Clash 2: The Wolf and the Desertstorm - a collab with Amaterasu

Chapter 3

Kakashi casually stepped over the threshold of the village, relieved to be home. He gave a closed eyed smile to the two familiar Chunin watching the gate and gave a small wave. He gave pause as his greeting wasn't as well received as he expected it. The two chunin appeared to be guilty for some reason. It appeared as though they were arguing against the other over an issue.
"Something the matter?" he asked, drawing closer to the sign-in stand.

Izumo cast his gaze away with a frown. Kakashi's eyes narrowed in suspicion of his unusual actions. Despite being responsible and having a strong sense of duty, Izumo was rarely without a kind smile and high spirits.

Kotetsu let out a sigh. "This morning hadn't started out so great," he said.

"There was a summon that showed up the early hours of the morning, in terrible shape." Izumo finally found his voice. "It...it was Hisayo's."

His whole demeanor took on a completely different vibe now as Kakashi's eye narrowed. "And Hisayo?"

"Don't know." Kotetsu continued to frown. "Her wolf didn't say. He was totally out of it."

"Inuzuka are taking care of him right now, but..." Izumo closed his eyes with a sad shake of his head. "it isn't looking good."

"Hey!" Kotetsu called as Kakashi turned to go to the Hokage Tower, "don't go and do anything crazy."

But the older shinobi was already gone in a plume of smoke. Kotetsu leaned back in his chair with groan. "Man, maybe we shouldn't have said anything after all?"

Izumo shook his head. "No, he deserves to know. He and Hisayo are too close for him to be out of the loop."

"Yeah, but...we may have made whatever the situation is worse."

***

The greeting they received upon their return were as usual forced from the fears of being reprimanded by their leaders/superiors. Both Ookami and men under Orochimaru and even Kabuto bowed submissively and made way for the Ookami party lead by Satoru.

"Leader-sama," Keigo completed his greeting gestures and studied the returning party with a careful expression. "Are you uninjured?"

"Of course." Satoru rolled his eyes and brushed passed quite rudely, but Keigo remained unaffected. "Enough pestering Keigo. We have work to do. You did finish preparing the cell didn't you?"

Keigo hid the surprise he felt. "You...Your mission was...a success?"

"Heh, see for yourself." Satoru gestured behind him with a victorious smirk.

Keigo watched as one of the final members of the Ookami party Satoru had taken with him, finished filing through into their hide-out. He was carrying a woman over one shoulder whom he was not at all familiar with. He was confused by that. What had Satoru been doing? Wasn't he...his thoughts came to a breathless stop as he watch Kabuto bring up the rear, carrying a limp body over one shoulder as well.
As he turned to head down to the cells, Keigo could make out the rest of the body's features.
He swallowed with difficulty at the sight. He had hoped Satoru's endeavor would have ended in failure as it had before in the past, but...

His features hardened back to their usual expression as Satoru began to address him again, "Now go with Kabuto and help him before Orochimaru-sama's pets both wake."

"What about you, Leader-sama?"

"I do what I want. Don't be nosy."

"I only ask, because I fear you must rest. It must not have been an easy feat to capture her. Perhaps you'd like me to have some of the clan draw you a bath and prepare a meal for you?"

Satoru calmed at the idea Keigo presented to him. He gave a slightly annoyed snort as he thought of how irritating the much older man could be. He let it slide, however. When ordered to, Keigo always did exactly as he was told—sometimes he went beyond expectation. He always did so without hesitation, and the few times when he did seem to, it was because he was thinking of Satoru and the clan's well-being. 'He still needed the clan's power and (sadly dwindling) numbers. Orochimaru still had use of them.' He had expressed to him one day. Though Satoru had grown angry with such a comment, and though he had lashed out at Keigo, he had to admit that for now, the man had been correct.

"Very well," Satoru turned to leave to his chambers, "but do not make me wait long."

"Yes, Leader-sama." Keigo bowed before relaying the orders to some of the clan he saw to be fit.

Afterwards, he quickly made his way to the holding cells.