44 Chapter 44 : Raid Part 5 (1/2)
Woosh.
The Akatsuki was back. Every one surrounded the group. Kenji could tell, but he didn't have a chance without his vision.
Itachi glared at the half circle. People he spent years with, deceiving, playing, being something he's not. ”Lord Hokage.”
Minato moved his eyes carefully. ”Yeah. Kenji, Here, right now.”
Kenji followed his voice. Slowly, he moved towards the man. It was a standoff. The akatsuki eyed Minato and Itachi. They did the same. The only sound was Kenji stumbling over pebbles.
Right when he reached Minato's hand, he was at the West gate. Along with Obito. Minato hit the ground trying to focus his breathing. That was a long ways away.
Kenji stood there in thought. Why would they need Rei? Where would they take her? Who was behind all of this? Questions he had no answer to, him especially, hated not knowing things. It irked him.
Minato stood at the entrance of the gate, staring at the rubble that he once called home. ”I guess the akatsuki controls the leaf now. Looks like we won't be back here for a while.”
Itachi broke the silence. ”Lets regroup with who's left. We should find somewhere to go first.”
”Right.” Minato turned away. He caught Kenji's face. Even he couldn't tell what he was thinking. His left eye was black and purple underneath. His pupils were void of color. His face was plastered with blood, particularly his lower lip and chin. Minato caught a glimpse of all the scars, prompting him to actually think about what the kid had went through.
”What are you thinking Kenji?” He asked trying not to sound too forceful.
”I don't know yet.” Kenji mumbled.
He started walking the dirt road as two men followed.
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In the woods, miles away from Konoha, Tsunade was hard at work. Hundreds of people were injured, many dead or were in the process. The bags under her eyes were featured for everyone to see.
”Tsunade!” She turned and saw Minato. The happiness withered quickly when she saw Itachi, but even more since Kenji was being courted by his arm.
She approached and led with ”You idiot! Why can't you stop getting hurt for two seconds!”
Kenji didn't say anything. Minato took her attention. ”Could you just try the best you can. I know you're swamped, but...please.”
”Of course.”
She led Kenji to a cot under a tree next to several others.
Watching the kid being handled so carefully, Itachi's breath hardened. His short of breath baked his mind. He knew it wouldn't be long. He looked at Kenji as someone equal to his brother. His cousin. Someone on the same level as Sasuke in terms of how much he cared.
Tsunade examined him for a while. Kenji layed there, not moving a muscle. He tried to feel the air. The presence. The chakra. His mind wandered to Aya's lesson. The very first thing she taught him. Sitting on her lap, not a care in the world, learning about the ninja world. Everything is made of chakra. That line echoed through his head. He pulsed his own chakra around, like a sonar. He picked up vague images of everything, but not truly 'seeing' like he wanted.Just in case, he wanted a back up plan.
One thing that caught Kenji's attention was the vial in Tsunade's pocket.
”Can I ask whats in your pocket?” Kenji croaked out.
”.....Morphine.....” Tsunade stopped her hands and eyed him. ”Why?”
Kenji sat there. ”Tsss. Not for what you're thinking. Trust me. Even though it's tempting, Not until the people I love are safe.”
Tsunade continued to test his eyes. ”You think your mother would let you kill yourself?” She whispered in his ear. ”The answer would be no.”
”...”
”Ms. Tsunade?”
She turned around and found Itachi next to her. ”Can I discuss something with you?”
Tsunade sighed. ”Sure.”
Kenji could feel them in the corner. He caught Tsunade's facial features, they weren't certain at all.
The two finished talking and walked to Kenji.
”Kenji.” Tsunade sounded uncertain.
”Itachi wants to give you his eyes.”
Kenji's face didn't change. ”No.”
”Yes.” Itachi demanded.