Chapter 75: Return of the demon

Riku was satisfied with the result of Mei’s treatment. Karin’s healing tag powered by her own chakra and Riku’s had worked wonders on the woman. Thankfully her wounds were not quite healed fully and she was able to recover completely. Her arm and leg had regrown and she wasn’t disfigured anymore either.

To say that the Mizukage was dumbstruck was an understatement. She couldn’t believe how far Konoha’s healing went. Already, they had a considerable advantage with Tsunade. The deceased Godaime Hokage was a pioneer and leading expert in the field of medicine and all villages had been doing their very best for the past thirty years to catch up. Now? It seemed like a pipe dream.

A severe limb? A simple tag could regrow it. How were you supposed to win against an adversary who could come back from that kind of injury like it was nothing? As long as a shinobi had a breath in them they could just come back to full health ready to fight. It wasn’t quite like the undead, nothing nearly as powerful, but it was demoralizing nonetheless.

That wasn’t all. The worst was the Time Seal. When Mei and her bodyguards saw for themselves that time was sped up in the area they were in, they admitted that Konoha was way beyond any other shinobi village in the Elemental Nation. It was a good thing Kiri was allied with them, although there was caution to be had. The ally of today could be the enemy of tomorrow.

It was, however, an opportunity they wouldn’t miss.

After being quite clear what they could do and what they couldn’t, being very explicit about what would happen if they did, Riku had shown them their guest room. It wasn’t something luxurious but for shinobis inside another ninja's home, it almost was with a bath, hot water and queen size beds.

Riku left a clone to give them a tour while he talked with Kakashi. Minato had been training with Naruto for days in taijutsu. A Father passing down his fighting style to his youngest son.

“I have news. I might need your advice.” Riku said as he sat down, handing a beer to his friend.

Kakashi closed his Icha Icha and looked up at his Hokage. “Good or bad?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you.” Riku gave him a flat stare.

“Fair enough. Go on, shoot.”

Taking a deep breath, Riku shared the information about the four shinobis in Konoha’s possession. That greatly disturbed Kakashi. To know that not only his former subordinate but also former student had been reanimated for the undead parade.

“I don’t know about Itachi or Sasuke. About Zabuza and Haku… I think there is a chance. A good one.” He slightly turned his head to look at his sensei and student training. “Naruto is the one who connected with them both the most. Especially Haku. You’d have even better odds with him present.”

Riku nodded in understanding. “I’ll have him present, then. What about Sasuke?”

Kakashi blinked once with his lone eye. A long pause was marked between the two. His wayward student wasn’t a subject he particularly liked talking about and certainly not with the man who had put him down. Yet the man in question was his Hokage and asked him a question.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I truly don’t. The only thing in his mind was his revenge against his brother. If he cared about something, he discarded it when he left the village for Orochimaru.”

Unblinking, Riku stared at Kakashi, pondering something. It lasted a while, before he pulled out a tag from his back pouch and activated it, creating a small barrier isolating them from everything. No sounds could be heard, nor lips read as the barrier made them look fuzzy from the outside. Ao may have tried with his Byakugan to spy but he would see nothing but chakra.

“Oh, it turned into one of those conversations then.”

“Yes.” Riku sighed with fatigue. “What I’m about to tell you… I found out by myself. The old monkey never explicitly answered but he was severely toeing the line.” He took a deep breath and shared the secret. “Konoha did away with the Uchiha.”

Kakashi’s only visible eye widened in absolute shock. The hand that was still holding his porn book went slack. His prize possession would have fallen to the ground if not for Riku's quick reflex.

“That can’t be.” Kakashi whispered. “The Sandaime would never have sanctioned this. Danzo couldn’t have gotten away with it had it tried.”

“They did, although it’s more complicated than that.” Riku revealed. “Many blamed the Kyubi’s attack on the Uchiha. Not far-fetched when it is reported that its eyes had the tomoes of the sharingan in them. Danzo seized the opportunity. Pushing for the Uchiha to move at the edge of the village. In the end, those arrogant assholes felt it was the one slight too many and began to plot. I don’t know all the details but I know Itachi reported to the Sandaime and the elders. I also know that he was supposed to kill the leaders of the coup and that Danzo intervened.”

“Ordering Itachi to kill everyone. Sasuke was spared because…” Kakashi didn’t voice the reason why an older brother kept his little brother alive. “It kept Danzo in check for one. Should something happen to Sasuke, Itachi would have come back with a vengeance but also expose Konoha.”

“Yes. Point is, Danzo orchestrated the fall of the Uchiha, so now that he’s gone, do you think that Sasuke might be a bit less unhinged? Not regarding me,” Riku literally waved that thought away. “But Konoha as a whole.”

“I…” Kakashi hesitated for a moment. Carefully, he chose and measured his words. “Possibly, yes. And if Itachi acted under orders then perhaps him being a member of the Akatsuki was a mission too. In that case, he might still be a leaf-nin.”

“I have a feeling that Sasuke’s participation will be a condition to Itachi’s help.”

“But Sasuke’s dead.” Kakashi pointed out.

Riku’s retort was immediate. “So was Minato and Kushina.”

“Ah. You think you can bring them both back in exchange for their help?”

“It’s a small price to pay to get their help. Especially Itachi’s.” The Rokudaime shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll also add the clearance of their names. Blame Danzo, you know? Kami that asshole did so much shit that now he’s dead we can use him as a scapegoat whenever we feel like it.” A chuckle escaped his lips. “Still, if they take the deal, you’d be in charge of them.”

Kakashi nodded. “That still leaves one problem.”

Riku knew what he was talking about as he looked at his brother. “He is still…?”

“He always will. It’s in his nature to always believe in the best in people. While he realized and accepted that what he had with Sasuke was not a friendship but a rivalry, he still hoped that it had been.”

A sigh escaped Riku’s lips. His pragmatism told him it was foolishness. Mainly. It also recognized a possible pattern. Konoha saw the light of day because of thinking like that. Hashirama was able to achieve peace with the Uchiha because he reached Madara.

“I just hope his mind won’t waver like during the last invasion.”

Kakashi shook his head. “You don’t have to worry about that. Minato-sensei, Jiraiya-sama and myself pounded him into his thick skull that his duty towards the village came first before any personal agenda. It hadn’t be easy as you can imagine but with lot of patience and-” For origınal chapters go to novęlfire.net

“Kushina did it.” Riku interjected with a flat tone. He knew Kakashi was about to serve him some bullshit so it nipped it in the bud.

“Kushina-nee did it, yes.” The cyclops nodded with an eye smile. “Naruto is listening to her. Not surprising, she is his mother and their personalities are quite similar.”

The conversation was cut short when Riku felt an unknown chakra cross the boundaries of the Botib’s entrance. Ending the privacy barrier, he left the training room for the main Hall. There he saw Shikaku with a scroll in hand, waiting by the door.

“Hokage-sama.” The man greeted and presented the scroll.

Riku took it. “Thank you, Shikaku-san. I wasn’t expecting you to make the delivery, though. I wasn’t specific when…” He paused for a moment and looked at the man in the eye. “You hoped to use the time seal to get some rest away from your wife.”

Shikaku’ stone cold face betrayed nothing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Hokage-sama.”

“Too bad. I would have told you that the room on the right at the end of the second floor was free and that you could use it.” The smirk on Riku’s face was all knowing. “Go on. You need rest. Just this time. And don’t tell Shikamaru about it. He will bother Ino who will bother me and I will give him access to it because I’m whipped.”

“Wives.” was all Shikaku said, clearly understanding. With a nod, he walked past Riku in the direction of the stairs.

The man really deserves a good rest. He’s been coordinating everything for a month now with very little down time. Not that Riku was charitable. A rested Jonin Commander was a more efficient Jonin Commander. It was as simple as that.

Riku went to the kitchen where he found Mei and her subordinates finishing their lunch. The woman had trained her kekkei genkais the whole morning, trying to find ways to better use it. She was rewarding herself with pork ribs and absolutely loved it. Kiri was a huge island and its main food was fish. There was very little cattle there. They had the land but the fog and the humidity made having pigs or beef difficult and a luxury. Now that she had access to meat, the woman wasn’t saying no to it.

After exchanging greetings, he told her about the scroll. She immediately finished what was left of her ice cream and stood up. They both went to the training room as he intended to summon their captives there. Riku signaled for Naruto and Minato to stop what they were doing.

“What’s happening?” The young blonde asked in curiosity.

“Among the people raised from the dead, a few were captured.” Riku replied. “I hope we can free them from Orochimaru’s compulsion seal and beyond that, have them join our cause.”

“Oh!” Naruto exclaimed in excitement. “That’s neat.”

“An excellent idea, yes.” Minato’s answer was more subdued. Already he was seeing the different possibilities it could go. “But what if they don’t want to fight once they are free?”

“Then I will teach them the hand seals to end the Edo Tensei. I do not condone slavery.” Riku replied as he crouched down and opened the scroll. A few names were written under each seal.

“Should we be here? It’s a diplomatic thing and like… Not our business?” Naruto asked in confusion, displaying a new maturity that Riku had no knowledge of but was glad to see.

“You’re needed for those two.”

Naruto got confused even more and Riku pointed at the name on the scroll. He frowned when he recognized them.

“That bast-” The jinchuriki stopped himself from cursing completely.

“I hope that if Mei doesn't succeed in convincing them, you will.” With that said, Riku activated the seal. A puff of smoke was released from the scroll and two figures appeared out of it.

The first was a broad shouldered swordsman wrapped in damp bandages from nose to collarbone. Ash toned skin showed through the gaps, marked by hairline cracks where sealing ink pulsed like a slow heartbeat. His forehead protector of the Hidden Mist sat scarred and slashed, the metal dulled and pitted as if it had slept at the bottom of a bay. Cold mist gathered around him and beaded along the corded lines of his arms. He carried a massive cleaver of a blade that hummed with a dull hunger, the moon shaped hole near its spine seeming to drink the light. When his eyes lifted they were the flat color of deep water, unreadable and patient, the eyes of a man who had killed in silence and expected to do so again. Zabuza Momochi stood as if the grave had been an inconvenient pause rather than an ending.

Beside him a slender figure took shape, long dark hair tied back with a simple ribbon. Her face had the fragile beauty of porcelain left in winter air, serene and unblinking, yet traced with faint spiderweb lines where the jutsu had stitched soul to vessel. A hunter mask hung at her hip, its red markings dulled by age, and a thin fan of senbon glinted between pale fingers. The air around her cooled until breath fogged, frost dusting his lashes and the edges of his sleeves. Haku’s gaze was soft and distant, the melancholy calm of falling snow, but the chakra at her core felt cutting as glass.

They stood there. Completely frozen, courtesy of the multiple sealing tags on their bodies.

“Eeeh… Are they supposed to… stay still like this?” Naruto wondered.

“It’s the tags.” Minato said and walked forward to have a better look. “Paralysis ones, acting on the nerves and muscles. They’re conscious but just can’t move.”

“Correct.” Riku replied and walked to the dead Kiri-nin. Reaching with one hand he removed the one tag on their forehead. The effect was immediate.

“Kakashi.” Zabuza growled. “I never thought I’d see you again. Not in the impure world.”

“Chakra is bullshit.” the man called out shrugged his shoulders, not caring.

“That it is. Brat.” the former swordsman of the mist greeted Naruto whose eyes were fixed on Haku. Then shifted to his countrymen. “Terumi Mei. Long time no see. Ran away to Konoha for help?” He taunted.

“Watch your tongue Momochi! You’re speaking to the Godaime Mizukage.” Ao spoke up.

The auburn woman fixed him with a cold glare. “I didn’t need Konoha’s help to defeat Yagura. Kiri has been free for the past four years. Almost five. Not thanks to you dying a dog’s death in Nami.”

“A dog’s death?” Zabuza scoffed. “I died as a human and that was more than I could hope for. Now…” He looked down at his undead body then back at her. “I’m back to being a tool for a bastard.” He gritted his teeth.

Riku decided it was the best moment to join the conversation. “We can help with that.”

Zabuza was suddenly all ears but still skeptical. “Oh yeah?”

“I can tell you the handseals so you can be released and go back to the pure lands or-”

“No matter what you say next, it won’t be as good.” The Demon of Kiri cut in.

“No? We can give you the opportunity to fight back against the one who brought the two of you back. Remove the strings he has on you so you can move on your own free will.”

“Tempting but no.”

Mei spoke up again. “This isn’t a war against villages, Zabuza. It’s a war for the fate of the world. Our enemy-”

“I know what it’s all about. Our actions are controlled, yes but our mouth can still run. I heard all about that Eternal Tsukuyomi plan from others brought back.”

“Then, you should have even more reason to fight on our side instead of going back directly.” Riku argued.

That didn’t convince the man one bit. Naruto decided to speak up then.

“You and Haku fighting could diminish the loss of life on our side, ya know? You spent your life being a tool of death. Now you have the opportunity to fight as a human for something greater than just money. For the future of everyone.”

A giggle escaped Haku then and Zabuza turned his head towards her. “I’m glad to see you didn’t change, Naruto.” She gave him a beautiful smile.

“A shinobi is at his strongest when he has something to protect.” Naruto grinned proudly. “I never forgot your words. I live by them.”

“Zabuza-sama.” Haku said in a pleading but dignified tone towards the swordsman.

He sighed, clearly exhausted and knowing his resistance was futile. “Fine. We will fight for you. But the first asshole who gives me a stupid order is getting cut in half.”

“Good think it will be Kakashi.” Riku said as he retrieved a brush and an ink pot from his book of seals. “Just so you know. There is the possibility to revive you completely. You could be truly alive again.”

“Is that so?” Haku seemed really interested.

“Yes. It’s not a guarantee. Just a possibility.” Riku replied as he began writing a seal on her face.

“We will make it a reality.” Mei interjected. “Kiri needs more expert shinobis like the two of you. It also needs its seven swordsmen.”

“Eh. If that happens then I’m warning you, Mei. I and Haku won’t be tools for war and murder anymore.”

“I don’t expect you to. Riku and I discussed the direction of the Shinobi world once the war is over. With Kumo gone and soon Iwa, the greatest opponents to proper peace, we can make some important changes.” She revealed.

This was a conversation she and Riku had in private. The future of the shinobi world and how to avoid another global war. It was the latter that brought up the subject first and Mei agreed with his view. Not necessarily on the details but on the principle. The great villages must be united to preserve the peace but not just as allies and neighbors. As partners and friends.

“Let’s say that instead of just being paid for our work while being a-political, shinobi will secretly get involved in the shadows. There will be no repeat of Suna and the Wind Daimyo.” Riku explained further vaguely.

“So we won’t just kill some random dunce because we’re paid for it?” Zabuza asked.

“No. Well, yes because we do need money but we won’t just do that. Some missions would be for the sake of peace. It's just the beginning of an idea.” Mei shared, smiling a bit.

Minato was finally done listening. “You mean you want to turn shinobis into shadow guardians of peace and not just a kunai to strike at the enemy?"

“Yes,” both Kage answered in unison.

“There will always be conflict. It’s in human nature to disagree.” Mei said.

“But we can also understand each other if we try.” Riku nuanced. “By sharing information, acting in concert and creating a basis and standard for everything from laws to politics we hope to blur the differences between us and maintain the peace we all want. We’re in a very particular position to be able to do so. Opportunities like that… The last time was when Hashirama-ji and Madara founded Konoha.”

“It created the village systems, but not for peace as they wanted. For power. That led to four Shinobi wars. Clearly the system doesn’t work but not everything is wrong with it.” the Mizukage argued.

“Huh.” Zabuza said nothing more, choosing to stay silent and wonder about this plan. In the meantime, Riku finished drawing the seal on both of the undead. “What’s that supposed to do?”

“Break the seal that’s controlling you.”

“Oh! I recognize this one! It’s the one you use to break that barrier during the Gaara rescue mission.” Naruto pointed with his finger.

Riku smiled in amusement. “Yes, it’s the same base. A bit more complicated though.”

Making a few hand seals, Riku concentrated his chakra into activating the seals he drew on the two undeads. The black ink drawn on their rotten skin began to glow then shone brightly. As if it were alive it moved up to their head and disappeared inside their skull.

“KAI!” Riku shouted while doing a ram seal. Without missing a beat, the paralysis seals burst in flame and turned to ash.

A shift in Zabuza and Haku’s bodies was noticeable but only for a train shinobi. They still stood ram rod straight but their muscles relaxed. The former raised his hand in front of his face and flexed his fingers.

“Finally.”

Riku gave a nod of satisfaction. “You and your daughter are free now and it will last until someone deals with my seal. Not going to happen soon.”

“Haku is a guy.” Naruto said out of the blue, correcting his brother.

With a knowing and amused smile, Riku replied. “Hips don’t lie, Naruto.” That confused the blonde jinchuriki for a moment. “I have duties to attend to. Kakashi.”

“I’ll take care of them.”

With a short nod to Mei, Riku left the room and the Botib to go back to the Hokage’s office. His office now. He needed to talk with Hiruzen about how to deal with Itachi, Sasuke and the Uchiha massacre. It was a delicate subject and he needed a bit more detail to be sure to get the help he needed.