The Story of Hagami III [Naruto Fanfic | Uchiha] [Completed]

23 | Risk

Itachi's Susanoo manifested around his body. It crumbled the wall with ease around that was originally a barrier to protect Kabuto. Aki kept her distance from Itachi's Susanoo as a precautionary and Shisui did too.

The three Uchiha could also feel two other chakra sources nearby, Sasuke and Fuyu. And then the faint one in the distance that belonged to Hagami.

"I'm surprised you're able to pass through my barrier and find this place." Kabuto murmured but as a hooded figure. He lifted his head up a bit but his hood obstructed his vision either way.

"When you're controlling both of Hagami's parents, they're able to pinpoint where you're chakra was coming from." Itachi answered Kabuto's suspicion. "That's another risk of the Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu), though, you won't need to remember that for next time."

"Thanks for the tip." Kabuto said sarcastically and a snake began slithering around from underneath his cloak. "I didn't expect any shinobi to counter this jutsu, so I didn't even worry about it. By the way, there's something I'd like you to know as well. This Edo Tensei will not come undone even if you kill me. But I am the only one who can stop it.

"In other words, you can't kill me." Kabuto explained in a confident tone. "If I die, you'll never be able to stop this jutsu." Kabuto began chuckling and it soon evolved into a self-indulged laugh. He had planned it out perfectly, in other words, to the point where he though that it was full-proof. "I guess my luck hasn't run out yet.

"Things aren't always what you wish them to be, d***it!" Fuyu cursed and stepped forward. Beside him was Sasuke who approached cautiously.

You're definitely right, Fuyu-san. Shisui thought quietly in his head. For a moment, he thought back to when the Coup d'État was about to ensue, perhaps a month before when Hagami began planning on her own.

---

"Itachi, have you noticed that Hagami's been acting stranger?" Shisui whispered to his most trusted friend. They're conversing at the local dango shop of Konohagakure whilst Hagami was away on a mission for the Hokage.

"Ah," Itachi answered as he took one of the sweet dumplings in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed it before he spoke again, "she's more reserved than usual, which is hard to imagine with her."

"What about the Coup d'État? How about that? She seems to be scouting out and looking at the Village closely for highly populated areas or something like that." Shisui added to her odd behavior.

"I've noticed that too." Itachi murmured. "She's rarely in the back allies but she's only staying near the Clan. I haven't seen her to the East at all or South for that matter." Itachi ate another sweet dumpling.

"Have you seen any giveaways?" Shisui asked lowering his voice even more. Itachi looked up, surprised by Shisui's sudden distrustful tone toward Hagami.

"What do you mean?" Itachi asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I mean have you found any documents on any such occasion where it may give away a separate goal?" Shisui asked in the same tone. Itachi's fist struggled not to ball into a fist.

"Are you saying that Hagami might have a plan to take the Clan out on her own?" Itachi asked raising his voice only slightly. Shisui flinched and looked up at Itachi. He was surprised to see the brimming anger in Itachi's eyes.

"What?! Of course not! I'm just asking if you found any insinuation of her going with an alternate goal where she'll prevent the Coup d'État. You and I both know Hagami doesn't have the moral to kill anyone." Shisui quickly rephrased what he wanted his words to intend. "Do you think she's trying to find an alternate, is my question."

Itachi calmed down immediately. With tensions so high, he was easily pushed to the edge but rarely passed it. But in this incidence, he almost did. Itachi sat back in the chair, putting his fingers to the bridge of his nose to relieve some of his stress.

"It wouldn't surprise me if she was trying to." Itachi murmured and sighed. "She's been a secret the moment we met her, remember? There probably isn't a person who can decode her way of thinking, except you since you think in the most obscure of ways sometimes."

"Me? Think the same way as Hagami?" Shisui chuckled in amusement. "I highly doubt that. Even if I were to spend a month with her in the same room, I still don't think I'd be able to find anything out about her... Except maybe sleep schedule or favorite food."

"Well, it'd be more than any other person would be able to figure out."

---

The fight commenced soon after. Fuyu and Aki were kept out of the way of Kabuto at every mean to prevent their talismans from being rewritten. Shisui guarded them too, a sign of his loyalty to Hagami through her parents. Since she wasn't here yet, there was no one to protect them as Itachi and Sasuke fought Kabuto.

However, as the fight drew on, the five of them were shocked to notice that Kabuto wasn't just the normal shinobi anymore. By transforming his body with the use of DNA from previous experiments and using Sage Mode, he became a creature that incorporated the Hōzuki Kekkei Genkai, Karin's innate ability to regenerate from injury, and Jūgo's ability to unconsciously harness Nature Energy to perform Sage Jutsu.

As a testament to how much strength Kabuto had, he used a jutsu that impaired both sight and sound with the use of a blinding white light and the sound of grating metal that made it feel like the bones were grinding against each other.

The only one who could move under these conditions was Kabuto. As a 'dragon', he could shut the cornea of his eyes to prevent light and Genjutsu infliction and turn his body to liquid to absorb sound. Shisui covered his ears and shut his eyes, his body racked with pain. Itachi and Sasuke were also unable to move an inch and their Susanoo wasn't able to maintain its position.

Kabuto had an easy pick of who he wanted to strike.

I could go for Sasuke to absorb his visual prowess first and attain what Orochimaru was after for years. Kabuto thought eagerly. Or even better, I should go for both Fuyu and Aki because of their special visual prowess when using the Mangekyō Sharingan that was feared by all. Kabuto's feet took him around Shisui as the Uchiha's eyes struggled to see through the blinding light. He could do nothing as Kabuto reached for Fuyu and Aki's throats.

Time seemed to slow down. The power and accuracy of the two kunai that flew through the cave was intangible by anyone who was present. The blinding light and screeching sound grated her bones to the core but she could still move more freely since she lose the vision in her left eye; the effects were lessened on her body. And the noise, though impairing most of her movements, she still was able to end the jutsu with two, well aimed kunai.

"You left yourself open to one more risk," Hagami poised herself in front of Itachi and Sasuke, ready to strike, "you didn't open yourself to the possibility of me still being alive!"

---

Recognize the last line or at least what it was derived from?? Haha, uhm, all credit goes to Masashi Kishimoto since he was the original manga artist for Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto (in reference to Boruto, I must say it is quite good in my opinion).

Anyway, enjoy!

-silent