Impossible to Forget

Chapter 27: Misguided Endeavors

"What did you do to Majime?!"

Kakashi was beyond angry. He had just watched three of his shinobi die, and as the Hokage, he was extremely (fiercely) protective of those under him. "How did you know all of the answers to the security checks?"

Nori looked at her nails like she couldn't give Kakashi's question the time of day. "Majime told me." ANBU don't just tell people things, and as a captain, Majime had a reputation as being skilled and relentless, zealously loyal to the Leaf. ANBU are trained to resist all sorts of torture, and they are loyal enough to the village to lay down their lives, which they sadly do fairly often. Majime would never simply "tell" a S-ranked criminal (who is in the Leaf's bingo book) village secrets. As if she could read the doubt rolling off of us, Nori continued, "I did grow up with Sasainako, you know. Majime sang like a bird, pleaded for me to just kill her. She was a fun challenge to break, though. Just so you know, Captain Majime never left the village for this mission, and she never will."

I could almost feel Kakashi trembling with the effort required to conceal his rage and stay in control.

Nori had led us right into an ambush.

Two large rock formations were to the right and left with a narrow gap to the front that was blocked by Sadao and Tadao. Any escape back to where we came from was blocked by my mother, and any attempt to scale the cliff walls would leave us completely vulnerable to jutsu and kunai. Once again, I had been out played, out planned, by my mother. It was enough to make me want to curse again.

Everyone I cared about was there. Anzu, Bijonko, and Kakashi; I felt completely helpless. If I made a single rash move, Bijonko and Anzu were dead.

I looked over and caught Kakashi's eye. He blinked twice and then looked at the ground. I had to hide a smirk; Kakashi had two clones underneath us with an earth style jutsu, and I gave and quick nod to show that I understood. He must have made the seals before we were led into the ambush.

Nori signaled to Sadao, and he began to lead Tadao, Anzu, and Bijonko towards us.

I took a moment to assess the father and son. Sadao looked like he was having a great time, and I figured that it was a safe assumption to make that the person who had saved him all of those years ago had been my mother. Tadao, on the other hand, looked he was going to be sick. His face was slightly green, and he was refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

As soon as the other four were a few feet away from us, Kakashi caught my attention again.

The two clones exploded out of the ground at their feet, separating the prisoners from the captors. The ropes binding Anzu's wrists fell to the ground, and Sadao and Tadao were put on the defensive.

I used the distraction that it provided to charge at Nori, hurling a handful of kunai at her vital points. All of them were blocked with a clang by the sword that was still coated in the blood of our ANBU guards. I slid down, aiming to sweep her legs while simultaneously bringing a new kunai up to block the sword strike aimed at splitting my skull into two. Kakashi materialized behind her, a handful of chakra swinging towards the back of her head. Gracefully, Nori ducked out of the way while kicking behind her, causing Kakashi to flip back and out of range. While my mother was throwing the kick, I brought my kunai towards her torso, aiming for her spleen. But the attack was blocked by a quick swipe of her sword followed by a punch from her free hand. I turned so that I was hit on the shoulder as opposed to the chest and slid back several feet from the force of the attack. Kakashi was back and ready to go on the offensive again as he began several hand signs-

"Misguided endeavors."

Everyone froze and stared at where Bijonko stood, blue hair flapping in the breeze and crimson eyes glazed over.

"Lack of knowledge shall be your bane,

It shall be your downfall.

Your search for power is all for naught;

Lightning cannot be awakened,

It cannot be revived.

You shall fail.

You shall-"

The prophesy stopped as Nori moved faster than the eye could follow and separated Bijonko's head from her shoulders.

I froze in shock and denial as her ghostly body slowly crumpled down to the ground next to a mass of pale blue hair floating and swaying in a growing pool of blood.

Everything was perfectly still and quiet as Nori wiped off the blade on the shoulder of Bijonko's white dress, leaving two rusty streaks behind before the blade was returned to its scabbard.

Nori seemed to forget that she had an audience as she stared coldly at the corpse in front of her, "I will not fail."

A tear dripped quietly from each eye as I stared at the body of one of my greatest friends. I was numb, shocked beyond belief, and angrier than ever.