True Lightning

Chapter 5

"Dad! Dad!" Masahiro turned from reading his scroll to see his son come hurtling towards the cabin, bucket of fish in hand.

"You're home early, Taro." Masahiro gave his son an impressed smile as his took the full bucket from his son and sat it by the door. "The fish must've been very hungry." Taro rarely came home before sunset. Masahiro knew that his son felt that he needed to catch as many fish as humanly possible, that Taro had developed an undeniable sense of duty. He glanced into the bucket again. Despite Taro's habit of staying late, he had never returned with this many fish in the year he had been fishing. He raised an eyebrow at his son which prompted Taro to begin an excited rant.

"Well, I was planning on staying late because I hadn't caught a SINGLE fish ALL day-" Taro was animatedly waving his arms as he practically yelled his story to his father.

"-And these two shinobi turned up! REAL SHINOBI!" Masahiro instantly paled.

"So this girl took out one of those knife things that shinobi have and THREW IT AT A TREE. And I was terrified but then she hands me a new stick to replace my broken one and this one is so much better, dad." Taro then holds up his new stick and begins to explain its qualities.

"Anyway, so I said 'thank you' to her and go back to my fishing only to find that my bucket is already FULL OF FISH! The other shinobi had caught all those fish while he was filling up his water bottles! It was amazing!"

Masahiro couldn't help but feel slightly concerned. Shinobi rarely passed through the forest and Masahiro had never encountered any of those who did. He knew that his cloaking seals that surrounded the cabin were strong but for his son who commonly wondered outside of their protection to actually encounter shinobi? It was perhaps only luck that they were friendly.

"Taro…" his son began to calm down. "I think it's time that I begin to train you," Masahiro sighed as his son's face lit up.

"Really, dad?! You're going to teach me how to be a shinobi?"

"No," Masahiro responded. "You will not be a shinobi. I will merely train you in self-defence. Your encounter with these shinobi today is a reminder of how close we are to danger, you understand?" Taro's grin faltered a little, but he was still clearly excited by the idea.

"Yes, dad."

"Good, I will also limit your time spent outside of the seals. It is far too dangerous for you to be so far away." Taro's smile was instantly replaced by a frown.

"What! No way, dad. Will Moriko still be allowed out?" Masahiro gave his son a stern look, he knew that Taro would take it badly but it was his own safety. As for his daughter, Moriko, he would have to limit her time outside of the safety of the seals also. It could of just as easily been her who encountered the shinobi.

"No, your sister will also remain within the seals, she will also begin training."

"But Dad! How am I supposed to get food if I can't leave?"

Masahiro knew that he had to limit the amount he went beyond the seals, his chakra could quickly be noticed by any nearby shinobi. But his children's safety always came first and if that meant venturing out to quickly find food then so be it.

"Taro! Don't yell at dad like that." Masahiro and Taro turned to see the youngest of the family, Moriko, come waddling into the cabin, her entire body obscured by a full basket of freshly washed clothes. She dropped the basket on the floor with a satisfying 'thud' before turning to her older brother with hands on her hips.

"But Moriko, did you hear what he said? We have to stay within the seals now!" Taro was red with anger.

"Taro, be quiet. I'm sure dad is doing what's best for us."

"Your sister is right, Taro. You will both stay within the seals until you are strong enough to defend yourself against the Kazekage himself," Masahiro said with a definite tone. "And I'm sure that for two strong little warriors like yourselves, you should be free to roam the forest in no time," He concluded rubbing the heads of his children affectionately.

"Itachi-senpai?" Itachi turned and slightly raised an eyebrow at the honorific. Ignoring his confusion, Maiko continued, successfully having gained his attention. "Is it not peculiar that a boy as young as him would be alone in the forest? We were told that no families have made a home here."

"I doubt that he is alone and whoever he is housed by has complex shielding abilities," Itachi responded clearly having thought of this before.

"So a shinobi?"

"It seems likely."

"Should we track the boy?"

"Tonight. In the meantime, we should return to his spot on the river and have some dinner."

Maiko nodded as they continued to walk through the darkening forest. She recognised that something wrong, there was no reason to wait for the boy to leave. Standard tracking protocol stated that tracking efficiency deteriorates with time. 'So why is Itachi so hungry all of a sudden.'

The Forest of Heaven was certainly given its name during the daytime, or by a rather sarcastic explorer. As the sun dipped beneath hills that weren't visible from within the dense forest, the area descended into darkness in a matter of minutes.

It was Maiko's second night spent in the forest but her experience still didn't prepare her for the eery silence that seemed to accompany the Forest of Heaven at night. No crickets, no owls, seemingly no sound of life at all. Only the light crunching of leaves and twigs under their feet.

The thick foliage above them blocked any light from the sky making it near impossible to make out obstacles in her path. Maiko understood why Itachi was adamant about setting up camp before nightfall last night. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a red glow, bright as the sun in the darkness surrounding it. Turning her head she saw that Itachi had activated his sharingan. Maiko raised an eyebrow.

"Having trouble seeing, Itachi?" She asked with fake curiosity. Over her time spent as his partner, she realised that Itachi had notably terrible eyesight. Pretending to read scrolls, squinting at far off objects. She had never approached the issue with serious concern as she doubted that it would actually receive a response. Instead she addressed it with humour. Itachi gave a sigh in response.

"What happened to 'Itachi-senpai'?" He continued to walk in the darkness and Maiko was thankful as it hid the slight blush that adorned her cheeks. She wasn't quite sure why she called him that, but considering his role in their partnership, it did feel suitable.

"I didn't realise you liked it, Itachi-senpai," she answered with a rare amount of humour. Itachi turned to give her a stern look.

"That's really not necessary."

"Oh? Maybe Itachi-kun?"

"No."

"How about Itachi-sama?" She gave a slight sarcastic bow as she suggested the new honorific.

"Stop."

"Ok…Itachi-baachan." He almost gave a laugh at that, a confused look hidden from Maiko's view.

"Upon reflection, Itachi-senpai is fine," he said, slightly shuddering at his new name. Itachi knew that he should be harsher on his partner. She was a talented shinobi, intelligent and powerful. Though he had rarely seen it, it was clear that her control of lightning was what earned her a place in the Akatsuki. However, she was so clearly unlike the other Akatsuki members. Spend too long with her and it becomes apparent that her indifferent glare is a thin film over what she really is. A girl desperate to impress her superiors and it seemed that he was Maiko's new target. Itachi decided that being ostracised from Hidden Mist society was the source of this.

But he tolerated her. After all, the way she hangs on his every word and watches with expecting eyes reminded him of the Sasuke he destroyed when he left the Hidden Leaf. The Sasuke that respected him. So he indulged the way she filled that void, her usage of the honorific 'senpai' included.

"Itachi-senpai, we only have enough packed food left for tonight," Maiko started as she sat herself upon the bank of the river beside Itachi. "Do you think this will be over tonight, or will we need to use your apparent fishing skills?" Itachi thought this over for a moment. It was highly likely that this boy would lead them to the rogue, after all family is a good motivation to abandon the shinobi lifestyle. He would rather finish this mission efficiently.

"Should the boy lead us to the rogue we will complete the mission tonight, waste no time." They ate their food in silence, the atmosphere thick as they prepared for confrontation.

Maiko gave a sigh as she thought of the young boy that Itachi and her had helped earlier. Itachi would have undoubtedly realised that the boy could lead them to the rogue, so why help him? She stared into the dark rapids that flowed beneath her dangling feet, finding Itachi's dim, distorted reflection. She had never felt so confused.

ANBU missions in the Hidden Mist had also been morally concerning, but she did what she was ordered, no questions asked. Maiko had assumed that missions in the Akatsuki would be the same, that was until she met Itachi. He seemed to take so many things into account beyond just the mission. Itachi caught her stare in the reflection.

'The boy may lose his father tonight. He'll need more than a bucket of fish and a stick.'

Itachi stood up and turned away, "let's go." Maiko packed away the packaging into a storage scroll, tucking it into her cloak before following after him.

"What is the strategy, Itachi- senpai?"

"Immobilise any by-standers first before assisting in eliminating the rogue."

Maiko resisted the urge to sigh. There it was again: 'immobilise'. Hidden Mist tracking protocol stated that those who interfere should be eliminated in order to maintain focus on the mission at hand. But Itachi protocol is to 'immobilize'.

'His methods are different, but they are still orders. Follow them, figure out a way to fix Kirigakure, that's the only thing that matters now.' She followed in Itachi's footsteps as he lead them through the forest towards their target.

After a few minutes of walking through the darkness, Itachi and Maiko came to a stop. A shiver of chakra disturbed her network, no more obvious than wind passing the skin but enough the latch onto her senses, distorting her sense of direction.

They had reached the barrier.

They stepped out from the edge of the sealed area and instantly the feeling washed away.

"Follow the border clockwise and place clones at each seal that you find. move quickly he probably has sensors to alert him that we've passed the barrier," Itachi ordered with a nod in her direction before disappearing.

Maiko turned to her left and began to sprint. She weaved in and out of the border. Following the wave and release of chakra.

The first seal was hidden amongst the moss of a rock, but the subtle glow of chakra was obvious in the black forest.

Maiko came to an abrupt stop, her black hair swaying from the inertia.

Her foot pushed off the ground as she breezed through the hand signs, leaving a clone in her place as she left.

Again, she ran.

The second seal was placed on the trunk of a tree. Maiko stepped to the tree, observing the intricate lines that decorated the seal. She sighed as she witnessed their complexity. 'These are going to require a lot of chakra to destroy'. The rogue had clearly spent time filling these seals with multitudes of chakra.

Maiko raised her hands to make another clone-

"No need." Maiko jumped as Itachi spoke from behind her, 'how on earth did I not sense him'. "This is the last seal." Blinking away her surprise, she nodded in response.

"Care to give a count, Itachi-senpai."

"On three…One," Itachi began the count-down.

Maiko closed her eyes. She reached two fingers towards the sky, gathering chakra from her abdomen.

"Two."

Maiko began the chakra transfer. She felt the familiar tingle as her chakra began to burn and jump erratically through her chakra channels. She brought her arm around as she stepped into a short fighting stance. Electricity now gathered at her fingertips, glowing and sparking as it attempted to escape her control.

"Three."

Maiko opened her eyes. With force, she drove her fingers towards the seal, releasing the bolt towards her target. The lightning collided with the seal, spreading the trunk of the tree which shattered in response to the sudden force.

The seal absorbed the lighting. Crumpling and burning as the electricity spread. Unable to withstand the attacking chakra, the seal disintegrated into a cloud of ash.

Maiko stood up straight. A wave of chakra flowed into her as her clone disappeared, successfully having destroyed its respective seal.

She turned to Itachi.

"The seals are broken, lets go," Itachi reported as he turned towards the former border of the seals. Maiko followed.

They sprinted towards chakra that was now easily sensed located towards the centre of the circle. 'Three chakra signatures, two untrained, one our target…Two children about to lose their father.'

"You confront the rogue, I'll handle the by-standers," Itachi ordered. Maiko frowned.

"Yes, Itachi-senpai."

They approached a small cabin, maybe three or four rooms. Outside stood their target, katana in hand.

Maiko reached for the sword strapped to her back as she stopped metres away from the target. Itachi stood behind her, waiting for the opportunity to slip inside unnoticed.

"Who sent you?" The target glared at Maiko and Itachi. "Was it the Kazekage? Or just some old coot from the Bamboo Village?" He shook with agitation. 'He's scared?' Maiko mentally questioned.

"The Kazekage," Maiko responded simply. The rogue growled in annoyance.

"How did you find me? No one could have known where those seals were."

"A boy, maybe seven or so, I'm guessing your son, showed us the way."

The rogue's eyes widened ever so slightly, his shaking was obvious now.

"I have no son," he stated with determination. "And I know no such boy." Maiko slightly raised an eyebrow. 'He's shaking because he is scared for his family.' She noticed Itachi disappear from behind her. 'Should he be scared?'

"Where did your friend go?!" The rogue shouted at her. He turned to run inside. Maiko intercepted him, flickering behind him, raising her katana to meet his. She parried his attacks. Darting around his power attacks.

Seeing an opening she drove her blade into his stomach. She twisted it out as the rogue's body transformed in a cloud of smoke into a decoy log.

The bloodied wood fell to the ground with a thud as Maiko located her target making a break for the cabin.

He placed his free hand into the ground sending a chakra wave through the earth. Large spikes of earth stabbed at Maiko. She dodged and weaved, launching herself off the wall of a spike towards the rogue in an attempt to engage in close combat once again.

The clash of metal rang throughout the clearing. Maiko ducked under a chakra enhanced swipe aimed at her neck.

The rogue raised his right hand and violently tugged on the air towards him. Maiko heard the sound of crumbling earth behind her. She turned to face the spikes of earth which were now flying through the air towards her. She flickered behind them leaving the rogue in their path.

The rogue in response lifted his hand turning the spikes mid-air on Maiko once again. She swiftly ducked beneath the spikes.

As she stepped fowards, preparing to launch herself back towards the rogue, she saw him raise his hand. On her next step, she raised her sword in response. Gathering chakra in her hand, she threw the blade towards the rogue. Watching her sword fly through the air, she swung her leg underneath her, dropping onto her stomach.

The spikes passed over her head as her sword impaled the rogue.

He was flung back into the wall of the house, her blade holding him to the wall by his stomach.

His spikes hit the wall around him, one lodging into his leg.

Maiko stood up, dusting herself off as she approached the now dead rogue. She saw Itachi step out of the house. She raised an eyebrow at him, a silent inquiry.

"The children are asleep," he stated as he deactivated his sharingan. As Maiko tugged her sword from the rogue's dead body, she felt an unfamiliar wave of discomfort at the thought of the children.

Their mission had only been to kill the rogue, but there was a definite understanding between Itachi and Maiko that the body could not remain here. She removed the earth spike from his shin, the shattered bone barely able to hold on to the limp foot beneath it.

Itachi took the corpse and placed it over his shoulder, dripping blood over the himself and the ground. He began to make his way towards the edge of the clearing, setting down the body. Creating a clone, Itachi began to dig a shallow grave.

Maiko watched from beside the cabin. She stared at the pool of crimson blood that marked the area of the rogue's death. The damaged wall and crumbled earth that signified that violent nature of his murder.

And the trail of blood that followed Itachi. That in the morning, would lead the children towards the grave of their father, like a twisted murder mystery for them to solve.

For Itachi and Maiko, their job was done, and the Akatsuki didn't care for the fate of the children. After all, the Akatsuki had more important plans, like making the world a safer and better place.

Published 6/18

MissLightningStrike