ungainly requite of discourse

"But sooner enough, it will be."

It didn't came out a threat, but as a warning.

"Yamato!" Kakashi cued.

On it.

Instead of voicing it out, Yamato did hand seals.

Akane only watched the wood fastly crawling towards her from the ground, unfazed. Soon, the wood took hold of her. Still expressionless, unmoving, and unimpressed—even if how the sturdy wood held her in captivity. All of her limbs were securely bound, especially her hands and wrists to prevent her from weaving seals.

Her visitors watched her gravely, appearing so pensive, and seemed flustered as well. All of them, though, shared a look of distress.

The whole team remained vigilant expecting any resistance soon. And at the back of their minds, they were tempted to let their guards down; she had an extremely disinterest to what was happening.

"Mmhm," the scarlet-headed only crooned nonchalantly, "so you're the wood guy they've been talking about?"

"Nice to meet you, then? It's nice to know that someone has been talking about me," Yamato spoke with a sarcasm on his tone, "even though we didn't meet at that night of your rampage."

Akane scoffed, "If we met back then, you won't be here by now." He was pertaining to the massacre in the ANBU Headquarters. "And perhaps, you might as well wish if we didn't meet today."

Yamato took it quite personally when he saw how she grinned tauntingly, underestimating him.

"Aren't you pretty arrogant? It's not a good trait, y'know?" he said with a grit to his voice and then he clasped his hands tighter to strengthen his jutsu.

The wood around Akane tensed, squeezing her flesh so hard that she heard some of her bones cracked.

"Aw." It was the first time she expressed something, but still, she was seen to be indifferent.

Is she always that catatonic?

Why is she making any effort to escape?

If it's a Kage Bunshin, it would have already puffed right now.

What's the deal with this woman?

All of them were confused by the oddity of that female Akatsuki . . . She wasn't as hostile and psychotic as the other members.

"Don't get distracted!" It was as if Kakashi heard all the fuss from the young ones' thoughts. "She's clearly looking down on us."

The smirk on her face stretched, eyes forming slants. "As expected of Kakashi-san, you know me well enough."

It didn't hurt her much. Despite having an average female frame, she had tough and dense muscles.

Akane looked at the solid wood wrapped around her. There was a slight imbalance to her chakra now, and whenever she covered herself with chakra, it would end up being absorbed.

How unpleasant.

She then focused her chakra to her right arm, clenching her muscles, and in one stroke, she broke free from the wood shackles.

Yet Yamato was adaptive enough even that startled him a bit, quickly using his technique again to have the wood branched out and restrained her again.

She broke the wood with bare hands?

What an impressive strength.

It was as if Akane read through them. "If you are a natural-born Wood Release user, it'll be a lot more difficult to break, ne?" and she smiled subtly.

"And you're re saying?"

"It's weak." A flat-out insult. "But it could be proven useful."

With that, again, Yamato, tightened the wooden grasps on her.

Akane only sighed, "This is pointless." He'd probably repeat the process if she'd break those again. "You know, the only thing that appalls me is that you've mastered the Wood Release without feeling guilty . . . You, a genetically experimented human being, aren't you ashamed for the ones who died before you?"

It felt like an indirect punch to his guts. His eyes widened and mouth left open as if he was racked with pain.

"Despite that, you still worship the every footstep those foolish leaders had walked upon like a good old puppet." Smiling strangely, she stared straight ahead just to see his devastated face. "A word of advise, though–" she touched the wood with her a finger– "you should stay away from the Akatsuki; just like a puppet made out of wood, you are too easy to manipulate."

Right on the word, Akane activated her Lightning chakra. Wood was not very good conductors of electricity, but Wood Release was a combination of Earth and Water Releases; therefore, lightning could travel on water and was strong against earth.

Thus, the electricity raced through it, generating up to million volts and thousand temperatures high. For someone who would be unlucky enough to be hit by it, it would be all over, but Yamato immediately disconnected himself from it.

The wood instantly gained steam from the inside, which causing it to explode.

Now they had seen one of her abilities, and it appeared that Wood Release would never contain her—that what was other's thinking. Shikamaru didn't. Immediately, not wasting any seconds, he used his Kageshibari no Jutsu, and now, he was the one restraining her.

Another sigh was escaped from Akane, "Mendokuse," and said with a heavy dismayed voice.

Shikamaru almost grimaced at the sound of it, as if he heard himself. "It's troublesome indeed, why don't you just turn yourself in already?"

Nara brat.

She rolled her eyes sideways. "Thanks, but not happening."

On the other hand, Yamato redeemed himself again as he cast another jutsu to hold her down.

"Nice, Shikamaru!" Yamato commended, and the young Nara just nodded.

All the while, Kakashi spoke to the other captain, saying, "You too, Yamato. Don't listen to her; she has a harsh way with words, but never let them get into you."

"I know too well, senpai," he responded. Her reasonings weren't empty and Yamato certainly get what she meant. He had lived this far carrying a survivor's guilt and he wouldn't just lay those lives went before him to waste.

Akane's shoulders dropped, sighing once again.

"So persistent. Don't like it." Displease was starting to get a lot more obvious in each minute. "Did all of you come here just to restrain me?"

"That's a part of the plan," Shikamaru replied.

She smirked, "Did they tell you who I am?"

"Of course–" the young man's demeanor went dark– "a mass murderer."

She felt so amused. "What a cruel accusations," and she uttered playfully.

No matter how they looked at he, she appeared unaffected, showing no signs of apprehension or worry. A composure was so reassuring, yet they could feel only more worried.

"You really went back to your original appearance, huh?" Kakashi said as if he was greeting her again.

"Oh, how I wonder why?" she sneered, laughing lowly.

"You know the reason why."

Akane rejoiced at the bitterness Kakashi showed. "I'm wanted criminal known as 'Kyo', y'see, and going back to my real looks gave so much advantage." They were just watching her with astonishment—how she didn't mind the shadow binds and wood shackles squashing her. "You all didn't want to tarnish the Fourth Hokage's image. The fact that Akane Namikaze, his one and only daughter, is an international criminal and mass murderer . . . What a plot twist, don't you think?"

"SHUT UP!"

Akane panned her attention to a boisterous voice that cut off every meaning of amusing to the lady.

"Do you think that's funny, ttebayo?! Don't you have any regards left to your dad?!"

Akane's defined presence weighed heavily upon those in the higanbana fields.

"No," she returned, eyes intently gazing at him, unblinking. "As a matter of fact, I hope he'll rot in hell forever, for all the fucks I care."

"Why you—!"

Naruto couldn't hold his temper, thus he approached her with huge strides. Kakashi was only quick enough to subdue him.

"Calm down, Naruto!" Kakashi said while pulling him by his tracksuit.

"I don't care who you are! It doesn't matter if you're the Yondaime's daughter or if you're a woman! I'm going to beat you up and knock your brain to realization!"

A noisy brat as always.

"Why do you care about that man? He's the most horrible hokage ever lived, don't you know?"

"What do you mean most horrible hokage?" Naruto rebutted. "He saved the village from the Kyuubi even if it would cost him his life!"

That part hit a nerve to Akane. And out of annoyance, a couple of veins and arteries had protruded on her face and neck area.

"That's the thing," she spoke darkly, her lips barely moved, "he died."

Ignorance was the only thing pissed her off.

It was when something struck Naruto in his chest. The words he wanted to retaliate remained on his throat. Maybe, he told himself, the reason why she was like that was because the village took her father away from her. He also knew how the Fourth Hokage died . . . And the fact that the Kyuubi was sealed in him . . . Now he understood why she called him the most horrible hokage.

At that sober moment, Akane, who had remained as still on her seat, added:

"He knew that there are other surging chief problems in the village. Hell, he even had the very chances to survive, but the asshole decided to die instead. It's like, he chose death to run away from his duties—a real shame."

"Give it a break, Akane." Kakashi decided to reproach her. "Sensei wasn't a hokage very long and didn't do anything that put the village in jeopardy."

"Glad you assured that he didn't do anything," she chuckled.

"That's not the point." He glared at her.

"Okay, I'll consider your reasoning, but the one who took the position after his death also did nothing." It was clear from her expression that nothing could persuade her now. "Hiruzen Sarutobi, a downright garbage. I'm glad that he died already—the least honorable thing he could do."

"How could you make fun of someone's death?" Ino couldn't handle any of her contemptuous remarks.

"Why not?" Akane said cunningly. "His death is something worthy to be celebrated."

"You foul-mouthed—!" Ino incredulously said. "Even if you don't approve Sandaime's works, you should at least pay some respect!"

"Why should I? That old man had always turned a blind eye from anything. And I expect you all to be aware of it."

"Aware of what?"

For them, the Sandaime was always thank kind and gentle Hokage. And he was loved by everyone. It was a different case from Akane. She viewed Hiruzen as an incompetent leader, if not, heartless for never doing anything about all the shits the Foundation orchestrated.

"Sigh, the fact that you are unaware despairs me." She could only croon.

At length, the wind blew. Ever so calmly, but her feeling of gloom was never lifted, and she leaned her head back against the tree trunk, leisurely sitting in front of the spectators.

"All right," Akane prompted again, "how about I ask you a question?" She carried on when nobody responded to her. "What defines your worth as a shinobi?"

For them, there were numerous answers encircling their thoughts. They knew what was their worth as a shinobi, and it didn't matter the scarlet lady.

Soft cackles lingered on her throat; she found it quite amusing that no one was talking to her, but she knew their ears were on her, so, she continued her soliloquy.

"'Blood', okay? It is your blood that defines your worth." She maintained a smile that never deserted her lips. "Right the moment you were born, people must have professed—countless times you could remember—the talent you hold. And that talent was meant to be honed like your blades."

Everyone in the field exchanged glances first, before they watched the Akatsuki lady spoke again.

"Don't you find it tragic? At the very young age, they're letting you to hold a blade? And that talent, what it is for? For peace? Was is it really for peace? Or it's just the higher-ups to fan their vanity? Or just for a show?"

Kakashi's mind receded to when Akane vandalized the Hokage Rock and how it only made sense now.

Here lies the faces of the hypocrites who singlehandedly ruined one's life, who claimed they saved humanity to gratify their own altruistic narcissism.

"The village is just nurturing your talents for their own gain. The Hokage, whatever generation it is, has brainwashed you all, sugarcoating the honest truth that your talents are just meant for murdering."

Kakashi, Yamato, and Sai could comprehend the words she conveyed (as ANBU Officers). They were forced to forget their names, their pasts, even their dreams. Killing must have become their lives, but they weren't ashamed of it, thus they took pride in it. It wasn't worthy of their lives, yes, but the village was worth fighting for.

"I bet Hiruzen has ingrained the you are the leaf of Konoha and the will of fire bullshits on you," Akane finished.

She knew how the village operated in the shadows, and she detested.

The waves silence was still prevalent, not looking away, their words were being grappled by her gravity.

It emboldened Akane to add, "Is it even humane? Sending teenagers like to a battlefield with no assurance if you're going to live the next day or not. It's pathetic to see that young leaves like you are treated like pawns. The village never changed, not even attempting to change—they're so complacent that it's maddening to see."

"What do you care, anyway?" Shikamaru interceded. "An enemy like you has no rights to speak."

"I just want you all to know my goal—our goal—so that there will be no unnecessary bloodshed between us," she answered with an affable smile.

"How long are you going to preach your conceited beliefs?"

"It's not conceited beliefs," she whined, pouting a little. "You're just blinded by your meaningless loyalty."

"I understand your statement regarding the matter," the spiky-haired replied. "Still, what I can't fathom is how all of you are willing to rope outside the law? And by extension, you try to actively kill civilians! Not wanting bloodshed between us? What a load of bullcrap!"

For the first time in a while, Akane went silent. His refutation made her eyes narrowing.

"Fair point~" Oddly, she was jovial about it. "But this world is built from bloodshed, and peace bloomed out of it. Peace was achieved in a certain era—and that's the era of Hashirama Senju. Did you know, the First Hokage founded the village so that children like you will live in harmony? But those who succeeded him didn't carry out his will, believing that killing is the only way to bring out peace. Regardless of age or rank, they raised you to be burdened by this generational curse and forced to cradle countless deaths on your hands."

Then Akane attempted to stretch her shoulders, but she still couldn't move after all.

"That's why I pity you all; continue living in lies," Akane uttered after a little pause. "I don't know what Tsunade-san is thinking. Is she underestimating that she only sent two teams to eliminate me? Or she didn't want the whole elite shinobi forces of Konoha to get annihilated in just one day?"

"Don't insult Tsunade-sama!" Sakura rebuked. "She's doing her best! A nukenin like you know nothing!"

"Hmm . . ." Low humming sounds vibrated on her throat as she sounded so simpering. "Then, why are you here?"

Now, Sakura was stuck speechless.

"You see, Tsunade-san was a teacher to me even for a short while. Didn't she tell you?"

A huge revelation had bitten them. There was powerful silence satiated this place. The eyes of the specters were obstructed by dread. That was why Tsunade had a vivid angst painted on her face when she ordered this mission.

"I know Tsunade-san, her abilities, her strong beliefs . . . And she firmly she expressed her utter disgust towards her predecessors," she taunted, "but now, she's taking down the same paths as them . . . What's even more frightful is that she, too, has started sacrificing kids like you. Honestly, I didn't expect her to steer this low as well . . . What a sad, sad cycle, ain't it?"

Things were repeating, and the lies had become stones in Akane's heart.

"Expensive words coming from you," Shikamaru admonished again. "You're also contributing to this killing you're pertaining about."

"True." Akane didn't have to deny that, not going through hoops to justify her actions; she wasn't morally righteous either. "But unlike you, we—the Akatsuki—are doing something to end this corrupted society."

"Do you think we are not doing the same thing?"

Akane answered, "No. Not in the least I think. You're just merely following orders from your hokage—not having free will at all. Not to mention that the Jinchuriki presented himself here like a gift. Those leaders did nothing but to sit on their thrones, throwing kids in the battlefields as a sacrifices. It has no significance on it."

"Capturing the whole Akatsuki has a significance."

"Ha ha." For once, Akane let out a genuine laugh. "Do you think the Akatsuki is the enemy here? If weren't for us, you're not be able to serve your purpose. Our sole goal is to have a radical change, and you louts only did was to interfere."

"But you're killing people!"

Shikamaru and his team lost his teacher because of the Akatsuki, and they bear grudge because of it.

"And so do you."

"And how are your goals going to stop all this madness?" At this point, Shikamaru was the first one to snap. It was regretful, but he understood her argument. "If killing is not the answer, then what is?"

Akane commended him for that. "As expected, you are the perceptive one." She was just casually chilling there, never mind the discomfort of the binds. "Say, how about I tell you a story?"

"There's no time for that," he sputtered.

"Time is infinite," she countered, "there's no need to rush."

Of course, Shikamaru needed to rush; the night was closing in and his justu would eventually be useless in the dark.

With that, Akane began her storytelling.

"When I was seven, I had an encounter with a serial killer."

Kakashi knew that story.

"Y'see, that serial killer was a medical specialist who studied brains, and she was sentenced to life imprisonment because of it."

Sure, she would. She was a serial killer after all.

"And I keep thinking about it, to be honest," Akane confessed. "Her crimes were abducting people, opening up someone's head, experiment them, and throw the carcasses away. She had a very rational motive, and that was to free people from very traumatic events that caused them pains. Her actions were might not be humane, but what if she succeeded in her research? What if she was able to provide amazing insights how brains work and revolutionized the field of medicine?"

The whole squad, reveling in it all, appeared to mistake her pause for deep emotion.

"But I was a foolish kid back then—the reason why she's still in the prison."

"And your point