normal in teens. The brown and red haired siblings behind her were much the same.
“This is the one who attacked the guards at the entrance?” Temari questioned tightly and it took Kaiya a moment to realize she wasn’t addressing her even though her eyes focused directly on Kaiya. The question was for a guard standing to Kaiya’s left at the edge of the room, the same one Kaiya had placed under genjutsu several minutes earlier. He wouldn’t look at the young rogue as he stammered out his agreement. Immediately after he got the words out, Temari stepped forward pulling Kaiya’s hat from her head, revealing her full profile to the shinobi in the room. The older kunoichi’s blue eyes widened an inch before she spun to fix a glare on the guard.
“You let a fifteen year old Akatsuki member into the village?” she demanded. Cutting off the man’s possible reply Kaiya twisted her one arm out of a guard’s grip in the blink of an eye and held her hand up in the air, her lips turned up just slightly. “Actually, I just walked in.” But before anything more could be said Kaiya found her entire body excluding her head, encased tightly in sand. The new situation made her blink slowly staring at the grains of sand and the chakra swirling through it with her Sharingan. Her attention shifted to the source of the chakra.
The redhead with pale ivory skin and his arms crossed stared at her passively from his black ringed eyes. As Kaiya met his with her own red irises something filled her while looking at the younger boy. He almost reminded her of Sasuke as odd as it was. She tilted her head forward slightly in a faint bow and said almost gently “The demon host of Sunagakure, it’s a pleasure.” He showed no reaction to her words outwardly but his third sibling did. The final one, the brunet, stepped directly into her line of sight of his little brother and narrowed his make-up covered eyes at her sharply. Kaiya’s eyes tightened faintly in response. Fighting to hide her shock, never before had she seen someone defend one of the hosts so openly, this was new.
His following words were a sharp command for the guards around her, “Take her to the cell located underground immediately. We’ll finish dealing with her later.” The sand released her and the guards arms retightened around Kaiya’s wrists and began leading her away from the siblings, down a corridor. As they disappeared into the hall Kaiya couldn’t help letting out a taunting remark, just loud enough to reach his earshot, “Spoilsport.” No reaction made its way to her ears, but she had no doubt there had been one.
Heading down dank stairwells Kaiya was escorted into a single cell room that had a chair posted adjacent the gleaming silver bars. She was released into the room and the instant the door slammed and locked shut her Sharingan flickered wildly before she forced it to settle again. A scowl fell on her face when she stared around the cell. “A room that blocks out chakra usage, at least too much of it that is. First time for everything I suppose.”
With that the rogue sat back on the greyed bed and leaned back against the cold metal wall. For a few moments she tested exactly what the cell could block. After a few minutes analysis she had it mostly figured out. The cell prevented jutsu usage, so the moulding of the physical and mental chakras. But with normal ease she could still shift the chakra within her body. That meant with concentration she could still keep her Kekkei-Genkai in order. Along with anything else focused bodily. The only uncertain aspect was if she could use the butterfly technique, but there was no use raising alarm and testing that now.
So instead Kaiya set in to be there awhile. Leaning back further against the wall and letting her body go lax. Shutting her eyes, letting the crimson colour be shielded by her lids she began channelling the chakra throughout her body. It had been an old trick, one of the first things Itachi ever agreed to teach her to do. According to her elder brother the Leaf knew it primarily thanks to the Inuzuka clan. They’d developed it to match that of their canine partners and Kaiya had been overjoyed to learn the technique at the time. Now she was just thankful.
After a few moments to remember the original idea behind it she began gently. Slowly, her chakra shifted heading for her ears until Kaiya’s ears would be as sensitive to that of a canine. It took some adjusting making her twitch slightly. Everything came to her fuller and more alive than before. The sensation was a tad unnerving after not doing it for so long.
Once she was adjusted Kaiya allowed a grin to sweep onto her face proudly. Then she got to business and focused upwards; into the Kazekage building. Convenient, she thought cheerfully, that they would place me here to restrain me better. As the voices and constant sound of movement streamed to her chakra-refined senses Kaiya began sorting through it all until she found something useful. The one thing she’d learned quickly within her clan and Konoha was that elders enjoyed jabbering a lot, she was hopeful that would be the same case here. It wasn’t long before she fell into a significant conversation with multiple voices bouncing around the room.
“The military growth is steadily continuing...” “...Of course it has after the Daimyo was forced to give some attention.” “That doesn’t mean everything’s okay yet...” “...yes but for now we have him” “True, the jinchuriki’s newfound cooperation has been fortunate.” “Yes, but how long will we be able to count on that for?” “The child is insubordinate.” “...Then how do you suggest keeping control?” “...He’s constantly on missions...” For awhile the murmurs stopped altogether and Kaiya could only hear their steady breathing as the men seemingly fell into a deep deliberation. When the first voice returned again, Kaiya was taken aback alongside the other elders.
“There’s still the position of Kazekage to be filled...” A few select words sounded from the men and Kaiya leaned back in surprise before reminding herself to focus, she’d already missed something. “...the demon child has proven to be strong enough to the village, no matter questions of control.” “Questions of control indeed!” “His control has been showing, no more deaths have been reported due to the Shukaku. “...but for how long?” “Too many times that child nearly destroyed this village if it weren’t for the late Kazekage!” “Maybe so...” “We’ll wait awhile longer until he’s proven to have more...control.” “It is possible we’ll have better control over the host with the position...” “If we’re wrong the village will suffer the consequences...” “Especially with having such a terribly young leader—
Kaiya shot her eyes open when a loud bang echoed through the walls of her cell room. The steady scuffle of feet coming down the steps followed soon after. Scowling the Uchiha released her chakra allowing it to relax once more, only keeping her dojutsu in action. Her hearing returned back to normal when the blonde haired kunoichi, Temari, from before stepped into the room. The kunoichi’s arms were crossed and her face set sternly. This, Kaiya knew instinctively, was a type of masterful shinobi that took the laws of ninja seriously. That much was certain. Kaiya felt respect immediately for the older teen, but kept her face calmly blank, an almost bored look passing through her crimson eyes.
“Not a single one of the guards were permanently injured during your entrance into the Sand. Care to enlighten me, Akatsuki Subordinate?” Temari challenged the moment the girls made eye contact with each other. “Did you want them to be killed?” Kaiya inquired smoothly. “Because by all means, I can make that happen.” Temari’s aquamarine orbs narrowed just a fraction, “So you do have no problem with violence then?” “You’re the one saying Akatsuki with such venom,” Kaiya chuckled, “Haven’t you already made your assumption?” “Who’s to say I have? Besides I’m free to make assumptions; you’re in a cell right now, I’m not.”
Temari’s voice was sharp, but not quite biting, she showed no sign of temper, nothing like many shinobi Kaiya had manipulated before. Pushing away from the wall and standing up from her bed deliberately Kaiya stepped forward until she was directly opposite the elder shinobi. Slowly, the raven-haired teen ran a finger along the bar in front of her. Without looking up she murmured, “Such a fragile thing, to make such a difference to you,” then she lifted a questioning brow meeting her eyes again, “Since I’m doubtful it would be a challenge to you.” Temari’s reply came steadily, “We aren’t talking about me.” “We aren’t?”
That time, there was a small twitch of concealed irritation from the blonde kunoichi. Kaiya cheered happily within her mind. Completely turning her back to Temari, the Uchiha walked back over to her cell bed and sat down, facing the kunoichi once more. Kaiya crossed her legs folding her hands over her lap lightly.
“Is this what you call an interrogation, Temari-San?” Kaiya questioned casually. Temari leaned back slightly and crossed her arms. For a moment Kaiya would have sworn the stern kunoichi was smirking, but the expression was gone so quickly she surely imagined it. Temari answered her enquiry with another question, “Do you believe it is?” A small shrug and Kaiya replied, “I don’t know; you’re just asking me a lot of questions, aren’t you?” “Maybe but so are you.” At that Kaiya raised her eyebrows and let her lips upturn in a small smile she leaned forward resting her chin on her hand, elbow propped on her knee. “Then wouldn’t it be you being interrogated?”
No reply could be made because it was at that moment, the two remaining Sand Siblings descended down the stairs. Temari’s eyes didn’t leave Kaiya, “Go back upstairs, Kankuro.” Kaiya meanwhile did shift her attention, focusing on the other two. Kankuro was the one who stepped in front of the host when she first arrived. His face lined with purple face-paint and hooded was shielded by the garments. That didn’t shield his expression of dislike towards Kaiya. The youngest of them all stayed behind slightly, a large gourd strapped to the red-head’s back. When Kaiya looked carefully enough she could see a few grains of sand spilling out, only to pool and swirl near invisibly at his feet.
“No,” was Kankuro’s immediate reply, “You’ve been called away to assist; there’s a sandstorm coming in. I’ll be staying with the prisoner while you and Gaara go; it wouldn’t be like she’d survive long in that sandstorm anyhow.”
Even after her brother’s explanation Temari continued staring at Kaiya for a few long seconds, who met her gaze laxly. Tousling her pigtails with a shake of her head Temari turned away from the cell sharply and with Gaara on her heels made her way back up the steps and back to the main Kazekage tower. Before heading up she paused to whisper something to Kankuro that Kaiya didn’t catch. Then there was the slam of a door followed by exactly three locks clicking shut. In the silence that followed Kaiya slowly turned back towards the only remaining sibling who was already studying her thoughtfully. She smiled brightly at him, “Hey, how’s it goin’?” she said flippantly. A heavy eye roll with dark brown eyes was the only response before Kankuro was turning away from her to go sit in the chair across her cell. The Uchiha continued in the same bright tone, teasingly, “Aww still a spoilsport I see.” Still no reply came from the shinobi, egging Kaiya to continue further. “I just wanted to start a conversation,” she blew out a puff of air dramatically, “Guess I’ll just take a nap then; wake me up if anything interesting happens or if you decide to kill me. You wouldn’t be the type to kill an opponent while defenceless in their sleep, would you?” She let the taunt fade into the quiet of the room before letting out a silent laugh. True to her word Kaiya then settled down onto the rough bed staring up at the ceiling. She pulled herself into a meditative state.
Just as she drifted a mutter trailed through the room, “Temari was wrong, ignoring only makes her worse...”