It's Not Really A Date, but is sort of kinda (Boruto x Sarada)

Part 15

[23:32]

A little way deeper into the darkened wood of the park the two Mist Shinobi came to an abrupt halt. The sounds of the conflict raging at the fireworks stage but a faint echo in the distance behind them. And the otherwise quiet of this secluded spot in the midst of the shadows of the trees made the whole setting all the more eerie.

"I think this should be far enough." Misuno said with an oddly calm voice. A weary and heavily panting Chojuro looked to the side of her masked face with incredulous curiosity. "W-what are you... talking about... Misuno...?.. (he gasped unable to explain when he started feeling so weak)... We're.... nowhere near.... our hosts or our guard... and... I think we... should be... heading to the Leaf.... Medical Centre.... I don't.. feel so good...."

The Mizukage's aide turned to face him, and by the look of her eyes he got the impression she was smiling under her mask. A truly evil smile. "Oh, you won't be needing any of that now." she answered in a cold, mocking voice. Then she backed away, letting him unceremoniously fall to the ground with a thud as he began coughing and spluttering. She looked down upon the hacking Mizukage with a now apparent malicious aura. Then pulled off her mask.

The sight that greeted Chojuro was not the elegant smile of the charming red-haired woman he knew, but a puffy-lipped misshapen-toothed maw. Soon followed by her weaving unfamiliar Hand Signs, and then by gross hocking and a bulging neck. As if this sight wasn't nauseating enough, she was soon bent over and regurgitated.... a person!!

The Mist Shinobi considered the person to be a male, as much as what was left of him... The bald, pale-skinned man in black robes clearly had a mechanical right arm and left leg. And what natural body parts he DID still possess that Chojuro could see appeared to be covered in eyes. Eyes he recognised from his dealings with Leaf Shinobi as possessing Sharingan!!

And the man began to stand, gazing upon the Mizukage with a cold, cruel desire.

The sight of the somehow-still-alive man was so horrifically captivating that Chojuro had almost forgotten the woman that coughed him up. Or what had been the woman, now a grossly overweight man with pale skin, as well as a green fauxhawk and muttonchop-sideburns joined to a thick moustache. And a sadistic (and hungry) grin. The fact that he was still wearing Misuno's travelling robes now over a bulging gut made his part in the gruesome twosome all the more disturbing.

"I feel I must point out how obscene an experience that was, being trapped in your belly for any length of time. Even in a pocket universe in there." the thinner bald man said distainfully, still looking at his prey. "Ahh quit belly-aching..." the fat man retorted dismissively. "..I'm the one who had to hold it altogether for the plan to pan out wasn't I? And in any case, I'd say it's panned out quite nicely so far..."

Chojuro managed to get a hold of his coughing and sat up, looking from the repulsive larger man to the cold and calculating thinner one with a face of stoic resolve. "Shikabane Bunshin no Shojoji ('Shojoji of the Corpse-Clone'), former leader of the defunct Mujina Bandits I presume. And presumably you're Shin. One of Orochimaru's former test subjects-"

"That's Shin Uchiha to you!!!" the bald man snapped with a fiery gleam in his left (not bloodshot) eye, before he quickly recomposed himself. "But in any case, I'm sure you've heard the story of my apparent defeat at the hands of that traitor Sasuke Uchiha and his wretched daughter, and presumably you're wondering how I survived my ordeal?!.. Truth be told, I WAS technically dead for a brief period. Before being found and restored by our mutual acquaintances among the Outers..."

Chojuro maintained his stoic composure as he listened, repressing a chill up his spine as he already knew he didn't like where this story was going. Shin continued. "Using technologies at their disposal in their allegiance to the 'Inners' of 'Kara, the Husk', they revived me, rebuilt me, and gave me a new purpose. To be their alternative plan in their objective of bringing about war between Konohagakure and Kirigakure! A most meticulous scheme entailing mass mercury poisoning of the helpless patrons of this precocious 'Cross-Cultural Festival'. A scheme that may well involve the 7th Hokage's dear adoptive son! But the end result will be the same.

"Not that I mind too much working for someone else when their goals align so neatly with mine own. Ushering in a new era that will force humanity to reach new evolutionary heights as it adapts to a new age of conflict. Conflict and transformation that I shall oversee as Founder and Leader of a brand new Akatsuki and of a brand new world of warfare. And one in which I shall be able to claim my own revenge on Sasuke Uchiha by devastating everything he loves. His precious village and his beloved wife and daughter..."

Shojoji's grin in turn somehow grew all the more menacing (and hungry looking). "I'll be honest, it still kinda creeps me out working under 'Kara'. But I was hardly gonna say 'no' after they bust'd me outta prison. Especially since involving me in this here plot I get everythin' I want... I'm gonna eat you Mizukage, just like I ate your pretty little lady friend the first time I infiltrated the Mist.. (and the grotesque man actually salivated a little, forcing the Mist Shinobi to suppress a shudder).. And with your face and before this whole 'war' kicks off, I'll finally be able to get close to the Hokage, and finally get to savour his brat Boruto Uzumaki's brain..."

Chojuro glared at both ghoulish men now smiling with evil glee, and then the Mizukage himself sported a defiant grin. "Thanks for the intel. But sorry to say I'm not letting any of that happen." Then with some effort he pushed himself onto the balls of his feet and began to stand, before being enveloped in a puff of smoke. The smoke cleared, and Konohamaru Sarutobi stood tall and proud before the two villains, wearing a determined frown.

"The Actual Hell!?!?" Shojoji exclaimed in disbelief whilst Shin looked just as stunned. Konohamaru narrowed his eyes. "I suspected something was off when I saw Lord Mizukage's aide acting not quite like how I'd heard Lord Hokage and my former protege describe her. Every so often spacing out like she could hear voices I couldn't, receiving messages from your boss via a hidden earpiece I assume. That and several attempts on her part to handle food and drink items before handing them to the Mizukage. Something that, if she was indeed trying to poison him, wouldn't have been an issue for a Mist Shinobi or anyone who properly understood Water-Style. Just as well I placed a Sealing Jutsu upon him and myself when you weren't looking to guard against any pathological agents, just in case. From there it was just a matter of looking for the right moment of commotion to switch places with him and wait for whatever you were planning.. to happen.

"Lord Mizukage is safe and secure, and from the intel I've gathered so far I reckon your co-conspirators have all been apprehended. And you two will soon be joining them in prison, assuming you're not executed on the spot by the Powers That Be for your manifold crimes..." Konohamaru actually smirked confidently, despite the ache all over his body slowly getting worse. Unfortunately Shin didn't fall for the ruse. "It seems your Seal doesn't protect you completely from the mercury coursing through your veins Sarutobi, thanks to my little hidden syringe I injected you with earlier. You're far from being at your best right now. And of course as things stand, there are still two of us and only one of you." And his malicious grin returned as did his fat cohort's. "Ya ain't gettin' outta this one or warnin' anybody else, 3rd Hokage's boy! Guess I'll just have to make room for one more morsel before Ol' Blue-Hair. Sure you'll probably taste like c|*p with all that mercury in ya. But it's a good thing I got the antidote-"

"DON'T TELL HIM ABOUT THAT YOU OVERSTUFFED CRETIN!!!" Shin yelled at his begrudging accomplice, cautious of divulging more information on their joint caper than they already had. "HEY! WATCH YOUR MOUTH 'EYEBALLS'!!" Shojoji yelled back defensively at his reluctant ally. "Ahhh forget it! Let's just kill him already!!"

The dastardly duo's differences set aside for the moment, their attention returned to the Leaf Jonin as they slowly advanced. Konohamaru backed up to assume a battle-ready stance. And tottered slightly.

It would seem his Seal had worked to slow the spread of mercury through his body, but not halt its progression completely. At this rate he'd be lucky if he could hold off his assailants long enough to retreat and report what he'd learned to the 5th Mizukage or Naruto, before succumbing to the poison. Shojoji advanced quicker with his drooling mouth wide open as Konohamaru braced himself for what could be his final stand.

Only for the behemoth to be forcefully thrust to his back, straight into Shin, and bowling both over. It took Konohamaru a moment to register what exactly collided with Shojoji, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. But soon there was no doubt, a small concentrated ball of...

The Leaf Jonin dared a glance over his left shoulder. Though what his eyes showed him were obscured by the dark of the trees' shadows all around, and his brain could hardly make sense of it. His heart nevertheless had never been so glad to see a certain long-black-haired girl and ginger-haired boy.