Chapter 86.2- One Thousand Hands

“I think you might be operating under a misconception” Uraume said. She probably didn’t think there was any room for civility.

“Be that as it may, my will be done” I said, and gestured to Inoken to proceed. He whipped out a syringe and stuck it in her neck before tapping her forehead.

I didn’t have my byakugan active, so it was difficult to tell when she would become conscious. I listened for any change in breathing or motion, and heard nothing. Nothing at least until she sprung up faster than most with a kunai from her sleeves aimed at my throat. She froze mid-step, shadow leading back to Shikahime. How interesting.

“I never knew civilians could move so fast. Is that some sort of samurai training?” I asked, peering closer and activating my byakugan.

“That is what I was trying to tell you. From what we can tell, she hails from the black ops of their black ops. The anbu within anbu, if you would. The civilian story was a cover up. And one planted so thoroughly and cleverly that even our spies bought it bones and all” Uraume said. With my byakugan, I could see a fully developed chakra network that matched up to Uraume’s words perfectly. Easily as much chakra as I would expect from a combat focused Jounin, and all the signs of training in chakra use.

“How fascinating. Well, release her, Shika. We can speak now” I said.

Shika gave me a doubtful look. What was with my own shinobi and doubting my orders. Still, she unclasped her hands, deactivating the shadow possession, and the second she did so, the kunai shot from the woman’s hand like a missile honed for my neck. I caught it mid-air and before she could take a third step, I pressed down with my chakra.

She stopped dead. For all her training, Jounin was still jounin. And I hadn’t been Jounin-level in years.

“I hoped we would be civilized, Tsuchikage-dono” I said.

“I am sure we can still be. Sit, and we will talk. You might want to go out with a bang here, die by my hands just like your husband, but I ask you what that will achieve? When you could do so much more for your people. When your son lies in my custody.” At the last sentence, I could tell I had her. So I pulled back my chakra.

She stayed still, staring daggers at me while she clenched her fist. I wondered what she had in her mind now— probably wished she was stronger so she could kill me. Sadly she wasn’t. And so she wouldn’t be coming close even.

“What do you want?” She ground the words out, tasting every one and hating it.

“Terms of peace” I said, not even offended at the way she immediately barked out a laugh.

“You have killed my husband, captured my son, destroyed my village, and now you speak of peace?”

“Exactly. And because I have done those things, when I speak, you will listen because you don’t have any choice in the matter”

“I could choose to die. Because we will only have peace over my dead body.”