"Naruto Uzumaki," said Hiashi Hyuga in his most stern demeanor. "We must speak."
"Eh?" asked Naruto, looking around at the various elders, advisors, counselors, and ANBU. "What?"
"We must speak," repeated Hiashi Hyuga, turning and walking away.
That nobody would meet his gaze made him nervous, especially with some of the emotions he was picking up.
"Huh, this place has great power?" asked Kisame Hoshigaki.
"The sacred mountain's sacred spring, also known as Jusenkyo," said Itachi Uchiha. "Hmmm. The warriors of this place have apparently fled."
"Not much as warriors then," said Kisame with a sharkish grin.
"They're attempting to watch from a distance," said Itachi. "Retreating when we move forward. Interesting."
"Eh?" asked Kisame. "So... it's not cowardice so much as they know they're no match for us anyway?"
"Apparently," said Itachi. "So they're trying to maintain a set distance. I wonder how they knew we were coming."
"Might be the robes," noted Kisame. "You know that some of our fellows have been kind of casual with the body count."
"Hmph," said Itachi, considering that and finding it likely. If they'd heard of some of the excesses that Sasori and Deidara committed, like that one village.
"You thinking about Beachcomber Town?" asked Kisame.
"Yes, apparently it has gotten our reputation about, even if they don't know we're Akatsuki," said Itachi with a slight shrug. "Then they won't get in our way."
"Any idea what it is?' asked Kisame as he looked around. "Some odd power, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's one of the Tailed Beasts."
"That's what we're here to find out," said Itachi as he looked around him with his Sharingan.
"Large hot spring, stones for sitting on," noted Kisame as they continued on. "What are the bamboo poles for?"
"Probably balancing practice for martial artists," said Itachi.
"They look a little flimsy for that," said Kisame. "Huh. Someone left their lunch."
"Yes, I got the impression that they retreated quickly," said Itachi. "There's something odd about the water itself."
"Hmmmm, roast beef, spicy mustard, fresh tomatoes," said Kisame between bites, "slight peppery taste. I hope they stay away, I'd hate to have to kill someone who can make sammiches like this."
"Hmmm," said Itachi, spotting something like a chessboard set up across the hot spring. There was another abandoned lunch there, hastily so. Ice cubes still floated in the drink, which he could clearly see through the mists with his Sharingan. "There's another over there. We might have to go chase someone down just to get a few answers."
"Achoooo! I don't see why everyone makes all the fuss," said Deidara, griping as he blew his nose.
Sasori eyed the pink lace-festooned hankerchief Deidara was using and thought pleasant thoughts about thrusting various sharp and painful instruments into his partner's body. Those sorts of thoughts being extremely common, Sasori merely reminded his partner of the actual facts of the matter. "You blew up half the town because the waitress brought you a Diet Mountain Breeze instead of a regular Mountain Breeze."
"They were implying I was fat," huffed Deidara.
Sasori gave up.
"So, Naruto," said Hiashi Hyuga, looking out over the garden. "Hinata has indicated that she finds you interesting."
"Oh, uhm, really," asked Naruto. How was this guy covering his mind in a sheet of ice? His thoughts weren't coming across, and most of his emotions were muted.
"If you are going to pursue a relationship with Hinata, I must inform you of the... problem with women of the Hyuga clan," said Hiashi. "This is under the strictest confidence of course."
"Err of course," said Naruto, who had just caught a flash of embarassment - which seemed just so at odds with the overall picture and his brief meeting of the man before.
"The secret of the Hyuga clan women is that they," began Hiashi Hyuga.
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(Posted Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:35)
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