The Light Of Konoha

Hazy Memories

Byakko's P.O.V.

I watched them disappear, a feeling of hollowness being left behind as they retreated.

'Why don't I recognise them...?
...
...
I fought against them during the first shinobi war, I should be able to recognise the leader...'

But the more I search my mind, I seem to find realms where the memory is just beyond my reach, just at the tip of my tongue.
They're hazy, almost as if they should be there but aren't.
I find myself questioning if I fought them to begin with...

'I've served the Furasshu for as long as I can remember, of course I would have fought alongside them in their most dire time...
Who was my first master again? Surely I served Furasshu members other than Yuri... Didn't I?
What's wrong with me... Why haven't I noticed any of this before...'

"Baa-san!" Izumi yelled, "tail them, find out where they're going.
Meanwhile, I'll try to see what I can do about Bino-chan..."

"I'll go after them too!" Lee exclaimed, following Kiba and Akamaru into the forest.

I delicately brushed the hair from my master's eyes, fretfully watching the seconds tick away on his life.
'72 hours... And they didn't even tell us what they wanted or where to take it...'

"It's a seal isn't it? Can't you break it?" I rushed, panicking.

Master shook his head, still gasping for breath,
"I can't break it... It's not really a seal, that's just the name.
It's like Sasuke's curse mark..."

Izumi put her hand against the marks thoughtfully.

"It can only be dispelled by the castor..." She muttered after examining it.
Then her eyes hardened,
"Aki... Do you mind telling me what's going on?"

Master shook his head, "I-I can't. I--"

Izumi waved her hand dismissively, cutting him off,
"I know, I know. I recognised the mark that was on your tongue, I know what it does.
But it's been repurposed, it no longer restricts your speech."

His eyes widened and he raised a shaky hand to his lips,
"yōsei satsugai-sha..."

His eyes widened further when he didn't start to choke after uttering the name.

"See?" Izumi said encouragingly.

Master nodded slowly and gripped his kimono in his fist.

"The yōsei satsugai-sha were a specially selected group of powerful ninja who were tasked with eliminating the Furasshu clan... During the first shinobi war."

Izumi gasped, eyes widening in disbelief,
"And I'm assuming, since I'd never heard of the Furasshu clan before... That they succeeded..." She muttered gravely.

Master nodded his head slowly.

Izumi frowned,
"Just what is it that makes the Furasshu's such a target?"

Master visibly gulped and bit his lip nervously,
"We... Have the ability to break any seal with our special chakra... It's a technique called: shīruburēku..."

"A-Any seal?" Izumi stuttered,
"No wonder you're clan was targeted..."

Master sighed ruefully,
"My mother, daughter of Kohana Furasshu and... Tobirama Senju... "
He paused to let that sink in to the shocked minds of everyone present,
"...Was a child at the time... She was safely back in the village, but after she heard of the disaster she was forced to go into hiding as the yōsei satsugai-sha were still at large.