Chapter Two
Glimpses of Darkness
Author: shattered-words
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, it’d be called ‘Gaara’. So, isn’t it a shame that I don’t own it? (This verse belongs to M.e.Tello)
Summary: The Kakurezato are on the brink of war and certain events leave several lives hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, what’s the fire wielder’s fate, and who is the deadly Oto Oinin that has suddenly appeared? (AU, Sequel of "Glimpses of Fire")
A/N: The chapters will be posted every other week on a certain day, but that may change if my jobs gets in the way so bare with me. If I try to concentrate on a certain chapter too much I develop a headache, and that tends to slow the process down. So, I stray to other things when I start to develop an ache so it doesn’t form into a full blown headache. Also, I forgot to place a translation for Hitori’s name. Hitori no Tate: ‘shield of one’. Tate means shield, and Hitori means one person/alone and no is a possesive partical.
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Forget the past, of our desperate flight;
there’s nothing left, give up the fight.
When a child becomes a man,
he often has to stain his hands.
In this life that’s filled with pain,
even children are often slain.
By their sorrow, faith and fears;
as the earth is watered by their tears.
~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Two: Building Tension ~*~*~*~*~*~
He could tell that he was upset but knew that he shouldn’t say anything if he knew what was good for him. Then again, he’d never done anything that was ever good for him. "What’s the matter, Shi-kun?" he asked his ‘older’ brother innocently.
Satoshi threw him a look that could have set him on fire if he were a piece of wood. "You should conduct yourself with more restraint," he snapped at his sibling as they walked toward the Itagaki compound.
Satori pouted and folded his arms over his chest but his sea-green eyes met his brother’s ebony ones over the distance. Their eyes were the only difference in their appearance besides the length of their hair. Satori had inherited the Morisue eyes and Satoshi had unrivaled hearing.
"Why should I do such a thing?" he muttered indignantly. "I’m not the head of Itagaki Ichizoku." His eyes suddenly hardened in a glare. "And neither are you. I can behave any way I choose because father has no control over my life."
The short haired twin sighed at his brother’s words and knew that nothing he said would make him change his mind. He refused to live by Itagaki Hiroaki’s strict rules. The truth was that he admired his brother because he didn’t falter in his beliefs and acted as he saw fit. Although, at times it got on his nerves. And from their earlier encounter, he wasn’t the only one that became exasperated by Satori’s actions.
"Very well then," he stated with a wave of his hand. "Do as you please, but try not to embarrass me in the process."
Satori grinned and his face relaxed as if the glare had never been there. "Well, I can’t promise anything, but I’ll see what I can do. Now, let’s go see what Katsu-nii-san wants." He draped an arm across his siblings’ shoulders and was comforted when Satoshi made no move to shove him off.
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Naruto lifted his head as he heard silence after the explosion but knew not to sigh just yet. His cerulean eyes soon found Jiraiya’s over the distance that separated them and the Sannin nodded. The blonde ninja’s face went blank as he shifted and sprang from his hiding place.
He moved like a shadow through the rocks and stopped to listen. His ears had become more sensitive and knew that it had to do with the Kyuubi’s abilities merging with his own more and more as time passed. Now he was grateful as he caught the sound of a muffled footstep that he would have missed otherwise.
His kunai hit true and the sound of a pained gasp and the thud of a body hitting the floor was heard. Even then he remained where he was until the smoke had cleared and his eyes stopped watering from it. When it had finally disipitated, he braved a look around the boulder he was pressed against.
The ground was littered by dead Iwa-nin, four of them. He felt a rush of guilt when he realized that they were only a few years older than him but knew that it couldn’t be helped. They had been spotted and attacked, and to keep their identities from being found out, they had seen no other choice.
It had been Jiraiya’s quick reflexes that had saved them and Naruto’s plan that had lured the Stone ninja into their trap. They had been moving through the territory on their way through Tsuchi no Kuni. He bent to search the shinobi that had attacked them and paused as his hand bumped something.
Naruto pulled out a scroll and frowned when he saw the musical note that was inscribed on it and turned to Jiraiya as he heard him approach. He presented the scroll and the man used a burst of chakra to make sure there were no traps on it. "The inside could be coated in poison so only touch what’s currently facing outside."
The blonde Genin let the scroll unravel down and made sure to grip it from the top. He lifted it so they could both read what was inside. After a moment it was apparent that Oto was in negotiations with Iwa for an alliance against Konoha. If they were doing so then it meant that Orochimaru was planning something big.
Apparently, Jiraiya was thinking along the same lines by the frown on his face. "We need to inform Tsunade of this," he grunted as he took the scroll from the jinchuriki and secured it so if there was poison then they wouldn’t be affected.
They moved away from there after covering their tracks and destroying any indication that they had been the cause of this. When they camped for the night they were far from Stone, but were still wary in case someone had discovered the bodies and were after them.
It was when Naruto decided to go take a bath that he withdrew a portable stylus and wrote out a letter. In it he wrote out a description of what had happened and the contents of the letter. He used a few hand seals and a hawk descended on him. The letter was attached securely to its leg, and he sent it off. When it had faded from sight he turned around and came face to face with the white haired Sannin.
"Are you sure you can trust them?" he asked Naruto. His face was as serious as he had seen in a while.
This caused the blonde Genin to pause in both surprise at seeing him behind him and at his words. After a moment’s hesitation he nodded. "They only want to get back their friend, dattebayo," he responded firmly. ‘Just like I do,’ he added mentally.
Jiraiya was silent for a moment as he observed his face and then nodded as well. "Hurry up and come back to camp." He turned and started to walk back. It seemed that the older man would trust his judgment on this matter and Naruto realized not for the first time that he wasn’t a child anymore. He had never really been one.
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Iwane covered her mouth with her hands and brought her chakra level to that of a mouse’s as she saw Amane motion for her to be quiet. As her friend crept toward the corner and peered around it, she gave the signal and they both jumped into the rafters. A few moments later a pair of servants walked beneath them. They weren’t ninja and so their presences went unnoticed.
Amane’s eyes narrowed and then slid shut as she let her hearing take dominance over her other senses. She lifted her hand to signal that she should wait and dropped down before silently sprinting off down the hall.
The Erizawa was left to hold her breath every time she heard a noise and keep her eyes open to anyone that passed by. They were in the Itagaki main compound at the moment. This was the house that Amane’s father had grown up in before he had moved into his own smaller home when he had married Akamatsu Ai.
Her teammate had decided that the only thing to do was gather information and the best place to start was her grandfather’s study. To do that it would have to be done when he wasn’t home and knew that now was the best time. Itagaki Hiroaki had been summoned by the elders in the unending debate of who the next Kazekage would be.
Many in the council believed that Sabaku no Gaara was the logical choice since he had Shukaku’s abilities at his disposal. The others still thought him to be nothing but a blood-thirsty monster and refused to give him that seat of power. Of course, it was Hiroaki that led the charge on that issue as well.
It was certain that the debate would take most of the day or at least a few hours, so Amane had decided that now was the best time. The taller girl knew this house better since she had spent most of her time here when she had been younger, and Iwane was left as a look out. So far they had been fortunate that they hadn’t encountered any ninja but it seemed that most of them were on missions or patrol duty.
She was crouched in the rafters when she felt a shiver of terror washed over her. As she turned to look down the way they had come she felt her breath catch in her throat at the figure standing there. He had longish dark brown hair that fell into handsome features, and sea-green eyes peered up at her with an unreadable expression.
"Motoki-kun," she gasped and she saw the grin that spread over his face suddenly.
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"What time is it?" he asked her. It was the same question, and after she gave her answer, the others would follow. Her responses were the same as before, and they always would be.
"Shogo," she muttered after her eyes had taken in the sunlight that flooded the walls. It spilled in through the only window in the small, dank cell. She had learned to tell the time of day by the amount of light that came in and hit the wall.
It had been weeks or months since she’d been thrown in here, and early on she realized that there was no chance of escape. They hardly fed her and her malnourished figure was chained to the wall, and her arms were a good distance apart to ensure that she stayed put.
"No," he answered, and moments later he drove his fist against her gut. She didn’t even try to stop the gasp and coughing that followed the painful hit. "What day is it?" He continued with his questioning as if everything was fine. Nothing was fine.
Her head hung limp and the soiled strands of her slightly longer black hair fell into her equally dirty, pale face. She barely remember when she hadn’t woken up to see his sadistic face, or when she’d last taken a bath. Usually, she was allowed to take a bath but knew it had been almost a week with out one now.
When she was unchained for the bath -which was only a bucket of lukewarm water and a rag- they put cuffs on her that didn’t allow her hands to come together properly to form hand seals. Not only that, but Orochimaru made sure to activate the Ten no Juin if it even looked like she was trying to escape. She wasn’t watched during that time and had been surprised that the bastard allowed her that much privacy. It was likely that he was trying to gain her trust.
Kabuto nudged her none too gently when she didn’t answer fast enough for his tastes. She didn’t even glare at him when she lifted her head. "Getsu-yobi," she guessed, but she wasn’t sure what day it actually was. She answered because it wasn’t what he wanted to hear, and it was her last defiance against them.
Again his fist slammed into her abdomen as she grunted in pain. "No," he calmly repeated. It was a continuous cycle, but she refused to give him the answer he sought from her. "What month is it?" His questioning would continue for a while, and every time she didn’t give him the desired answer, she would pay for it.
"San-gatsu," she determined. Once again, she had no idea how long she had been imprisoned within these walls, or where this place was located. Even then she still kept alert for any signs of escape if they happened to present themselves.
A few days ago, she had managed to break free, but she had no idea where she was. She had fled south since that seemed like the best bet, but she hadn’t gone five miles before she had collapsed. The curse seal had burned with mind numbing pain and she had screamed herself raw before they had caught up with her. She suspected that he had allowed her to go that far before activating it. To let her think she had gotten her freedom before tearing it from her.
"No," he said, and she could tell he was growing restless. His next punch was harder and caught her just below her ribcage as she cried out. Kabuto had broken a few ribs when he had gotten her back into the cell and then he hadn’t let them heal properly. "What season is it?" She suspected that he had been blamed for her escape.
She chuckled quietly and met his gaze. "Not getting the answers you’re after?" she asked instead of responding to his question. His fist crashed against her sensitive ribs again, but she clenched her teeth to keep from crying out. "Let me save you the trouble." Even as he hit her again, she refused to be silenced and continued on. "It’s almost spring. My favorite color is purple and I love Chashuu ramen." She grunted as he punched her again. "My name-ah!" This time, his fist connected with her jaw.
Her head turned with the blow but she lifted it to meet his hardened gaze again. Before he could restart the questioning, she spat the blood that had filled her mouth into his face. "My name is Ashikaga Eizan!" she yelled this time. When she tried to kick him, the shackles prevented her from moving. Their harsh edges dug into her ankles and wrists, but she refused to show it hurt, even when they cut into her flesh until blood was drawn. "Boku wa Suna shinobi da and I only serve Sabaku no Gaara!"
The gray haired sound ninja wiped off his face as he stood and then back handed her. He laced his fingers through her hair before grabbing hold, and then yanked viciously until she cried out. Forcing her face even with his, she could feel his hot breath against her cheeks. "Hai, but look where your loyalty has landed you," he sneered cruelly. "How ironic that the one you so fiercely served delivered you freely into the hands of the devil."
His taunting laughter filled her ears and stung since she knew that he was right. She had been used and then abandoned, but she refused to let that idea make her despair. Because believing it meant accepting that her teammates had betrayed her, and the thought of escaping this hell hole to return to them was the only thing keeping her sane.
Suddenly, she felt his mouth close over her own as she tried to pull away. When he held her face in place, she bit his lower lip until she tasted blood. He cursed and then slapped her again, and now crimson flowed from the sides of her mouth but at least this time it was his.
Even this had become routine to her, and the only thing that scared her was that one day he might not stop. She was completely at his mercy, and it was terrifying to realize that he would try to defile her one day and she’d be unable to stop him. A shudder went through her at the thought, and she saw the sadistic amusement in his ebony pools. He knew.
"What is your purpose?" he continued again. He had wiped the blood that had trailed from his mouth and sat on the stool once more. The smug grin hadn’t faded from his face, and his hands moved toward her. His fingers fiddled with the edges of her torn shirt, and watched her face intently. The son of a bitch was toying with her.
A glare twisted her filthy features but she refused to give into him by squirming or flinching away from his hands. "Kill you and escape," she growled. The crimson edges and pupils of her black orbs had started to become a darker shade.
He merely smirked and allowed his hands to caress the contours of her face. When his fingers came too close to her mouth, she snapped at him and tried to bite them. It only caused him to laugh softly, as he wiped a bit of dirt from her cheek. "You know, if you were a lot nicer I’d convince Orochimaru-sama to let you take a nice, hot bath," he purred sensually. He withdrew a handkerchief, and wiped the blood and dirt from her face and neck. She tried not to shudder every time he touched her.
However, she started to struggle to move back when his hands slipped over the back of her neck and disappeared under her shirt. "Of course, I’d have to watch you to make sure you don’t try to escape again." A grin spread over his face as he started to knead her flesh but she refused to cry out.
With a growl, she pulled her head back and slammed it against his as hard as she could. Even as agony exploded through her cranium, she grinned in satisfaction as he toppled off the stool with a pained curse. It grew when he stood and saw the blood run from a cut against his forehead.
His glasses had fallen off and he looked younger without them, but right now his face was flushed angrily. He recovered the spectacles and replaced them on his nose before he cracked his knuckles. Arisa could only chuckle softly and knew that the hours to come were sure to be filled with more pain and blood.-
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Translations:
1. Ichizoku: a family, relatives, dependents, a household
2. Shogo: noon
3. Getsu-yobi: Monday
4. San-gatsu: March
5. Boku wa Suna shinobi da: I(masc.) am a Suna shinobi
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End, Chapter Two