XXXII: Emotions
A bird perched itself upon Jugo's shoulder as the Hebi continued their walk towards one of the hideouts of the Akatsuki.
Jugo stopped in his tracks as the bird chirped a warning.
"What is it, Jugo?" Suigetsu had stopped as well, noticing that Jugo was no longer following behind them.
"I can't sense anything. Your birds must be playing games on you." Karin said as she crossed her arms.
"A water dragon holding the body of a beautiful mistress is fast approaching us." Jugo said.
"Tch. If there were something coming, trust me, I'd know." Karin said in annoyance.
"Not unless its Miyako." Sasuke spoke.
"Huh?"
"Miyako's alive?!!" Suigetsu squealed in excitement.
"Miyako created a bond with a water dragon who she also called Miyako."
"Miyako named her dragon Miyako? How self centered!" Karin snapped.
"She named it Miyako because she believed it to be the mere reflection of her personality. And not only that, but the Dragon's special but dangerous ability is the ability to keep her chakra hidden from any living thing in the world." Sasuke explained.
"So it really is Miyako!!" Suigetsu grinned in joy. Karin rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Be on your guard when she arrives. I have a feeling she'll be angry." Sasuke advised.
"Well, duh! You kind of just left her there to die!"
"Shut up, Suigetsu!! He couldn't have known that!!!" Karin snapped.
"But I did."
Karin's eyes widened at Sasuke's response.
"She's here." Jugo said as another bird perched on his other shoulder.
Sasuke looked up and surely enough, the water dragon was charging at him through the skies, Miyako's body inside her.
Sasuke leapt to the side as the dragon landed where he had been standing, the ground underneath her melting into lava.
Sasuke's eyes were on Miyako, as she floated within the belly of the water dragon.
Her old and injured skin was floating into bits around her as the water dragon's healing abilities soothed her skin. And not only that, but with Shiroryuu's help the healing process had escalated quicker. Miyako opened her eyes, seeing water all around her as the surrounding wavered through her vision. She clasped her hands together as Miyako the water dragon dispersed slowly, leaving steaming water in her wake as the burning ground turned to ash.
Miyako stood there head to toe, her haori still shredded to bits. But her skin looked spotless again, as she looked off into the distance, facing away from the Hebi.
She lifted her hand up to her left eye, wincing as she touched it with her bare finger.
Without even looking at a mirror, she knew her eye was back to a gold.
She turned and faced them, just as a single drop of blood trailed down her cheek.
Sasuke didn't flinch as she suddenly appeared in front of him, sending his head cracking to the side painfully as her fist collided with his face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Karin snapped as she held on to Sasuke, placing her hands on his shoulders. She sent Miyake a warning glare.
Miyako lifted her arm, pointing her finger at Karin's forehead.
Before she could her jutsu on Karin, Jugo placed his hand over her forearm.
"She's not worth wasting your energy on, princess." Jugo said. Karin scoffed at him.
Miyako looked at him in surprise, since this was the first real time he spoke to her.
She lowered her arm at his request, moving her attention to Sasuke.
"I saved your life. And this is the respect I get in return? You leave me like I'm some... some... Some sacrificial pawn?!" Miyako roared.
"I knew you were alive. That's why I left you."
"Why you left me?"
"That's pretty low, Sasuke." Suigetsu said.
"You left me to be captured by the hands of the Leaf Ninja."
"I left you because I knew you would be able to distract them from me." Sasuke said as he took a step towards her, looking down intently in her raging eyes.
"What?"
"But I should have known you wouldn't have the patience to take care of them for me." Sasuke said as he walked past her, continuing down the path ahead.
Karin sent Miyako a harsh glare as she followed Sasuke, catching up to his side.
Suigetsu knew not to mess with Miyako when she was in one of her volatile moods, so he followed Sasuke and Karin, giving Miyako a pitiful glance.
It was Jugo who placed his hand on Miyako's shoulder, turning her around gently and lightly pushing her forward.
Miyako didn't fight against Jugo as she walked beside him, his hand still resting on her shoulder.
"You have a calming aura about you." Miyako said, completely unaware of what Jugo really is.
"Thank you."
"I don't think we've been properly introduced." Miyako said as she glanced up at Jugo.
He gave her a warm smile.
"I'm Jugo."
"Just Jugo?"
"Just Jugo." He mumbled softly.
"Well, then I'm Just Miyako."
"I was told to only call you princess."
"Hmm? By who?"
"Sasuke."
Sasuke turned his head slightly at the faint mention of his name, landing his gaze on Miyako briefly before focusing his attention back forward.
Karin's thoughts were raging inside of her, as she was filled with anger that Miyako was still alive.
Of course she'd still be live. She is, after all, the damned daughter of Orochimaru. Even if it was illegitimate, she still carried many of his characteristics. It pisses me off.
And who the hell she is, disrespecting Sasuke like that?! That fucking bitch!
-
"Reveal yourself." Zetsu turned around slowly, taking his eyes off the retreating form of Miyako.
Kabuto emerged after a few seconds, his cloak casting shadows over his face.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now." Zetsu threatened in a dark tone, emerging from his invisible form.
"I have some information that your leader might find very useful."
Zetsu darkened his glare at Kabuto.
"Do tell."
"Orochimaru has a daughter, someone whom he has kept in strict hiding for six years."
"Miyako." Zetsu said.
"Eh?? You've already met the princess?" Kabuto asked with an amused smirk.
"Our leader encountered her not too long ago." Zetsu stated simply.
"Then he'll be glad to hear that he encountered the leader of the jinchuriki."
Zetsu was behind Kabuto in a split second, as Kabuto's body was split in half. He only frowned as his body disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Surely you've heard of the Hidden Assassin of the Five Great Nations?" Kabuto spoke from all around him.
Zetsu said nothing.
"Lord Orochimaru kept her even more under strict security after her year of killing, after realizing that her power had grown even more. He knew that the Akatsuki would be curious of this assassin, wanting to bring her in to your organization.
But he couldn't allow that. You see, Lord Orochimaru cared a lot for his daughter. She was the only person whose life he treasured dearly. Not only because he practically raised her and trained her hard under him, but because she holds the Mother of the Tailed Beasts inside of her."
"The Mother of the Tailed Beasts?" Zetsu was now curious.
"Yes. The Tailed Beast goes by the name of Shiroryuu, and she emerges at the moment Miyako's life is close to death. Miyako's chakra is powerful, nearly matching that of the tailed beast inside of her. Now, if you didn't know about the beast inside of her, I know you still would have taken her in as a part of the Akatsuki, her individual power terrifyingly unmatchable."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Call it a... peace offering."