Chapter 100 - Interlude 6: Hayate Gekko (2)

"Our ally is someone you would never think it would be," Kabuto said calmly.

"This is important..." - Hayate murmured as he wrote down at full speed everything he had heard. "I wish they would talk more about their plan, but after gathering all this information, it is obvious that they plan to invade Konoha"

"Shiki... I want you to give this report to Hiruzen-sama" - Hayate said seriously. He had decided to retire for the day because the information he had gathered was more than sufficient. He had not only verified the suspicions of the Hokage regarding possible hostile action by their ally Suna, but he had also obtained information regarding the involvement of one of the high commanders of Konoha and his clandestine organization.

"You know, Orochimaru-sama surprised me when he said that the once-venerable Yellow Flash of Konoha would join our cause," Kabuto said as he burst out laughing. " Who would have thought that a man who was considered a hero would end up in such a state?"

"!" - Hayate was surprised when he heard this. He never thought he'd hear Minato's name in a place like this, especially knowing he's in prison and with his chakra network completely sealed off.

"Minato?"- Baki asked - "I'm sure he was locked up and sealed"

"That's right... but let's say we have certain connections in Konoha and he gave us a free hand to contact that idiot," Kabuto said with a smile on his face.

"I have to admit that he is a great help to our cause," nodded the Sunanin.

"I have to warn Hiruzen-sama about this," said Hayate as he prepared to leave, but when he turned around, he noticed how a sword was just a few inches from his face.

"Impressive that you made it this far, Jonin..." - said the Otonin in front of him - "We wouldn't have noticed if your heartbeat hadn't accelerated"

"Who's there?!" - Baki and Kabuto quickly left the room and saw the man in front of them.

"Hayate Gekko... the examiner from the Third Exam" - said Kabuto as he looked at the sick Jonin - "What a surprise to have you at our little meeting"

". . ." - Hayate was only silence as he watched the two traitors.

"Nothing to say before you die?" - Baki asked.

"I will not fall so easily," replied Konoha's Jonin as he cautiously retreated, he was in enemy territory, after all.

"That is not very original," said Kabuto as he arranged his glasses. Slowly a cool smile began to creep upon his face as he looked at the man in front of him with amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Why did you betray Konoha?" - Hayate asked as he looked at Baki.

"For many reasons but I'd better not explain them," Baki replied. "It is obvious that you are trying to waste our time... I would not be surprised if you managed to ask for help"

". . ." - Hayate was only silence as he watched a large group of hostile shinobis begin to surround him.

"I'll be honest with you, I don't like the idea of killing a shinobi with numbers, but we have to end this quickly" - sighed the Sunanin - "Attack!"

"Let's see... 2 in front of me, 5 behind me and 4 on the sides..." - Hayate murmured as he looked seriously at his surroundings - "An open balcony at 12... all or nothing..."

Hayate quickly pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it to the ground to hide his movements.

"Use wind jutsus! Quickly!" - exclaimed Baki as he made hand seals.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" - exclaimed Konoha's Jonin as he took up his trusty sword - "It's time I showed you why I am known as one of Konoha's most promising swordsmen! Mikazuki no Mai!"

"!" - Baki was surprised to see that 3 Hayate were all around him and were speeding towards his location - "ARGH!"

"Ok... one down..." - Hayate murmured as he saw one of his enemies lying dead on the ground.

"What?!" - exclaimed Konoha's Jonin as he leaped to the right as he stood on guard again.

"I have to admit my ability to create illusions, it's a bit inferior to the Kurenai Yuhi... though it' s good enough to catch you" - said Kabuto as he created a chakra scalpel with his hand - "Now... how about we start round two?"

". . ." - Hayate just squinted. He hadn't even felt the change in the environment chakra that all of Genjutsu produces.

"It's simple, the truth is that Orochimaru-sama injected me with the DNA of a 'missing' member of the Kurama clan, so my affinity with the Illusions increased considerably," Kabuto said calmly. " As a bonus, I'm only telling you this because I'm completely sure of your fate"

". . ." - Hayate pressed his sword even harder as he looked at the two Jonin in front of him. The other shinobis were at a safe distance because they understood that if they attacked blindly, it would only be an unnecessary sacrifice.

"Why don't you give up, Hayate Gekko?" - Baki asked as he drew his katana from his seal - "At least this way I can give you an honorable death"

"I'm sorry... I'd rather keep fighting with all my strength" - answered Hayate while creating two other clones - "At least this way, I'll be able to take one or many of you with me"

"An admirable attitude, I must say," Baki nodded as he lunged at his opponent.

"Hya!" - Hayate exclaimed as the two blades clashed sharply.

"What are you waiting for?" - Kabuto asked, "Attack!"

"Hai!" - exclaimed the other shinobis as they threw themselves at Konoha's Jonin.

"I don't think it's a good idea for them to get into the original's fight" - said one of the clones as he threw himself at the hostile shinobis.

"I'll take care of Kabuto," said the other clone as he ran with his sword against Kabuto.

"I feel you are underestimating me a little," snorted Orochimaru's right-hand man. "I may not look like it, but my rank is at least Anbu"

* * * * *

"Not bad" - said Baki as his sword again clashed with the enemy Jonin's - "I praise your fighting spirit and although I regret having to do this..."

"Ugh..." - Hayate complained as he felt something stinging his body. He quickly felt all his strength go out - "What... you did to me..."

"A traditional Suna poison..." - replied Baki as he looked at one of the shinobis in the distance. While he was fighting Hayate, he had managed to throw a container with the dart in it to his ally, so he would finish it off quickly - "As I said before, I am not proud to defeat you with this trick"

". . ." - Hayate only gritted his teeth when he felt the clone who was fighting Kabuto explode from the attack of the 'Genin' Traitor's chakra scalpel.

"Are you done yet?" - Kabuto asked as he watched Hayate lay on the floor still conscious - "Do you want me to do it?"

"No... I'll do it myself" - said Baki as he took his sword firmly and used it to penetrate the heart of the Jonin.

"Yugao... chan..." - thought Hayate. All the memories he had of his girlfriend, passed through his mind. How they met, how they spent their days at the academy, how they started their relationship, how they practiced together, how they decided to live together despite his illness, how... how they had done it for the first time - "I... I'm sorry..."

"Let's go," said Kabuto. " It is possible that Konoha's shinobis are about to arrive"

That said, they both disappeared along with Oto's troops.

After a few minutes, a group of Anbus arrived at the location, only to see the still-warm body of Tokubetsu no Jonin.

"This is not good..." - Tora muttered as he looked at the man who was lying inert on the ground. . ."

"Sir..." - said another Anbu.

"Take the body of our companion..." - Tora said coldly - "We have to inform Hiruzen-sama about what we found..."

"Hai" - the Anbu nodded as half of them searched the area.

* * * * *

"What... is this pain in my c.h.e.s.t?" - asked a beautiful woman with purple hair. Her name was Yugao or better known as Anbu Neko and she had returned home after her shift was over.

*Crash!*

"!" - Yugao quickly ran in the direction where he'd heard the noise, only to see how the picture she'd taken with her boyfriend Hayate was now truncated at the part where he was - "No..."

*Knock Knock*

Yugao quickly ran to the door, only to see one of her companions waiting - "Tora?"

"Neko... Hiruzen-sama requires your presence..." - Tora said in a cold tone but she could detect sadness and pain.

"What is it, Tora?!" - Yugao exclaimed with concern. She could feel her heart pounding.

"I'm sorry, Neko... you'll know when you get to Hiruzen-sama" - answered Tora as she disappeared.

". . ." - Yugao gritted her teeth as she left her home, though when she reached her destination, she wished she had never left her home.

It was at this very moment that all the shinobi clans of Konoha received two notices.

First, tomorrow there would be an important meeting that could define the fate of Konoha.

Second... Tokubetsu no Jonin, Hayate Gekko... had died on a mission inside Konoha...

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Chapter 111 available in Pa treon