Clash 2: The Wolf and the Desertstorm - a collab with Amaterasu

Chapter 21

Akio, Kakashi, and Taryn were all sat in the living room of the latter's home.

"There is a matter that needs discussing. I'm sure you know what exactly that matter is." Akio began.

"It's very important to us we talk about it." Kakashi added, "so please, we need you to cooperate. Can you do that for us, Taryn? Don't be upset."

Taryn narrowed her eyes at Kakashi. "Don't treat me like a five year old child, Kakashi. We've known each other too long for that."

"Exactly." Kakashi said. "So it'd be your victory if you discredit my idea of you by acting like an adult."

"Now children," Akio's smile held a threat behind it. "Do I need to put you two in your own corner for time out before we begin? I'd rather avoid wasting time, but if it must be done..."

The look Taryn cast at Kakashi spelled murder for the masked shinobi, but she refrained from dignifying his comment with an answer and looked at Akio instead. They had all been through a lot. It was not the time to argue. "Go on," she said.

"It's regarding the reports you and your team have given to the Kazekage. Did you report in full?"

Taryn sighed and stood up, wandering across the living room. "You want to know if I told him about Hisayo's... state... when we found her." She paused at the cabinet and stared at the framed picture in front of her. A sad smile appeared on her face when she looked at her old team, the one she had been placed in after graduating the Academy.

Akio nodded. "We're ordered by the Hokage to remain here until everyone has fully recovered, however if there will be a threat to Hisayo, even here in this village..."

"We won't stay at all." Kakashi ended. "But, we won't be able to simply go back home either."

"Things are complicated back home." Akio added the small piece of information, being just as vague. "Hisayo needs to return home in full health."

Taryn sighed again. She knew all too well what those threats entailed. Hadn't her brother faced the same thing when her father was Kazekage? "I told him exactly what happened," she said.

"Taryn..." Kakashi sounded hurt and angry, but she cut him off in a harsh and forceful tone.

"I was taken by Kabuto and when I woke up I was in the Ookami hide-out with Hisayo, who was also a prisoner. I managed to win the trust of the Ookami leader and used that to gather intel. I then convinced one of Satoru's men to help me and Hisayo escape, but Orochimaru came back before we were secure. He took Hisayo, and I fought Satoru and then Ken came to rescue me. He was forced to leave me behind to collect Hisayo and then It..." her voice faltered for a second, "Itachi showed up and brought me to where the rest of you was camped and that is all I remember until waking up in the forest."

"So then about Hisayo being..." Akio hesitated, torn with saying anything out loud that could compromise Hisayo.

"Hisayo being what?" Taryn asked casually, "dehydrated? Injured? Underfed? I think those things were obvious when she arrived here." Though she knew full well what Akio was getting at.

"Hm...nothing out of the ordinary at all?" Akio further pressed, testing Taryn one last time.

Taryn looked over her shoulder and met Akio's eyes dead on for the first time since the start of the conversation. "She's a Konoha shinobi to me. What more is there to it?"

Akio finally let out a relieved sigh and smiled.

"We were able to see the accommodations the Kazekage has given to us." Kakashi also let breath of relieved air escape. "We're thankful for his hospitality. Hisayo and the rest of us will be able to recover and rest easy."