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Now briefed on their mission, Kakashi's team set out for the Tsuchigumo Clan's territory.
A vague sense of unease prickled at Kakashi as he walked at the rear. "Don't know why, but I've got a bad feeling about this…"
"Sensei Kakashi…" Sakura shot him a reproachful look.
He realized he'd said it out loud.
"Haha! Just a joke! To lighten the mood!"
Sakura's face was deadpan. "…The entire Leaf Village knows about your cursed tongue, Kakashi-sensei."
Yamato sighed. "…And now I really have a bad feeling."
Sai added, "Plus one."
Kakashi's face soured. "…Come on! I wasn't trying to jinx it…"
"I don't believe you," Sakura said with a sweet smile.
"Plus one." Yamato raised a hand.
"Plus two." Sai raised his.
A dejected Kakashi fished Make-Out Paradise from his pouch. A little light reading to soothe his wounded soul.
(´-ω-`)
"Wait." Yamato raised a hand, stopping them. "Someone's ahead."
A young girl appeared before them.
"If I remember correctly…?" Sai began.
"The mission target," Sakura finished.
"Hotaru, granddaughter of the Tsuchigumo Clan's leader."
…
Elsewhere, Hanataki and Sasori made their way leisurely toward the same destination.
"Hanataki, aren't you in a hurry?" Sasori asked cautiously.
Hanataki shook his head. "Why would I be? Even if we let the Six-Tails Jinchūriki go, where could he possibly escape?"
Sasori was silent. Fair point.
The Tsuchigumo Clan's village was nestled within mountains and rivers, its architecture reminiscent of a remote, ancient style.
Hanataki and Sasori walked openly into the clan's compound. Not a soul was in sight.
When they reached the central plaza, the vanished villagers materialized, surrounding them in layer upon layer.
"Who are you?" asked a man who appeared to be the leader.
Hanataki glanced down at his own uniform, then at Sasori's. The iconic black robes with red clouds were unmistakable. The problem wasn't their attire. It was this man's eyesight.
"You don't recognize us?" Hanataki countered.
Sekisei snorted. "Who are you? Why should we know you?"
Hanataki was silent. Again, fair point.
Sasori was also silent. This man had courage.
Hanataki placed a hand on Sasori, stopping him from acting. He smiled. "We've heard the Tsuchigumo Clan possesses great power. We merely wish to witness it for ourselves."
Judging by the environment, this village was extremely isolated. It made sense they wouldn't know the Akatsuki. Their living conditions seemed frozen in a past century.
Disdain flashed in Sekisei's eyes. "You think you are worthy of witnessing the might of our clan?"
Hanataki felt his patience fraying.
Sasori silently retreated a step behind him.
A faint, golden light slipped unseen into Sekisei's body. His expression didn't change, but a dark golden glint passed through his pupils.
"Fine," Sekisei declared. "You look like country bumpkins anyway. You may stay in the village for a few days."
The ninja beside him froze. "Leader, we don't know their identities, we can't just—"
He fell silent under Sekisei's icy glare.
Sekisei gave a haughty tilt of his chin and strode away.
A female ninja stepped forward, her head bowed. "I will arrange rooms for you." She walked ahead without looking back.
Hanataki followed, speaking to Sasori. "Let's play for a couple of days. The target will deliver himself to us."
Sasori nodded, offering no objection.
The kunoichi in front heard his words. She bit her lip but didn't dare react. Hanataki wasn't worried. Sekisei was already under his control.
Not bad, Hanataki mused. The powers from Ultraman Cosmos are surprisingly versatile. There's even a light beam for mind control. Though, the original was used on little monsters…
…
Meanwhile, Kakashi, Yamato, and the others escorted their mission target, Hotaru, blissfully unaware, toward the Tsuchigumo Clan lands. They had no idea the clan was now under the control of Sekisei, who coveted its forbidden technique. A trap awaited Hotaru.
"We're here." Hotaru gazed at the village gates, worry in her eyes.
Sakura gave her a gentle smile. "You're finally home."
"Yeah." Hotaru nodded, looking earnestly at the team. "Thank you for everything."
They had faced ambushes from Sekisei's men along the way. It had been rough, but Kakashi's team was more than strong enough to fend them off.
Sakura shook her head. "Konoha and the Tsuchigumo Clan are allies. No need for thanks."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at her words.
"Goodbye, Hotaru!" Sakura and the others waved from a distance, not entering the compound.
"Goodbye!" Hotaru stood at the gate, watching them leave until they vanished from sight. Then, she turned and walked inside.
"Hotaru." Sekisei's smile was twisted. "You've finally returned."
Hotaru's eyes widened. She barely had time to make a sound before darkness claimed her.
"Take her away."
Another man, Hakuro, appeared beside Sekisei. "The forbidden technique is sealed within her. We can perform the ritual tonight." His eyes burned with a feverish intensity. "By the way, those two you brought into the village… are they a problem?"
"Don't worry." A trace of gold flickered in Sekisei's eyes as he answered with absolute certainty.
"Good." As long as they didn't interfere, Hakuro couldn't care less.
…
Walking back to Konoha under the setting sun, Kakashi felt restless. "Doesn't it all seem… too easy?"
Yamato laughed. "Since when is easy a bad thing?"
"You're right." Kakashi nodded. "An easy mission is the best kind."
"Sensei Kakashi…" Sakura spoke up, her voice tinged with doubt.
"What is it?"
"Don't you think the village was… too quiet?" She recalled the scene. Hotaru had returned safely. How could the villagers have shown no reaction at all?
Kakashi stopped walking.
The expressions of Yamato and Sai turned serious.
Under their gazes, Sakura voiced their shared suspicion. "The village is under someone's control."
By whom was obvious. Sekisei.
Immediately, they turned and raced back.
…
Inside the Tsuchigumo Clan compound, on a circular, raised platform.
Hotaru lay bound with coarse rope.
The villagers stood below, their faces numb and silent.
At the platform's edge, Sekisei and Hakuro watched, their faces alight with excitement.
Hanataki and Sasori blended into the crowd, observing calmly.
Hakuro activated the forbidden technique. Hanataki could clearly sense the wild chakra of nature rushing into Hotaru's body.
"He's here," Hanataki said.
"Water Style: Bubble Jutsu!"
Glittering, translucent bubbles floated toward Sekisei and Hakuro. A figure landed lightly on the platform. He had brown bangs covering his left eye, wore a blue haori, and held a bubble-blowing pipe.
"The Six-Tails Jinchūriki," Sasori confirmed, his appearance matching the intel from Zetsu.
Hanataki, with his foreknowledge, had known Utakata would appear. That was why he'd waited.
"Our turn." Hanataki smiled. He had zero interest in some forbidden technique. The Jinchūriki was his target.
Utakata's bubbles popped near Sekisei and Hakuro. Seizing the moment, he shot his hand out to grab Hotaru. He had to get her out of there.
WHOOSH!
A golden beam of light shot through the space between Utakata and Hotaru.
Utakata's eyes widened. He dodged, but not fast enough. A searing pain lanced through his fingertips, which were now burned. Drops of blood fell onto the platform.
He looked toward the source of the attack—Hanataki.
"Akatsuki!" Utakata wasn't from this isolated clan; he knew of them. Their presence here could only mean one thing: the Six-Tails inside him. He was torn. Instinct screamed run. But Hotaru was still in danger.
Gritting his teeth, he lunged for Hotaru again.
An idea sparked in Hanataki's mind. If Utakata cared so much for the girl, then grabbing her was the same as grabbing him. Catching a Jinchūriki was work. Catching a defenseless girl? Easy.
A golden net flew toward Utakata. He leaped high, evading it.
Then his face paled. The net wasn't for him. It enveloped Hotaru and snapped back to Hanataki's side.
Utakata's eyes went bloodshot. "What are you doing?!"
Hakuro didn't care about their fight, but it couldn't involve Hotaru. As he moved to interfere, Sasori appeared before him.
Hotaru, still unconscious, was suspended in the golden net. Her small face was pale, a pitiful sight.
Utakata's hands, forming a seal, froze at Hanataki's words.
"From the moment you appeared, your fate was sealed."
Utakata's hands trembled. He knew the power he faced. But how could he not fight? He had to save Hotaru, and himself.
"Since you're destined to die anyway, why resist?" Hanataki said bluntly, glancing at the captive girl. "If you insist, I'll have to use this girl to persuade you."
Utakata went rigid. His trembling hands slowly lowered. He could die. But Hotaru could not be harmed.
"I'll go with you," Utakata said, looking straight at Hanataki.
The choice didn't surprise Hanataki. At his core, Utakata's rebellious spirit was as strong as any Akatsuki member's. It was a pity he'd found a weakness. No matter how strong a person is, a weakness makes them vulnerable.
"NO!"
A flash of lightning roared through the air, aimed straight for Hanataki's face.
A golden barrier unfolded before him.
Kakashi's team had rushed back, arriving just in time. The Six-Tails Jinchūriki could not be taken. They took their positions beside Utakata.
"Utakata, you can't go with them!" Sakura's expression was grave. They had briefly clashed with him during their escort mission when he'd mistaken them for Sekisei's men. After clearing the misunderstanding, he had disappeared. Now it seemed he had sensed Hotaru's danger before they did.
"What about Hotaru?" A bitter smile formed on Utakata's lips.
Sakura faltered. Only then did Kakashi's team notice the girl bound in the golden net beside Hanataki.
"You're despicable!" Sakura gritted her teeth.
"Despicable?" Hanataki chuckled. "Even without the girl, capturing him and killing all of you would be equally simple."
Kakashi didn't argue. They all knew it was the truth.
"Do Konoha ninja always have to play the hero?" Hanataki's gaze swept over them, laced with sarcasm.
By now, Sasori had dealt with Sekisei and Hakuro. The villagers under their control collapsed, unconscious.
"We just won't let your schemes succeed!" Sakura retorted coldly.
"Konoha ninja always need a justification." Hanataki shook his head, amused. The net around Hotaru tightened slightly.
"Mmph!" A pained whimper escaped the unconscious girl.
"Hotaru!" Utakata cried out, frantic.
The faces of Sakura and the others tightened.
"Now, you have a choice," Hanataki laid it out calmly. "Option one: I kill the girl, then kill you, and take the Six-Tails. Option two: You hand over the Jinchūriki willingly, and I'll magnanimously let you all live."
Utakata stepped forward immediately. "I'll go with you! Let them go!"
"Utakata!" Sakura shouted.
"Don't make a useless sacrifice!" Utakata yelled back. His eyes began to redden. "Take care of Hotaru for me."
Sakura bit her lip hard. What could she do? If she acted rashly and provoked the masked man, Hotaru might die. But she couldn't just watch Utakata walk to his death.
There was no time to think.
The next moment, a brilliant golden light flared.
Utakata, Hanataki, and Sasori vanished.
Only Hotaru remained, lying silently on the platform.
"Master Utakata…" Sakura knelt, lifting the unconscious girl, hearing the soft whisper from her lips.
Sakura's nose stung.
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