Nine

Author: princessgolux
Title: Nine
Fandom: Naruto
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I gain no profit from this story.
Chapter Pairings: implied Mizuki/Yashamaru, implied Ibiki/Mizuki
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Story Rating: NC-17
Chapter Warnings: AU/AR; cussing
A/N: Aargh! The chapter that would not be written! Cripes. This is the third version of this chapter and I sincerely hope you like it. I like it, but it took for-fucking-ever to put together. Here’s the minor character info: http:/ www dot leafninja dot com /biographies-A dot php#amachi

Many thanks to Ryu Earth and 24CaratCoal! Sorry it took so long! I’ll try to have the next chapter out more quickly!


Chapter Fourteen: Arrival

Kado City, Steel Country
521 A.T.D


“And you’re certain that the instruments for the ceremony are pure silver?” Mizuki frowned at Nagare’s reflection in the mirror as Hokushin slid the tailored suit jacket onto his Master’s arms and settled the fabric along the shoulders. “Nothing cheap. It must all be made from the purest metal.”

“Yeah, Touji-sama.” Nagare assured him, coming forward with a small wooden box. “We got a source, straight from Silver Country, who looked the stuff over for us.”

“She has an affinity for silver. It runs in her blood.” Hokushin added, carefully selecting a pair of cufflinks from the box Nagare held out. “It makes her an excellent fence. The prospect of potentially gaining the trust of the Organization was a powerful incentive for her to vet everything we brought to her.”

He offered the jewelry to his Master who frowned at the selection and shook his head.

“And I trust she also understands the penalties for failure?” Mizuki shook his head again at the next pair of cufflinks before accepting the third set presented to him. “I should hate to be in her shoes should the ceremony be postponed due to a lack of truthfulness on her part.”

The skin around Hokushin’s eyes tightened minutely, but he answered smoothly. “I believe we...impressed upon her sufficiently the...repercussions...of dissatisfaction.”

“Good.” Mizuki studied his image critically. “How soon are they arriving?”

Nagare consulted his internal clock. “I think we got about an hour before they get here, unless they’ve picked up speed since the last scout’s report.”

“Let’s assume they have.” Mizuki said, turning around and peering at himself, checking line and fit. “I find that it’s better to be waiting than to allow them to surprise you. I’ve seen people killed for less.”

Satisfied with his appearance, Mizuki turned to his men.

“Nagare.”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

“Go make certain that that quack of a doctor is ready to administer the sedatives as soon as I give the word, then do a final check of all the security points. Nothing moves in, out, or around this building while our guests are here unless I – or they’ve - expressly ordered it. Understood?”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

“Make sure Himawari is dressed appropriately. If necessary, find someone trusted to escort him to Madame Mitsurugi to be made decent - before the guests arrive, of course. He is to speak to no one and he may not return to his apartment. If he resists, kill him. That little animal of his is a disgrace anyway.”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

“Hokushin.”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

“Do a final check of the ceremonial chamber now, and then again a half-hour before midnight, which is the appointed time for the ritual. Make sure all instruments and supplies necessary for tonight’s festivities are untouched since they were cleansed and that all is in readiness.”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

“And then bring Yashamaru to me outside. He will greet our guests with us.”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

Both men bowed and turned to go.

“Wait.” Mizuki said abruptly. Nagare and Hokushin turned to find their Master staring at them intently.

“One more thing.” He said, and the seriousness in his voice brought the hairs on their necks pricking up. “You are not to show any emotion at all around them. Nothing. Understand? Not approval, not distaste, neither happiness nor sadness. You must be a blank, as opaque as one whose emotions had been disconnected by a Collar. Of everything else we have talked about, this is the most important.”

“Touji-sama...?” Nagare began uncertainly, but Hokushin interrupted him. “Of course, Touji-sama. We must not give the appearance of approval nor of disapproval – we don’t have the right to either. It is not our place to agree or disagree with the decisions made by Akatsuki. We are servants. Our only concern is carrying out our orders.”

“Correct.” Mizuki nodded firmly. “Excellent. Meet me in front in thirty minutes, gentlemen.”

“Don’t be late.”

Iruka watched absently as Kyuu-chan raced through the newest obstacle course, hurling plastic shuriken at targets situated around the room. His mind worried over the strange tension in the air. What the fuck was Mizuki up to? The building was practically deserted. Even the usual guards were gone, replaced by hard looking men utterly unfamiliar to him. In the past two years he’d gained a certain amount of latitude, a certain amount of freedom.

Which, of course, had been his aim.

Once he’d established that ‘Daisuke’ was easygoing and loyal, the majority of the other Akatsuki employees were quite friendly and Iruka had managed to gather quite a bit of intelligence about the structure of the massive underground complex he worked in. Although from the outside it looked like an unobtrusive and somewhat dilapidated office building, under the streets of Kado it sprawled like an intricate maze of steel tunnels and guarded reinforced chambers, a labyrinth explicitly designed to contain the ‘monsters’ at it’s center.

‘Monsters’ like the six-year-old boy finishing his morning exercise thirty yards away.

“Sensei! Sensei! How was my time?” Kyuu-chan sprinted toward him, blond hair darkening with sweat at his temples and against the back of his neck.

“Not good enough.” Iruka said, shaking off his absorption and resetting his stopwatch. “Again.”

“Awwww!” Kyuu-chan whined. “But, Sensei...”

“No ‘buts’, Kyuu-chan.” Iruka said firmly. “You were almost thirty seconds slower than your final time yesterday. Plus, you only hit the center of four of your targets, and you missed two of them completely.”

“Can’t I use real shuriken?” Kyuu-chan begged.

Iruka gave a theatrical shudder. “I haven’t gotten that tired of teaching yet. When your aim improves. Until then, let’s stick with something that can’t kill me, ne?”

He grinned at the boy to take the sting out of his words. Kyuu-chan looked exasperated, but his blue eyes were frustrated, not defeated.

“Fine then, Sensei. I’ll hit all of the perfectly this time.” He said determinedly. “You’ll see. Then you’ll give me real shuriken.”

“If you can hit all the targets correctly every time for a week,” Iruka corrected him, “then I will give you real weapons.”

“But Sensei...!” Kyuu-chan objected.

“Two weeks.”

“But...!”

Iruka put his hands on his hips, exasperated, and bent down to look his indignant student directly in the eyes.

“One more word and no ramen this week!”

“Awwwwwww!” Kyuu-chan gave an inarticulate whine and glared at his teacher, but he didn’t say anything.

Iruka straightened up, but didn’t break eye contact. “Good. Let’s take the course again. For this round, don’t worry about the time. Concentrate on accuracy.”

“Got it!” Kyuu-chan loped to the starting mark and stopped, waiting for the signal.

“Go.” Iruka marked the time as he spoke, then looked up to check his pupil’s progress.

The boy stood completely still, poised in a starting position as if frozen in place.

“Well you’re not going to hit any targets just standing there, kiddo.” Iruka called out, stopping and resetting the timer. “OK, go ahead. I’m ready.”

Kyuu-chan didn’t move.

“Is this about the ramen?” Iruka asked, annoyed. “Look, you’re fine. Ramen tomorrow, as usual.”

No response.

“Unless you keep this up.” Iruka was beginning to get pissed. “In which case we might have to re-think the whole ‘ramen’ thing, won’t we?”

No response at all, and now Iruka was feeling the first ripples of worry washing through him.

“Kyuu-chan?” Iruka asked tentatively, coming forward to peer into the young boy’s face. “Hey, Kyuu...”

A small, chubby hand shot out and gripped the front of Iruka’s t-shirt. Crimson eyes bored into his wide green ‘Daisuke’ eyes, centuries of knowledge and hate heavy behind them. Iruka’s muscles locked and he reflexively caught his breath, staring at the demon wearing the little boy’s face.

Although he hadn’t heard that heavy, old, cruel voice in two years, he found it was just as terrifying as he’d remembered.

“Playtime’s over, Sensei.” Kyuubi said grimly. “I hope you have a plan, because our time is up.”


Although it was midday, a dirty haze of cold mist hung over the small welcoming party. Mizuki breathed on his hands to warm them. Even through his fine kidskin gloves the late winter chill numbed his fingers. Also, the movement gave him something to do with his hands, a way of fidgeting without seeming to fidget. Excitement sang along his nerves, sending electric anticipation prickling across his skin.

Yashamaru stood just behind his right shoulder and Hokushin and Nagare were behind him to his left. Six other guards, most of them chuunin level nuke-nin from various countries, ranged about the small stretch of sidewalk in front of the rundown building that served as their headquarters. They could all practically smell the tension in the grey winter air, thick as a gathering thunderstorm.

Mizuki frowned as a familiar scent wafted past his nose. An evergreen aroma that brought to mind memories of pine trees, the feel of rough bark against his back and sticky sap against his skin. Shameful lust rose in him, a shiver of past desire the scent evoked, so strong that his anger couldn’t entirely drown it out, no matter what.

He clenched his fists, phantom hands gripping his wrists and touching him intimately, aggressively, possessively.

Ibiki’s hands.

Shit. He gritted his teeth. When will that bastard finally leave me alone?

“There it is!” One of the guards called out, and everybody turned to look.

A carriage came into view at the end of the long street. Pulling it were four identical men, all with the barrel chest and muscular hindquarters of a horse. Each had thick blond hair that grew down his neck and shoulders. Heavy silken strands floated behind them like manes.

As the vehicle approached, the guard with the pine scent gasped. “What in all the hells are those?”

“Yashamaru.” Mizuki murmured.

Yashamaru gave a sharp nod and blurred out of sight. There was a wet crunch and the guard cried out again, this time in shock and pain. The guard next to him stepped back as his comrade crumpled to the ground. Before his movement was complete, Yashamaru was behind him, kunai angled against his neck.

“Two things to remember.” Mizuki said casually, turning to watch the rapidly approaching carriage. “First, movement and sound attract predators. I warned you all against it already, haven’t I? Second, I am far more merciful than my master. Keep that in mind and you may survive his visit.”

All four of the other guards straightened to attention, eyes fixed rigidly forward.

“Good.” Mizuki nodded, adding, “Let him go, Yashamaru.”

Yashamaru blurred into the exact space he’d left.

“Clean that up.” Mizuki ordered the shaken guard, who was rubbing his neck with a trembling hand. “And don’t come back.”

The terrified guard gulped and nodded. He gathered up the limp body of his fellow unfortunate and was gone in a poof of displaced air.

“Hokushin.” Mizuki said. “Kill him later.”

“Yes, Touji-sama.”

The carriage was almost upon them. Mizuki smiled.

His master had arrived.


“What do you mean?” Iruka demanded.

“There’s no time to explain.” Kyuubi snarled. “There’s a sorcerer coming. Whatever he’s here for can’t be good, for either of us.”

“W...what do I do?”

“Get us out of here!”

“I can’t!” Iruka cried. “If it were that simple, we’d be back in Konoha already!”

“Faugh!” Kyuubi shoved the ninja away, hard. Iruka stumbled back, falling to the ground. “You’re fucking useless!”

“I did what you asked!” Iruka yelled, scrambling to his feet. “Kyuu-chan is far stronger than he was before. If the situation is as bad as you say, then blaming me isn’t going to help you, is it? You’re a demon. You must have some power here, no matter how little. Between us maybe...”

“He’s too young, too small. Too weak.” Kyuubi said, disgusted.

“He’s stronger than you think.” Iruka said, glaring at him. “He’s stronger than anyone thinks. And even if it costs me my life I will get him out of here.”

“You just said you couldn’t.” Kyuubi sneered.

Iruka balled his hands into fists and took a step forward.

“Fuck.” Kyuubi swore, his blond head snapping up to stare at the ceiling. “We don’t have time for this. That fucking sorcerer can smell me, just like I can smell him. I have to go back.”

“Then...he knows you’re here?”

“No, not yet.” Kyuubi shook his head, lip curling in a derisive smirk. “He’s not a very good sorcerer. He can’t feel me from this distance. Probably some minor talent being used by a powerful ninja. In exchange for money and prestige he spins parlor tricks and licks the guy’s ass...”

“Language, please.” Iruka said, exasperated. “Remember, you’re six.”

Kyuubi turned and stared at him, then threw back his head and laughed. It was an honest laugh, clean and strong, unlike anything Iruka had heard previously from the demon, and Iruka’s mouth twitched despite the seriousness of the occasion.

“Oh, Sensei.” Kyuubi chuckled. “I like you.”

Still laughing a bit, he held up one small hand and made a fist. He looked at it as his laughter subsided and he seemed to come to some decision.

“You’re right.” He said grudgingly. “The kid’s not as weak as he seems. We may have a shot.”

“What can I do?”

“I don’t know yet.” Kyuubi’s face became completely serious again. “I don’t know what the situation is, and I don’t know what that fu...that sorcerer is planning.”

“Whatever happens, stick with the kid. Watch for my signal. What needs to be done will reveal itself, I think.”

“Remember this.” He stared intently at Iruka. “Blood is the key. Blood is the foundation of sorcery, the foundation of magic itself. Blood is life.”

“But also remember this. Blood is nothing without love.”

The red faded from his eyes and Kyuu-chan was blinking up at him out of huge, confused blue eyes.

“Sensei...?”

The door hissed open and Iruka spun around.

“Himawari.” One of the new guards was standing there, hand on his gun.

Iruka sidled to his right a little, placing himself between the guard and his protégé.

“What do you want?”

“The subject is to escorted back to his room.” The guard said unemotionally.

“The lesson isn’t finished yet. We’ve barely been here an hour.”

“Boss’ orders. Kid goes to his room and you go to Madame Mitsurugi.”

“What’s the occasion?” Iruka’s mind raced, frantically weighing his options. He needed to get backup. He needed to get a message out. “I’ve got fancy clothes at my apartment. Let me just...”

“Sorry, Himawari.” The guard shook his head, his eyes hard. “Orders are you get an escort out the back way. They want you polished up for our visitors.”

“Visitors?”

“High-ranking Akatsuki guys. I don’t know. I don’t ask questions.” The guard leaned forward. “They want you fancied up before the inspection or whatever, so get a move on.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Iruka gave an easy ‘Daisuke’ smile and watched the other guards come up to escort Kyuu-chan away.

Kyuu-chan’s eyes were wide and fearful. He looked at Iruka as he left, silently begging.

“Don’t worry, Kyuu-chan.” Iruka held his gaze, willing him to stay quiet. “I’ll be back, OK?”

Kyuu-chan blinked back tears.

“O...ok.”

And he was gone.

“All right.” Iruka motioned grandly. “Let’s go get me dolled up for the party, shall we?”


The carriage door opened and Mizuki’s master stepped out. A smaller man swathed in a cloak and hood followed. Once they were on the ground the entire carriage folded itself up and resolved into the short, squat figure of his master’s partner.

“Welcome, Orochimaru-sama, Sasori-sama, Master Sorcerer Amachi.” Mizuki bowed to each man in turn. “Welcome to the Steel County Facilities. I hope you had a pleasant journey?”

“It was fine.” Sasori’s voice was guttural and edged. “I trust everything is in readiness? I hate waiting.”

“The chamber has been prepared to Master Amachi’s specifications, as have the instruments and the various herbs and oils for the ritual.” Mizuki said. “I was just waiting for you gentlemen to arrive to sedate the One Tail.”

“And the Nine Tail? How has he progressed?” Orochimaru asked, his oily rasp like snakeskin over dead leaves.

“To be frank, Orochimaru-sama, I haven’t seen much progress over the last two years. I’m sorely disappointed in Himawari. He seems to be obsessed with the basics, but unwilling to push the subject beyond that.” Mizuki shook his head sorrowfully. “Given the subject’s lack of intelligence or talent, however, I’m not even entirely certain that he’s wrong to do so.”

“My recommendation is that we terminate Nine and find a higher-quality vessel.”

“Amachi?” Orochimaru’s eyes slid to his cloaked sorcerer.

“Actually it might be better this way.” The sorcerer said, his words clear despite his face being hidden deep inside his voluminous hood. “The demon holds the memories of all the assassins and shinobi he’s been bound to over the last century, since the legendary assassin we know only as the Fox first bound their souls together. If we can control the physical form of the body with a Collar, it might be easier just to suppress the original personality completely. Which would probably be easier if the host has little to no original training to overwrite.”

“Hou...” Orochimaru sounded amused. “It sounds like this teacher you found has been training a demon-carrier. Not an assassin. How nice of him.”

“But, Orochimaru-sama,” Mizuki said, uncertainly, “He doesn’t know the subject is a demon-carrier. We told them that it was an experiment in genetic modification.”

“Then he’s either lazy or he’s a spy.” Sasori said, unconcerned. “It doesn’t matter either way.”

“I’ll have him killed immediately.” Mizuki said, his face hard and angry.

“No need.” Orochimaru said lightly, smiling a little. “We discovered while Collaring the Two Tail that a human sacrifice is necessary for the final stage of the ritual. Having the man at the ceremony will calm the Nine Tail while we subdue the One Tail. Then we can use him for the last part, and provide an object lesson for the Nine Tail at the same time.”

His yellow-green eyes, slitted like a snakes, glittered with amusement.

“Tonight’s festivities should be fun. Don’t you think so?”

Mizuki smirked and bowed low.

“Yes, My Master.”