The Ryudoin District was originally the cultural hub of the city, named after its founder to reflect his love for the arts. In the past Ryudoin hosted a number of museums and galleries, and artisans from across the world came to sell their crafts to prospective buyers.
Though now it was little more than a crowded marketplace for the city's locals, priced out by tourists in the other districts. The former grand halls were emptied of art and now were packed with cheap goods. And the once finely paved streets were in ruin, as makeshift merchant stalls littered every bit of open space.
Near the center of the district where a statue of Ryudoin once stood, was the unfinished frame, of a statue of the Roku Yurei. Right behind the statue was a now abandoned museum. In the the storage area of the building, a tea kettle whistled. Taro turned off the portable burner and lifted the kettle.
As he walked over to fill their cups he spoke "I was wondering when you'd come and look for me Jiriaya, "
Jiraiya, Naruto, and Sasuke sat on crates that served as makeshift chairs. Jiraiya held out his cup and steadied it as Taro poured "Sorry it took so long, "
Taro waved him off "You got more important things to worry about than some washed-up apothecary. "
"A washed-up apothecary who knows this city better than anyone. " Jiraiya retorted.
Taro had lived in Kakehashi since its inception, leaving his original home and business behind for the prospect of a city free from the influence of the ninja villages and the Elemental Nations.
Kakehasi was as promised in the beginning. Ryudoin had no desire to have absolute rule, letting the city be managed by elected councils of merchants and craftsmen. Taro had been among them, he was proud of his position. At least he was before, Asato and the Roku Yurei seized the city since he had taken to smuggling people out of the city.
Jiraiya took a sip of his tea "I went by the old shop earlier, how did they find you out? My condolences, by the way, I know how much you loved that place. "
"It's just a building, at the end of the day" Taro cleared his throat. "I've found more purpose in helping folks nowadays than I ever did selling concoctions. "
He sat the kettle down "Truth is, they never caught me smuggling. A few months back, Ensho started raiding businesses he claimed weren't profitable enough. Called it a 'cleanse. ' Took my stock, and burned the place down. "
Sasuke frowned. "Why leave the building standing? "
Taro chuckled dryly "Let me tell you something kid, if there's one thing the Roku Yurei are good at, it's being incompetent, I'm all too positive that they intended to put new business up, but somewhere along the line they got lazy and gave up. All those jackasses care about is their own personal projects, damn all the rest of the city. "
"What's the point of ruling a city, if you're not going to take care of the people in it? " Naruto questioned
Taro spoke "Some people could give no care in the world to what happens to those around them, as long as it benefits them. If Ryudoin was alive today it would make him sick to see what his city has turned into. "
Sasuke had a pensive look, "What's there end goal, why do they need so much money, they have to drain the city dry?"
"Your guess is as good as mine kid, but whatever it is they got planned, like all of Asato's schemes it won't end well for the city. "
Just then there was a five-knock pattern that came from the entrance.
"That should be a part of our team, " stated Jiraiya.
"I'll go let them in, " Naruto walked to the entrance, several moments later he returned, "It's Hinata and Sakura, and they brought a cool turtle thing"
"It's a tortoise, Naruto" Sak-ura corrected, as she held the creature.
"What's the difference? "
Before either could respond Jiraiya analyzed the creature in Sakura's hands, then frantically got up to examine it closely.
"This is, oh no, where did you two get this, "
Hinata instinctively hid behind Sakura, who laughed nervously.
Sakura stumbled over her words "Well.. you see that's a funny story. "
Anko fumbled through the crowds still lost in thought, her mind still on the incident with Kakashi earlier, she began to daydream but caught herself as she shook her thoughts away. It wouldn't be much longer before the team had to regroup.
She found herself in front of a bar. One more couldn't hurt. As she stepped into the packed place, she scanned the room for signs of Tsunade.
Pissed off bartender? Nope at least not pissed off enough for Tsunade to have been here.
A gathering of people to watch her drink. No?
A woman with short black hair and a pig, n…
Anko did a double take as her gaze focused on the corner of the room. It was without a doubt who she thought it was, despite not seeing her for many years. Shizune, sitting head in her arms at a table, in front of her was TonTon reaching out her hoof to comfort Shizune, patting her on the head and oinking softly.
Out of shock, Anko almost immediately bolted over, but then she realized that she was in a henge and Shizune had no idea that they were there.
She could try to reveal her identity through coded word or hand signals, but Anko doubted that after being away from the village for so long Shizune was up to date on the latest standard leaf coding practices.
Anko moved away from the entrance and ducked into a side hallway leading to the bathroom that was empty, she dropped her henge and moved over to Shizune.
"Shizune? " Anko's voice was cautious,
Shizune looked up, her eyes red and puffy, upon seeing Anko, she recoiled, her hand instinctively for a hidden senbon pouch on her waist,
Shizune gaze lingered for a few moments, her eyes gaining recognition as she hovered over Anko's trench coat and spiky ponytail. "A- Anko?! , what are you doing here? "
"Quiet down! " Anko looked around to see if anyone caught notice, and then she bent down next to Shizune's ear and spoke.
"I'm here with others to return Tsuande to Konoha, where is she? "
Shizune gripped the table, and moved to put her hand in her hair, she tightened her lip into a line and was trying to hold back tears.
Anko bent down and held onto Shizune's shoulders
"What's wrong?
Tears began to escape, as Shizune hissed out a response
"Orochimaru. "
Anko's heart dropped, her breathing quickened, and she felt her curse mark begin to throb. Her mind began to flash images of a cold metal room, filled with test tubes. The pain of her curse mark increased. Calm down, Anko calm down.
She exhaled a breath and reached down quickly gulping down Shizune's untouched drink, the action making her come to her senses,
"Shizune, we need to go now, follow me. "
Shizune stood grabbing TonTon "Where are we going",
Anko let out a low breath "We have to tell the others now. "
Back with the rest of the team, Sakura had just finished nervously retelling her and Hinata's impromptu, infiltration mission, , Over the course of it Jiraiya had slowly begun to cover his face with both hands after Sakura finished, he waited a moment before sighing deeply.
Hinata who had not spoken a word since, stepped forward. "It's not Sakura's fault, I'm the one who insisted on saving the animals, if anyone should be blamed it's me"
Naruto spoke, "I don't think you have anything to feel sorry for Hinata, you help, what else could you have done as a ninja, just ignore them.
Jiraiya uncovered his face.
"I agree with you in spirit Naruto, but logistically this just made our mission more complex, "
He looked over and addressed Sakura
"Let me see the tortoise"
Sakura brought the tortoise over and placed it into Jiraiya's open palm,
Jiraiya stared placidly at the creature, who looked up at him amused, after being around summons, his whole life Jiraiys instantly recognized the intelligence behind its eyes.
He asked it a question
"Are you Dokugan's contracted summon"
The tortoise shook its head.
"Did you use to be? "
The tortoise nodded, a small smile spreading.
"You revoked his contract didn't you, that's why he had you locked up. "
The tortoise nodded firmly, its smile growing larger.
"Well, at least it doesn't seem like Dokugan has a connection to this one anymore, if he did he could track us. "
Sakura stepped forward confused "Wait if it's a summon why did it stay locked up, can't they just recall themselves. "
Jiraiya shrugged
"Summons can be a strange bunch. They must have chosen to stay locked up for a reason. In the meantime, " Jiraiya handed the tortoise back to Sakura. "Can't do much about it now, they're your responsibility now. It seems to have taken a liking to you already anyway. "
Sakura held the creature up in front of her face, staring pensive at it, "What's your aim in all of this"
The tortoise slowly opened its mouth and closed it.
"Can you speak? "
As Sakura continued to ask questions with no response, Hinata addressed Jiraiya.
"You're not mad? "
"While the stress is bad for my old heart, it's not the end of the world. They still don't know we are here and The Roku Yurei will be on higher alert, but as long as nothing else changes this mission should still go smoothly. "
Another five knock pattern rattled from the entrance.
"That must be Kakashi and Anko, let's hope they have good news. "
Several minutes later, Shizune was standing in front of Jiraiaya who was yet again in a state of shock, mouth agape. "Could you repeat that one more time? "
"Lady Tsunade has decided to work with Orochimaru in exchange for the revival of Dan and Nwaki. "
Jiraiya cursed under his breath "Dammit Tsunade… what are you thinking?"
He looked back up " Shizune, do you remember any of the details of what Orochimaru wanted her to do? "
Shizune bit her lip thinking
"The only thing I picked up, was that he needed her to help someone who was sick"
"Could it be himself? Orochumaru's always been sickly" suggested Kakashi
Shizune shook her head " He looked healthy when I saw him, and in his letter, he wrote as if he was referring to someone else. "
Jiraiya put his hand under his chin "Okay let's think this through, it's likely the patient that Tsunade is healing is in critical condition, "
"Meaning that he would have them somewhere close by" finished Anko
"Shizune, what type of place would you need to treat a terminally ill patient" Jiraiya pressed
"A sterile environment, at minimum," Shizune said. "If the illness is advanced, their immune system would be compromised. And if even Orochimaru can't cure it… there'd have to be testing facilities. Advanced ones."
"So a sterile area, that is well equipped enough to do testing, would also be a hidden operation, I doubt Orchomaru would just operate out of the local hospital. "
Jiraiya turned to Taro. "Does any of those descriptions ring a bell for any place in the city? "
Taro frowned, crossing his arms. "Off the top of my head, there's only two. There's a clinic in the Testu. It's a black market operation for missing-nin, from what I've heard they're quite well-equipped there and have a working relationship with the Roku Yurei. "
"And the other place? "
"The other place… I'm not even positive it exists. "
"What do you mean? " Jiraiya asked.
"A few months back, I helped smuggle a young woman out of the city, she'd recently come here to be one of Kazehana's performers. "
"Why did she want to leave? "
"She was wary talking about it, she mentioned something about remembering some sort of hospital in Kazehana's house, outside of that and the occasional rumor that's all I have."
Then Jiraiya spoke, his voice low.
"Listen carefully. I don't say this lightly." He met each of their eyes. "If it comes down to it, and we can't bring Tsunade back, He paused We may have to kill her."
"WHAT?!" both Sakura and Naruto said in unison
Sasuke tensed slightly.
"But, we need her back in the village," Sakura urged thinking, of her promise to Ino.
There's gotta be another way" said Naruto
"Naruto," Jiraiya cut in, "You don't know what Orochimaru is capable of, if he has Tsunade's help on his side, then there may not be any hope of him being stopped ever again."
Shizune pleaded "Lord Jiraiya, you can't be serious!"
"I don't want to," he said, pain flashing across his face. "But if she chooses to side with him, she's an enemy of the leaf, no matter what her reason is."
Shizune's knees buckled. Anko caught her as she crumpled, sobbing "I should've done more to stop her… I should've .."
"This isn't on you," Anko said firmly, guiding her to a crate. "She made her choice."
"That doesn't mean she has to die because of it" argued Naruto
Kakashi stepped forward, "That won't happen, because we'll find her before it's too late."
Jiraiya nodded "We now have a time limit, we have to find Tsuande before she finishes this operation and completes her deal with Orochimaru, meaning, we'll have to take on more risk. I think it's best to send three teams to investigate the leads we have. Kakashi take Naruto and Hinata to Testu and see about this clinic."
Kakashi nodded
Naruto punched his palm, "We'll bring her back… alive."
Hinata swallowed hard but nodded.
"Anko, take Sasuke and Sakura to Tsubaki to investigate Kazehana's mansion. It's not much of a lead, but we have to take what we can get. "
Anko nodded firmly
"Shizune.." Jiraiya hesitated. " We need to investigate the Gilded Mirage, I don't know if you're up for it."
Shizune wiped her face.
"No I'll go, i need to go and do what I should done earlier and smack some sense into her, " Shizune said with newfound determination.
"Okay if that's settled, then we'll wait until tomorrow evening, to make them think the fighting pit attackers have left the city"
As Jiraiya finished his words the pipes of the nearby bathroom began to shake and rumble as water moved through them.
Taro got up, a perplexed look on his face,
"What's up Taro, is that not your usual standard for plumbing in this place"
"No, it's just…I thought those pipes were dry, water hasn't run here in years. "
A wave of unease hit the room, "Maybe they're messing with the water system?" suggested Hinata nervously"
Shaking it off Jiraiya continued" Let's lay low, until then, and stay prepared for anything to happen. "
Tsunade kept her eyes closed as the boat rocked against the waves. The salt air stung her lips, but she didn't wipe it away.
This is a mistake.
The thought was consuming her. She had no intention of honoring her deal with Orochimaru beyond the movement Dan and Nawaki drew breath again. All she wanted was five minutes, no, just one, to say the words she'd choked on for decades. After that? If Orochimaru cut her down, so be it.
But Shizune…
She couldn't ask her to follow her into this, even if Shizune ended up resenting her for the rest of her life, Tsuande was okay with it, as long as Shizune was still able to live it. At least that is what Tsunade was telling herself, to make the guilt go away.
The boat shuddered against the dock. Tsunade stopped on the island, her sandals seeping into the sand. Jaro Island ragged rocks surrounding her, as they landed in a cove, the island's various sea caves had wind howling through them. Orochimaru walked ahead she followed until they reached a facility, or what was left of it. Its wall was ribbed with rusted pipes and the windows boarded. The double doors were etched with corroded security seals and groaned as she entered.
As the hallway came to a fork Orochimaru stopped. "Continue forward from here, you'll find your patient, and my assistant Kabuto will be there to explain everything in great detail. I have other business to attend to in preparation for the Edo Tensei, I hope by the time I've returned you've succeeded"
Tsunade said no words as Orochimaru turned left, and went deeper into the recesses for the lab. She marched forward, coming to an open room. Kabuto waited beside an operating slab, his glasses glinting as he adjusted an IV drip. On the table lay Kimimaro, his already pale skin now waxen, his breathing shallow. The curse mark on his collarbone pulsed sluggishly.
Tsunade didn't bother with greetings. "What's wrong with him? "
Kabuto smiled thinly" Ah straight to business. A Kaguya clan rarity, a genetic disorder that manifests when their kekkei genkai weakens. " He tapped a chart "Bone density erosion, organ calcification… Fascinating really. His body is quite literally turning against itself.
Tsunade peeled back Kimiaro's sleeve. His forearm was mottled with bone spurs, his skin was stretched taut and bruised purpled, where jagged protrusions had breached it.
"How long does he have? "
"At this rate weeks, but if his condition gets any worse, he could be gone in a matter of days, none of our treatments have stabilized him. " Kabuto slid a folder toward her, inside were pages dense with vitals, filed drug trials, and autopsy sketches of other Kaguya "You'll find my notes thorough"
Tsunade scanned the top sheet "What's this mixture"
"Ah, that's a mix of drugs that we gave him when he first started showing symptoms, it worked at first, but he stopped responding to it. "
"Has any other drugs had any other effect"
"Some but they've been negligible at best"
After looking through some more notes she put the file down and her gaze lingered on Kimimaro's face. He was young. Too young.
She exhaled through her nose,
"Get me a sample of his blood and bone marrow and point me to all of your materials, this disease seems to be both a physical and chakra disease, that's probably why he's stopped responding to treatments, I'll have it pinned down after I see what how his blood responds to testing.
"Certainly, is there anything else you need from me, I hear you're down an assistant as of late. "
Tsunade glared at him "If you hover over my shoulder, you'll be the one on the table. "
The Tsubaki District thrived at night, its streets swollen with crowds drawn to neon-lit theaters and the many restaurants. On this particular evening, posters were plastered on every street corner, each bearing the same striking image: a woman with golden blonde hair, her face dominating the entire frame with piercing eyes and a smile that didn't reach them.
"COME SEE KAZAHANA IN THE TSUBUKI THEATER, SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TONIGHT."
The theater's location was easy to guess as a wave of people headed toward the eastern side of the district, the opposite side of where Kazehana's mansion was supposed to be.
"I didn't realize she was so popular," Sakura murmured.
Anko tore one down, taking a better look. "Convenient for us. If she's onstage, her mansion should be empty."
Anko noticed Sakura had brought the tortoise with her, perched on her shoulder "Are you sure you couldn't have left the turtle back with Taro?"
"Tortoise," Sakura corrected. "And they're my responsibility. Besides, it's a summon, right? They might be useful."
The Tortoise was currently staring through Sasuke, making him shift in discomfort slightly.
Anko shrugged it off, trusting Sakura.
As they headed west through the streets, Kazehana's mansion turned out to be an easy find. The line of buildings broke apart as the street opened into a large open space with stairs leading up a hill. Atop of said hill stood an opulent mansion, its outer gate adorned with a gilded crest.
The three of them scaled one of the higher buildings nearby to get a better look. A ten-foot gate surrounded the property, which consisted of a sizable garden in front of the house, filled with an array of exotic flowers.
Sakura couldn't help but think about how much Ino would enjoy the scene.
Anko continued scanning the grounds. "Eight guards, two at the front gate, the rest patrolling. Strange. I thought there'd be more security."
"Eight seems pretty reasonable," Sasuke said, half-joking.
"They probably have a higher security detail inside," Sakura reasoned.
Anko pointed to one of the mansion's upper windows. "Our best bet is that balcony. If we get over the gate and onto the roof while the guards have their backs turned, we should be able to get in without a problem."
Sasuke and Sakura nodded as they executed the plan. As they approached, Anko commanded Sasuke to use his Sharingan to check for chakra security measures around the fence.
He shook his head. "Nothing. No traps, no barriers on the grounds either."
Anko scoffed internally, for a ninja to have no security measures around their home is embarrassing. Maybe the interior would be more impressive. "Too easy," she muttered. "Sakura, scan for underground structures."
Sakura knelt, pressing her palms to the earth. After a moment, she whispered over. "There's a hollow space beneath us, it's small and connected by a single pathway. Back left corner of the house."
"Okay, on my signal," Anko said. "Over the fence, onto the roof. I'll have the window open within seconds once we're there."
They executed the maneuver without error, finding themselves on the roof thirty seconds later. Anko moved to the furthest window from the patrols, her infiltration kit ready, but to her slight disappointment and suspicion, the window was already unlocked. Seizing the opportunity, they hurried inside and closed it behind them.
They found themselves in some sort of crafts room, filled with silks and sewing supplies scattered about.
Sakura scanned the structure again for enemies. Her eyes widened. "That can't be right." She performed the scan again, her face twisting in confusion.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked.
"I don't sense any chakra signatures in the house. Just the ones outside."
"They must have chakra suppression seals," Anko said. "Meaning we're likely dealing with ninjas here. Prepare for a fight."
Anko creaked the door open, bracing for an attack, but none came as she fully opened it. The hallway beyond was lined with a dozen doors, the walls covered in portraits of Kazehana in various poses, lounging on a couch, twirling an umbrella in a dress. Busts of her face lined the corridor like a shrine.
"Sasuke, any chakra triggers or genjutsu in the area?" Anko whispered.
Sasuke shook his head. "No. It's totally clear."
Tentatively, they pressed forward until they reached the main stairs. The foyer was littered with more paintings, and at the bottom stood two mirrored statues of Kazehana, her face hidden behind a fan. The ceiling bore a massive portrait depicting her as several godlike figures.
The tortoise peered upward and slowly shook its head.
"Someone really likes themselves," Sasuke muttered.
Sakura, equally shocked, blinked. "Didn't this place look bigger from the outside?" While the foyer was big it didn't quite match what she imagined seeing it from the outside.
"Still no one," Sasuke noted, Sharingan active.
Sakura shifted uneasily. "Should we leave?"
Anko's jaw tightened. She hoped the Roku Yurei's arrogance ran deep enough that, even after Hinata and Sakura's infiltration the day before, they'd left their homes unguarded. But the silence was wrong. If Tsunade was here, though, they had to press on. "No. Just stay close to each other."
They proceeded down the stairs toward a set of double doors, which opened into a cavernous private theater. The room took up nearly a third of the building, its plush red seats facing a stage draped in black silk.
"That explains where all the space went," Sakura murmured.
Behind the heavy curtains and through the stage was a dressing room. A mess of costumes, wigs, and vanity mirrors lit by glowing bulbs. Sakura scanned again. "It's behind this wall."
Anko ran her fingers along the panels until she noticed one particular mannequin, its head slightly tilted, the paint on its neck more worn than the others. She pressed down. A click echoed, and a hidden door slid open.
The stench hit them immediately, antiseptic undercut by something sweetly rotten. Anko signaled silently: I'm taking point. She led the way down the narrow stairs, kunai drawn. At the bottom, a steel door stood ajar. Inside, surgical lamps cast a sterile glow over the room. On the central table lay a bandaged woman, her chest rising in shallow hitches, her entire face swathed in gauze.
Near her, a man in a bloodstained coat fiddled with instruments, humming tunelessly.
Anko's curse mark burned. For a second, Orochimaru stood there instead, scalpel in hand, that same smirk twisting his lips. Rage flooded her veins. She lunged, and Kunai aimed for the doctor's throat.
"Anko, wait!" Sakura's voice snapped her back.
The blade stopped just shy of piercing skin, a bead of blood welling at the tip. The doctor whimpered, eyes bulging. "W-what do you want? Who are you?"
Anko wrenched his arm behind his back and slammed him onto the table. "No words unless we ask for them. Understood?"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
"Sasuke, Sakura, check on her."
They examined the woman. Her pulse was faint, her skin clammy. Whatever drugs she'd been given kept her trapped in a hazy twilight.
Anko twisted the doctor's arm harder. "What's wrong with her?"
"Ow! Sh-she's recovering from surgery! Please, I just do what Kazahana tells me!"
"What's this for?" Sasuke demanded.
The doctor's sweat dripped onto the steel table. "T-to make them… more like her."
"How?"
"Subtle alterations. Bone structure, facial implants… minor changes—"
"Minor?!" Anko lifted him and slammed him again. "You're lucky I'm not like you, or I'd give you some 'minor changes' of your own."
The man sobbed. "I'm sorry! I... I can pay you! Just let me go!"
In the commotion, Sasuke heard the sound of water sloshing in the drain next to the operating table. His Sharingan flared, spotting a glint of metal rising from the grate.
"Move!"
A kunai shot from the drain, propelled by a whip of water. The liquid coiled into an arm, slashing toward Sakura's throat, but the tortoise shifted on her shoulder, blocking the blade with its shell.
More water surged from the drain, pooling into a humanoid shape. A figure in a porcelain mask stood, kunai in hand.
Sasuke hurled shuriken. Yakumo didn't flinch as the projectiles passed harmlessly through their liquid form.
"Trap," Anko snarled. "To the entrance, now!"
They bolted up the stairs, bursting onto the stage just as the lights blazed on, blinding them. Slow, mocking applause rang out.
In the front row, still in her performance gown, sat Kazahana. Her smile mirrored the posters.
"Thank you, Leaf Ninja, for being so predictable. It made tonight's performance so easy to plan."
At the same time on the other side of the city, the other squad was in the middle of scouting as Hinata examined the clinic with her Bykugan.
"There are three guards on the lower level, " she murmured. "But in the basement, there's a reinforced room. I can't see through the seals. "
Kakashi nodded. "Okay, Naruto use clones to scout the perimeter further. Hinata, pinpoint…"
Kakashi paused, as he saw the bright glow of flames enter the corner of his vision.
"Get off the roof now! "
The roof erupted in fire.
A colossal fireball smashed into the building, flames billowing upward. The team scattered as the rooftop collapsed beneath them.
Kakashi looked upward, through the smoke, and spotted a figure atop a factory smokestack, Ensho his silhouette wretched in embers.
As the three of them caught their bearings a loud thud was heard behind them.
The floor trembled, as the sound of cracking knuckles hit their ears, Behind them putting on steel knuckles as his face was filled with glee.
"Where's my damn tortoise? "