Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Reflection of Oneself ❯ Reconnaissance ( Chapter 12 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Reflection of Oneself

Chapter 12: Reconnaissance

Understanding.

Have we reached an understanding yet? We might have or we might not have. Its up to you, the beholder, to see the beauty in the world around us. It is a dark place, this world so full of hate and cruelty. It is a traitorous place, filled with masks and lies and rumors, consuming all sense of security. Sadly, we have come to believe in something without having seen it for ourselves, believing in the falsities of others.

Do unto others that you would do unto yourself.

That seems to be a foolish notion these days, as everyone seems to be hurting others and hording all the wealth for themselves. And the people wonder why our saints died so tragically, only seen for what they were after their deaths and not before. Evil, people would say - change and freedom was always considered a bad thing back then. It seems as if we are doomed to judge and preach without reason, pointing figures, making scapegoats.

Will we ever see beyond our own noses and realize that the only ones who are evil are ourselves?

I guess, only time will tell.

Getting into Otogakure had been trickier then they had expected. Due to the cold war, everyone, no matter they're status, were checked thoroughly in case they were spies. Thankfully they had spun an authentic story - Kiwadoi Kanaye and his wife Yume, along with their personal guards Heiwa Tao and Bara Kega, had traveled to Rice Country from Grass Country in order to scope out the completion in their industry. As they story went, they were recluses that privately owed many business in their `home county' and due to a drop in profit, they were traveling throughout the capitals and hidden villages of the Elemental Countries to see if they were also similarly effected.

After they had gotten past the guards and into the village, they had been in for the shock of their lives.

Even in all the little more then twelve years that Otogakure had been an official shinobi hidden village, the ninja of Konoha had yet to see what it looked like on the inside. Audacious rumors had been circulating that Oto was the very deepest pit of hell - a cancerous sore that no person ever went and came back alive.

On the contrary, Oto was very much like Konoha, in its own strange a way. This had mot likely been brought on because of Orochimaru, who, wither be liked the village or not, was born in Konoha. So it was that the village of the Sound garnered completely opposite reactions when compared to the expectations of the four Anbu once they found themselves within her walls.

It so much like home really, although the atmosphere was far more subdued and… serene, if that was at all possible. It also differed in the sense that the villages that went about their business did not seem tense due to the war that had only six months ago, come to a deadlock. Back in Konoha, people were still tense - anxiously awaiting for the moment that Oto struck again. But here, the people seemed to move about in peace, talking amiably among themselves.

It was strange really, to see their enemies so unlike how they had imagined them.

“Wow…” Lee finally whispered, quite for once as they entered the pair of conjoined rooms that they had rented at a classy hotel, once a previous jutsu was in place. “I - I never imagined it would anything like this”

Tenten nodded.

“I know what you mean. It seems so surreal since we know that Orochimaru of all people runs this village…”

“I guess that we can't judge a book by its cover, even when it comes to out enemies”

They turned to Neji. The indigo haired man had seated himself at the master suite's dinning table. He looked back at them, eyes downcast.

“I think we tend to overestimate things, understanding the stipulations of our jobs. We've grown accustomed to seeing things in black and white, never bothering to look closely at the many shades of gray that go with it. Just because one evil dictator leads a group of people doesn't automatically make them evil as well. These villagers… they simple live here, work here and support this village as a backbone for its shinobi. Even the shinobi aren't as evil as we'd like to think. After all, everyone knows that the vast majority of Otogakure's forces were built from individuals that were outcast from home countries, brought here by a snake that offered them a utopia that they had only dreamed of. Although it was for selfish reasons, he gave them a dream and a focus that one else would. When it really comes down to it, it is only Orochimaru himself and the nin of his inner circle that are evil, as they seek to destroy everything in their paths for personal gain alone”

Iruka sighed heavily. “Too true,” he agreed. “You three get some rest - I'm going to scout for information among the locals”

“Is that wise?” Tenten asked, turning to look at him. “We have been traveling for over a week, so you'd be just as tired as the rest of us”

“Let me come with you Iruka-sensei!” Lee gasped as he waved his arms around excitedly, leaping to his feet.

“Sorry Lee,” the older man smiled wearily. “But this is something I have to do myself. It would look rather suspicious if both guards left their `lord and lady's' side. Besides, I need some fresh air and alone time”

Neji only nodded, accepting the older man's excuse for needing to clear his head. After all, who wouldn't be nervy when they found themselves in the belly of the beast?

Tenten and Lee conceded soon after, accepting that fact that they wouldn't be able to keep their former academy sensei cooped up. Iruka smiled softly, nodding to his three companions before turning towards the door and leaving room.

As soon as he was away from them, the brunette let go of the breath he hadn't known he had been holding. He had been afraid they would try to convince him to stay. If he had, he would have gone crazy from the feeling of being confined, as if the walls were slowly closing in on him. Being free to explore the `hostile territory' put his mind as ease, allowing it to wonder, seeking its escape.

Iruka took the civilian markets first; trusting that they would have looser lips compared to their shinobi counterparts. And he was right. At noon the place was abuzz with activity, although they people huddled in groups to gossip about the latest, giving him little room to blend in. Instead he hovered on the edge of the crowds, making it look like he was buying supplies for his companions, which he was to keep up the charade.

It only took a few minutes of wandering from crowd to crowd before he finally hit pay dirt.

“I've heard that the poor boy has been working himself to the bone” a young woman was saying. “He's only been a genin for a week and Orochimaru-sama already has him doing at least six to seven missions a day without a brake. If he doesn't take a rest soon, he'll snap!”

“What does the Uchiha have to say about this?” it was an elderly man speaking this time.

Iruka froze. Had he just mentioned Sasuke? Impossible!

A younger man snorted. “And what does Uchiha Sasuke have to do with this?”

“Didn't you know he's the boy's sensei Hiroshi?”

The older man inched closer, now thoroughly focusing his attention on the group. Did that mean Sasuke was still alive? And teaching a child at that? One side it made sense and on the other it didn't. For the last twelve years no one had a word about the Uchiha betrayer (Naruto's killer, he reminded himself), so they assumed that Orochimaru had already taken over his body. But there was also the fact that Orochimaru would have surely defeated them by now if he had the power of the Sharingan at his personal disposal.

The brunette wasn't exactly sure how to take the news. He was angry that his little brother's murder was still alive and at large, but he was happy that Orochimaru didn't possess the Sharingan.

It was the lesser of two evils.

Back to the conversation, the young man, Hiroshi, shock his head. “No, I've been out of the village for a while, but it does explains things. If he's the Uchiha apprentice, no wonder Orochimaru-sama's on him like a dog with a bone. Do you know what makes him so special - the reason they'd want him in the first place?”

“I've heard he was able to see ghosts”

“Really?”

“Yes. Rumor has it that he's seen Tanabata-san, that clairvoyant clothing designer that died in that fire back when we were kids”

“Sugoi!”

“Yes, very much so” it was the elderly man talking again. “If he has Tanabata-hime as a friend, his enemies better beware. Besides, he's in for a whole loud of trouble now that he bares a curse seal. He'll be just another one of Orochimaru-sama's pets in no time”

“Nani!? He has a curse seal” everyone in the group gasped.

“Aye. That's what got him his promotion to the genin rank. When he awoke after receiving, he went crazy - became something like a monster. Now I know it's like that with all the other victims, but he was out of control - tried to kill the Uchiha he did, and very nearly succeeded. If it wasn't for the flute woman - ”

“Tayuya-san? I thought she hated the Uchiha?” the young woman asked.

“It seems that have a mutual agreement when it comes to the well-being of the boy, Umeko-chan”

Umeko nodded. “Strange…”

“Well, they are like Water and Fire, or maybe Oil and Water, but the same thing in the end. I think they're going to have a part in creating that weapon from…”

“Hush Yori-san! Someone could be listening!”

Sadly, the conversation died there. Too frightened to continue talking, the group of villagers dispersed.

Iruka sighed, but kept an eye on the two younger civilians that had been talking, Hiroshi and Umeko, discreetly shadowing their movements through the market. Listening to the snippets of talk he gained off of them, he learned at least, the name of the boy the conversation had been about.

Nanikato - one way or another….

Such a peculiar name for a child.

He pitied the boy without even knowing him, his heart going out to him. It was odd, feeling such an emotion for an enemy. From what he had heard, since the child now bore Orochimaru's curse seal, the snake was probably going to use him as his next vessel. Strange though, since Sasuke was suppose to have met that fate nine years ago. The same when it came it that of this Tayuya - word from Shikamaru was that he had and Temari had killed young flute-wielding guard that had assisted in the death of the Sandaime during that failed mission.

It added more problems to their plate. Not only were Uchiha Sasuke and Mateki no Tayuya still alive, but Orochimaru also had his hands on another child with an advance bloodline and a secrete weapon.

Thinking back to what Neji had said, when he looked at Oto and saw things that both pleased and angered him. He was happy that the village wasn't completely a haven for the dark and wicked. But he was angry that because secretly, deep inside himself, he had wanted them to be dark and wicked so that he wouldn't have to feel the guilt when Konoha whipped them all out when the war finally came to an end.

But were they so innocent, he wondered? He wanted them to be. He wanted it so badly that these people were lead by illusions and that they would flee when things got really bad. He didn't want to see people suffer and die because of the sins of others, like his brother had…

If there was one thing that Umino Iruka hated, it was having innocent blood on his hands.

Heading back the hotel, he thought of the few precious people he had left. They were comprised of his former students, various comrades and their families, but to him, they were the ones that mattered. He didn't have many, but for those few, he would take on the forces of hell itself to make sure that they were safe, even though most of them could protect themselves.

First of all, there was Gai, although too many rants about the `Flames of Youth' could kill a man. There was Kurenai, who need all the help she could get after the death of Asuma. There was Tsunade-sama, for always taking Jiraiya-sama down a peg. There wasShizune, who was always trying to keep Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama from killing themselves, whether it be because of booze, gambling, perverseness or all three. There was Neji and Tenten, who gave people hope because of their passion and belief. There was Hinata, who could tame the wildest beast with her simple kindness. Then there was Sakura and Lee, for their perseverance in the worst of times. There was Lien and Liang too, as those two were a charm that could warm the heart. There was Shikamaru and Ino and Choji, those three that saved the village time and time again by keeping the inner works of Konoha from falling into chaos. There was Shino for his logic, because every now and then you had to look at things his way. There was Kiba, for his bad jokes, and his orphaned niece Toboe, who was just so much fun to tease. And lastly, there was Konohamaru and Moegi and Udon, the now grown troublemakers that had kept Naruto's memory alive.

For all of them, he remained steadfast and never wavered from his path. They were the anchors for his sanity in the worst of times. They were his friends.

And for Naruto, he lived.

-.ooOoo.-

Later That Night:

Nanikato collapsed bonelessly on his bed seconds after retuning to his apartment that night. Today had been very long day, consisting of four solo mid D-rank missions and an upper C-rank mission he partook with Sasuke-sensei that consisted of putting an end to a feud between two civilian clans. It had been bloody, to say the least. And although he hated relaxing these days because it caused him to relive the memories of attacking his sensei, he had to sooth his weary muscles or they'd seize.

He was scarred inside from the experience, and more then a little sickened that he had liked the bitter taste of blood. His memories of what had transpired after the doors of his mind had been shattered were still a bit blurry. But he could clearly envision the face of the beast that had been chasing him - a darker, twisted version of himself. This other personality had been born due to the effects of the curse seal's evil nature mixing with his own insecurities, inhibitions and repressed feelings.

And this vile personality of his had taken their mind for his own, forcing him into the deeper recesses so that he could control the body. Nanikato knew he had Tayuya-oneesama to thank for his freedom, as she had used her gift for music-oriented genjutsu to `sooth the savage beast'. Because of his redheaded `older sister', he had hadn't killed Sasuke-sensei, something that surely would broken him if he had.

`You were that beast' he reminded himself wistfully. `Gross personality or not, he was you. Maybe I should take a bath…'

He pushed himself up off the bed, struggling to stand as he absently wondered what Sasuke-sensei would say at his funeral if ended up drowning by falling asleep.

-.ooOoo.-

Five and Half Days Later:

“Kanaye-kun, it seems as though Oto is suffering the same effects as all the other countries. How much longer do you think before we will return to Kusa?”

Tenten straitened her kimono, looking at Neji who stood beside her.

“Not much longer saiai, a few more days at most”

The last half a week had been productive for the four-man team from Konoha. They had learned of Uchiha Sasuke prolonged existence and of his powerful young apprentice; they learned of pre-tactical battle plans and the extent of the corruption within the heart of Otogakure. Unfortunately, they learned nothing about the Orochimaru's secrete weapon, they reason they were on this mission in the first place.

Thing was, when ever they get close to finding out what it was, the people they were spying on stopped talking. They were also unable to get into the hospital, seeing as it was under Kabuto's tight surveillance.

“Kega, Tao - lets go!”

Iruka and Lee turned when called by their alias, following their `employers' closely.

The quartet moved through the streets quietly, subtly browsing the many stalls and business. When they could learn nothing more, Lee proposed that the team return to their hotel rooms and plot an invasion of the hospital.

They were just leaving the market via the residential district when out of the blue, someone teleported in front of them. They froze, thinking they had been found out. Out of the four, it was only Neji that recognized the redheaded woman before them.

Tayuya.

“Hey Uchiha, what the fuck do you teme!?”

They froze again, but not for long. As quickly as he could, Iruka ushered his three companions down the closest ally, clocked it with a genjutsu and they watched in silence. Soon enough one Uchiha Sasuke came into view, and Tenten and Lee were actually forced to hold Iruka back.

Both the young shinobi before had changed since any of them had last seen them twelve years ago. Sasuke had grown taller, at least as tall as Kakashi. While his hairstyle remained the same, his wardrobe had changed to a pair of loose black pants tied with a purple rope, an open white shirt and a katana at his side. His face those, held an expression that they never imagined to see there when one considered what he had done. It was rueful and world-weary, a look that didn't suit what they remembered of him at all.

As for the woman, she was incredibly short compared to Sasuke, even though she was older by two years - only breaking the 5” line. She still wore a hat, but gone was the white robe with purple rope, replaced by a loose pair of purple pants tied with a black sash, a full-length mesh top covered by a white armored vest and black combat boots. And with the expression of bloodlust on her face, she looked nothing more then the devil itself.

“We're leaving Tayuya”

“Nani? Are you fucking crazy Uchiha!?” the redhead hissed. She paused a moment, as if rethinking what she had just said. “No wait, you are crazy. You know it'll only make things worse once Orochimaru-sama find out, right? There will be no more saving your skin - he'll do what he should have done from the start and take your body like he originally planned”

They continued to watch in silence as Sasuke glared at her.

“Don't you think I already know that? Either way, I can't let Nanikato stay here any longer - not since Orochimaru nearly killed him with that curse seal. The boy is still traumatized from awakening the first level and he keeps taking all those missions now that he's a genin just to distract himself from it”

“You think I don't know that dickhead? I was there to see it after all. Had I not been there to stop him, I don't think he would have been able to live with himself, knowing that had eatenyou. Though don't know if you would have tasted so good - you are poisonous, after all”

“Please be serious for a moment”

“I am serious you fucker!” she snapped.

“Well it sure doesn't look like it” Sasuke retorted.“Now I'm telling you this because I want to know if you're going to stop us”

The woman went silent.

“You won't, will you? Admit it, Nanikato has grown on you. That kid's like a fungus that keeps coming back. I know what you see when you look at him - you see yourself when you were that age, unable to be accepted by no one but Orochimaru because everyone else believed you were a monster. When I look at him, I see myself before my clan was massacred - naïvely personified. I was hopelessly naïve back then, believing that nothing could go wrong. Although Nanikato understands what its like to be a shinobi, he is too innocent for his own good and I will not allow Orochimaru to take advantage of that”

“You really care about that gaki, don't you?”

“Yes. Even with all the sins I have committed, I owe it to Naruto to keep him safe. I will never forgive myself for killing him. I was a baka, plan and simple. I won't want to make the same mistake twice”

“I agree with the baka part” Tayuya smirked.

“I'm sure you would” he replied sarcastically, shocking those who watched by his use of humor.

“Of course. And that's why I'm coming too”

“Nani?”

“You didn't think I'd actually let the boy leave with just you would I? Although I haven't known the gaki for long, your right about one thing - he has grown on me. Besides, he's one of the only people in this village that doesn't consider me a whore and is actually polite in my presence”

Sasuke snorted. “That's called survival instincts. Everyone instinctively knows when not to aggravate a rabid dog”

“Fuck off”

Tayuya growled softly, turning away from the Uchiha with a glower. Neji actually found the whole thing rather amusing. Who would ever have thought that Sasuke would get a sense of humor? It was strange really, seeing with their own eyes the power-hungry aloof avenger speak of caring enough about someone else that he would be willing face death to avoid past sins from happening again.

It wasn't… right.

“We'll be leaving in two days at midnight” the raven-haired man finally said. “If you aren't there, then we'll leave without you”

Once his last words were spoken, he vanished in a swirl of smoke, leaving Tayuya alone outside their alley. The redheaded woman began to cuss, letting out a long stream of profanities (most of them being various nasty ways in which to castrate a certain Uchiha), she stomped off in a huff rather then teleporting and yelled at anyone that got in her way.

They waited a moment longer, making certain that there was no one around before they released the genjutsu and stepped out of the alley.

“That was… so bizarre” Tenten whispered.

Lee nodded, his eyes wide behind his sunglasses. “What do we do now? We can't just give up at chance at capturing two S-rank criminals from Orochimaru's inner circle. I say we go after them - if we capture them, we'll be able to get all the information needed on Oto's secret weapon!”

Iruka and Neji looked at each other, shocked. It wasn't often that Lee wasn't spouting about the` Fires of Youth' and was actually using his brain for something other then taijutsu training.

Iruka nodded. “Good thinking Lee. I believe Shikamaru would have approved your choice if he were here”

The black haired man beamed, radiating joy from the praise.

“Yes, good thinking Lee” Neji conceded, rolling his eyes as he echoed Iruka.

“There's also the matter of the boy, this Nanikato” Tenten added. “If the Uchiha is as worried about him as I think his is, there is a high chance that the boy is completely loyal him. That would cause problems, as he might be prepared to fight to the death in order to protect the man that is trained him. It would be a shame to have to kill a child, enemy or not”

Not surprisingly, everyone shared her sentiments.

-.ooOoo.-

Translations/Original Jutsu

Kiwadoi -Dangerous

Kanaye - Zealous One

Yume - Dream

Heiwa - World Piece

Tao - Long Life

Bara - Thorn

Kega - Wound

Hiroshi - Generous

Umeko - Plum Blossom Child

Yori -Dependence

Mateki no Tayuya - Tayuya of the Demonic Flute

Toboe - Howling

Saiai - Beloved