Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Life of a Kunoichi ❯ ~ Katouritsu's Objective ~ ( Chapter 41 )

Chapter 41

 

~ Katouritsu's Objective ~

 

The small group sat in the office of the Hokage. Tsunade sat behind her desk, her hands folded in front and her eyes closed. Sitting on the spare couch was Shikamaru and Haru at one end, Temari and Ryu at the other. Kankuro was standing next to the end that Ryu was at, holding a sleeping Kenchi in his arms. Phoenix stood in the middle of the room, her head bowed and her eyes downcast. Overall the room was reeking of tension, just waiting for someone to spark things off. Haru stood up off the couch surprising the others seated with her, "Lady Hokage. Please do not blame Phoenix for Katour...." "SILENCE!" Haru jumped at the Hokage's sudden voice. Phoenix raised only her eyes to look at the blonde, whose face was showing sighs of just being pissed off. Her eyes were fixed on the girl standing in the middle. Now turning her head to Haru she motioned for her to sit, when she didn't she yelled it, "SIT! Or leave your choice!" Haru sat down. Tsunade's attention was now back on the jounin in front of her, she sighed, loudly. "Phoenix, you know that what you did was...down right stupid!" Raising her head she glared back at the Hokage, don't get her wrong, Tsunade scares the crap out of her, but to say that she was at fault was too much for the stubborn girl to take. "What do you mean what I did was stupid? I didn't do anything!" Tsunade slammed her hands down on the desk, "You know EXACTLY what you did! Releasing a demon in my village." Phoenix took a step towards the desk, but was stopped by Kakashi putting a hand on her shoulder. Stopping in her tracks she listened to the Hokage. "He has been sealed in you all this time and you mean to tell me you didn't know what he was planning? For Kami sakes Phoenix he's a demon, a demon that preys on women." Phoenix's anger was rising and she was doing everything possible to keep from exploding, especially since this is NOT her home and she can be punished for disrespecting another leader. "Please Lord Hokage..." "Haru not now." "But listen to me please. My sister trusted him, she trusted him with her life. HE betrayed her..she had no idea he was planning on leaving much less what his intentions were..." Tsunade let Haru plead, hell she would let her beg if she wanted too, but the fact of the matter was she knew what Phoenix wasn't saying. "Haru...how well do you know your sister?"

Phoenix's head shot up. “What, what are you talking about?” Haru replied confusion lacing her words. Phoenix stared the woman in the eyes as she continued, "Do you know just how powerful she is? Phoenix has…." "SHUT UP!" Phoenix screamed. "YOU TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW AND I WILL!" Kakashi held Phoenix by her arms from behind which kept her from leaping at Tsunade. “Everyone leave now!” she instructed. The group was hesitant and did not want to leave, not after what was just said. "We won't leave." Kankuro stated flatly. Tsunade turned to him, "Leave or I will make you, this is no longer a Suna matter this is Leaf. You have no authority over this situation anymore." Before any one else could protest Phoenix spoke, just above a whisper but loud enough that they heard her. "Please, go. Ryu....Haru...Kankuro...I'm sorry." Haru's eyes began to water, "NO! Lady Tsunade please.." "DAMN IT HARU LEAVE!" Her sister screamed. Haru saw the look of pain, fear, sadness, and worry flash through her sister's eyes; it was those emotions that caused her to get up on shaky legs and walk out the door, leaving her sister, Kakashi and Lady Tsunade alone in the office. Sitting down in her seat, she let go a breath and looked to Kakashi, “Leave us.” Releasing the young woman from his grasp he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, “she means well.” He whispered. Bowing to Lady Tsunade he turned and left the two alone.

 

Once outside the office Kakashi sighed at the looks from the group who sat outside the door, “It won't do you any good to sit out here.” He stated. “What's going on sensai? I mean what did she mean by, `do I know my sister?' What kind of question is that?” Haru asked as tears made their way to the surface of her lids. Sighing Kakashi looked at the small girl, “I'm afraid I do not know what she meant by it.” Everyone visibly sunk. “Look, everyone just try to focus on something else.” “How the hell are we supposed to do that?” Kankuro gritted out through clenched teeth. “She's being treated like a criminal. You know damn well she did nothing wrong.” Shikamaru turned to the seething man, “Kankuro we have to trust what Lady Tsunade is doing.” Haru looked at Shikamaru her face flushed, “What do you mean Shika?” He turned to her and softly caressed her face, “I mean she's the Hokage. She cares for Phoenix, she knows something is bothering her and she's trying to find out what that is. If any one can get her to talk it's her.” Kakashi smiled and waved good bye seeing as how Shikamaru had them some what under control. “Well I'm not leaving.” Haru said as she sat on the bench in the hall. Soon the rest joined her and waited for their comrade to exit.

 

Sighing Tsunade closed her eyes, “Phoenix…” “Look, just do what you need to.” “If you'd let me finish….” Phoenix raised her eyes to the woman before her and watched as she walked around the front of her desk, half sitting on the front. “You're just like her…your mother.” “Don't talk about my mother.” Phoenix spat back. Tsunade shot her face up and pointed a finger at the girl, “I will talk about Tsubaki all I want she was my...” “Then where the HELL were you when she needed you! When we needed you!” Phoenix screamed her emotions getting the best of her. Tsunade looked at the girl surprise clearly on her face. “Yes, I know who you are I know you were my mother's mother, and frankly I don't care.” Yes, she knew that Lady Tsunade was their grandmother, something that was suppose to be a secret, something that even the Leaf village did not know, or so she thinks. Tsunade closed her eyes, “How did you..” “Does it matter, I know. Look I'm not looking to start a `loving' relationship..” “AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO! What I want from you is the truth, what the hell is he up to?” Phoenix hissed, “I told you I DON'T KNOW!” Tsunade's anger began to rise and soon she was right in front of the girl, “I'll admit short temperament runs in the family so watch it!” Phoenix stood unfazed. Taking in a breath she glared at her granddaughter, “Look I have to protect this village so either you tell me what I need to know…or I'll have no choice but to put you in prison.” Phoenix stood tall her hands at her sides and her face set, “do what you must.” “Aaarrggghhh! Damn it girl!” she threw her hands up in defeat, turning around she tried a different approach, “Ok here's what I know. I know that Katouritsu is a cat demon, a demon from about three hundred years ago. It's said that he was sealed by a priestess, her name lost to time, but nevertheless he was sealed inside the Sphinx crystal, the one around your neck. I believe that he is planning to extract himself from the stone completely.” Phoenix stood taking in this information trying to piece things together in her head. Tsunade continued when she knew she had the girl's attention, “He needs something to complete this…” Looking at Phoenix's expression change to one of sadness, she continued. “What does he need Phoenix?” Without looking up she whispered, “a sacrifice.” Tsunade quirked a brow. “What?” Looking up she answered their eyes connected with the each other, “he needs a sacrifice, a body to take over. Since he wants me as his mate he has to choose another.” Sighing Phoenix continued, “I've known he was up to something, my body felt like it was being drained, like I was loosing energy.” “Did you ever say anything?” “No. I didn't know exactly what he was doing and I didn't think any thing of it when I released him, I figured we had been through so much lately he was resting.” Tsunade stood, “Do you know where he's headed?” Shaking her head no Phoenix closed her eyes opening them once more to reveal unshed tears, “I will stop him, on my own.” Tsunade shook her head, “You can't.” Phoenix laughed, “I can and I will. I will not involve others. I should be able to find him through the connection, but I'll do it alone.” Hardening her gaze she showed the Hokage she meant what she said next, “I won't hesitate to kill him.” “Can you?” taking only a moment she replied, “Yes. If there is no other way, then I will kill him even if it means ending my own life to do it.” Tsunade's eyebrows furred, “What do you mean ending your own life?” “We're connected if I die before he can complete the ceremony then he dies as well. I know the risks of him being loose and I will do what I must to take care of it, I've known for a while that this might happen, I just didn't want to believe it.” Tsunade stayed quiet and Phoenix spoke once more, “I'm prepared to die, I have no qualms with death and I do not regret my life, I only regret leaving behind those I love the most.”

 

Haru began to get anxious and couldn't sit still. “Haru, you need to calm down.” Shikamaru said smoothly. Haru stopped and pressed her ear to the door. “Haru!” Shikamaru hissed, “What are you doing?” “Shh.” She whispered. Pressing her ear harder to the door she could barley make out what was being said. Sighing she pulled her ear away from the door and sighed, “well at least their not yelling anymore.”