Arc II Chapter 12


    <strong><b>II</b></strong>


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    <strong><b>━━━━━━┓</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┏━━━━━━</b></strong>


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    <strong><b>Arc II Chapter 12


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    <strong><b>━━━━━━┛</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┗━━━━━━</b></strong>


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    Lamps illuminated the dark room. Tall stone pirssupportedthe wooden ceiling.Asami was standingbefore Konoha''s vige council, awaiting her judgement. Unfortunately, they took their time.The vige elders, the joninmander,and the Hokage were talking, and talking, and talking,noting to anyconclusion.


    She survived the mission, and she eventually returned to Konoha in one piece. There she was asked to report to the vige council immediately in the light of her revtions and the identity of one of the attackers. They demanded a detailed report of the course of events.


    All the vige grandees were present. The Hokage himself and the head of the Sarutobi n, Sarutobi Hiruzen. The three vige elders, Mitokado Homura, Mitokado Homura, and the infamous and ill reputed Shimura Danzo. The joninmander and the head of the rising Nara n, Nara Shikaku. And themander of the ANBU. Only the representatives of the major and the four noble ns were missing. Otherwise, the council would have beenplete.


    Asamiwas already standingand waitinghere for an houralready. She wished toleave, but she wasn''t allowed to. They forced her to stayand defend herselfagainst a series ofufortable questionsand even veiled usations.


    Shikaku, head of the Nara n, joninmander of Konoha, and council member, folded his hands.“So, to summarise, you are telling us that the merchant you were escorting turned out to be an Iwa diplomat ...”


    Asami nodded, her back straightened. “Correct.”


    Shikaku continued, “That he was leading you through Amegakure. Subsequently, the convoy was attacked by two enemies. The attackers easily dispatched the diplomat and his retinue. Then, they went to ughter your team. In the end, only you survived.”


    Asami nodded once again. “Correct.”It was said that honesty was at times the best policy.


    Shikaku examined her. “And you are telling us that one of the attackers was identified as Uchiha Itachi?”


    “...”Asami merely nodded.


    “Uchiha Itachi ... The traitor ... The n yer ... Are youpletely sure that it was him?”


    Asami nodded again. “I am. There is no doubt that it was him. His crimson eyes ... are impossible to mistake.”


    ... ... ... Profound silence greeted her.


    “...”Even Shikaku fell silent, deeply immersed in thoughts. “I think I speak for everyone here when I ask, how did you survive, Asami? How did you escape? Did you run, or what?”The usation of cowardice and desertion were lying in the air.


    “Are you trying to insinuate that I fled the battlefield and abandoned my team?”Asami narrowed her eyes, disapproving of his usations. Especially, since she did the utmost to protect them.


    “Not necessarily, Asami, but it is our duty to explore all possibilities. Even the less savoury ones.”Shikaku folded his hands. “Because the questions remains, how did you survive the attack? How did you survive facing Itachi. Anwser us.”


    The anwser was simple. Too simple to be true. “... Because he didn''t fight us. Itachi disengaged after eliminating the diplomat and his guards. He didn''t bother with the rest of us. In fact, he ignored us. All he cared about was his mission, and nothing else.”


    “... So you never fought Itachi?”Hiruzen took the word, his pipe in his mouth.


    Asami nodded. “We didn''t. It was his partner that fought us.”


    “He had a partner?”Shikaku asked.


    Asami confirmed, “Correct, they both worked together as a duo.”


    Hiruzen took a pull on his pipe. “Were you able to the identity of his partner, Asami?”


    Asami shook his head. “I wasn''t, but I was able to catch his name. His name was Kisame ... The man was carrying a giant sword on his back.”The council broke out in discussion.


    “Kisame ...”Hiruzen reacted surprised.


    “Hoshigaki Kisame ...”Danzo took the word. “One of the legendary seven swordsmen of the mist ... A Kiri-nin of immense skill and ability ... Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, they make for a formidable due indeed. To think that you not only faced them, girl, but also survived. Impressive, to say the least. You are quite the lucky one.”The interest in his eyes didn''t go unnoticed.


    Shikaku seconded the opinion of his fellow councillor. “Agreed, but the question remains, how did you survive, Asami? As far as I understand, it was Kisame killed your team. It was Kisame who killed Masasane, yet you escaped.”His question was directed at her, and so were the eyes of everyone. They excepted an anwser.


    “...”Asami lowered her gaze. “He made a bet with me.”


    “He did what?”Shikaku didn''t believe his ears.


    Asami nodded. “Kisame made a bet with me. He said that he would spare me, if I survived for two more minutes. He kept his word.”


    ... ... ... Silence.


    Shikaku folded his hands. “Asami, do you really think that I can believe your story ...”


    Hiurzen raised his arm to protect her, shielding her from any usations.“Enough, Shikaku, I do believe her.”


    Shikaku was forced to disagree, “Hokage-sama, with all due respect, do you seriously think that the girl is capable of fighting one of the seven legendary swordsmen of the mist?”


    Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke. “As I said, Shikaku, I believe her, and that is all that matters. I find her story credible.”


    “...”Shikaku fell silent, as did the rest of the councillor, except for one.


    Danzo giggled in the dark. “Shikaku, I do understand your concerns, and I do share your doubts. That is why I think that a small practical demonstration is in order, isn''t it, Hiruzen?”


    Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his distrust tant. “What are you nning, Danzo?”


    Danzo grinned. “If she possesses the skill she ims she does, then a small demonstration should more than suffice.”


    “Tch, don''t even think about it, Danzo. This is neither the right ce, nor the right time for your little games.” Hiruzen clicked his tongue.


    “Toote, Hiruzen ... Fu ...”Danzo gave a discreet hand sign.


    “...”Asami was confused. What were they talking ...


    Asami rolled sidewards, dodging the de. A ninja lunged downwards from above, from the roof, ramming his sword into the ground, right where she had stood before. A white mask covered his face and his auburn hair. The man was an ANBU. The enemy readied his de, charging at her, giving her no respite. His intent was clear,


    “...”Asami gritted her teeth, her hand reaching for her trusted de. She had no choice.


    Asami quickdrew and their des met in the air. Edge against edge. Steel against steel. The enemy was pressing down on her, but to no avail. She stood her ground, unflinching, unmoving, her sword held high.The tension in the air was palpable as they faced each other point nk, each of them waiting for a gap in the enemy defence.


    The ANBU backed off, only to start his next attack. This time, however, she was better prepared. Her purple chakra sharpened her edge.


    Their des met in a ceaseless swirl of steel, exchanging blow after blow. Attack. Parry. Counterattack. Block. Attack. Sidestep. Counterattack. Parry.


    Asami grinned. This was the moment she had waited for. Her de ignited, and her chakra turned to raging sma. The surprise was written all across his face, even behind his ANBU mask. Her de melted through his sword in an instant, irrecoverably breaking his guard. Her enemy was unarmed, defenceless.


    Asami smirked,pressing the purple shimmering edge of her de against his unprotected neck. The meaning was clear. “You lose.”


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Apuse echoed through the empty halls. Danzo was pping his hands. “Marvellous, your performance has exceeded my expectations, girl. To think that such a talent would go unnoticed.”


    Hiruzen lowered his Hokage hat, visibly annoyed. “Do you have finally enough of your little games?”


    Danzo gripped his wooden cane. “I have seen what I needed to see, Hiruzen. I rmend Asami join the ANBU. Her abundant talent should be certainly put to better use rather than being wasted among themon ranks. It is obvious where her future lies.” His proposal surprised everyone, except for Hiruzen.


    Hiruzenpuffed on his pipe, contemting.“So that is what you were nning ... Don''tyou think that she is too young?”


    Danzo objected, “Hardly so. Itachi joined at the age of eleven. Kakashi at the age of thirteen, if I remember correctly. Her age makes her a more than adequate candidate.”


    “Still ...”Hiruzen frowned before his gaze turned to her. “... ... ... Asami, what do you think? Do you wish to join the ANBU?”


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    <strong><b>━━━━━━┛</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>?</b></strong><strong><b>┗━━━━━━</b></strong>


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