Eroninja - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Why Me: Part III




Karin felt a little nervous as she neared the bridge that connected Wave Country to the Land of Fire. The primary reason for it was she didn’t want to disappoint Naruto. But also she didn’t want to be a flop in her first outing as president of The Great Tree Shipping Company. She knew Naruto wouldn’t hold it against her if she failed but she still wanted to prove she was the right person for the job. Although she knew Kyuubi had picked her due to her experience running one of Orochimaru’s research bases. She had quickly learned doing that was almost completely different then running a company. For one, there was no profit motive when she had run one of the Northern bases. If she was running low on a particular item all she needed to do was send a request to the person in charge of sending supplies to the various bases and she’d receive what she needed. All without worrying about how much it cost since for all intents and purposes Orochimaru had ruled Rice Paddy Country so almost all of the taxes collected went to his projects. Now on the other hand if the company was short of something then she would need to find a way to get it all the while balancing cost against quality.

That was one reason she needed to be extremely smart about how she went about trying to buy the hotel. Truthfully with the limited resources at her disposal she probably wouldn’t even have stood a chance if not for the fact the people of Wave so feared another Gato popping up they demanded the sale of the property be through an auction. Their hope was that an auction would prevent the remnants of Gato’s old company from once more joining into one large company through the competition such a means of offloading the property would create. Gato’s old company wasn’t exactly pleased with such an arrangement, but since Gato’s demise it had been hovering on the brink of dissolution. The reason for this was naturally due to the people of Wave boycotting the company. Still those that had taken over had desperately tried to prevent this, but Gato’s putting so much stock in his monopoly had all but guaranteed that once bridge had been built they would be finished. The Whirling Tides Manor represented the last major asset they had before shutting their doors.

In truth Karin had no idea as to what Gato had hoped to gain by bankrupting Wave as it seemed such a one dimensional plan. After all, by making the people of Wave poorer it all but guaranteed that they would eventually be unable to pay, which in turn would guarantee his company’s demise in turn when there was nothing left to take from what amounted as his only major customers. Karin just couldn’t imagine what his goal was or how he hoped to profit from it in the long term.

Gato’s actions also had negative consequences for her strategies for Wave, which was another reason buying the hotel was so important. Naturally after having a company like Gato’s move in and then try to destroy their home economically the people of Wave tended to frown on new company’s arriving from outside of their country. They had no problem if the businesses were homegrown, but she had quickly learned that trying to open a branch office in Wave would cause so many headaches as to not be worth it. That was why she hoped that upon buying and rehabilitating the old property the people of Wave would come to welcome their presence.

If she could pull that off then she believed Wave would be a first step towards getting a foothold into Water Country and by extension Kirigakure. As an island country, The Land of Water found itself in much the same situation as Wave had before the bridge had been built. There wasn’t a megalomaniac trying to bankrupt the country, but due to its location the many companies that shipped goods there tended to charge far higher prices to send in food and other things the island needed. Karin, planned to undercut those companies, but lacked the one thing she needed, a company office with access to a large port. The only place that would work was Wave due to the demise of Gato’s company and the inability of a new one to takes its place. If she could gain the people’s trust enough she would be able to gain access to the port he had built without having to invest massive resources to build one herself. Not to mention she’d have practically no competition something she wouldn’t be able to say if she set up shop anywhere else. If she pulled her plans off she could see Wave becoming a massive transportation hub that would supply almost all of Water and Sea Country’s needs, as well as the other small island ones.

Karin was pulled from her plans for the future by a similar sensation as when she used her chakra sensing ability. Discreetly looking to her left out of the corner of her eye she could just make out in the darkness a young woman dressed in the garb of the Kiri Hunter Division. She either most have sensed Karin’s eyes on her, or else she knew Karin was probably as curious about her as she was about the young woman so figured she was checking her out as well since the kunoichi gave a small nod of her head. Karin, didn’t respond naturally since she didn’t want to tip of the genin with her they were being observed. It was a rather surreal experience in a sense since she and the kunoichi had never met yet now seemed to share a destiny. She supposed it was a feeling similar to those of a couple in an arranged marriage meeting for the first time. Since, the people involved didn’t even know if they would like each other but were expected to make a life with one another. And while they may each have strong feelings for Naruto that still left quite a few uncertainties such as what happens after they completed their goal of bringing peace to the world of shinobi. It was a question that she had yet to hear anyone bring up, but was certain it was on everyone’s minds.

The kunoichi ducked behind the tree she was watching Karin from just as Udon suddenly spun towards her pulling a kunai. Karin made a fuss to his sudden action shrieking away from the perceived threat asking panicked, “What is it? Are we under attack?”

“Wouldn’t you be able to sense as much?” the boy asked watching the woods warily.

Although she doubted his two teammates had detected the kunoichi’s presence, they still trusted in their partner’s abilities enough to scan the forest while watching for threats. “My chakra sensing abilities isn’t always on,” she replied. Closing her eyes more for giving off the impression of using her ability then an actual need she said, “I can’t sense anything nearby that would pose a threat.”

Konohamaru not seeing anything teased, “Maybe it’s time to upgrade the prescription on your glasses Udon. We can’t have you jumping at shadows and scaring the client.”

Udon tucked his kunai back into his pouch saying, “I’ll look into that when we get back. But I was sure something was there.”

Karin couldn’t be sure if it was just the fact that Udon seemed to be almost always drowsy that accounted for the genin’s going from dangerous shinobi to relaxed bodyguard without disturbing his chakra. But feeling his two teammates’ ramping down as the adrenaline from the false alarm left their systems something told her the boy was always ready to kill at a moment’s notice.

Reaching the bridge that connected the Land of Fire with her destination she smirked seeing the name that the structure carried. “What the hell,” Konohamaru said upon gazing on the Great Naruto Bridge, “he already has a bridge named after him. How am I supposed to compete with that?”

“Get a palace named for you,” Karin replied stepping onto the bridge.

Moegi giggled as she followed the former Sound-nin as Udon silently followed behind still wearing the same sleepy expression. Konohamaru picked his jaw off the floor shouting, “Hey wait for me!”

The trip across the bridge was relatively uneventful except for the sulking of Konohamaru. Reaching the village, Karin wanted to find a nice place to stay due to how late it was, but curiosity was getting the best of her. Walking through the village’s market area, she stopped in front of a fruit stand. Stepping up to a woman that was looking through the fruit on display with a semi-full basket, having already chosen several items, Karin waited until she reached for something in order to reach for the same apple. Grabbing it up first she apologetically said, “Oh sorry…here you can have it.”

“That’s quite alright, as you can see I have plenty,” the woman said with a warm smile.

“Hey, are we going to get a place to stay or what,” Konohamaru said loudly before receiving a swift elbow to his gut from Moegi.

“Remember she’s the client,” Moegi hissed in a whisper, “You don’t want to give the village a bad name do you?”

“I doubt Naruto had to mind his manners,” Konohamaru said as he rubbed his stomach.

The woman giggled at the display before saying, “My Konoha shinobi are all so lively. Are they with you?”

Karin nodded as she replied, “Yes, I hired them to escort me here. My name is Karin Uzumaki.”

The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and Karin could see her statement had raised quite a few questions in the woman. Before she could give voice to them though a loud, “What! You’re related to the Boss. You aren’t his secret wife or anything.”

“Geez Moegi,” Konohamaru said drily as he noticed a ton of looks from the surrounding people being directed their way, “What happened to being on our best behavior.”

Moegi turned red in embarrassment causing Karin to giggle slightly before saying, “No, I simply have a blood tie to the Uzumaki Clan.” Turning towards the woman she said, “Believe me, I was as surprised as anyone. It was nice meeting you…”

“Tsunami,” the woman said holding out her hand which Karin promptly shook, “Do you have a place to stay?”

“No…but I’m sure we’ll be able to find one.”

“Oh no doubt,” Tsunami said, “and I don’t doubt you’ll get a good rate at some of these hotels due to your shinobi escorts. But why don’t you stay at my home, Konoha-nin will always be welcome there as well as their clients.”

“That would be great,” Karin said looking at the various angles. Although she had headed to Wave aware that there were two Harem members in and around the village. She had made no plans to actual talk to either of them and doubted they knew what her goal in the village was. But with the auction still a month away, she could probably ask Tsunami to discreetly leak her plans to the people of the village in an attempt to build up support for her long-term plans for the country. Not to mention it would also save her money she could then apply to her bid.

*****

Tayuya stared at the compound she suspected was Kanji’s home while dressed once more in her black infiltration outfit. It was an old style fortress that Tayuya believed was a remnant of the Warring Clan days before the founding of Konoha. It was composed of a central building surrounded by a ten foot tall wall, and from the lack of other structures she believed that a majority of the living space was underground. Watching the several women moving along the ramparts of the fort, she would have to say her guess was correct. Luckily for her though the women guards didn’t seem to be overly skilled, but more like decorations to give off an air of security. That wasn’t to say there wouldn’t be more dangerous people inside, but Tayuya was beginning to wonder why Kanji would still believe his technique was ineffectual against kunoichi especially since he had already used it against a former Hot Water kunoichi. It would imply a certain lack of confidence in his ability to charm women that could sense chakra. Tayuya supposed the credit to that belonged to Anko’s rejecting him. But it did raise the question why the priestess Momo hadn’t sensed what Kanji had been up to when he would visit her.

Tayuya knew she wouldn’t be getting any answers while sitting outside in a tree so was waiting for one of the guards to pass by her observation point. Once the woman was clear, she leapt from the tree landing silently behind the woman before just as stealthily leaping from the wall to the courtyard below. Tayuya pressed herself against the wall listening for any hint that her entrance had been noticed. Not hearing any, she was about to move when she suddenly felt as if she had been cut off from everything she had come to cherish. Feeling so very exposed as her ability to sense Naruto and the others vanished. She was about to retreat when she needed to jump to her side in order to avoid an attack as a large claw connected to a chain buried itself into the wall where she had been standing. Following the chain to her attacker she saw that it disappeared into the tattered sleeve of a woman’s kimono. From the way the sleeve hung and blew in the slight breeze Tayuya could tell that the woman was missing that arm. Taking in the rest of her appearance she could make out a strange red tattoo on the woman’s face that consisted of a stylized ‘M’ like shape at whose center resided a dot. Her pink hair was done up in a ponytail that blew along with the two long bangs of hair that framed her face. Her beauty wasn’t tarnished by the scar over her damaged left eye which remained closed as she studied the red head.

Tayuya knew this woman was extremely dangerous and that the fact that she was missing an arm did nothing to diminish that or the fact that her sword was still in its sheath. The sounds of the other women reacting to the attack reminded Tayuya that she needed to escape quickly if she was going to be able to do so at all.

That outcome become far less likely as a powerful flame jutsu began traveling towards her, tearing up the earth as it moved to engulf her. Leaping into the air she caught sight of the caster. Finding another pink-haired woman, whose long hair was brighter and done up into two large buns, and was holding a large nodachi Tayuya cursed, “Fuck, don’t tell me this fucker has a thing for chicks that like long pointy things.”

Tayuya landed on the wall and was about to leap away however she smashed right into a barrier that sent her flying backwards as a powerful force repelled her. Falling back towards the courtyard she was momentarily saved as long blonde hair wrapped around her. Catching sight of her savior she saw a young woman wearing a white blouse with a high collar. Around her forehead she wore a blue headband that could have at one time carried the piece of metal that would have told what village she came from. Her long legs were bare and ended in blue sandals whose toes were covered in metal guards. Tayuya was torn between thanking the woman and letting lose a stream of curses to let her go. The blonde choose a third option and commanded her hair to smash the former Sound-nin into the ground.

As the hair retracted from the crater Tayuya’s landing made, she tried to pull herself up managing to just reach the lip of it while muttering, “Stupid long haired cunt…when I get out of this hole I’m shaving you fucking bald.”

Her hand landed on a foot and looking up she saw a woman with white hair which was tied back with a multicolored rope adorned with two bells. She wore a revealing red outfit which consisted of a small sleeveless jacket that showed her midriff. It was opened showing that all she wore underneath it were bandages that were wrapped around her chest covering her impressive bust. Red fingerless gloves that covered up to her elbow, matching high-heeled sandals, and skirt completed the outfit. Red diamond shaped tattoos traveled up the left side of her body and in a sheath that was wrapped around her lower left leg was a sword made in a similar vein as the one used by Yuugao.

“My you’re a tough one aren’t you,” the woman said before smashing her fist down into the back of Tayuya’s head which sent her face smashing into the earth and robbed her of conscious thought.

******

Tsunade was in a meeting with the various clan heads as they argued over the fate of the Kurama Clan. She glared at Danzou who remained unaffected, which pissed her off even more. Turning away from him she watched as Tsume laid into Shibi Aburame about his support of Danzou’s proposal to strip Yakumo Kurama of her title for someone as the crippled elder put it, “More Worthy.” What made Shibi’s support so surprising was that practically everyone present knew it was so Danzou could install someone that would possibly break Tsunade’s majority on several of her initiatives to bring Sand and the Leaf closer. Tsunade was positive that whoever it was would no doubt be a lackey for the elder, but she doubted the other clan leaders thought so.

Cursing the fact she couldn’t just bring to light that Danzou was a traitor without calling her own loyalties into question she had to sit and stew in silence as Shibi’s logical arguments swayed the other male leaders into taking an unprecedented step in meddling in another clan’s affairs.

“As Elder Danzou has pointed out…while unfortunate Lady Yakumo is unable to attend to her duties as Clan Head. She was even unable to attend this meeting and her uncle refuses to leave her side. This implies the Kurama are hungry for their voice to be heard on the council again. It has been nearly three years since she was well enough to attend.”

Tsume growled angrily saying, “Well excuse her for being sick you emotionless pri…”

“Lady Tsume, please try to refrain from insulting a fellow Konoha-nin,” Koharu said interrupting the Inuzuka clan leader trying to keep the discourse civil.

“Sorry…” the woman said grudgingly before moving to lean against the wall.

Koharu folded her hands in her lap once more henged as her older self before saying, “Your point is valid Shibi. However that Unkai is unwilling to leave his niece’s side may imply they are perhaps too hungry to retake their seat at the council. Would you be so quick to elect a man or woman willing to kill their leader to take her spot?”

“There is no proof of such a plot taking place,” Homura said countering the point of his former teammate. “His unwillingness to leave may just be a sign of how weak Lady Yakumo has become. Still in either case it only highlights Danzou’s point. With Akatsuki on the loose we can ill afford to have this situation play out on nature’s timetable. Whether she dies of her disease or by ambitious members of her own clan, it could be disastrous for us if it is at a crucial point in our struggle against the Akatsuki.”

Although muted, Tsunade could see Koharu react towards her teammate’s logic. However she doubted it was as Homura expected since while in the past such an argument would have brought the female elder around to his way of thinking. It was Naruto’s influence that reminded her that acting and throwing away the beliefs a person clung to out of fear of the unknown was as bad as whatever event was trying to be averted.

Koharu was about to counter when all three women felt the sudden disappearance of Tayuya’s presence. Both Tsunade and Koharu managed to keep their reaction to themselves; however Tsume pushed off the wall to face in the direction the red-head had been. Hiashi surprised at the sudden movement asked, “Is everything alright?”

“Sorry, just thought I heard something outside the room. It’s nothing.”

Still all three could feel Naruto’s sudden panic as the disappearance sent ripples through the Harem. Tsunade was glade that Yuugao had insisted on establishing protocols in case something like that happened. Were she alone, she would have breathed a little sigh of relief as she felt Naruto calm to follow those protocols. The most notable being that until they were alone they were to act as if nothing had happened. Luckily due to the lateness of the hour, for most that was the case as she felt the various people heading towards the Den.

Tsunade’s focus shifted back to the meeting as Koharu said calmly despite the turmoil she no doubt felt, “Gentlemen and ladies it grows late and unfortunately my age is catching up with me. Let us talk on this matter at some later date.”

“I believe we should call this matter to a vote now,” Danzou said sensing the room was with him.

“Before we act, let me remind you this is a step we will take that future generations will look too. One that they may… if we remove her… be used to justify meddling in clan affairs again. How long until all it would take is a consensus by the rest of this council to remove say… a Clan Head that refuses to go along with the rest. Before we go down such a path I don’t think it’s too much to ask for some time to consider it. It will also allow us to approach Unkai with the request of letting Sakura Haruno check on his niece’s condition.”

“Why her and what does it gain us?” Homura asked hiding his face with his folded hands as he studied his teammate. “If he was open to such a thing he would have already taken her to the hospital.”

“True, unless he believed a lack of information would have tied our hands from taking such a measure against her. By approaching him, it will let him know the time to get his house in order is running short as well as allow us to best gauge how much longer Lady Yakumo has and what our best course of action is. If she is on death’s door, than there would be no reason to take such a heavy handed measure to ensure the village’s stability.”

Tsunade wanted to smirk as the air left Danzou’s balloon due to Koharu’s argument since he couldn’t push the argument further without appearing power hungry. Only her concern for Tayuya prevented her from doing so. Still Danzou wasn’t going to accept the stalling measure as a means for her to pass Tsume’s bill as he said, “Very Well… then to be fair perhaps any future votes on bills not related to the immediate security of the village should also be put on the back burner.”

Tsunade nodded saying, “Fair enough.” Standing she said, “Alright with that I call this meeting to an end. We’ll adjourn this issue until we meet at the normal time next month.” Watching the people leave the room Tsunade sighed as she knew her and the others’ night was just getting started.

*****

“Ahh…fuck,” Tayuya said as she slowly rejoined the wakening world. Feeling a cold rag being pressed towards her forehead and being held, as well as the pain in her wrist where shackles had been placed she came to the conclusion she was chained up against a wall or something. Opening her eyes, she blinked several times as a result of the pain the light entering them brought but was shocked enough by what she saw to say, “I-ino…”

The woman’s eyes conveyed that she seemed to recognize the name, but she meekly replied, “My name is Fuku.” Shaking herself fully awake she found that instead of the overweight woman she had been expecting, Fuku had lost the weight and now greatly resembled an older Ino again.

“Where am I?”

The woman pulled the rag away from her head and dropped it in a bowl at her feet. Backing away she said, “I must alert Kanji that you are awake.”

To Tayuya the woman’s response had seemed almost wooden, as if she had wanted to stay but had been compelled by something to carry out the task she had stated. However for a brief moment her eyes had conveyed all she needed to know as for that brief moment they had seemed to scream, “Hell.”

Tayuya took the time to take stock of her situation. Looking around the large room she figured it was a place where Kanji tended to enjoy his women judging by the pillows thrown about the room. She imagined it was also where they would put on shows for him due to the throne sitting on a raised platform. But also judging from the chains hanging from some of the pillars supporting the ceiling she couldn’t rule out it was where he punished them also. Or judging from the worst case scenario her mind was spinning for her situation it was where he forcibly added women to his flock as it were.

Tayuya wanted to summon chakra to escape but guessed the device hooked up to her stomach was preventing her from doing so. Looking down at the small device she was surprised that they would use a machine of some sort when a chakra suppression seal would no doubt be cheaper. She learned why though when in an effort to test its effectiveness she began to channel chakra to overpower it and received a strong electric shock as a reward.

“Ah it seems we have a lively one,” a cultured and friendly voice said as Tayuya recovered from the shock. Raising her head to glare at the man she took in his appearance and guessed with enough money and time anyone could become a stud. No longer resembling the pimply faced nerd she had scene in his file he smiled at her with perfect teeth and an almost too bright smile. He was wearing a robe that was open to show his well-defined chest, and loose fitting silk pajama pants. Responding to the glare he said, “Hey now…don’t you think I’m the one that should be upset? You did just break into my home.”

Tayuya ignored his question to gaze at the women that had followed him in. Clinging to his side was the woman Momo Hinamori. She was dressed in a black version of the robes that most priestesses wear. The glare she was sending Tayuya and the slightly disheveled state of her clothes gave the red-head the impression her entering the compound had disturbed an intimate moment between them. Tayuya also imagined the petite young woman was also the reason the alarm had been raised as she had probably placed a detection barrier around the compound. Not to mention raised the one that had trapped her inside.

Her gaze merely gave a passing glance to the two pinked haired women that were standing behind him as she had already had the displeasure of meeting them. Instead she focused on the kunoichi standing between them. Her lower face was covered by a thin cloth, and she was dressed in a body suit that left very little to the imagination. Her shoulders, forearms, and lower legs were covered in metal armor forged into demon faces. She wore a pair of ninjato with one’s handle appearing behind her right shoulder and the other being worn along the middle of her back. Much like the other two women she was standing with, she seemed more a statue then a person as her eyes didn’t seem to convey any true emotion. Unlike Momo’s who gaze had shifted towards Kanji and stared at him with admiration.

“The strong silent type hmm,” Kanji said pulling himself away from the priestess to close with Tayuya. He cupped her cheek saying, “Please don’t be so stubborn. I can make it worth your while.”

Tayuya felt Kanji begin to use the temptation’s touch on her and it confirmed something she had long come to believe which was Naruto had unintentionally used it on her when he had used Kyuubi chakra to heal her. The reason she had come to believe that was because in truth she had never once felt the same warming sensation she had that night. Not to say she didn’t bask in and enjoy his presence just that it had never affected her in the same way again. What she had come to believe was that when Kyuubi had used her chakra to heal Tayuya’s body, she had needed to force it past the seal. As a result some of Naruto’s chakra had been carried along and had thus made her more receptive to sleeping with him. She had never brought it up for two reason the first being she was glad the direction her life had taken from that point onward. And the other was because at times she suspected that Naruto was beginning to question his success with his lovers. The last thing she had wanted to do was add to that, especially since in her mind it was the best thing that had happened to her.

But she also was now learning something else as well which was that the Temptation’s Touch seemed to convey something of the users true self along with the heightened arousal. For example much as Anko had explained. Tayuya could feel something sinister in the chakra entering her. If she had to compare while Naruto’s had felt like a warm fire warming her from the inside. Kanji’s felt like a snake crawling just below her skin. Still her body was beginning to respond to the jutsu as she could feel her arousal spike at his touch. She knew he was aware of the effect he was having as he smirked and his eyes traveled to her bust. His hand soon began to follow and despite wanting to tell him to get away from her found her voice was failing her at the moment. Kanji’s attention was pulled from her chest as his hand moved over her throat. Moving some of her long hair away he asked, “What’s this?” as he caught a glimpse of the fox mark that resided where her curse mark used to be.

At that moment Tayuya focus was pulled inward as it seemed as if she was growing increasingly warmer. Then to her surprise the feel of Kanji chakra lessened as if being attacked by the warmth she had remembered from her first night with Naruto. To her it had almost felt as if the warmth had acted as antibodies to repel the invading chakra. She smirked as she figured that made sense and would no doubt explain the coloring of her and the other women’s chakra. Feeling the effects Kanji’s jutsu all but disappear she waited for the right moment to make her displeasure at his touch known.

Kanji smiled at the look on Tayuya’s face no doubt figuring it was her coming around to his jutsu. Using a low lusty tone as he moved in to kiss her neck before examining the mark there he said, “Feeling the attraction between us I…”

Tayuya silenced him by slamming her forehead into his and as he stumbled back said, “Get your fucking slimy mitts off me.” Tayuya watched the reaction of all the women present and as she guessed only the priestess seemed to care about the damage she had inflicted. She raced forward hitting a button on the device preventing her from using her chakra and stepped back as the device shocked Tayuya.

The red-head screamed in pain as it lasted much longer than before and when it finally cut off only remained standing due to the manacles holding her up. Kanji stepped up roughly grabbing her face all traces of the kind but stern master of the home vanishing as he said darkly, “Damn whore…we could have done this the pleasurable way, but that avenue is lost to you now. Soon you’ll be begging for release from this mortal coil.”

Tayuya pulled her face away and immediately bit down on his hand as hard as she could. “Ahhhh…get her off,” he screamed as Momo tried to pull him away. His command sent the three women into action with the masked female reaching her first and she slammed her fist into Tayuya’s stomach forcing her to let go.

Tayuya coughed roughly as a result of the blow and then spit the taste of blood out of her mouth as she smiled defiantly at the man. As Momo bandaged his wound using a strip of her own clothes he ordered, “Spin that bitch around.”

Between the three they managed to release Tayuya long enough to spin her around before chaining her back up to the pillar. She looked over her shoulder as he placed his bandaged hand on the priestess’s head like a puppy saying, “Thanks Momo.” Despite it sounding almost mocking to her, Tayuya could tell the woman basked in the praise.

He then came up behind Tayuya and grabbing the back of her shirt ripped it away saying, “You won’t be needing clothes in your new life bitch.” He then roughly pushed her head forward into the pillar as he began to inspect the mark on her neck. He suddenly let go laughing as he said, “So…he’s opened the scroll after all.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Tayuya said, hoping to lead him away from the conclusion Kanji had come to.

“Oh you needn’t bother covering for him,” Kanji said letting go of her. “It explains so very much…like what you are doing here. So my apprentice has come looking for me has he? Rather clever of him to mark his property.” Giving Tayuya’s naked back an admiring glance he added, “And he has an eye for quality.” Kanji moved to his throne and sitting on it said more to himself than those present, “But why play stupid? Unless… he doesn’t know you are here, does he?”

Tayuya stared back defiantly but refused to be baited into giving away anything. However despite her stonewalling him, he leaned back in his chair saying smugly, “He doesn’t. I can’t say much about his ability to control his whores, but still it does seem to suggest a certain confidence in himself to keep you in line.”

Despite hers previous desire to keep quiet Tayuya couldn’t help leaping to her man’s defense saying, “He doesn’t fucking need to control us you tiny dick wielding son of a bitch. We’ve gladly aligned ourselves with him.”

For a moment Kanji glared at her harshly before breaking out laughing as he said, “Is that what you believe? How naïve and precious…ha-ha-ha… ah I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.” Still staring at Tayuya’s unwavering stare he said, “Amazing… he’s either done a hell of a job in convincing you of that or you actually believe it.”

“Momo, please remove that mark.”

“Yes, my master,” the woman replied moving towards the red-head. Flashing through several hand-signs her hands began to glow so Tayuya began to struggle against her bonds. “Hold her still,” Momo ordered the women present causing the shinobi and the pink-haired warrior with both her arms to respond. They grabbed Tayuya roughly around the arms and pressed her body against the pillar she was chained to. She felt the small woman press her hands against her fox mark but to her surprise felt nothing happen. But she learned that the mark had been removed as Momo said, “There’s another one beneath it.” Running her fingers over the name she found there she said, “Is this the name of her Master? It also seems to be a seal.” The priestess studied it thoroughly reporting, “The formula is extremely complex…I can’t be sure off all that it does…but there seems to be some sort of locator portion to it. If not for the barrier I erected it is likely he would know she is here.”

Kanji studied the woman for a moment before asking, “Girl how much value do you believe he holds in you?”

Tayuya returned to refusing to answer him, but Kanji again smiled saying, “You need not reply. Your eyes tell me all that I want to know. They practically scream you believe he’ll come for you.”

“He will,” Tayuya replied definitively.

“Good,” Kanji countered with a pleased grin. Directing his gaze to the priestess he said, “Momo, lower the barrier, not completely, but ramp it down just enough that he should be able to sense her again. If she’s right he must be quite worried for her.”

The woman quickly left to fulfill the task she had been given. Directing his gaze to the others he said, “Ikaruga, Baiken, you two go alert Kagura and Millia to be on alert. I want one of you stationed along each wall. Taki, remain here in case our guest gets any funny ideas.” As the two warriors began to leave he added as an afterthought, “Oh also send for Fuku. I believe that should set the board up nicely.”

The women paused only long enough to give the impression they had heard the command but no hint that they would carry it out. Kanji seemed to have no doubt his orders would be obeyed. Tayuya noticed the difference between how the three warriors reacted as opposed to Momo and hoping to gain some insight said, “I don’t get it. You claim I’m a confused puppet to Naruto’s desire and seeing the level of control you wield over those warriors under your sway I can see why you want to believe that. But that priestess genuinely admires you.”

“Therefore you believe I in turn harbor some sort of feelings for her.” Kanji chuckled before asking, “Just how far away is your master?”

“He’s closer than you think,” Tayuya replied smugly.

“Good… well I suppose it doesn’t hurt in explaining the truth of things to you. To begin, what are emotions?”

Tayuya wasn’t sure what Kanji expected to hear so remain quiet causing the man to say, “No answer…or you simply want this to be a one way communication. Hoping I can’t get inside your head are you. Don’t bother… I already know what you believe. To you emotions are an expression of what a person is feeling at any given moment. However, that is only a half truth. You see like everything emotion can be manipulated. Lovers can easily be turned against each other at the drop of a hat and I think you’d be surprised at how easy it is.”

“That’s bullshit,” Tayuya said angrily thinking of the Governor of Noodle Country and the strong feelings he still carried for his wife, even when he was under the impression she had left him for Kanji.

“You truly believe this…how sad. Love and admiration are the easiest of emotions to manipulate. Take my dear Momo…if you asked those pathetic fools at her temple about the timeline of events before she ran away. It was I who came to her seeking the warmth and direction that only a holy person could give. Those fools didn’t even realize that by the time I first arrived at the temple she was already under my sway.”

“You mean…” Tayuya said getting a queasy feeling in her stomach.

“That’s right…by then I had already thoroughly enjoyed her. But as you noticed…my control over my other slaves is a bit too precious. Sadly it’s a byproduct of my trial and error approach to learning and mastering the Temptations Touch and Binding.”

Although Tayuya wanted to know what he had done to the priestess hearing an opening to direct the conversation to something she felt was truly pertinent to Naruto and the others said, “I’m sorry I was under the impression you created them, sounds to me like you learned it from somewhere.”

Kanji gave a knowing grin saying, “No need to direct me towards revealing the secrets of the jutsu. I’ll gladly tell you, but let’s wait for your master.”

Tayuya nodded before then glaring at the man asking, “What,” as he smirked at her.

Kanji raised his hand as if to calm her saying, “It’s just you are so adamant that he cares for you. But when I call him your master you’ve barely batted an eye.”

“You obviously believe he sees us similarly to how you see your lovers…”

“Lovers…ha-ha-ha…ah, again how quaint. They are merely holes to be used for my amusement or a set of skills I wish to employ for my own plans. Don’t think I feel anything for these worthless receptacles of my lusts. You believe I felt something for that priestess…why because I speak kindly to her. You’re a fucking fool… and you are merely seeing what you wish your own master feels for you. You want to know the truth that kind gentle way of speaking to her is the gravest insult I can give her. You see the reason I was at the temple comforting her was because she had been gang-raped by dozens of masked men one night as she returned to the temple. Men I in turn killed, causing her to see me as her savior. But, do you know the true beauty of what happened that night?”

Tayuya remained silent as Kanji’s voice raised in volume and he stood from his throne slowly walking down the steps towards her. Tayuya became instantly aware that although facing away from him she was still topless as his eyes traveled over her body lecherously. As he came to a stop behind her at a loss for words for the first time in her life and afraid he’d attack her if she so much as moved suddenly, he pressed himself against her saying, “The first of those masked men who robbed her of her virtue was me.” Kanji pushed away from her laughing as he walked away basking in the fear Tayuya was trying to mask that he planned to do the same to her. “I could have simply commanded her to follow me…but it was so much more fun twisting her emotions until only I was important to her.” He sighed before saying, “To think I spent so long being careful about using the Temptation Touch to get most of my victims to lower their guard. It’s so much easier to simply force them to give me what I desire.” He calmed as he began walking back to his throne saying, “But that route isn’t without its drawbacks.”

Tayuya directed her attention towards the kunoichi he had called Taki saying, “You don’t seem worried she’ll let your little secret out or I will.”

“I imagine if Taki was capable of it she would definitely reveal all my secrets. But truthfully she’d be too busy lamenting that it was her screw up that led me to the truth of the Binding. You see…one of the passages in the book I learned my techniques from read like, “When she presents you the flower that blooms with arousal the Binding would be complete. Naturally, I assumed this meant after warming her up with the Temptation’s Touch. But thanks to little miss Yugakure Anbu kunoichi there I soon realized they could be used independently of one another.”

“Did you learn this before or after you gave Naruto that scroll,” Tayuya asked. She was aware that Kanji had lied to her about where he learned the jutsu. It might have just been a slip of the tongue since scrolls and books were two mutually exclusive items, and while both held information saying he had read it in a book was a small way of misdirecting her.

“What a strange question,” Kanji stated studying her for a moment. Shrugging he asked, “Why?”

“I was wondering how you got close enough to Kanisawa…”

Tayuya found her ability to speak hampered by Kanji closing the distance blindingly fast and wrapping his hand around her throat. Glaring darkly at her, he said in a low and dangerous voice, “Don’t ever mention that name again.” He let go of her throat, before saying almost apologetically, “Sorry. But it does appear you’ve done your homework on me. Anyway my point was that the more direct the method used to bind a woman, the more aware she is and thus the more controls you need in place. Taki was the first that I used the more direct method on…Momo was simply an experiment in how to get around that drawback.”

Tayuya studied the silent woman and judging her ability from the way she carried herself said, “She looks like she should be able to easily kick your ass. How’d you get the drop on her?”

Both their attention was pulled to the sound of feet approaching. Finding the new arrival was Fuku he smirked saying, “Speak of the devil.” Turning back towards Tayuya he said, “Anyway that’s enough about me for now. Momo should almost have lowered the intensity of the barrier enough for your seal to transmit where you are. Let’s see if he even comes for you at all.”

Tayuya waited until he sat in his chair to make eye contact with him saying, “When he gets here, you’re going to wish he hadn’t.”

Kanji simply smirked before leaning forward to reply, “Or perhaps you will come to wish that.” Pointing at Fuku he snapped his fingers before he pointed at his crotch. The Princess of the Land of Noodles responded to the wordless command climbing the steps of the platform before kneeling on them before the throne. Pulling out his cock the princess began to service the man that stole her from her husband with her mouth.

Tayuya turned her head not wishing to watch the woman debase herself for a man she was sure Fuku despised. Tayuya was also concerned that by coming to Kanji’s compound she had set in motion something the man had long hoped for.

****

“Naruto you need to calm down,” a voice which belonged to Sakura said as Tsunade entered what was considered the War room of the Den.

“Calm down…Tayuya may be dead bec…”

“She isn’t dead,” Kyuubi replied.

“Kiyomi,” Tsunade thought correcting herself remembering the name Naruto gave her.

“Report,” she said harshly in the way that pulled all eyes towards her. Tsunade could tell Kiyomi was not pleased at her taking charge of the room, but the Bijuu aware that most of those present answered to her said, “As I was just stating her presence disappearing does not indicate her current status.”

“We can’t know that,” Naruto replied his voice giving away how panicked he was.

“That is true…but the way it suddenly cut off does tell us she was at least alive up until then. If her vanishing was due to her being killed quickly then it would be a slow fade as her chakra disappeared.”

“You mean someone threw up some sort of barrier?” Tsunade asked the Bijuu.

“Precisely, it’s likely still in place so we can’t ascertain her status until it is dropped.”

“Wait a second,” Tsume said, “I thought the whole point of these marks was to keep track of each other. Including Naruto should Akatsuki take him. Didn’t it ever occur to you they would put up a barrier?”

“Have a care, Inuzuka,” Kiyomi replied proudly resorting to her old habit of calling people by their family name due to the implied insult. “Most barriers shouldn’t have impeded our ability to sense Tayuya in the slightest. This is obviously a type used by those of the religious caste when dealing with demons and the like. They work on several plans of existence at once making them extremely effective.”

“You mean like the type Shion used,” Naruto said not feeling any better about things but calming somewhat now that he knew his inability to sense Tayuya didn’t mean the worst had happened.

Kiyomi nodded before saying, “Yes, it’s also why that demon you faced when aiding her needed to wait until she raised a barrier to leave the body of his follower.”

“Just who are we dealing with then,” Tsunade asked looking around the room.

Naruto was the one that answered saying, “I don’t know. The last time we talked…she said she would be sneaking into Earth Country through their western border. That was just after she started her tour of filming locations for Koyuki’s next movie.”

“It would appear she deviated from the plan,” Kiyomi said picking up the conversation as Naruto trailed off. As the eyes of the room traveled towards her, the Bijuu informed them, “Before coming here, I teleported with Nibi…”

“Yoruichi,” everyone supplied as a result of everyone at one point or another hearing the two-tailed cat ask to be called that and to which Kiyomi seemed resistant to calling her fellow Bijuu.

Kiyomi’s face grew annoyed before saying, “In any case I used the seal on the Hiraishin kunai I could still feel closest to her location as a starting point. We appeared inside a hotel room located in the Land of Honey. She is currently looking through it for clues.”

Koharu spoke up saying, “The Land of Honey is far to the West of Earth Country. Unless she got lost she believed something far more important than scouting Iwa came up.”

“Why wouldn’t she tell us? Tell me,” Naruto asked the room. “Do you think it’s related to Kanji?”

“Why do you think that?” Ino asked surprising everyone with her speaking up. Ino had been glad about her decision to show as nobody had been surprised by her coming to the Den since whatever problems she was having with Naruto. They figured it wouldn’t stop her from helping an important person. But she guessed that didn’t translate into being an active part of trying to figure out what was going on.

“It’s just she was curious about what he was playing at after getting the original scroll. I just got the feeling she didn’t like the idea of him being out there. It’s the only thing I can think of that would make her want to deviate from her goal of infiltrating Iwa, especially since she spent months plotting their border patrols.”

“Where exactly did you meet Kanji?” Ino asked. “Was it the Land of Honey?”

Naruto shook his head saying, “No it was Earth Country. Pervy Sage said something important had happened there and we needed to investigate.”

“What did you look into?” Koharu asked, but wasn’t too surprised when Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know… Pervy Sage was always saying stuff like that to get me to stop whining about his research interfering with my training. He’d give me instructions before going off to handle things on his own. I always just figured he was peeking on girls.”

Tsunade stepped in asking, “Where in Earth Country were you? Was it the Western Border?”

“I think so…why?”

“Well…” Tsunade said thinking back to the reports she had received from Jiraiya about the border in question, “If I remember correctly Jiraiya had looked into Iwa’s role in toppling the government of the Land of Noodles. He hadn’t found anything concrete since it appeared they had needed to take over due to all the unrest that had been generated as well as the apparent disinterest of the Daimyo to handle it. They had simply stepped in claiming it was necessary to ensure the security of their own borders.”

“Okay but what…”

“The Land of Noodles,” Ino said excitedly as she recalled the mission Naruto and she had performed that had hooked the ruler of that Country up with a client of theirs. “Naruto don’t you remember we met the ruler of that country?”

“Yeah, but…” Naruto began yet trailed off as he remembered his encounter with Kanji and the missing-nin’s comment about the governor’s weight problem. Feeling sick he asked, “I-is Chikara still in charge of Noodle.”

Tsunade nodded saying, “In order to maintain a semblance of order he was made governor of the territory he once ruled freely. Not much changed except he kicks a percentage of the taxes towards the Earth Country Daimyo. Why?”

Naruto closed his eyes as he leaned against the wall saying, “Because Kanji had seduced the Governor’s wife. Considering how in love those two were if you wanted remove Chikara as an obstacle I’d target her.” Naruto slammed his fist backwards against the wall saying, “Shit! I should have been more…”

“Naruto, it’s not your fault,” Hinata said gently moving towards him. “For all we know they stopped caring for each other.”

Naruto shook his head saying, “No…he was enjoying his taunts of the governor’s men. I should have realized he wasn’t what he seemed…”

Naruto’s gaze suddenly turned west and none of those present needed to ask why as Tayuya’s presence had suddenly reappeared. Tsunade quickly tried to shout, “Naruto wait don’t…” but he had already disappeared before she finished saying his name.

“God dammit,” she shouted a moment later as her hunch that it was a trap proved correct when his presence disappeared a handful of heartbeats later.

*****

“Welcome apprentice,” Naruto heard despite his body feeling as if he had been hit by lightning as a result of the weakened barrier he had passed through while the Hiraishin. He was dragged along the floor of the room he had appeared in before having his hands shackled behind his back and then chained to the floor. The woman that had dragged him then flipped him onto his back stuck a device to his stomach that once the tubes that appeared from the sides of it latched to his stomach gave him a shock for good measure. Recognizing the chakra sealing device he had encountered in Snow Country he heard Kanji say, “Impressive aren’t they. Dotô Kazahana had just begun selling those on the black market when you put an end to him.”

Naruto managed to get to his knees glaring at the man, who replied, “Why such a dirty look? Haven’t you enjoyed the techniques I’ve shared with you? No need to deny it. I already know you have.”

Kanji nodded his head for Naruto to look behind him. Doing so, he saw a naked woman that greatly resembled Ino, especially since it appeared she had finally lost the weight and a topless Tayuya. Both women were chained so that they their chests were pressed to a large stone table as they faced each other with their arms hung over the sides of it and were chained to the ground. Their legs were spread and chained to the legs of the table so that although standing due to their bent over stances both women’s backsides were on display for whoever stood behind them. Tayuya’s tattered shirt was tied around her mouth preventing her from speaking but from the heated muffles coming from it he knew she was cursing up a storm.

Naruto whirled to face Kanji, “If you so much as hurt them I’m going to…”

“How droll,” Kanji replied unimpressed, “Besides I’ve already hurt Fuku a great deal. Do you think threatening me is going to change that fact? A better use of that energy is to ask, why me? Or, perhaps why I haven’t fucked that delicious red-head that dropped into my lap today?”

Knowing a threat when he heard one he sat back asking quietly, “why…”

“Come now, you can certainly do better than that.”

“Why did you choose me?” He said between gritted teeth.

“There’s no need to be like that…besides the answer is so simply.” Kanji got close to Naruto’s face as he said, “Because you’re just like me.”

“I’m nothing like you.” Naruto replied heatedly causing Kanji to pull back chuckling.

“Please apprentice…”

“I’m not your apprentice either.”

“Okay then Naruto,” Kanji said using his name mockingly, “You can deny it all you want but you’re a monster.”

“Please, that’s the best you got. I’ve been called that most of my life.”

“I’m not referring to the beast you carry,” Kanji said, his amusement picking up as Naruto reacted to his words. “Why so surprised? Your village did a fantastic job of keeping that information away from you. Not so much from the rest of the world.” Kanji moved away from the blond jinchuriki heading towards the table where he stepped behind Fuku to begin fondling her rear. “You see much like you I was born to a world of misery. My father was a great man…a great shinobi of the Hot Water Village. But being born to a great man doesn’t make you great in turn especially when you are treated as a disease to the very village you live in. You see much like how large villages struggle against one another. We of the lesser villages also struggle against one another. My father was tasked with an important mission to destroy a brewing alliance between Rain and Taki. Since Taki was our bitter rivals it was only natural for us to fear they would use the alliance to destroy our village. However the mission went horribly wrong…the minor Rain diplomats that he was supposed to kill turned out to be none other than Hanzo the Salamander.”

Kanji pulled his hand away from Fuku’s rear and she moaned at the loss of contact before he moved to block Naruto’s view of the table as he continued, “As you might expect my father was no match for the man that gave the Sannin their title. However, to guarantee Yugakure didn’t suffer he proclaimed that he was acting alone without his village’s approval. I don’t know if Hanzo believed him, but considering his history of recognizing the bravery of those he faced he choose not to press the issue.” Kanji’s face twisted into a mask of hate as he said, “Fat lot of good that did me. I had been born a few months after that incident and while my father’s bravery spared his home it devastated his family. The Yugakure elders couldn’t just act as if nothing had happened after all. Hanzo might question why no action was made against his family when surely they must have known what he was planning. As a result we were stripped of our family name and cast out onto the streets. My mother struggled to support me… but it was a hard life despite the meager assistance we received from the Village Leader. Still it would have been much harder if he didn’t watch out for us. Kind of like how your precious Third kept an eye out for you Naruto.”

Naruto did react to Kanji’s words having to look away as the man said, “See we are similar after all, aren’t we? How else can I know that a question you’ve no doubt asked yourself is if the man watching over me truly cared how could he lie to me about the truth of my existence?” When Naruto looked back he smiled saying, “Much like you the truth of your jinchuriki status was kept from you. The truth about my father’s actions was kept from me, and as a result just like you I began to act out against a world that didn’t seem to want me in it.”

Tayuya had heard enough and through her struggles managed to loosen the cloth in her mouth spiting it out she shouted, “Naruto don’t listen to this manipulative fuck. Ask about why if you’re so similar he decided to hunt down a former Hot Water Kunoichi and used the jutsu to force her to kill her family and her…”

Taki grabbed up the cloth and gagged Tayuya again with it, this time holding it in place herself. Kanji though didn’t seem perturbed at all at one of his sins being brought to light. Instead calmly saying, “Please have patience, we’re getting to that. But that’s still quite some time away. After all, we still need to discuss how I ended up with the scroll.” Kanji looked over his shoulder at Tayuya saying, “Yes I’m aware I told you it was a book, but I saw you picked up on my little white lie. Oh don’t give me that look. You were less than honest about having stolen it were you not.” Kanji chuckled at her surprised look before facing Naruto saying, “The current fool in charge of Yugakure has no idea his top Anbu tracking me has been compromised. A rather lucky break for me since all I need to do is have her send back false reports on my movements in order to receive up to the date reports from him. He was quite pissed when his scroll went missing. He suspected me due to my file also disappearing. I’m truly flattered to know you were as curious about me as I was about you. That is as it should be hmmm, apprentice.”

When Naruto didn’t correct him, he turned away giving Tayuya a dark smile which caused her to redouble her efforts to escape or at least break the spell Kanji seemed to be weaving over her lover. Ignoring the struggling red-head he walked so that Naruto turned away from the table to kneel in front of him and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, “I don’t know why your Hokage lied to you. But I know why mine lied to me. You see we were a small village so anyone capable of wielding chakra was pressed into service even the child of a disgraced shinobi like me. I lacked much in the way of physical skill, but made up for it with a keen mind capable of breaking even the toughest of codes. Still I wanted to be a great shinobi like my father so ignored that calling for frontline action, much to my Leader’s disproval. He claimed it was a waste for me to turn my back on such obvious gifts in favor of my own selfish desire. Still I was improving so he couldn’t force me…at least not at the time.”

Looking past Naruto to meet Tayuya’s gaze he said, “That is where Kanisawa enters my story. All through Yugakure’s training program she was the one I wanted to impress more than anyone. Tell me Naruto was there a girl like that in your class.” When Naruto looked away he smiled saying, “There’s always one like that for everyone isn’t there. But for me at least there was another she bestowed her favor on.” When Naruto looked back again he said sympathetically, “No, you don’t need to say anything. I’m sure it was the same for you. You were the village pariah after all, why would she look at you with the eyes you longed for. Unfortunately for me, the one she did love turned out to be a long term Taki spy. His family had moved to our village via false documents before he was even born in order to get a readymade traitor in our midst.”

Standing and walking away from the jinchuriki he clasped his hands behind his back saying, “I will admit that Aoga loved her. But when you are trained since birth that the village you have sworn to protect is actually your enemy and you are to fight for a home you’ve never know it makes gauging a person’s true loyalty rather difficult. I suppose that is why he decided to run off with her. Together they conspired to steal a valuable scroll containing a list of undercover Hot-Water Anbu and sell it to the highest bidder. But every great plan requires a willing sap, which is why she approached me claiming to notice how far I’ve come along. Oh she played me like a stringed instrument telling me how much she had come to desire me. After hearing everything I ever wanted, I was putty in her hands. She told me to meet her at a secret place where we could be alone to explore our new relationship. Like a fool I went only to find a scroll filled with more sweet words and which told me to come find her. Naturally I held onto the scroll since it contained more proof of her feelings for me…but was actually a counterfeit of the scroll Aoga was busy stealing. When the alarm was raised several hours later I was still searching for a woman long since gone holding a scroll that caused the Anbu to seize on me as the culprit.”

Kanji’s fists clenched as he remembered the day he was describing. Turning to face Naruto, he said, “After a thorough questioning by the Anbu I was eventually released at the insistence of the Village Leader. However he then lectured me about the foolishness of my actions before telling me the consequences would be to be transferred to the Cryptanalysis Division. What a sack of shit and how very convenient my punishment was the very thing he had desired. But in the end it was also the catalyst to my truly understanding my place in the world. I’m not sure how I knew that scroll we found in those ruins was important to my destiny. But I did, which was why I couldn’t let that doddering old fool stop me from researching it. Luckily, I didn’t need to worry as a fellow shinobi felt the same way I did. He came to me with the idea and probably still believes he talked me into. What a fool, but he did have his uses in keeping people from suspecting what I was doing. I also was quite aware he planned to turn on me as soon as I finished with the scroll.”

Kanji chuckled saying, “It still amuses me to think of how he got the Village leader to believe I was breaking his taboo against researching the scroll only to find I was long since gone with the results.” Moving around Taki, he said, “Unfortunately I underestimated this bitch. She managed to track me down and get the scroll from me. But my luck wasn’t all bad. She was chased off by some Konoha-nin, who even guided me straight to your village due to my forged papers. There I met a delightful young woman named Anko and began putting my new skills to the test. Sadly…she rejected me and I admit for some time I was afraid to test it on another kunoichi as a result. But there was another positive result and that was I first saw you apprentice. Oh… I doubt you saw me. But I recognized those eyes you possessed a mile away. Eyes filled with hate that wanted to see the world burn just like me. I decided then our paths would one day cross again and it’s why I took Iwa’s job to crush that fat fuck of a leader’s spirit. Well not the only reason, I did have some unfinished business with Kanisawa and the family she started with the money she raised from selling the scroll. I was actually surprised at how contrite and apologetic she was about what she did to me. It’s why she allowed me to work for her company and truthfully I wasn’t sure if she slept with me out of that pity or just because Aoga was no longer interested in her sexually. I had no idea the Temptation’s Touch was as effective against kunoichi as it was normal women. But you my apprentice were the true prize.”

“How’d you even know we’d show?”

“Oh come now,” Kanji said admonishingly, “The host of the nine-tailed fox doesn’t just disappear without the world taking notice. It wasn’t a secret. It was just assumed you’d be left alone due to Jiraiya’s presence and considering his job as a spymaster well all I needed to do was be present at the time of some major event to guarantee he’d show. The annexation of a country is definitely an event that would peak his curiosity. After that, it was small potatoes to be spotted by Chikara’s men in time for our destined meeting. After wards, I collected Fuku and with the money she stole waited for Kanisawa to fulfill the tasks I had implanted in her. Although in hindsight it may have been a mistake to give her that moment of clarity after she did it as that was when she slit her own throat. A shame really, her pussy was one of my favorites.”

Kanji ignored the glare Naruto sent at him saying, “What? I gave her a choice and she chose death. It was more then she deserved. She had built a life, a company, and a family using funds she gained through trampling on my heart. Did she truly expect to escape from that kind of karma? Besides don’t tell me you have never considered hurting those that hurt you. You may hide that side of you away, but to me it’s still as clear as day. Together, with this jutsu, this world will give us everything we desire. We’ll be free to indulge in every twisted thing our hearts have ever called out to do. What do you say apprentice?”

Naruto looked back at Tayuya and she could see some of Kanji’s words had hit their mark causing him to doubt himself, but a moment later he pushed that doubt away as he said, “Well I imagine if Tayuya could, she’d tell you to go fuck yourself. It mirrors my sentiments exactly.” Naruto stood as best he could so he could say, “I told you we’re nothing alike. You think we share some destiny because we’ve had shitty luck growing up. How pathetic. We’re the choices we make and all I see from yours is that you are a piece of trash that’s only ever considered his own pain as important and therefore thinks nothing of inflicting it on others.”

“You disappoint me Naruto,” Kanji said moving back towards the table. Stepping behind Fuku and indicating Tayuya with a nod of his head he asked, “Tell me do you think that cumbucket actually cares for you. You’re the pathetic one. What would you fucking know of love, huh? I bet the first time you even kissed a woman was because of the jutsu I gave you. Well I’ll let you in on a little secret they don’t fucking love you. Oh you might have convinced yourself they do. But, it’s all an illusion.” With that he whipped his dick out and in a violent thrust buried himself into Fuku who screamed at the intrusion. “Ah… every time she screams like it’s the first.” Thrusting at her roughly he said, “Do you think this fucking slut loves me? Fine…go ahead slut tell him what you think of me… be honest.”

Fuku kept panting in pleasure even as she said, “I hate you more than anything.”

“But when that fat fucker of a husband caught us what did you tell him?”

Fuku looked down as tears leaked from her eyes. A hard slap to her ass caused her to hiss before saying, “I told him… I loved you…but you told me to do that. M-made me do that.”

Naruto couldn’t watch, but weakly said, “I already know about your ability to control a woman’s actions.”

Kanji pulled out of Fuku, who whimpered at the loss, before sliding right into her ass saying, “He just doesn’t fucking get it. I tell you some people just can’t jump to a conclusion.” Continuing his abusive treatment, he began slapping Fuku’s ass over and over as he repeated, “What a fucking loser.” Finally he stopped before saying, as if explaining to a toddler, “Yes, you can control their actions directly. But what about indirectly? Did you never consider that? Women are very intuitive have you never had one give you a glass of water without even needing to ask for it? What am I saying, of course you haven’t. Well what do you suppose leads to that, hmmm? It’s simple really; they read it from your body language… so suppose a sad pathetic sack of worthlessness like you suddenly can influence them. Well of course they’re going to say they love because that’s what everything about you is screaming. Couple that with the pleasure they get from the jutsu and of course they’ll tell you they love you. They just want to keep getting their pleasure fix,” Grabbing Fuku by her hair and pulling her face back he said, “Take this slut. She still loves that fucker Chikara, but she’s currently clenching her ass around my dick like the cheapest of whores. Come on baby; tell him whose dick is better mine or your husband’s.”

“P-please…don’t make me say it.”

“Come on… fuck… you already admitted it you dumb bitch,” Kanji said throwing her face forward. “If she wasn’t being so shy she’d fucking talk you ear off about how much better I am. Not that that is saying anything, since fatso could barely last five minutes in her cunt.” Reaching down to pull her clit Fuku screamed as she came before sagging against the table.

Kanji looked at Naruto who appeared nearly broken saying, “Do you want to hear your precious Tayuya screaming how much better I am then you.”

Naruto glared at him saying, “If you touch her I’ll…”

“Sit there and wish your hands were free to jack off loser,” Kanji said coming around the table to push Taki out of the way. Grabbing the hem of the red-head’s pants he said while looking down at the woman he planned to defile, “I’m sorry that it’s come to this. I set these sluts up like that so we could see who would last longer in the cunt of their choice… but oh well. But hey, maybe I’m wrong and true love will prevail right? Yeah fucking right! Get ready bitch for the best fuck of your life”

Tayuya turned to see Naruto kneeling with his eyes closed and his head slumped looking as if Kanji’s words had hit their mark. Desperately afraid she’d be unable to convey the feelings she felt for the blond after Kanji was done with her, she said pleadingly, “Don’t fucking listen to him. Naruto even if I’m unable to say it…please don’t ever doubt that I know I fucking love you.”

Naruto looked up his eyes softened lovingly and she tried to smile at him, but it was ruined as Kanji said mockingly, “That was really touching. You know, I think I’ve had a change of heart…as if.” He was about to pull down Tayuya’s pants except two things happened nearly simultaneously. The first was all hell broke loose outside around the compound. But the second was of a more immediate concern to the man taunting the jinchuriki as with a yell full of rage, Naruto managed to call on his Bijuu’s chakra which blew out the device affixed to his stomach and from the surge of power from his released chakra managed to pull free of the floor. He launched himself at Kanji slamming into him bodily and after knocking him to the floor landed on him to begin caving his face in with his fists.

*****

“Hey what’s taking so long?” Anko asked annoying the woman she was speaking to with the question.

“Asking me such a stupid question is not increasing my speed in the slightest,” Kiyomi said irritably, and pausing in her drawing symbols on a wooden post that had been driven into the ground

“But bickering with her is,” the voice of Tsunade cut in. “Anko, you’re with Sakura’s squad. Remember you only have as long as this op lasts to grab any information of value.

Tsunade waited till Anko was gone to say, “There was no need to be short with her. We’re all antsy worrying about those inside.”

“I’ll apologize later,” Kiyomi replied before sighing, “To think I was just telling him to calm down. I suppose it is different when you’re the one feeling the fear.”

Tsunade nodded, before saying, “That’s always the way it is. Are you sure this will work?”

Kiyomi looked back to see that much like all the other women present Tsunade was dressed in black and her head was completely covered in a black mask that only allowed for her eyes to be seen. Normally Kiyomi would have replied defensively but her fear of Naruto’s well-being not withstanding could understand why the Hokage would question her since all they were working with was the Bijuu’s theory on how to bring the barrier down. “In theory it should,” Kiyomi said returning to drawing the symbols. “What we are facing is a more powerful version of the detection barrier surrounding Konoha. It’s designed not to just detect but to entrap.”

“You can skip to the part where the posts bring it down,” Tsunade said, not needing a long drawn out explanation.

Kiyomi surprised her saying, “Sorry…of course you’d know that. In any case, the barrier requires for people to supply it with chakra for it to function. Thanks to Hinata, we’re already identified where those people are at. The barrier is covering the compound in a box that even extends underground but the chakra is feeding it from the center. These five posts that we’ve set up in a pentagram formation around the compound when activated will send energy to converge over the center of the barrier draining it of chakra. Like a lightning rod pulling a bolt of lightning to ground. In a sense they’ll pull the chakra away draining it quickly rather than over a period of time.”

“What about the women supplying the barrier with chakra?”

Kiyomi grimaced saying, “I can’t be sure. It should happen so quickly that before they can compensate the barrier collapses. However… if Kanji doesn’t care about their well-being and they try to give more before that happens, it could drain them completely killing them.”

Kiyomi didn’t need to look back to know that Tsunade was a little hesitant to harm innocents even for Naruto. Yet, Tsunade having heard from Hinata that outside of three people all those present inside chakra was black couldn’t count on the women standing aside. Saying as much, Kiyomi put in her two cents, “Tsunade, its likely as soon as that barrier drops everyone present will try to stop us. Unless you are willing to die in their place you shouldn’t hold back.”

“I know,” Tsunade said, “But even knowing that doesn’t make the decision any easier. However we can only hope that Hinata is right in saying most of those women aren’t shinobi. Fighting against fifty-eight kunoichi when all we have is seventeen is long odds even for me.”

“It’s only three to one,” Kiyomi replied.

“Yeah, but even if a majority of what we are facing is non-kunoichi, if they are fighting with a suicidal mentality it is not going to be a pretty thing.”

A shuffling attracted both of their attention as Shizune dressed similarly as Tsunade appeared saying, “Tsunade, all the teams have gathered by their posts.” Directing her gaze to Kyuubi she added, “Hinata asked me to tell you that the rat hole you suspected is near her post to the east.”

Kiyomi nodded asking, “What about Yugito?”

Shizune shook her head saying, “Yoruichi approached her in her cat form but unfortunately her disappearance would be missed. Therefore we’re still at seventeen. Karin can’t move from Wave without the team assigned to her noticing and the same can be said for Matsuri and Temari who are with the training force near the prison. Fubuki is also unavailable since Koyuki is attending a charity tonight at a movie studio.”

“Damn it,” Tsunade cursed. Although the missing kunoichi wouldn’t tip the odds in their favor any more, Tsunade still would have liked to be able to count on their strength. In truth considering some of the women currently linked to Naruto, Kanji would need some exceptional women to not end up in a bad way when they attacked. The problem though was Tsunade was loath to go full out since according to Hinata all the women’s chakra that they would face was black indicating they were only there due to the power of the Binding. As she had just explained to Kiyomi dealing with untrained women who had no control over themselves and thus would act recklessly would be bad enough. Facing trained kunoichi under those conditions would be worse, especially since she didn’t want to turn the coming battle into a bloodbath since it was likely all the women present were victims of Kanji.

Kiyomi placed the finishing touches on the post before saying, “I’ll activate them when I reach the tunnel. That will be the signal to attack.”

Tsunade nodded and watched the Bijuu go. Reaching for her throat she activated the walkie-talkies that the Leaf used to communicate short distances to speak to the other women present, “Alright listen up.” The small amounts of chatter that had been going on came to a stop so Tsunade said, “Kiyomi has finished the last post. Once she’s in position she’ll activate them which will be the signal to attack. Hinata, during the attack you will remain outside the compound acting as our spotter.”

“Roger,” the soft spoken Hyuuga replied.

Smiling at the determination she heard in the woman’s voice she asked, “What’s the current situation?”

“Naruto and Tayuya’s chakra is still being suppressed by the device attached to their stomachs. It appears that, Kanji is talking to Naruto at the moment. One of his captives and Tayuya are chained to a strange table of some sort…I believe he intends to rape Tayuya in front of Naruto from the way she tied to it.”

“That son of a bitch…”

“Quiet Anko,” Tsunade snapped, “We aren’t going to let that happen. What about the other women present?”

Hinata took a moment to run her eyes over the compound before reporting, “As I stated before, there are fifty-eight women outside of Naruto, Kanji, and Tayuya. One is with Kanji. Six are inside the central building with four sitting around a chakra field of some sort…”

“That would be the barrier team most likely,” Koharu supplied through her headset.

“Putting it just inside the main entrance is a stupid place for his best defense,” Tsume added. “If a strong enough force was able to get in before he raised it they’d be sitting ducks.”

“Well then he’s either an idiot or figures that if such a force got inside they were of no use anyway,” Tsunade said. Sensing the unusual amount of chatter was due to the worry each of the women was feeling. She decided to end Hinata’s report by asking, “The rest of the women are scattered around the compound, correct?”

“Yes,” Hinata answered, “Kanji at the very least expects some sort of response to his taking Naruto captive.”

Grinning mercilessly beneath her mask, Tsunade said, “Well he’s not going to be disappointed. Alright remember our goal is to draw the defenders away from the north wall. Sakura once we achieve this your team is to make straight for the building let nothing stop you.

“Right,” Sakura replied confidently.

Tsunade smiled since Sakura’s role was to act as the door buster for her group which consisted of Anko and Haku. The former missing-nin and apprentice of Zabuza was to handle any opposition so the pink haired girl could literally punch her way to where Naruto was several stories under the ground. Repeating her orders to the last member of the squad she said, “Anko, once inside you are to collect every piece of data you can on Kanji and his operations.”

“Leave it to me,” Anko replied. Teasingly she added, “You didn’t need to tell me again. I’m not an old lady like some present and need to be reminded multiple times about what I’m supposed to do.”

Tsunade felt a vein of annoyance appear on her forehead but ignored it to say, “The rest of us are going to take the fight to these ladies. Remember they are being controlled most likely so try to take it easy on them, but not to the point that you get yourselves killed.” Tsunade listened to the various responses to her orders, but noticing the post she was standing next to turning read shouted, “This is it!”

Tsunade began running towards the compound approaching from the southwest. Behind her were Tenten and Shizune. As they approached five beams of energy from the posts set around the compound in a pentagram pattern converged over the compound at the top of the barrier. As Kiyomi had described, the nexus they created pulled the energy of the barrier away. For a moment it seemed to flicker back to life, but finally collapsed as the barrier team failed to compensate enough for the sudden energy drain.

Tsunade reached the wall and pulling back her fist roared as she slammed it into the stone causing the southwest corner to collapse into rubble as she blew a hole through it. Kicking an unprepared defender away so that the woman skidded along the ground she heard Hinata report, “Naruto is loose. B-but something doesn’t appear to be right with his chakra.”

Having dealt with several weak defenders already Tsunade leapt back as a woman with a sword swung at her face asking, “What do you mean?”

“I-It’s strange…it’s like something is calling on his Bijuu chakra… he’s beating Kanji rather ruthlessly.”

“Well if what you reported on what he wanted to do to Tayuya is correct I can see why. That’s probably why he’s using his Bijuu chakra…”

“That’s just it…I don’t think he’s calling on it. It almost appears like something else is pulling it out of him while Lady Kushina is trying to pull it back.”

Someone gasped, but whether from Hinata’s words or not Tsunade couldn’t tell. Before she could inquire the woman with the sword charged to attack but a senbon embedded itself in her arm causing her to drop it. Still heedless of the fact she was unarmed, she charged wordlessly, but Tsunade easily sidestepped her clumsy charge and rendered the woman unconscious with a chop to the back of the neck as she passed by her. Tsunade was about to turn towards Tenten who was perched on the top of the wall to thank her when she sensed a violent attack coming towards her. Grabbing the woman she had just knocked out, she leapt out of the hole she had made as a large fire jutsu smashed into where she had been standing.

Putting the woman down she stepped back through to see a woman who appeared to be in her late thirties to early forties. She had a beauty mark under each of her eyes and wore a white kimono with a skull near the hem on the left side. As she approached she put her nodachi back in its sheath. Although Tsunade figured she was being controlled like the others, something told her the cruel smirk the woman wore had been a part of her features long before she came across Kanji.

“Take this,” Tenten shouted using a scroll she had holstered in a belt around her waist to throw hundreds of weapons at the woman. Tsunade watched as the woman simply seemed to stand still yet all of the weapons landed around her harmlessly having been slashed in half.

“What?” Tenten shouted getting angry, “alright then dodge…”

“Forget it,” Tsunade said, waving Tenten off, “It won’t work. She’ll simply slice them again.” Stepping forward the Hokage said, “It was too fast to see but she channeled wind chakra into the sheath of her blade to send towards your weapons to destroy them.”

Oh my, you’ve seen through my technique,” the woman replied sounding smug.

Surprised since most of the women she had thus far encountered to be little more than puppets Tsunade said, “Strange, I was under the impression the women here were being controlled.”

“Believe me I wish for nothing more than to kill that man. However for the time being I wish to entertain myself by killing you and your friends. He hardly needs to control me in order to do that.”

“That’s good to know.” Tsunade said preparing to take the woman on seriously.

She charged forward towards the pink-haired woman who simply stared at her with a self-pleased smile as several weaker seeming women gathered around behind her. Tsunade was about to punch the smirk off her face when a woman leapt from behind the crowd of Kanji’s slaves. “Shit,” Tsunade cursed as the woman wearing green pants and jacket leapt at her. The white-haired with green highlights woman’s hands were covered by the overly long sleeves of her jacket, but as she flew through the air towards Tsunade the sleeve pulled back enough to reveal a large bladed weapon. Before she could connect with the Hokage though, Shizune charged forward kicking the woman away who landed gracefully as her blade disappeared into her sleeve.

“Thanks,” Tsunade said focusing on the pink-haired woman.

“You should learn to follow your own advice,” Shizune said eyeing the woman who from the way she dressed and the way her long braid in back ended in what looked like a poison barb gave the medic-nin a feeling of dealing with a scorpion.

“My how close,” the pink-haired woman said watching the master and apprentice studying her and her fellow slave, “Xiao Lon nearly ended this before I could even cut loose. I hope the rest of you aren’t as weak.”

Tsunade glared at the woman before shouting, “Judge for yourself,” before smashing her fist into the ground. The explosion it created sent many of the weak women flying but the pink-haired woman and the one she identified as Xiao Lon managed to leap away. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Shizune close with the woman in green so concentrated on taking out the pink haired assassin, and trusted in Tenten to handle the weaker women as she charged her opponent.

*****

Yoruichi leap into the air as she reached the center of the west wall of the compound. She passed between two women guarding the top of it so spun kicking both away. Landing on the edge of the wall so that she could look inside the courtyard she smirked seeing the various women being caught unprepared by her arrival. Channeling her lightning release through her body she was glad she had modified her infiltration clothes so that her back and shoulders were exposed or else when her jutsu burned the cloth there away she’d probably end up fighting topless. Using the lightning shroud that originated from her back but covered her whole body as well to propel herself forward at an incredible speed, she easily bested most of the women before they could draw their weapons. Closing with the last, who appeared to be a one-armed woman with her back turned towards the Bijuu she almost felt guilty at how easy it had been. But just as she was about to strike her in the back of the head with her palm the woman nimbly dodged out of the way and with her left hand pulled her blade striking at Yoruichi with a downward slash.

Surprised, Yoruichi managed to cross her arms to block the strike, her lightning shroud preventing the sword from cutting her. But she was still smashed into the earth by the power of the woman’s blow. Raising her hand again the woman reversed her sword turning the tip downward and prepared to plunge it down again. Yoruichi wasn’t sure if her jutsu would be able to block a hit from the tip of her sword due to it being concentrated at a single point. Not willing to find ou,t she rolled backward and once her feet touched the ground leap into the air away from the woman. However upon landing on the ground the woman stomped the earth causing the section of the ground she was standing on raise up almost like she had stepped onto a loose tatami mat. The human Bijuu was launched into the air by the section of earth towards the woman again who not content for gravity to bring her back down launched a chain rope from the sleeve of her missing arm which wrapped around Yoruichi’s neck.

The chain began disappearing back into the seal inside the sleeve from which it had been summoned from pulling Yoruichi to the ground. As she neared the woman thrust her sword at the descending Bijuu’s face, but the dark-skinned woman managed to grab the blade and used her handhold to pivot in mid-air so that she landed behind the woman. Still the woman was determined and pulled the chain taunt to force the Bijuu closer but the point of a kunai landed in the link of the chain between the two women and the weak exploding tag caused it to shatter as it went off.

Yoruichi took the opportunity to leap over the woman to land near the kunoichi that had helped her saying to Ino, “You took your sweet time in getting here.”

The blonde smirked replying, “Well if you hadn’t of taken off like a maniac we could have arrived together.” Staring at the pink-haired one-armed woman she smirked saying, “What’s the matter having trouble?”

Yoruichi was about to reply, but the woman spun towards them and from the ruined sleeve of her missing arm a dragon like mouth appeared. It reminded Ino of the firework launchers she remembered from festivals as a kid, and as it drew a bead on them said, “Crap.” Both she and Yoruichi leapt to the wall just as it exploded from the cannon blast the woman released.

Ino landed less than gratefully on her behind in the courtyard and as Yoruichi landed on her feet next to her the Bijuu asked amused, “What was that you were saying?”

“Oh shut up,” the blonde kunoichi said standing back up. However, by then she and the Bijuu were no longer alone with the pink-haired swordsman as several more of Kanji’s slaves arrived.

“Deal with them,” the Bijuu said charging the swordswoman who seemed to be enjoying the battle.

Ino nodded charging at the women confident they wouldn’t be much of a threat, but the voice of Hinata cut in saying, “Careful Ino there is a skilled fighter in their midst. She’s wearing a…”

“I’ve got her thanks,” Ino said as she spotted the woman wearing an A-shirt that exposed her stomach as well as dark combat pants. Donning the woman’s feet were heavy boots making the kunoichi guess that although Hinata had called her out of the pack of women charging she wasn’t a ninja. If Ino had to guess the blue-haired woman was a mercenary of some sort and often spent time fighting in inhospitable environments.

Apparently the woman sensed Ino’s picking her out of the pack as she no longer advanced with the other women instead charging forward quickly. As the woman charged at Ino the blonde kunoichi noticed her opponent’s hands becoming coated in chakra. She began to backpedal in part to buy herself some time, but also to open up some distance between the woman and those following behind her. She ended up pressed against the wall, and the woman tried to take advantage of the seemingly rookie mistake by increasing her speed. However at the last moment Ino ducked as the woman slashed at her with her hand gouging out a scar on the wall. Having suspected as mush, Ino lashed out with a kick that knocked the woman off her feet as it swept her ankles.

The woman needed to cancel her jutsu so that as she recovered and her hands hit the ground they wouldn’t cut into the earth. Leaping from her crouched position as the women stood again, Ino kicked her across the face and grabbed the woman’s hand before she stumbled too far away from her. Pulling her roughly towards her. Ino slammed her fist into the woman’s stomach and as the woman folded around the punch stepped back before raising her leg up near her head to bring down on her opponent’s skull knocking her out of the fight.

Ino stared down at her opponent and was surprised at how handily she had beaten her. For some time after her defeat by Sakura during the Chunin Exams, and Ino did consider it a defeat, the Yamanaka kunoichi had suffered some self-esteem issues. As a result, she had begun to rely more on her team to fight her battles. It hadn’t really hurt her performance since her team had been built around their abilities with Chouji being the one expected to do the most fighting. Still it was only after her time with Naruto that some of her self-confidence began to return in part to all the support she received from him. As Ino focused on the other women now approaching, she pushed such thoughts aside as it still didn’t change the fact she was scared of the emotions rolling around inside her. Therefore she concentrated on the task at hand, less the most pressing fear of losing a loved one became a reality.

*****

Hana followed behind Fu with her mother keeping pace at her side. As they ran golden chakra began to leak from the former jinchuriki as an energy construct grew around her. That chakra then seemed to harden into a shell that resembled the exoskeleton of an insect so that by the time they approached the east wall Fu appeared from the trees nearly twelve feet tall and resembled a samurai wearing armor which looked like a rhinoceros beetle. As a result she easily destroyed the ten foot tall and four foot thick structure. Stepping into the courtyard, she battered away some of the defenders. Her forward movement was halted as blonde hair wrapped around Fu, before pulling her backwards towards the wall. The construct with Fu at its center fell backwards and began to struggle to stand especially as the hair tried to hold it in place.

Hana spotted the woman standing on a still standing section of wall so leaping began to spin like a buzzsaw in order to hit her. However the woman managed to avoid her for the most part but Hana still managed to cut through the hair holding Fu in place. She slid to a stop near the former jinchuriki who was beginning to stand again, but was blown back to her knees by a lighting strike. Hana spun to see a woman with red-hair whose bangs covered her eyes and the back ended in twin ponytails. She was dressed in a blood red skirt and jacket under which she wore a purple shirt. The dark-skinned woman blew a kiss towards her and Hana suddenly felt the air around her grow rich with static electricity. Hana leapt away just as a large ball of energy appear where she been standing and would have likely fried her had she not moved.

Hana felt another attack from behind and turned to see a large mass of blonde hair traveling towards her. Surprised that the woman’s whose hair she had cut had regrown so quickly she knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid it. However, Fu returning the favor and smashed her fist into where the blonde was standing sending her and that section of wall tumbling outside the compound.

“Thanks,” Hana said to which Fu’s entire torso tipped forward making the Inuzuka think she was nodding her head in response.

Fu turned to see that the red-head had been joined by another woman this one wearing a type of military uniform and was holding a blue whip. To Fu, her new ability, which she assumed was gained from having her seal broken, was sort of like being suspended in a warm liquid inside a suit of armor. Most physical attacks barely even phased her however as she learned when the lightning stuck her she wasn’t completely impervious to pain. Still able to see despite being inside the chest of her construct she imagined it was due to the white glowing eyes inside the helmeted head. Charging the two women she felt Hana leap onto her shoulder before jumping off to attack the woman she was calling Whip due to the weapon she held.

Concentrating on the other woman, she slammed her fist where she was standing and was surprised when it felt like she hit some sort of electrical barrier. The woman then allowed her jutsu to fade as she grabbed the large arm and despite Fu’s massive size managed to flip her onto her back. The woman then leapt into the air to deliver a kick towards Fu’s chest, but she countered by firing a mud jutsu from the mandible like mouth of her armored head sending her opponent flying. Recognizing her larger size wouldn’t help her much against such a skilled opponent, she pulled her chakra inwards until only a thin layer coated her before hardening it. The woman recovering from Fu’s jutsu blew a kiss at the giant construct and as the energy ball exploded its chest Fu leapt out in a smaller version of the construct. Fu thought she caught the women’s eyes widening in surprise as the armored kunoichi appeared from the ruined chest and she capitalized on it by quickly closing with the woman. Fu learned that she was a grappler as she got within striking distance only for the woman to slip out of her grasp in order to suplex her. Fu managed to break the hold, before gripping her opponent in return and leapt into the air. She again surprised the woman as wings spread from the shell like armor on her back causing her jump to turn into vertical flight. Reaching about fifteen feet, she cut the chakra feeding her beating wings so that they began to plummet back to the earth where she smashed the woman into the ground. Pulling herself from the carter they created she saw some of the women she had knocked around getting back to their feet so prepared to take them down again.

Tsume watched the other two of her squad fight the two women. She was proud of how aggressive her daughter had become as a result of her desire to save her mate. Smashing a woman’s head into the guarding on top of the wall she was fighting on, she had to admit she was in a similar state of mind. She growled as she launched herself at another defender smashing her downwards into the walkway of the wall. But she leapt away as the woman was hit again by an attack meant for her. Glaring at the mass of blonde hair as it pulled back over the side of the wall she leapt down after it spinning in her family’s familiar jutsu, Fang over Fang. The hair blocked her attack as it grew incredibly solid. Tsume could feel stray strands of the hair trying to wrap around her so ended her jutsu and leapt backwards before they could.

Landing on all fours she growled, “I suggest you back off unless you want a haircut.”

The woman looked at her sadly replying, “I wish I could. Please don’t hold back.”

Tsume nodded, but did as the woman recommended as she charged forward again trying to take her out of the fight.

*****

Koharu couldn’t believe who she faced as the woman blocked her kick by raising her leg up enough to ward off the blow. She then pulled the sword holstered there forcing the Konoha elder to retract her leg as she brought the blade around to parry Yuugao.

“What the hell are you doing here, Kagura?” The Anbu commander shouted angrily as she struggled against the missing-nin’s blade.

Koharu was surprised when the woman asked sounding as arrogant as the elder remembered, “Do I know you?”

Yuugao relented for a moment due to her own surprise and received a kick to the stomach as a result. As the Anbu captain stumbled back Koharu wondered why Kagura had seemed to revert back to her old self, since Tsunade had reported that after her defeat years before at the Hokage’s hands the woman had seemed remorseful of the path she had chosen. Although Tsunade never admitted it, Koharu suspected that she kept her ears open for the woman’s whereabouts. Koharu had as well, but for the purpose of sending the Anbu to eliminate her. However, the tales that had reached her ears had stayed her hand since Kagura had been aiding the less fortunate. She suspect Kanji was the reason for the relapse to evil and supposed such tampering would explain why she didn’t seem to recall Yuugao despite her not wearing her Anbu mask.

Yuugao charged forward only to miss with her blade strike and be sent airborne as Kagura used the hilt of her sword to catch the Anbu in the chin. She then raised her right hand and chakra strings wrapped around the woman’s ankle. However before Kagura could pull her into the ground, Koharu shot a fire jutsu at them destroying the strings and allowing Yuugao to recover enough to land on her feet.

“Two against one huh,” Kagura said smirking confidently. Waving them forward she said, “At least try to make this entertaining.”

Both masked women charged with Koharu attacking first using taijutsu to force Kagura back. The missing-nin was kept on the defensive due in part to Yuugao remaining behind the elder darting out to strike whenever she saw an opening. Kagura proved she had deserved her rank of Anbu as despite facing the two exceptionally skilled fighters she managed to not receive any debilitating hits. Still, she was forced back more and more in the direction of where Tsunade and her squad were fighting.

******

Kin pushed the young woman away breathing hard as she fought her spunky opponent who was dressed in a karate gi and blue spandex pants. Her long brown hair, which ended around her lower back in a braid, was being kept out of her eyes by a red headband. She had hit the South-East wall with Yuugao and Koharu and as they fought the woman called Kagura. She had kept some of the weaker women away. Until she ran smack into the woman she now faced.

Although the woman didn’t seem to be a warrior she carried herself as someone who had practiced the martial arts her entire life. As a result, she displayed a simplistic understanding of how to wield chakra. A fact she demonstrated as she pulled off a spinning kick that caught Kin across the face. As Kin staggered away the girl charged forward and then leapt at her butt first smashing into Kin’s chest and knocking her to the ground. Getting angry she waited for the young woman to charge again before stepping out of her way as she threw a running uppercut. Kin lashed out with a kick that caught the woman in the back sending her sailing into the wall near the section that Yuugao had brought down using rolls of exploding tags that she had quickly affixed.

The girl bounced back so Kin gripped the sword she had been given by Yuugao and kept sheathed behind her back and pulling it free slammed the hilt into the stunned girl’s head taking her out of the fight. She side stepped a sword thrust aimed at her back allowing it to pass by her side and slammed her elbow into her attackers face. As the woman fell back Kin saw it was one of the slaves that she had already dealt with and mindless of the injuries she had sustained was attacking again. Seeing more of the women beginning to stand again she sighed before charging forward to take them out once more.

*****

Sakura waited tensely wishing she had Hinata’s ability to look through walls so she could see how Naruto was doing. Finally Hinata said, “Its all clear, except for those that remained near the barrier team Sakura.”

Sakura launched herself from near the post she had been waiting by followed by Haku and Anko. As they ran she heard Hinata curse so asked concerned, “Hinata what is it?”

She could hear the kunoichi fighting as she replied, “Nothing…just my presence has been noticed…I won’t be able to guide you. Just keep descending; Naruto and Tayuya are in the lowest chamber.”

Sakura didn’t reply as Hinata turned her radio off to concentrate on her own troubles. Reaching the wall Sakura brought it down in a similar manner as her teacher. They arrived uncontested so quickly made their way for the central building. Although approaching it from the back where there was no entrance Sakura wasn’t going to let that stop her as she smashed her fist into the building creating a large hole. She was surprised to find the room covered in mist, four women came charging out of the thick fog charging right at the pink-haired medic. Sakura easily battered them aside but she nearly ate a kunai that emerged from inside the room. Anko deflected it for her as Haku charged into the fog to fight the woman inside.

Sakura ducked back behind the building saying, “Hinata the room is covered in a deep mist. Can you guide us towards the stairs down?”

*****

Hinata stared down at the woman that had attacked her. She was blonde and had obviously been trained as a shinobi and dressed somewhat provocatively in a black suit that exposed her ample chest. Hinata smirked wondering how the woman hadn’t popped out of her clothes as she had wielded two boomerang weapons she carried. Still despite the weapons suggesting she was a far-range fighter the woman had tried to close with her and that was what led to her down fall.

“Sorry what was that?” she asked switching her radio back on to respond to Sakura.

Sakura quickly relayed the information, so Hinata moving to a new vantage point and stared at the compound saying, “It would do you little good. Someone threw a barrier over the door way leading down. Most likely the same person who designed the main one, Kiyomi you probably have the best access to Naruto now.”

Sakura refused to give up saying, “What about making our own entrance?”

Hinata smiled as she understood what Sakura was getting at and said, “Your best shot would be about dead center of the room. Haku your opponent is…”

“Thank you,” the former missing-nin said politely, “but I already know where she is…just as she knows where I am. Sakura you may proceed she will not interfere.”

Hinata nodded watching from afar as the two women moved around in the fog with each movement by one being countered by the other although neither was attacking just yet.

*****

Haku could tell the woman in the mist was skilled. She would subtly and silently move forward and the woman would shift her own position to counter. In a sense it was like a chess match in which neither opponent could see the move the other made but almost instinctively knew it had countered the one they made. The only talking between them thus far had been the woman replying to what she said to Sakura, “Please don’t allow your friends to enter. I’m tasked with guarding this chamber and will kill them.”

“No, you won’t,” she replied calmly. She wondered if Sakura didn’t trust in her skills enough to protect her and Anko. However a moment later both slowly entered the room being guided by Hinata. Haku waited as the two moved slowly keeping their guard up for an attack and was aware that the two kunoichi was forcing the Kanji bound woman’s hand. Finally with no choice she rushed the two silently however she was bounced back as Haku had created a wall of ice between them and the woman using the vapor in the air. She then charged the woman in turn kicking her in the chest and knocking her out of the building. Following her out through the doorway Sakura’s fist had made.

The woman stood slowly revealing she wore a standard Kirigakure jounin outfit although modified, Haku assumed by Kanji, to show more skin by removing the dark shirt so that only the flak jacket covered her chest. Although beautiful with brown eyes and blonde hair that beauty was diminished by the look of hopelessness on the woman’s face. She gave off a sense that Kanji was just the last in a long string of hardships that she had suffered. Haku believed she gained some knowledge as to why from a slave brand she sported on her right arm.

The woman seemed to notice where Haku’s masked gaze was resting as she subconsciously coved it with her hand. “I’m sorry,” Haku stated wholeheartedly aware of the hard life suffered by those captured to become slaves. A part of the reason Zabuza had always insisted she act more manly was to prevent them from being targeted by such groups. As a result of her own harsh upbringing she knew the slave marker on the kunoichi’s arm belonged to a group called the Southern Wolves which were a group that operated inside of Earth Country almost exclusively.

“It doesn’t matter,” the woman said lowering her hand and reached for two blades strapped across the middle of her back.

The shout of “Shannero,” cut through the air, as dust came blowing outside from the building and thus obscured Haku’s view of the woman as Sakura made her entrance into the compound’s lower levels. The Mist kunoichi took that opportunity to strike but Haku parried the attack with a kunai. The mist woman slashed at her with her other blade but Haku dodged backwards before throwing a senbon she had palmed with her other hand. The kunoichi batted it away but was forced to guard as Haku leapt forward in an effort to keep the pressure on while Sakura and Anko completed their tasks.

*****

Sakura landed in the hole she made and landed next to the unconscious form of a priestess dressed in black robes. “Looks like someone was waiting to greet us,” she said upon dusting herself off.

“Forget her,” Anko said landing besides the chunin. Speaking into her radio she asked, “Alright Hinata where is this prick’s study.”

“I imagine a good probable location would be a room about one floor down from your location. Naruto will be two floors below that.”

“Okay,” Sakura said taking off down the hall in an effort to find their lover. Anko followed behind so Sakura asked, “Are you sure you won’t need me to open any doors for you?”

Anko gave her a wild grin before pulling out a role of exploding tags and flipping it in her hand said, “Nope, I brought my lock pick set with me.”

******

Naruto could feel his lovers’ presence again so knew the racket from above was them. But at the moment that was all secondary to pounding Kanji’s face in. The fury he was experiencing frightened him since unlike every other time he had ever been angry this wasn’t a red-hot anger. Instead it seemed almost cold. As much as the anger was directed at Kanji a good portion of it was directed at himself as well. The reason being that as a result of hearing his own dark thoughts about why the women in his life were so devoted being repeated for just a moment had caused him to wonder what would happen if Kanji had sex with Tayuya.

Hearing Tayuya’s confession had given him the strength to overload the device, but hadn’t completely erased the doubts as a voice continued to repeat them in his head while calling on more and more chakra from his Bijuu. The voice seemed to be growing frustrated that it actually seemed the Bijuu locked inside of him was trying to prevent the chakra from escaping the seal.

Naruto was forced to end his beating of Kanji as his slave Taki apparently had received enough instruction to attack anyone harming her master. He moved back just enough to avoid her sword strike at his throat, but was going to return to pummeling Kanji when he was kicked back by the man.

“It’s about time you stupid whore,” he shouted scrambling to his feet to escape. But seeing Naruto focusing to leap at him again, shouted, “Ah…kill him already.”

Taki charged at him quickly pulling her sword from behind her shoulder to strike. But Naruto caught her wrist and stabbed it into the floor into the iron ring that Tayuya’s arm was chained to. He then backhanded Taki away before kicking the blade shattering it and breaking the ring holding Tayuya. Taki charged forward again but Tayuya whipped her free arm and wrapped the chain around the kunoichi’s feet and pulled it taunt tripping her. The kunoichi fell flat to the ground, and tried to disentangle herself from the chain. However Naruto quickly prevented this by hitting her quickly in the jaw rendering her unconscious.

Quickly moving to Tayuya to free her, he smiled as she said, “About fucking time. What were you waiting for me to save myself?”

“Sorry,” Naruto said and despite the smile she could tell he was still haunted by Kanji’s words since his eyes appeared duller than normal.

Reaching up she was about to cup his face and remind him of her feelings but a sound attracted their attention to reveal Kanji hitting a brick that opened a secret passage to the surface. Before either of them could stop him, he disappeared inside and shut it behind him. Naruto looked like he wanted to pursue him as he readied a Rasengan. However a second later the compound began to rumble as if he had activated a self-destruct mechanism. “Ah fucking shit,” Tayuya shouted frustratingly as she tried to free Fuku despite the collapsing ceiling, “Who the fuck sells those fucking things and why does every asshole in the world have one?”

“Just be glad they always seemed to allow plenty of time to esc…”

“You were saying, FUC...,” Tayuya replied angrily as all the pillars seemed to collapse at once.

Naruto quickly grabbed her, Fuku, and Taki, before he Hiraishined, reappearing twice more inside to grab Anko and Sakura as the compound began to collapse inward.

******

Kiyomi could hear the ragged breathing as it neared the end of the tunnel. Just before it reached her though, she heard a switch activate followed by the sound of the compound beginning to collapse. Kanji appeared from the darkness and paused upon spotting her saying, “If you want any chance of saving your master you better hurry slu…”

Kiyomi closed the distance faster than the man could respond and grabbing him by the throat said, “Such a basic trap wouldn’t catch Naruto.” Tilting her head as she looked at the struggling man as he tried to breath she said, “You may be unaware of it but I do owe you a debt of gratitude. As a result of your actions my world view has expanded and I feel closer to being what I was always meant to be. A shame it was so some worm could try to latch onto real power. I assume this was all so Naruto would join you in whatever schemes you’ve developed for yourself.”

“F-fuck you…you bitch,” Kanji managed to get out despite the iron grip around his throat.

Kiyomi’s eyes grew red as she pulled his face towards hers to say, “No, fuck you worm.” She then channeled her chakra into the man before tossing him behind her already forgetting about him. Kanji managed to get to his feet but only managed to take a step or two before collapsing as steam appeared to rise out of his body from his eyes and mouth. He gave one final scream as fire erupted from inside of him leaving his charred skeleton behind.

It was followed by a female scream, before the woman it belonged to shouted, “I’ll kill you.”

Kiyomi turned to see a priestess emerge from the woods charging wildly at her. Kiyomi swatted her away with a chakra tail before focusing back on the tunnel as a result of the compound collapsing. Feeling that Naruto was safe she called into her radio, “Kanji has been dealt with.”

*****

Tsunade was covered in cuts as she struggled against her opponent. She knew she could easily heal them but since that would likely reveal who she was to her foe refrained from doing so. She heard Kiyomi’s statement about killing Kanji, but when Hinata reported, “Their chakra is returning to normal,” she relaxed slightly. Ikaruga responded by pushing Tsunade backwards causing her to trip on some rubble and fall the woman then prepared to stab her in the chest. “Oops, looks like you lose,” she said smugly, “you should never drop your guard.”

“You’re free of his jutsu,” Tsunade said noticing the other women running off into the woods.

“Oh I know, but I already told you killing you is for me.”

However before she could bring the sword down the blade of one appeared through her chest with a kunai hitting her in the eye from the opposite direction which had been thrown by Tenten. Looking behind her opponent, Tsunade was shocked to see Kagura had thrown her blade like a dagger hitting the woman in the chest. Ikaruga looked down at the blade that had help killed her saying, “Kagura you…” before collapsing dead.

Having no idea as to who she saved, the Konoha missing-nin said, “I owed her that for helping that bastard to capture me. Believe me, she had that coming.”

Kagura then turned to leave causing Tsunade to call her name. She paused just long enough to look back in confusion before leaping the wall and disappearing into the woods. Seeing Shizune also was covered in cuts she called into her radio, “Report.”

******

Tayuya watched Naruto who in turn was watching Princess Fuku. It was easy to see both were haunted by their time with Kanji. Naruto had remained quiet after rescuing her, but had remained near her while Sakura checked her out to make sure Kanji hadn’t done anything while she was unconscious. There was a lot she wanted to tell the blond man but figured that could wait until after the clean-up. The compound ruins had still been burning at the time as a result of a fire jutsu Kiyomi had launched down the escape tunnel. Fuku was the only slave still in their grasp but that was only because she had remained unconscious, unlike Taki, as the others had ran into the woods upon being free of Kanji’s influence.

Tsunade had wondered how they had known, till Tayuya had explained about how Kanji’s chakra felt cold and slimy. She suggested that feeling the disappearance of that was probably what had alerted them to their being free of Kanji. But she had noticed that her describing his as warmth had brought Naruto no peace even as she had needed to explain why it was they didn’t feel it all the time. Her explanation had been that a person only tended to miss the sun when it disappeared behind clouds. She tried to explain to him that her mind was her own, but Ino had stepped up reporting, “I’ve blanked her memories about any details of Naruto having a harem also. To her the memory will be Naruto was looking for the missing agent of Koyuki. He stumbled onto Kanji because a bounty hunter had been using her image while looking for Princess Fuku.”

“Thanks Ino,” Naruto said brightening somewhat as he stepped up to her.

However his good mood faded quickly as Ino placed a hand on his chest and unable to meet his gaze said, “Please Naruto…I just need space right now…I’m not sure what is me or this jutsu anymore so please.”

Tayuya had been about to yell at the blonde since she was in a sense playing right into Kanji’s taunts. However Sakura stopped her and when she was about to shout at her the pink-haired girl whispered, “Calm down, she’s been feeling unsure even before this all started.”

“So the fuck what…that’s the worst thing she could have said to him. You weren’t down there that mother fucker was filling his head with all sorts of shit like that,” the red-head replied just as softly.

Sakura looked up worriedly, but said, “Don’t worry, he’ll bounce back you’ll see.”

Tayuya wasn’t so sure, but the matter was put on hold as Naruto scooped the princess into his arms. He approached Tayuya asking, “You ready?”

Tayuya nodded grabbing her lover just as he disappeared from the burning compound and they reappeared in the former Land of Noodles on the spot Tayuya had buried one of his kunai. Naruto woke Princess Fuku and after making sure the false memories about him had taken hold informed her they were taking her to her husband. Fuku had brightened immediately but as they neared his palace the woman began to fret more and more.

“I-I’m scared,” she finally admitted, “He should despise me.”

“He doesn’t,” Tayuya assured the woman, “I’ve explained the situation to him. He knows Kanji was controlling you.”

“I still don’t know how he did it,” Fuku said, “But I still should have been wary of him. I just… was so lonely since Chikara was always so busy.”

“I think it’s best if nobody learns how he controlled you. But trust me as soon as Chikara sees you everything will be fine.”

Once they reached the palace, they were quickly escorted to the governor’s chambers. Tayuya could tell Fuku was mindful of the whispers about her as she passed both servants and visitors to the palace. Still the woman steeled herself for whatever greeting she would receive from her husband and tried to walk proudly through the halls.

Reaching the audience chamber she looked back with a little fear but Tayuya gave her a bright smile. The woman nodded at the support and pushed open the doors. She gasped at the sight of her husband since he was so skinny now. “Chikara,” she said worried for his health.

She would have rushed to him but one of the samurai present recognized Naruto shouting, “That’s him milord, the bastard’s apprentice.” This naturally caused all the men to grab for their swords.

Naruto seemed to shrink at the description so Tayuya shouted, “Shut the fuck up.” Directing her attention to the governor she said, “Your wife wouldn’t even be here right now if not for him.”

“Is this true,” Chikara asked standing from his throne.

“In a manner of speaking,” Naruto said. He could see the lead samurai about to shout about how Naruto had been present three years before so cutting the man off added, “But it’s also my fault she suffered for so long. He played your men off against me and used the chaos to escape. He even met up with me later to thank me…I should have stopped him, but I didn’t realize just what he had done or really was at the time. I probably would have left him be if not for this woman’s looking into it for you.”

Chikara eyed both Naruto and Tayuya before telling his men to put their weapons away. Gazing on his wife, he raised his arms saying, “Darling, how I’ve missed you.”

“Chikara,” the princess shouted closing the distance in a heartbeat and nearly knocked him down.

Chikara wrapped his arms around her and almost as soon as she was snuggled into their warmth she began to cry. “Shh, my little sugar plum. It’s all over now. You’ll never suffer like that again I swear.”

Naruto and Tayuya turned to leave the two lovers to their embrace, but Chikara stopped them saying, “Bounty Hunter, what of your reward?”

Rubbing her head in embarrassment she said, “Call me a softy, but I can’t take money from a man who wanted nothing but the love of his life back.”

“At least tell me your name.”

Tayuya quickly henged herself to look like the Sound-nin she had met that night saying, “Kin Tsuchi.” She then grabbed Naruto and shunshined them outside the palace. Before Naruto could say anything she asked, “Can you take me back to my hotel room?”

Naruto nodded, and a moment later she was back in the Land of Honey. Pulling away she said, “Well that certainly was an eventful night. It was nothing what I expected it to be.”

Naruto tried to crack a smile but he still appeared to be lost in thought so trying to take his mind off it pressed against him saying seductively, “Now how about I reward you for saving me?”

She looked up to kiss him, but Naruto stepped back his eyes dimming as her attempt to seduce him backfired. “No, no, no,” she shouted mentally as he appeared as he had as Kanji had taunted him that the jutsu was the only reason for the women around him wanting him.

She tried to set him straight but sounding defeated mentally he said, “It’s late Tayuya…I should go.”

Before she could stop him, he disappeared in a red-flash. Standing alone in her hotel room she could almost her Kanji laughing at her so kicked a chair into the wall causing it to shatter and shouted, “Fuck!”

Next Chapter: Recovering Lost Mojo

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[*Author’s Note: First let me thank everyone that has reviewed as always they provide me with the fuel I need to write. On that note and in regards to my last Author’s note I hope I didn’t give the impression that I don’t enjoy all the different types of reviews I receive even the ones that tell me when people believe something I have planned isn’t good for the story. I can’t tell you how often I check back after posting a chapter to see what people have written. What I was trying to get across was that although negative reviews about certain elements are to be expected I just refuse to let them change what I have planned for the story.

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[*The reason for that and using the example of the second Konoha harem is because most people have no idea as to what I have planned. The only reason it came up was because of the poll I had and I didn’t want people voting under false pretenses. Not to mention its happening is still at least at least eight chapters away. My point was that I can’t let reviews telling me why it’s a bad idea influence me when I haven’t even really begun to set the stage for it to happen. I tend to call those tainted reviews since they aren’t based on anything story wise just on what a person’s own wants for the story are. But I still love even those reviews as it motivates me with the hope that when everything works out as I hoped they might come around. So again thanks for taking the time to read and review.

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[*Also, I received a P.M informing me that this site is shutting down stories like this more actively. I hope this isn’t true, but in case it is I’ve begun to upload this story on AdultFanfiction.net as well. This will still be the primary place to find the story, but I wanted to provide a back-up should my account be shut down. It’s listed under the Naruto subsection in general and I’m using the same penname. Hopefully it’s just an unnecessary precaution since at last count this story had 1,948 reviews, has been listed under a 144 C2’s, it has been faved by 2856 people and with a 2301 alerts. So thank you for making this story such a success, as your response has far outpaced anything I ever expected when I first began writing it.

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[*Finally as a reminder of what is to come during the Prison Arc the chapters will be

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[*Recovering Lost Mojo

Target: Yakumo

Target: Maki

Target: Komachi

Target: Pakura

Target: Mabui

Target: Rin

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Points Eight and Nine are not related to the Prison Arc, but I listed them just to show how far ahead I’m completely planned out to. Truthfully in my head this story is already finished…it’s just getting it down to paper that’s the problem. But don’t worry for those not wanting it to end to soon that far in the future from this point. So for the final time thanks for reading, and until next time The Lemon Sage.