Paths of Divergence

False Impressions

I know you read this whenever you could. Your comments meant a lot. You were one of the few people I really wanted to read this story... So this one is for you. Rest in Peace.

Chapter 8

-False Impressions

"So where ya from Kankaku?" Shītto asks while the ANBU teams escorts the former prisoner through the forest.

The man rests his hands behind his head, looking up at the sunlight through the gaps in the trees, "I'm originally from The Hidden Waterfall Village but I ditched that place at a young age, travelled around for a while before I stumbled into The Sound village. Didn't know what I was getting myself into. Before I knew it Orochimaru knew my abilities and had me taken in. From then on he's been having me do all sorts of things for him."

"During your travels, is that where you picked up your abilities?" Shozen inquires.

Kankaku drops his hands from behind his head, "What is this, an interrogation?" He snarls.

Shozen turns his head back, putting his hands up as well, "No no! Just trying to pass the time is all... your abilities just interest me, that's all. Especially since they were able to trick my Byakugan... for the most part."

"Hmph, yeah, the pulse vision is apparently a Kekkei Genkai of mine that I wasn't aware of until I accidentally discovered it. I kept having these visions that wouldn't go away. It took me forever to realize I was just picking up chakra outlines on people."

"What about the genjutsu?" Shozen presses on.

"Picked that up from other inmates while Orochimaru kept me prisoner. I was only just transferred to that cell block a few months ago."

"I see..."

Kankaku chuckles to himself before focusing his attention to the captain of the squad, "So, you with the dragon mask."

Shizake turns his head around, making icy contact with the pony tailed hair man.

"What is it?"

"That genjutsu of Sasuke had you pretty riled up as well as the fact that your chakra signatures are nearly identical. What's your relationship with him?" Kankaku asks maliciously.

"Hn, none of your business that's what."

"Don't think you can fool me, I saw those bloody Sharingan eyes behind your mask back down there." Just mentioning the name Sasuke gets his blood boiling, let's see how far I can push him. "I thought all the Uchiha were wiped out in a single night, minus Sasuke. Never heard about another survivor."

The captain disappears in a flicker, practically teleporting up to Kankaku, a kunai pressed against his jugular vein.

"I said... it's none of your damn business." Shizake warns with deadly intent.

"Whoa! Whoa!" The man yells, backing away slowly, "I don't want any trouble now. You can't blame me for wanting to know more about one of the biggest moments in ninja history."

Shizake slowly slides the kunai back into his pouch, still staring at Kankaku. Toshi and the rest of the team stops in their tracks, giving each other worried looks from behind their masks.

"Yeah, well... it's a part of history I'd like to forget."

Kankaku places a hand on his neck, rubbing the spot where the kunai was placed.

"Fair enough... remind me to never piss you off."

The group picks up the pace, making haste to the Hidden Leaf Village to report the mission findings and get it over with after discovering nearly nothing at the hideout. The mysterious follower turns his head back every once in a while, looking ever so slightly behind him through the corner of his eye. The ANBU team, facing forward remains unaware to his odd behavior as they continue to push forward through the dense forest.