Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 85

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Chapter 85

The entrance to Iwa was surprisingly similar to Konoha's... except for the fact that there was a whole lot more rock to it, that is. Once they announced ourselves, an escort appeared instantly around Eiji and his group. Not much was said, actually, but Eiji was perfectly fine with that. He'd take that over insults and the like any day of the week, that was for sure.

Eventually, the team was led to what he assumed was Iwa's equivalent to the Hokage tower. They didn't have to wait for even a second to be allowed in and, sure enough, there was Onoki, who instantly scanned them all with his eyes. Eyes that narrowed dangerously almost the second he started. That was something that Eiji expected though.

"You have some nerve bringing these people with you, Weaver," The Tsuchikage said threateningly, making almost all his team tense. Kabuto didn't, however. Eiji found it highly amusing though, that the ex-spy seemed to only be scared of him.

"Respectfully, I can't do this mission alone, Tsuchikage-sama, and Konoha can't send people with me, even if your people allowed that," Eiji explained, doing his best to keep his tone even. "These people are, contrary to what you would expect, completely under my control, I assure you. None of them will betray or otherwise bring harm to your people. That I can swear."

"And I'm supposed to take your word for it?" Onoki asked, still eyeing the team suspiciously.

"You trusted me to help with what threatens your people. I only ask that you trust me with this too, Tsuchikage-sama," Eiji replied, taking a deep breath in as discreetly as he could.

"If they do anything, anything at all suspicious... You know what will happen, don't you?" Onoki continued, but the boy would take that. It sounded like the man was coming around the smallest bit.

"I do." He nodded, somewhat stiffly. "And they won't do anything of the sort, I assure you," He added then, turning to his team and unleashing his Bloodlust on them. Even Tayuya, who usually stayed dismissive even if she always took his words to heart when threatened, tensed up. Even Temari, who hadn't experienced Wit's End and thus had a lot less reason to be afraid of him, stood at attention. All of them straightened, shoulders squared, as if they were soldiers waiting for an order.

"I see," The village leader mumbled, staring at Kabuto in particular, who looked a breath away from starting to tremble out of fear. Onoki had to guess why he was so sure of his control. The other village leaders that had been there were aware of Wit's End's existence, Eiji was sure. "Just make sure you remember to make sure of that," The man agreed and the boy would freely admit that it surprised him. He'd expected to have much more trouble with his team's composition.

"Thank you, Tsuchikage-sama," Eiji said, bowing out of respect and gratitude. "There's one more teammate yet to arrive, however," He added, wishing he didn't have to continue this conversation. He would rather leave it as it was, but springing something like that on the people of Iwa would have been a very bad idea.

"Oh? I'm not gonna like their identity, am I?" The man guessed instantly, smiling wryly at Eiji who simply returned the gesture apologetically.

"No, you are not..."

Indeed, he didn't. However, Satou was once more surprised with how easily the man agreed to it though. He'd expected a lot more resistance to his team. Then it occurred to him that Onoki knew the chances of death in this mission were high and he expected them to die. It was a bitter realization, but an understandable one. Little as the Nations knew of Akatsuki, they knew enough to be very wary of them.