Chapter 14 - Things are Explained

“I attacked too soon…An oversight that I will not make with my next body,” Orochimaru resolved. He clenched a hand in anger, despite the amusement in his voice. He glanced at Kabuto, who was looking over some numbers on a computer screen. More than a minute passed before Kabuto spoke.
“I studied his chakra, and there’s a chance that that emotional chakra might have rejected your attempt to take over his body. When he broke Itachi’s Tsukuyomi with the pure chakra, I captured a sample of the trails in the air from it,” Kabuto told Orochimaru.
“And what did you learn?” Orochimaru wanted to know. That’s when he saw Kabuto’s bandaged right hand and small burn mark on his face. Even a medical ninja, the caliber of Tsunade in her prime, couldn’t heal the burns directly?
“It’s volatile. The probe I used exploded on contact with it. When I tried to touch it, it rejected my touch and exploded,” Kabuto explained, smiling about something.
“Do you EVER bring me good news, Kabuto?” Orochimaru sighed.
“Right now. That chakra could kill him. When he fought Itachi, I used a medical jutsu to judge his emotional tolerance. He was close to insanity. When he stopped using the emotional chakra, his tolerance levels dropped back to normal. But if he had been pushed, his mind might have cracked under the strain.”
“Interesting…and how is Sasuke?” Orochimaru asked in reply.
“Sasuke is coming along nicely. His body…and yours…will be ready on time at present rate,” Kabuto responded as he typed at a console, succeeding in bringing up the vital signs of both of them. Orochimaru smiled at the blue screens currently casting a pale light on his even more pale face.
“Excellent…Also, how much longer before I can activate the poison I laced those blades with?” Orochimaru asked.
“The swords? The Serpents? You poisoned them?” Kabuto asked.
“Yes, a poison I can activate remotely. Since our friend Ekyt didn’t want to be on our side…maybe it’s time to let the poison work it’s magic…” Orochimaru licked his (non-existent) lips greedily.
Kabuto nodded, then turned away to tend to his duties. It might be the best way to rid ourselves of the boy…cowardly, but effective. And effictiveness is what counts…


A crutch under his arm, Ekyt delivered his report to Tsunade. Next to him was the scowling retrieval team. Not one of them was wearing a hitai-ate. It was clear they were…disapproving of how Ekyt was being treated.
“I see…and you accepted a gift from Orochimaru…let me see it,” Tsunade demanded. Ekyt hesitated, but handed the swords over.
“They’re poisoned. And if you’ve used them…Sakura, use your chakra to check him for toxins! I’ll detox these blades, then we’ll give them back.”
Ekyt pulled off his vest and let Sakura check. While she worked, Ekyt spoke to Tsunade. He wasn’t going to beg. He had never bowed to any mortal (Not sincerely anyway), and he wasn’t going to start with the Fifth Hokage.
“I need to know…am I welcome here, Lady Tsunade? I’m aware my blood oath is over, and we could agree to part ways…but I think you should hear the second part of my report. I had Orochimaru beaten. I could have killed him, and ended it…but I didn’t. I couldn’t do it. I escaped with the others, which, in retrospect, was the better choice for them AND me. But when I fought Itachi, I was…” Ekyt seemed to trip over his words, as though he was disbelieving himself.
“You were going to take his life, if necessary,” Kakashi finished for him. Ekyt nodded. The bags under his eyes were even more pronounced from the stress, and he looked gaunt from not eating. (He hadn’t touched any of the food Orochimaru had offered him. The Sand Village lacked in food that wasn’t spicy, and spicy stuff affected his stomach at times)
“I was willing to…if it meant someone else got to live…even if I died with him. My only thoughts were of Konoha, and it’s people. I was told, once, by Master Sarutobi, that I’ve become a pillar for the people in Konoha. And, to be honest, I think you need those thirty headbands back that are on your desk back on thirty people. And the thirty-first, my headband…I’d like it to be back where it belongs. On my head.”
Tsunade finished examining the Striking Serpent Blades, and handed them back to Ekyt.
“Well, I’ve discussed the matter with Ibikki and the other ANBU members you’ve worked with. They all seem to think that chunin doesn’t suit you…”
Ekyt felt his heart plunge into his stomach. Before he could speak up, Tsunade continued.
“They all told me that you should be getting ready for jonin, and that chunin would be a waste of time for you entirely. I disagree with them, you’re talented, but inexperienced…but I DO think that you’ve more than earned the rank of chunin…and I wish I could give it to you…As much as I hate to admit it…you’ve done great work, and you’re not an easy guy to hate. The mission you took was S-ranked, and after the way you were treated, you didn’t need to take the mission at all, let alone volunteer for it. Your payment from the Sand Village will be arriving soon. You played your part to the hilt, and the Kazekage is thrilled. Or, as close as Sand puss gets…but, the point is…you’re welcome in Konoha. And I’m glad to have you back.” Tsunade smiled and leaned back, eyes closed.
“Tenten and the others are important, and so are you. Oh, I thought you should know, Tenten cracked Ebisu in the face with a rock. I thought you might enjoy hearing that.”
Ekyt couldn’t help but smile. Tenten smiled, an arm behind her head in modesty.
“He was standing still, it made for an easy target. It hit his mouth. I should have aimed for his brain…” Tenten said, giggling.
“You’re too skilled to miss a target that big,” Ekyt replied, earning laughter from everyone. Everyone except Sakura. She had found some poison.
“Ekyt, hold still, okay? I’ve got to extract this poison. If you move too much, I won’t be able to get it all. Tenten, hold his arm still, would you? He gets fidgety around kunoichi. (kunoichi giggle) Thanks. Now, don’t move.” Sakura moved her hand to the poisoned area on Ekyt’s arm, and began to force the poison out by using her chakra.
Ekyt gulped. Perfect…the only thing missing is Temari, then all three kunoichi I like will be in the same room, at the same time, paying attention to me. I think I would be blushing more than Tsunade when she gets drunk! Not that I’m not already…I never DID say why I was so willing to take that mission…it’s not like I have anyone waiting for me here. All the kunoichi are out of my league, or they’ve got their eyes on someone else. It’s amazing…I can tell who likes who, but when it comes to me, it’s like trying to review a complete stranger. I know WHAT I like, and who has those qualities…but I know I can never have them…THEY would never have ME…
Sakura smiled at him. “You’re all done! You can go…do whatever it is you do…do I wanna know?” Sakura joked.
“Training. Brooding,” Ekyt replied, ticking them off on his fingers as he said them.
Sakura shook her head. “What are we going to do with you?” Sakura ruffled his hair playfully, then bowed out of the room to tend to some other patients.
“Ekyt, you said you know a bo exercise. I looked at the scroll you showed me, but I’ve never seen this done before, would you mind helping me out with it?” Tenten asked, studying said scroll.
“No problem. It’s easier with two people, it was designed that way,” Ekyt replied.
Tsunade interjected. “Actually, you two will be working together on a mission. Team Gai has a mission, and it’s in need of a fourth person, since Gai himself is busy with S-ranked missions. Sakura and Naruto are getting a new member. After he gets broken in, we’ll work something out.”
Ekyt was thrilled to work with Lee, Neji, and Tenten. But he wondered why this guy was being put on Naruto’s team instead of him. You’ve just gotten back in Tsunade-sama’s good graces, don’t screw it up now! Question it later!



Kakashi met with Sai, the newest member of his team. Immediately, he knew his group was in for a rough ride.
If Ekyt is stoic, then this one is something beyond that…and not in a good way…Naruto isn’t going to like him…and Sakura will question why Ekyt didn’t get the spot…oh well, he’s a comrade now, no going back…
The boy smiled, but the smile seemed to so fake and insincere even Kakashi had a a hard time returning it.



“Hai!” Tenten finished the last strike of the kata (imaginary fight). “I see how this works!” she exclaimed, practicing the last strike in the air a few times.
Ekyt nodded. “I thought it might be helpful.”
“Aren’t you a genjutsu user?” Tenten asked, playing with her bo.
“That’s my specialty. Well, strictly speaking the specialty given to me, I don’t officially have one. I took five forms of taijutsu before I came here. And ninjutsu just kind of…happened.”
“That’s probably why they’re assigned you to our team,” Tenten said thoughtfully. “Neji and Lee are great at close range taijutsu, and I have my weapons, but none of us is overly adept at genjutsu or ninjutsu. Neji can SEE long range, but it’s a problem drawing people in to attack.”
Ekyt aimlessly spun his bo behind his back, catching it, then repeating the move on the opposite side. “It makes sense, I guess. I’ve worked with Lee a lot. But I’ve only fought against Neji, and I’ve trained with you here and there. Seems like I’ve worked with everyone,” Ekyt mused.
“Yeah…sorry about all that’s happened. It was great of you to take that mission. Especially after how you were treated…you must really care about something, or someone.”
Ekyt nodded. “I’ve got Konoha. That’s it, really. No doubt Naruto the walking mouth told you I’m shy around kunoichi. At the same time, there’s always been an attraction to kunoichi. Because, and forgive me for generalizing, you’re not material girls. And you can’t really be stereotyped. Where I…came from, the girls were…well, ‘easy’, and I want more than that. Something real…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to rant, just thinking out loud.” Ekyt looked horrified at what he said. Or, more accurately, was horrified that he had been speaking to a kunoichi.
Tenten put a friendly hand on his shoulder. “I see why you and Lee train together, you both get excited about weird things. You NEEDED to say that. You know, I’m a kunoichi, and you just talked to me- what’s stopping you from talking to the others? Or me again? Just what about kunoichi make you so nervous?”
Ekyt shrugged, his ears reddening. “You’re a hybrid…female, and warrior…the two most deadly things in the world…”
Tenten laughed, even as she knew he was being completely serious.
“So, who are you going to go after?” Tenten said, out of nowhere. She couldn’t help but tease him a little. Ekyt somehow couldn’t meet her admittedly cute brown eyes.
“Me? No idea. I don’t know who’s single and who isn’t. Besides, it would take a very special girl to put up with me…” Ekyt looked up at the sky, having a great view from the roof they were on.
“A very special girl..” he repeated quietly, to himself.
“Hey…you okay?”
Tenten’s voice shook him out of his trance.
“I’m fine. Sorry about that. I was just thinking of…hell, actually,” Ekyt said with a laugh.
“hell?” Tenten repeated.
“In the form of a female…the girl Lee’s dating…her and I were…almost…well, boyfriend/girlfriend. Now, she’s kind of on a mission to make my life miserable. Since SHE dropped ME, I’m not entirely sure why.”


Tenten and Ekyt were joined by Lee and Neji.
“We have to leave right away. The Village of Kakushu is under heavy attack, and we’re needed for assistance.”
The four exchanged glances and took off.

Whoosh. Whoosh!

“So, Kakushu is a village with one Shinobi family, and that family is attacking the village?” Tenten asked.
“That’s what the report said. But I suspect it’s a trap of some kind. The Leaf Village has many enemies…” Neji said. He dropped back to keep pace with Ekyt, who was taking point.
“Ekyt, I’m glad you can work with me. But I’m going to warn you now…I will kill you if you hurt Tenten.”
Ekyt nearly missed the branch he was aiming for. He righted himself and kicked off.
“What? Neji, it’s not like that. We worked on a kata, that was it. She DID ask me a couple questions, but trust me…I’m not a threat to you. Besides, I can hardly imagine Tenten putting up with me, outside of working with me.”
Neji stared at Ekyt, apparently agreeing with him. “You’re ANBU on this mission. We may need you to use torture genjutsu to extract information. Also, think of a way to draw people into attack range against Lee and I. That’s why Lee requested you. I had my doubts, but Lee was adamant.”
Neji turned to stare at Ekyt, when Ekyt saw something. He squinted into Neji’s hitai-ate. He thought he saw a figure moving with them.
“Neji, use your Byakugan. To my left, I saw a figure in the reflection of your hitai-ate.”
Neji nodded. “Get up to Lee and Tenten, and watch out for them. If I see anything, I’ll report it. If, for whatever reason I’m delayed…you lead.”
Ekyt nodded his understanding, and sped up to Lee and Tenten.



“Byakugan!” Neji’s eyes powered up, and he began to scan the area.
Neji immediately spotted a figure.
“No headband…family crest…yes. That is the crest belonging to the attacking family. The Akamuso…”
Before Neji could say more, he was unconscious.


“I THOUGHT this one would fall for that. Let’s take him back with us, his little rat pack will be at the village soon enough.”

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