Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Together With You: A Gaara Story ❯ Konoha in Trouble, Sound Village Strikes ( Chapter 27 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine...

 

Recap:

Gaara didn't like what he was suggesting. By that one statement, he was suggesting that someone in that room was the apprentice. That someone close to them was the apprentice. That someone, no matter how much he wanted to admit it, was toying with them. They were no doubt being messed with for the apprentice's enjoyment. This only made Gaara wish to strangle him even stronger. He was no one's fool. Nor was Shiruki. Mess with him, fine. Mess with his family...you crossed the line.

 

 

Chapter 27: Konoha in Trouble, Sound Village Strikes!

 

It had been several days since the meeting in Tsunade's office. Shiruki had noticed a rather guarded Gaara. He wasn't normally like this anymore. He couldn't possibly be reverting back to his normal self...could he? The thought stirred fear within Shiruki. She walked alongside him in silence, sorting out her thoughts. The villages were acting normally. The shinobi, however...they seemed rather distant and guarded. She turned her sights to her lover. Still silent. She studied his face and looked for a while as she walked. Sadness had overcome her. He wasn't telling her something. She could tell. She sighed lightly and tried to make the best of the situation. Maybe he wasn't telling her because he didn't want to hurt her. But what the Kazekage didn't realize was that he was hurting her now by not saying anything at all. Without any warning, she took hold of his hand in public.

 

Everyone looked at them oddly. Gaara looked at her slowly and then down at their hands. He realized that she was hurting and he grasped her hand back. It was all he could do. But, whether she liked it or not, he was protecting her. It would hurt her worse, however, if, and when, she found out. Late at night, when he should have slept, he lay awake thinking whether or not to tell her. He thought it best to keep is secret for now. He was unbelievably sure that a certain person was the apprentice. The thought sickened him. He grasped Shiruki's hand a little tighter, as if to comfort her and to relieve stress at the same time. But it was not harmful. She looked at him with a sad smile and he just stared at her. They were walking through the village in silence, heading toward the lake her and Konohamaru stopped at.

 

Shiruki kept her head low, in sadness it appeared, and kept close to Gaara. She had come to the decision that it was for the best that he didn't tell her what was on his mind. She accepted it and it became a little easier. She knew nothing of the apprentice. She had either been “dead” or she was with Konohamaru. This thought slipped Gaara's mind. It slipped everyone's mind. Gaara decided to tell her when they got to the lake. Even though it would hurt her, she had to know that there was that certainty that someone in Konoha was a traitor.

 

They walked further until they finally saw the lake. Gaara led her to the short and sat on a rock. She sat in between his legs and felt his arms wrap around her shoulder, pulling her into him. He rested his head on hers and Shiruki brought her hand to rest on his forearm. Gaara still contemplated. He barely felt the contact. He felt so lifeless. Like when she left. It was almost unbearable. With a steady flow of air, he started to tell her. “Shiruki,” he said quietly in his deep voice. Shiruki sighed in response. It was barely a squeak. He paused before continuing. “What all do you know is going on with Leaf Village?” he asked quietly.

 

Shiruki looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” she asked innocently. He was finally telling her what was on his mind. He looked at her incredulously. She sighed and looked out over the lake again. “I know that everyone is acting funny towards one another. The villagers...are normal...but...all the shinobi...they're acting as if they don't trust one another...” she said, bringing her attention back to Gaara. “What's going on, Gaara?” she asked in a tiny voice.

 

Gaara stared at her with pity. She knew as much as he had expected her to. He sighed before looking out over the lake that shimmered beautifully under the setting sun's rays. The reflection was perfect on the undisturbed water. He picked his words carefully. “I attended a meeting with Tsunade and the others days ago...” Shiruki turned to face him fully. This couldn't be good. She stared intenly upon his face and nodded to tell him to continue. Gaara turned his gaze upward to the sky. It was filled with oranges and reds, with hints of the incoming night's purple and indigo. “Someone wishes to kill us, Shiruki,” he said, drained of all emotion. It didn't even phase him anymore. He had thought about it too much. Shiruki sighed and nodded in understanding. This was unlike her. He had half-expected her to burst into an angry fit. She stayed calm and urged him to continue. “While you were still recovering Nikkaku...a Sound ninja attacked. It was not Kasuke...or Takuya...it was another female. She told me that Orochimaru had an apprentice and this apprentice was interested in Kyuubi, Nikkaku, and Shukkaku. This apprentice went after you. He was the one who tried to extract Nikkaku.” He turned his sights to Shiruki who looked emotionless at all of this. She showed no emotion of opinion whatsoever. Not even in her eyes. It was as if she were drained. Drained of all her humanity. It was unsettling. She nodded and Gaara averted his glance. “This apprentice...gave up on Kyuubi and Shukkaku...” he said, looking back at her. “He's after you. He wants Nikkaku. In order to obtain it...you must die,” he said with difficulty. Shiruki's eyes were still blank. As was her expression. She nodded and turned her gaze to the sky. “In the metting,” he continued. “Uchiha suggested something.” Shiruki snapped back to Gaara at Sasuke's name. This had caught her attention. “He said that it might be one of us. That we have a traitor among the village hidden in the leaves.” Shiruki's eyes widened. This had struck something in her. He could see her trying not to lash out as he continued. “Shikamaru stepped in...they accused each other. Kakashi didn't look too innocent, either,” he said with regret. “Tsunade tried to rule everyone out in the room. Hyuuga, Kakashi, Iruka, Hiruka, myself, Uzumaki, Uchiha...and some others.” Shiruki looked as if she were thinking. She stared at him, telling him to continue. He did. “Kakashi...he said that we should not trust, nor should we distrust anyone until the apprentice is known. That is why all the shinobi are acting...difficult,” he informed her, finishing his explanation.

 

Shiruki sighed and fisted her hair in frustration. She didn't know what to make of this. A traitor? Someone she had gotten close to? Someone that was a part of this village? Someone...was lying to her? Her head drooped and her chakra spiked. Gaara's eyes widened a little. He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him. She kept her head bowed and felt Gaara shake her. She slowly lifted her head and he saw her eyes flash evilly. Chakra emitted from her fragile form and she stood, forcing Gaara to stand as well. A glare was plastered on her face. It was more evil than he had ever witnessed. “Someone...SOMEONE IS LYING TO ME!!!” she screamed as she darted off towards the village again.

 

Gaara intercepted her and wrapped his arms around her waist defensively. “Shiruki!” he growled. That tone again. It commanded her attention. She snapped from her blind rage for a second and looked at him, glare in place. Through her glare, however, tears leaked and streamed down her cheeks freely. She hadn't even noticed them until now. The look in her eyes was an angry, pained one. He looked at her with no emotions playing on his face. His grip tightened when he realized she was trying to move. “Calm down. You can't race off toward Konoha and just kill people blindly. You need to think reasonably.”

 

Shiruki nodded. She was about to say something but then something exploded near the middle of town. Her eyes widened as she looked at Gaara. His eyes were wide also. They both nodded simultaneously and dashed off towards the explosion. On the way, a figure leapt in front of them, donning Sound Village attire. Shiruki skidded to a halt beside Gaara and growled at them. Her chakra spiked again. The figure looked up at them, now fully visible. The man had deep blue, almost navy, hair that reached down past shoulders. It was back in a pony tail, ruffled at the top. His bangs hung, resembling Sasuke's and he wore a Sound Village forehead protector slanted over one eye. He had fangs protruding from either side of his mouth and he stood at about 5'11, maybe 6' even. His eyes were the evillest of features. A demonic crimson, outlined with a deep black. He had a black choker around his neck, grinning like a mad man. Shiruki looked, more like glared, at him, pouring all her hate into that one stare. The man laughed. His voice was deep and silky. “My, my...what luck I have...the Kazekage and Nikkaku's carrier...how fortunate I am,” he mused. His tone offered no reason not to kill him.

 

Shiruki glared at him. “Gaara...” she growled lowly, her eyes flashing again. “Go find out what that explosion was.” Gaara nodded and glared at the man. He was reluctant to leave but he did, knowing Shiruki would get rather...uncontrolable with all this hate boiling inside of her. Seeing that Gaara was out of sight, she glared at the man again. “Who's the traitor?” she growled.

 

The man merely laughed in her face. “You mean the `apprentice'...as you guys call him?” he questioned rather mockingly. He snickered again as Shiruki growled in response. She was in no mood to play games with this man. She had better things to tend to. Sand flew up around her. She was, after all, a Sand shinobi. Given, that doesn't necessarily mean that she can control sand, but she watched and learned from Gaara. Even though he had Shukkaku to assist him, Nikkaku allowed her to control sand as well. It was a “match made in heaven.” Nikkaku was another famous Sand demon. In fact, it was actually said that Shukkaku and Nikkaku wreaked havoc together long ago. That is why it had been observed and noticed that Shukkaku carriers and Nikkaku carriers tend to be drawn to each other. Nikkaku only possesses females, so it all works out. If she were to be put inside a male, she would slowly kill them from the inside out. This too has been tested, unfortunately. Shiruki was suddenly brought from her “history lesson” by her opponent in front of her. “Ah, so it is true...Nikkaku does reside within your body...no wonder the boss is so interested in you, girl,” he smirked.

 

Shiruki growled. “I asked you a question,” she growled. “I could force it out of you, though,” she offered maliciously. She was in no mood to deal with incompetence and arrogance at the moment. She could end this all now and kill him swiftly, but she needed information. “Now...tell me who the apprentice is!” she growled.

 

The man smirked yet again and pulled out a kuani. “No can do,” he said quietly, preparing to attack her. Shiruki, not being able to take much more of his insolence, lashed out toward him. She ran full speed towards him and he disappeared from sight. Her eyes widened. He was just as fast as Lee's Taijutsu! She spun around in time to see his fist coming toward her cheek. It connected and she was thrown backward into a tree. She coughed at the loss of air and blood dribbled from her mouth. She had bit her lip. She growled and glared at him. He ran straight at her and disappeared again.

 

She looked around desperately, trying to sense him. She extended her “feelers” and felt him above her. She stayed motionless and did hand gestures for a replication justu. She pressed her hands together. Her eyes burst open. “Shadow clone jutsu!” she screamed. In a poof of smoke, about twenty more Shiruki's appeared before her. All of them retreated and the original Shiruki turned to face the man. She pressed her hands together again. Lucky her, she could copy jutsu without the use of Sasuke's Sharingan. A clone appeared beside her. They both held their wrists and growled. She focused her chakra into the palm of her hand and saw the man running directly toward her again. `Not this time, bastard,' she growled mentally, her eyes betraying her thoughts. She growled and yelled, focusing more chakra into her hand. She used her sand clone when the man attempted to attack her from behind. Seeing that all her chakra was focused, she swung her arm around, the man disappeared and reappeared in front of her again. She ran at him, hand pulled back ready for a punch, and growled. “Rasengan!” she growled, pushing the ball of chakra into him. The man screamed in pain as he was assaulted by the fatal blow. His insides exploded through his back and his blood from his mouth spilled on Shiruki's face. She remained unaffected. All her shadow clones disappeared. She glared at him as his body fell lifelessly to the ground. She stood upright and clenched her fists. “You can stop observine me now,” she said in an all too calm voice.

 

A woman appeared behind her, her arms folded over her chest arrogantly. “So...you disposed of Miro...not bad, demon,” she smirked. Shiruk smirked as well. She turned to the woman. She stood at about 5'6, stunning red hair, amber gold eyes. She had lines on her face. Not just any lines. No. These were from the curse mark. Just like Sasuke's...just like Tayuya and the other Sound shinobi that kindapped him so long ago. Kunai floated around her, point facing Shiruki.

 

Shiruki made a mental note of how many there were. `Thirteen kunai...' she noted. She glared at the woman before her. “Since your partner couldn't answer my question...I'll ask you.” The woman smirked. “Who is Orochimaru's apprentice?” she asked calmly. If she wasn't willing to cooperate, she would kill her just as the man before her.

 

The woman before her smirked. “And you will receive the same answer as before, demon. That is confidential. If you wish to know so bad...go through me. He is waiting for you in the center of town,” she smirked.

 

Shiruki growled. “Suit yourself,” she growled. Shiruki unfolded her arms and the woman threw kunai at her. The ones floating in the air around her darted toward Shiruki. Sand shot up to block them, forming into a sand clone that had caught them between her fingers. The sand molded into shape and threw them back at the woman. The woman nimbly dodged and spun out of the way. Shiruki threw shuriken at her and the woman leaped into the air. Shiruki threw more shuriken and the woman threw some of her own to counter it. The shuriken fell to the ground and Shiruki growled. She would be slightly more difficult than the last.

 

As the woman was coming down, she threw a kick at the sand clone, intending for it to go through it and hit Shiruki. Things did not happen as such. Instead, the sand clone attacked back and started to envelop the woman's leg. She punched the clone off and it disintegrated around her. The woman retreated. She smirked at her. “I see...you fight like Gaara of the Sand,” she smirked. Shiruki remained cold and emotionless. “Heh...you will be worthy enough to know my name. It is Shizu. Not like it matters. YOU WILL DIE HERE!” she yelled as she started up her own onslaught of kunai and shuriken. The sand gracefully, but effectively and swiftly, rose up to catch and “devour” the weapons. When is retreated, Shizu was no where to be found. Shiruki sensed her behind her and turned to face her. Sand shot up for protection and the woman smirked before spinning behind Shiruki. She ducked and spun under the sand and delivered a kick to her jaw, sending her flying into the air. Shiruki quickly did hand signs for Sasuke's fire jutsu. She put her hand to her lips in an “o.” “Fire style! Fire ball jutsu!” she yelled, blowing and expelling fire at Shizu.

 

Shizu did signs of her own. “Water style! Water bullets!” she said, spitting water bullets onto the fire ones, extinguishing them in an instant. Shiruki growled and hit the ground. She knelt and saw Shizu run toward her at incredible speed. Shiruki barely had time to dodge. The sand bolted up and imprisoned Shizu. She growled and her form popped into a log.

 

Shiruki cursed under her breath. How could she not see through a simple substitution jutsu? “Damn it..” she sighed. She turned to her right to look for the Sound ninja that escaped her grasp. She sensed she was running circles...no wait...she had clones, each with equally distributed chakra to throw off the trail. Shiruki breathed deep and closed her eyes in concentration. Sand darted up to her left. Shuriken. Sand darted up to her back. Kunai. She began to get frustrated. She tried to calm herself, knowing that getting frustrated would merely cloud her judgement. She breathed deeply and looked around once more. Sand shot up to her right again, but this time it was a body. Shiruki looked to the right and the sand shot out offensively. It pierced through the being and it poofed away. Being left unguarded, Shizu took the opportunity to attack Shiruki's left. Shiruki turned just in time to have the kunai barely skim her cheek. She grabbed Shizu's arm and followed through, letting momentum take it's course. Shiruki, seeing Shizu trip, jammed her elbow into the middle of Shizu's back harshly. The clone poofed and she snarled. “Come out, you coward!” she growled.

 

A laughter was heard from a distance. It seemed to surround her, much to Shiruki's discomfort. She scanned the area. She closed her eyes and breathed quietly, trying to locate the sound. “I see that Kazekage's lover is distraught!” Shizu said as she attacked from behind. Sand bolted up and quickly took care of the clone. “I see...you are using your awareness,” Shizu mocked. “Really think me that easy?” Shiruki turned to her left and walked a few paces. The sand shot up behind her and blocked multiple shuriken. She felt more chakra in this area. She stopped and looked up in a tree. Shizu. She smirked. Shizu growled. Shiruki smirked again and disappeared. She reappeared behing Shizu and delivered a rough kick to the back of her neck, forcing her from the tree and face first onto the ground below her. Shiruki crouched to prepare to use a jutsu. Shizu got up on her hands and knees and grinned before throwing shuriken back at Shiruki. Shiruki's eyes widened and quickly did gestures for a fire style jutsu. Sand shot up quick enough to block the incoming shurken. She growled as it fell and Shizu laid there on the ground, staring defiantly at her. “Fire style! Fireball jutsu!” she yelled, forming her fingers in an “o” again and pressing them near her face. She breathed and the air turned into the fireballs she wanted. It rained fire on Shizu, emitting an ear-shattering scream from the woman. She had not time to dodge. Shiruki was about to leap down to her, but she felt a sharp, paralyzing pain in her back. Her eyes widened and she glanced backwards. Shizu was behind her, digging a kunai deep into her back. She looked back at the ground and saw another log. “S-substitution...jutsu...” she breathed as she fell on her stomach onto the ground. She tried to get up. Her arms shook violently, holding her weight. She made it to her knees, only to be kicked up into the air by her ribs. She coughed out blood and flew defenselessly. Shizu appeared above her and delivered an axe kick to her head, slamming her back down into the ground rather brutally. Shiruki winced and spit up more blood. She cracked an eye open and saw Shizu glaring and grinning above her.

 

“Now...what were you saying?” she asked arrogantly. “I couldn't quite hear you, what, with the blood and coughing thing...” she smirked. A thought came to her. “Oh!” she said as she knelt beside her. She poked her stomach and Shiruki's eyes widened with fear. “I'm sorry...are you pregnant?” she smirked.

 

Shiruki growled and glared at her. “Don't you dare,” she ground out through clenched teeth. She swore she'd kill this insolent woman, if it was the last thing she'd do. Shizu just snickered and took a kunai from her pocket. She twirled it until she finally grasped it, pressing the tip into Shiruki's stomach, not enough to penetrate, but enough for Shiruki to become aware that it was there. Shiruki snarled and tried to get up again. She was rewarded with a pressure on her stomach. She hissed in pain and resigned temporarily. Just she wait til Shiruki had recovered from that blow to the ribs. Boy, was she in for it. For now, Shiruki settled for glaring maliciously at the woman above her.

 

“Let's see...how far along are you, Shiruki?” she mused. She dug the kuani deeper and Shiruki felt blood pool on the dip of her stomach. She winced and Shizu just grinned. “No matter...this is, what...your second attempt?” she teased. She was indeed enjoying this.

 

Shiruki gathered enough chakra for what she was aiming for. Thank Kame Gaara took the time to teach her his sand tactics. With Nikkaku, they were just as powerful, if not more. She opened her hand and sand rushed to take hold of Shizu, leaving the kunai jammed in Shiruki's stomach as Shizu floated feet away from her. No doubt this was the real one. Shiruki smirked. “And now...you die,” she whispered. Shizu's eyes held fear. Shiruki clenched her fist tightly. “Desert...Coffin...” she breathed. Shizu's blood escaped the “coffin” and splashed out onto random things. Rocks, trees, dirt, Shiruki. Shiruki lay there for a few moments, trying to regain herself. With a hiss in pain, she sat up. She looked at her stomach and saw the kunai still in there. She ripped it from her stomach and threw it aside. She inhaled sharply and held her new hole. Nikkaku started to heal her and for once, she welcomed it. After it was done, Nikkaku started to heal any other wounds, like the one in her back for instance. Once she felt revitalized, she stood to her feet. She had limited chakra left. If she wanted to defeat the apprentice, she needed more chakra. Otherwise, she had to tap into Nikkaku's like Naruto had taught her.

 

With a sigh, she took off towards the center of town. She saw tons of dead bodies laying on the ground. Women...men...children...infants...Shiruki shook her head and cursed under her breath. “You bastard,” she whispered as she increased her pace to make it ot her destination. In the middle of town, she saw Gaara on the ground. She growled. He looked disoriented. Like his mind was anywhere but where he was now. She rushed to his side and shook him from his trance. She looked at him. “Hey. Are you alright?” she asked quietly. She scanned the surrounding area. No one. She looked down at him. “Gaara?” she asked. He looked at her and blinked. In a swift movement, he shoved a kunai into her shoulder. She flinched and felt the blood run freely down her back. She winced at the pain. “G-Gaara...” she whispered.

 

Gaara's eyes held different emotions than the ones she recognized. She felt her vision blur and she collapsed onto “Gaara's” chest. She was still conscious, but she was...off in la-la-land. “Shiruki!” screamed a familiar knuckle-headed ninja. Her vision drifted to Naruto and Gaara, along with Sasuke.

 

“G-Gaara...N-Naru...to...S-Sasuke!” she choked out through the pain. She tried to get up, but realized that arms were holding her against him. “Let go!” she growled as she threw a fist at the man's face. She hit, but not as hard as she wanted. All this earned her was a swift, accurate blow to a pressure point in the back of her neck, rendering her unconscious.

 

“Bastard! Give back Shiruki!” Naruto growled. He prepared to do a shadow clone jutsu. He stopped when he saw “Gaara” hold a kunai to her throat. He stopped dead in his tracks. Gaara and Sasuke just glared at the imposter that held a limp Shiruki in his arms.

 

“Not so fast...” the man said in a voice, not like Gaara's. The disguise started to fade and amber eyes were visible. Purple eye shadow, resembling Orochimaru's, showed too. Black hair was visible as he peeled away his Gaara appearance. “Now...Kazekage...I suggest you come with me. You see...we need Shukkaku as well as Nikkaku. One without the other...is useless,” the man said in a lower voice, that threatened many things.

 

Gaara glared at him. “Show us your real appearance,” Gaara demanded. “Orochimaru is dead. You are still wearing a disguise. Show yourself.”

 

The man grinned. “Smart one, young Kazekage,” he smirked. “But I am afraid that information as to who I am is confidential. Only the apprentice may see who I am...and he...is among you...right now,” he smirked. Sasuke, Gaara, and Naruto's eyes widened. Gaara knew it wasn't him. Sasuke knew it wasn't him. Naruto knew it wasn't him. So who was it? It was a bluff!

 

Naruto growled. “You're bluffing!” he snarled. He proceeded with the shadow clone jutsu and tons of Naruto's popped up before them, surrounding the person holding Shiruki. “Give her back...” Naruto warned. Gaara's sand shot up to get ready to take her by force, if necessary. Sasuke prepared to bring forth his Chidori as he glared at the man. Naruto had a clone get the Rasengan ready as he glared at him. “Last chance! Give Shiruki back to us, bastard!” he growled.

 

The man merely shook his head, indicating this would be much harder for them,especially since he held Shiruki so close to him. They would have to be extremely careful if they planned on retrieving her without harming her in the crossfire. This indeed was the famous high ranked mission Naruto had hoped for. The dreaded S class mission he wanted so badly so long ago. Ever since he joined the Anbu black ops, he had hoped to receive one. Today was the day. “My apologies. The apprentice wishes to have Shiruki for his own...” he said as he sent a quizzical look at all three of them.

 

Gaara felt the urge to release Shukkaku become overwhelmingly strong. He pushed it back the best he could in fear of harming Shiruki. He glanced to her motionless form and saw that she showed signs of waking soon. This was to their advantage. If she awoke, she would squirm throwing his attention on Gaara, Sasuke, and Naruto off while they attacked him, retrieving her. Of course, this plan was useless if she did not wake soon. He looked ancy. As if he were waiting for the word to leave. As if he wanted to leave. But couldn't. Something was stopping him. Gaara had no clue what, but a thought came to him. This mad had said that the apprentice was among them. It wasn't him. It couldn't be Naruto. Gaara was unsure why, but he still suspected the Uchiha. Ever since the meeting, he could not get his mind off of accusing Sasuke. He knew not why. But it was all he had. With a quick glance back at Sasuke, Gaara saw that he was determined. Of course, this could all be a front. That is...until the real battle began.

 

If it was not Uchiha, then the apprentice was indeed watching from somewhere. The question was...where?

 

 

TBC...

 

 

A/N: There ya go! Either next chapter, or the following chapter, the apprentice will be revealed! Stay tuned! And I know some are suspecting some characters. I bet you all have it figured out, don't you? Hehehe. Anyways...R&R! ^^