FIC: What Genma Wanted Ch11 Pt2 (Pockyverse)
Title: What Genma Wanted Ch11 Pt2
Fandom: Naruto
Characters: GenRai + Iruka; guest appearances by Ibiki, Sandaime, ANBU boys, and a boatload of OCs. Sorry, it ran long, so no Pakkun yet, but soon.
Genre: From Crack is born Romance, Angst and some other stuff
Rating: Mostly R, veering into NC17 on occasion
Warnings: Language, innuendo, some sex; drug use, violence, death
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto does, along with whatever other people/entities are along for the ride.
A/N: That bad thing you were worried about, it's happening. Plot upon plot. And more OCs.
Code Names for ANBU: Naoto (Jun's code name), Daisuke (Tadashi's code name)
New: Kazuo-sensei (another teacher, Naruto and crew's current teacher)
Kichiro, Haruto, Mariko (administrative chuunin working for Ibiki)
Lord Washio, Lord Okazaki, Lord Fujitani, Lord Tsutsumi (various nobles)
Summary: Iruka and Raido face the last day of Raido's guard assignment, in a nearly-deserted Konoha, and potentially crawling with assassins. Things go horribly wrong.
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Raido gave up on sleeping about fifteen minutes after Iruka left. It didn't seem fair, after all. Instead, he rolled out of bed, taking the sheets with him and dumping them in a corner. He would let the mattress air out a little - it wasn't the best day for it, but with the threat of rain, he couldn't chance leaving the window open. He grinned at the small mess in the kitchen - Iruka had managed to form a few onigiri from some leftover rice. Too old, Raido decided as he chewed, but he didn't care. It was food, and it beat field rations any day of the week.
One leisurely shower and two cups of tea later, Raido felt more like himself. He decided to wander over to the meeting early. Last day, he told himself cheerfully. Then the lords and nobles would pack themselves up and leave, hopefully taking their plots with them. He wondered if he would have to go with them. That would suck beyond suck, he grumbled, his cheerful mood momentarily shattered.
"What's with the sour look? It's almost over."
Raido looked up and nodded at Tadashi standing sideways on a wall nearby. "I just had an irritating thought."
Tadashi shrugged, falling into step with Raido. "Join the club. I find most thoughts irritating at best. Especially other people's."
They finished the rest of the walk in silence.
"Captain, have they assigned guards for the attendees' trips home yet?"
Jun looked up (and up) at Raido standing barely an inch from his shoulder. "I don't think so. Why? You have an itch to travel in this weather?" He grinned at the snorted reply. "Ah, I guess not. I'll bring it up to the Hokage - we should have enough guards to spare you, but the nobles will need to make their requests this afternoon. Would you be willing if someone wanted to leave later?"
Raido nodded. "Sunday afternoon I can do. Monday would be better. Anything earlier, I'm not interested."
"Hot date?" Jun laughed at Raido's twisted grin. "Or just an extended session with your mattress?"
"I want a bath," Raido answered finally. "Then a nice dinner. And then about twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep." He eyed Jun carefully. "That means no weirdos on the roof, no freaks coming in my window, and no ghosts in my kitchen at 3am."
"We'll see. Technically, the moment the meeting is over and the Hokage is safe, your mission is done."
"Captain, you know I'll do my part if you still need me," Raido sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I'm just saying-"
"I know, Namiashi. I won't bother you if I don't have to." Jun turned to the rest of his team. "Let's get started. We have thirty minutes before the meeting starts."
---
Tadashi bit his lip, trying to stifle another yawn. He twitched a grin at Raido. Not a bad sort, he decided. His prissy boyfriend Tadashi could do without, but Namiashi was okay. He knew when to take a hint, at least. And the dirty jokes had been an unexpected bonus. Tadashi had to bite his lip again, this time to hold back laughter. When Jun came up with a series of code words, it had been Raido who suggested using partial-punchlines, which had led to their current game of trying to make each other laugh. Every time he walked by Raido, he would say a line of a joke. It could take up to an hour to get to the punchline. He made Raido's mouth twitch once, but Raido had forced him to leave the room twice before lunch.
As the men around the table stood up to go into the next room for their lunch, Jun clapped Tadashi on the shoulder. "He almost had you last time," he warned. "I've got money riding on this."
"Naoto, I'm shocked. Do you really think so little of me?"
Jun grinned back when Raido passed by, walking just behind Sandaime. "The grandfather tells him 'I know. That's from your grandmother.' " They all stared when they heard their Hokage chuckle.
Jun watched them leave carefully, noting positions of all other bodies around them. Raido was thorough, always keeping his body between the Hokage and everyone else, but without seeming to do so consciously. The captain spun around when he heard a cough.
"Pay up, Naoto. Your boy cracked."
"What? No he didn't! He's..." Jun sighed. "Awww, fuck." Tadashi was covering his laughter with a bout of hiccups.
"Honestly, Daisuke, that joke is older than I am," Yoshinori groused as he followed his assigned noble through the doorway.
"It wasn't the joke," Tadashi gasped. "It was Sandaime. Did you see the look on Namiashi's face when Sandaime laughed? Oh, man, he is soooo busted." He waved Jun away, taking deep breaths. "How about we call this even, huh?"
"Just pay attention. I'll tell Namiashi to cut it out since your virgin ears can't take anymore."
Tadashi winked and rubbed the back of his neck. "Speaking of, I didn't know your dad was a pharmacist."
---
Jun chuckled as he left the room. He knocked on the wall as he walked, stopping at the end of the hallway. "Lord Fujitani's servant," he whispered. Tadashi was the best at stealth, although Ryo would be giving him some serious competition in a few more months. But Tadashi's skills at picking out chakra signatures were off the chart. If Dashi said the man was shinobi, then the man was shinobi.
He waited a few more seconds, then turned around and retraced his path back into the room. Thunder shook the building again. It would be a messy night if they had to chase someone down in this. Hopefully, if it came to that, everyone would remember to wrap their ninjaken carefully. It wouldn't do to lose someone from something stupid like a lightning strike. "Have Maintenance check the lightning rods," he murmured to a young clerk sitting by the door. He glanced at the clock as the clerk left the room. Five, maybe six more hours. And if nothing happened, then they would start the real work.
---
At 4pm, the meeting hit a snag. Lord Tsutsumi decided that they hadn't fully resolved the issue of piracy along the coast of the Southern Peninsula. Lord Fujitani countered that the issue had been discussed thoroughly, and they had all decided this was a regional problem and should be revisited during their next audience with the Daimyo. Then, and only then, would they consider the use of shinobi. Lord Okazaki insisted the problem had been overstated, at least in his portion of the peninsula. Of course, that set Lord Washio off on an extensive tirade about his recent loss of a merchant ship in the same area.
Sarutobi sat impassively, watching the men argue. This was a personal grievance, he decided, but to state that would open Konohagakure up to charges of favortism. His eyes drifted up and down the table, noting the expressions of each attendee. Lord Tsutsumi was not truly invested in the issue - his region lay to the West - so who had asked him to bring it up? Lord Okazaki, however, was incapable of lying convincingly. Sarutobi suspected his region at the tip of the Southern Peninsula derived a large percentage of its income from piracy, but if the man said the problem was overstated, then he believed it to be so. But where did Lord Fujitani fit into this? True, he seemed eager to put the issue to rest, but his interjected comments consistently fanned Lord Washio to more virulent complaints.
The Hokage waited for a lull in the debate, then stood up, effectively silencing the table. "My Lords, Konohagakure has no official position in political or regional disputes. Lord Fujitani is correct - this matter should be addressed at the next General Assembly. However, should the Daimyo decide the issue of piracy around the Southern Peninsula constitutes a serious threat to the Country of Fire, your shinobi stand ready to assist. Those of you who have suffered losses can, of course, request an investigation through our Mission Office." He held back a smile at Lord Washio's sour 'for a price', instead nodding seriously. "Just so, Lord Washio. Allow me to brag, just a bit, that our Leaf ninja are a capable and resourceful group. And, as always, Konoha does not accept payment for failed contracts, regardless of our personal losses." He smiled and waited. Interesting, he thought, as Lord Washio's face flushed slightly. He would need to check, but it seemed he had found Konoha's most recent mystery client. While Konoha did not officially get involved in regional disputes, it did accept personal contracts of a regional nature, including one requesting a massive assault on a Southern Peninsula stronghold.
"My Lords, are we agreed to revisit this matter at the General Assembly in September?"
"Will you be attending this year, Lord Hokage?" Lord Tsutsumi asked, picking at his fan.
"It is my intention. If not me, then another member of the Ninja Council. As a land-locked village, the issue of piracy does not impact us directly, but the resulting breakdown in trade routes and the accompanying increase in prices does."
Lord Washio gave a short nod. "I agree to drop the issue for now."
"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Washio. We shall proceed with our closing statements. Lord Fujitani?"
Sarutobi sat down, clenching his jaw to stifle a yawn. Only forty-five minutes behind schedule. Not bad, considering last year's meeting ran over by nearly four hours. He glanced around the table once again, this time watching his own men. They had done well, he knew, but they hadn't been able to uncover anything specific. He had practically emptied Konoha of ninja in order to help, although that had served a dual purpose. On the one hand, it was a huge risk leaving Konoha virtually unprotected, but with so many ANBU retained, it was one Sarutobi expected would pay off. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Raido, seemingly relaxed, as if the scarred man were already thinking about his upcoming free evening. The Hokage knew that was a ruse. Everything his guards had done today, from the puerile game of trying to make each other laugh, to their relaxed stances and seeming inattentiveness, was calculated to lull their mystery assassins into underestimating them.
He nodded as Lord Fujitani sat down, and the next man stood up. Sarutobi stared down at his own scroll. He would make his remarks as quickly as possible. Attack or no attack, he needed to get some sleep. The rest of the weekend would be difficult. He didn't look forward to explaining to every returning team that they had been duped. But it would kill the practice of accepting missions by courier, hopefully for good this time.
---
Jun repressed a grin when Sandaime stood up to give his closing remarks. He knew Raido hated when Sandaime stood up, making himself an obvious target. But the tall man didn't press closer as he would have done earlier - they had decided to play the 'Konoha Ninja are Lazy and Useless' card. And perhaps we are, Jun scowled to himself, if we can't even uncover a plot this obvious. He listened to old man talk about the necessity of teamwork, nodding along. From the corner of his eye, he saw a servant enter the room, heading for Lord Okazaki. Jun turned his head, eyes immediately picking out the knife, but a sudden flare of chakra dragged his attention back to the table. The man next to Lord Fujitani stabbed the older noble, then jumped across the table, and the room was suddenly full of ANBU.
----
In hindsight, Raido realized he'd been a second too late. It was fortunate the Hokage wasn't the first target. The man, posing as Lord Fujitani's servant, was already across the table, his recently-bloodied kunai still drawn, now slashing across Lord Washio's throat. Blood spattered across Raido as he stepped forward, jostling Sandaime slightly and knocking his hat askew. Raido started to move aside, but the assassin turned and made a leap towards the Hokage. A split second before Raido's instincts took over, four masked ANBU appeared and surrounded their leader. Raido heard two words - 'lock-down' and 'safe'. Then the Hokage disappeared and Raido was left face to face with an unknown shinobi.
'Safe'. That meant the Hokage was out of danger, so his new mission was to capture the assassin. They were almost too close to fight. He saw the man slash downward with the kunai, felt it ripping into his flesh. This probably wouldn't be the smartest thing he ever did, but it certainly would be effective. Raido stepped closer, dragging the man into a punishing bear hug, grunting when the kunai lodged in his right thigh. He squeezed harder, pinning the man's arms to his sides, and swung around, smashing the man's head against the wall. If he could keep the man off-balance long enough, he might be able to knock him out using sheer brute force. A full-blown chakra battle in such a small area would almost guarantee more civilian casualities.
He felt another surge of chakra around him, hands on his arms, and a familiar voice murmuring in his ear. "Let him go, Namiashi. We've got him. Let him go."
"Why are you whispering?" Raido muttered, irritated it was so hard to hear Jun. His arms felt sluggish, his muscles rigid, as he tried to unpry his fingers from around the assassin.
Another voice now, this one even harder to hear. "I want blood samples of both victims and the assassin. Somebody get this guy's medical records. Shit, Jun, where are we going to take him?"
"Genma," Raido gasped, sinking to the ground. "Take me to Genma."
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Read on to Chapter12 Pt1
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