The basement they were in reeked of urine, spoiled food, dead things and something worse entirely. Kensuke had chosen it based on how desolate it was, hidden under a building declared uninhabitable after a fire. The past few hours had seen Team 7 cleaning up the assaulted cellars and learning everything they could from what they could find there. The hitlist, the marked map and the many different letters. They'd taken a well-deserved rest after sending the rescued families off into governement buildings, all without being noticed of course.
They'd also taken a painfully bright lamp there with the explanation that their appartment's light broke and they needed something to go through the maps with. That was a lie of course. Kensuke did not trust his contacts anymore. If a former shinobi was in this, who was to say they didn't have more insiders? If there were more, bringing the rescued people in would hopefully save them from further ... whatever it was that awaited them. Even if the local authorities were compromised having people disappear from within their protection would be too obvious for inspection.
Instead, the lamp was directed at the unconscious Hyuuga tied to a chair. Kensuke sat across him, with all of Team 7 behind him, his finger toying with the switch of the lamp. As a dojutsu user himself he knew far too well how frightening it was for someone who prided himself on his eyesight, who relied on it for so many techniques, to lose that sight.
"Who wants to wake him up?" He said, looking back at the team with a big grin, holding a bucket of dank water.
"Kensuke," Karma started to speak after he asked the question "I have wondered this for a bit since Hideki alerted you of his presence, and now that we know of this list my suspicions rose even further. Why would they use someone who both you and Hideki appear to know and perhaps, from certain phrasing, worked with in the past?" She said and gave the young, unconcious boy another look "I'm sorry, but as the evidence pile up, it seems more and more like a trap designed exactly for both of you. As if someone knew that you two, and thus possibly also about both Meilin and I, were looking into the disappearances." She then took a few steps back into the more shadowy part of the room "Now that's out of my mind, I don't think I should be the one to wake him up. He would probably be scared even more if he saw it was the one who initially knocked him out cold that woke him up."
Meilin was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed out front of her chest as she looked sideways at the others. Listening to what the others said, Meilin would push herself from the wall as she lowered her hands. "No offence but I highly doubt that it was specifically set for Hideki and Kensuke-san. " Meilin said as she gestured to their 'guest'. "If they were expecting somebody then how could they anticipate them out of all people? Seems a bit too precise unless the Lord Commander is conspiring together with the guys behind the whole ordeal. If that was the case, why not send less competent people or those who he could be sure of that are in the league?" Meilin questioned. She didn't agree that it was fishy. What bothered her was the fact that they could find such information in a basement. Perhaps they were planning to make the lists be found, but not this soon?
Stepping forwards she would clench her right hand into a fist. Without wavering, Meilin would slam her right fist into the face of their guest while using her left to hold him by the hair. "I will patch him if need be, later." She mumbled, shaking her right fist a bit as she had punched him harder than she had actually wanted it. While not a stranger to violence or a supporter nor lover of it this was different. This guy had worked and caused a lot of misery to people and for what? Raising her right fist again, Meilin would throw a sideways glance at Kensuke.
"Step aside," Hideki growled, shoving an elbow into Meilin's side. He was already in a foul mood from yesterday's events, but he wasn't going to stand idly by as some stranger tortured his cousin. Not without getting a word or two out of him first — and inferring their veracity. Nevertheless, Hideki slapped Ezuri to rouse him — if he wasn't awake already. "And Karma's theory is not something we should disregard so easily. Big coincidence otherwise."
Kensuke got up and walked over to Ezuri, preventing Hideki from any further wake-up slaps. He shot the Hyuuga a short stern look, and then turned to the rest of the team. "You are right. It might be a trap. Hideki and myself are both on that list and the fact that they had Ezuri means that they could have more snitches in our ranks. This mission was highly confidential however..." Kensuke continued. "It means that this is most likely just a coincidence. The only immediate alternative is that we have a traitor in the highest circles and that would mean we're doomed. Let's not assume that's the scenario." Kensuke said to both reassure and discipline his squad. "Anyhow, we may discuss this in length after we learned more of Ezuri." Kensuke said, gesturing Hideki to continue, handing him the bucketof water and blasting the lamp at the unconscious Hyuuga.
Being shoved aside, Meilin shot Hideki a glare. It was briefly and she decided to not further it. Stepping backwards she would once more cross her arms out front of her chest. "Just seems odd. You would assume that such information would be guarded or at least stored better than a few thugs and a turn-coat." Meilin mumbled. Rolling her shoulders, she turned her cold look back on Ezuri.
Saying nothing, Hideki hefted the bucket as soon as it got into his hands and drenched Ezuri in its mucky content. "Wake up," he said brusquely, tossing the bucket aside. It jangled against the floor thrice, tracing a metallic echo, then stilled.
Ezuri raised his head in shock, spraying droplets of water around him. The first thing he noticed was that a painfully bright white light bored into his eyes so that he saw nothing. When he tried to shield his eyes he found his arms and legs bound. Shock spread over his face visible like a wave rolling onto the beach. He started panting, a feeling that only increased when a wave of fear rolled over him that seemed to be originating from whoever was seated in front of him.
Kensuke's smile had faded and a grim expression filled his face as he sent his killing instinct at Ezuri, focused this time to spare anyone else nearby from feeling it. With just a single identifiable target he didn't have to send it as a wave, and could focus it into a bolt-like thought instead. "Ezuri." He said.
The young Hyuuga froze in the chair when he recognised the voice and his memories flowed back. "I'd like you to take a moment to think about how you got here." Kensuke said on a cold, venomous tone, dripping with hostility. "Because it's going to be a whole lot more pleasant for everyone involved if you can tell us exactly how this situation came to be."
The boy swallowed and looked away from the bright light, shaking violently over all of his body. Kensuke nodded at Hideki.
Doing this to my own cousin... Hideki thought, rubbing at the bridge of his nose in slight agitation. What's becoming of me? Glancing over at the frightened Ezuri, Hideki sighed, stepped forward, and held a hand to the lamp for a moment, blocking out the harsh light and permitting Ezuri to see his face. "You recognize me, right? Of course you do." Without waiting for an answer, Hideki removed his hand, causing the light to once more wash over him, exposing his every expression and muscular twitch. "Now, Ezuri — we've known each other since childhood. Sure, we were never best friends — not even to an extent — but we got along just fine. In a sense, I've always been relatively meek. In fact, I even take some pride in it. And as such, it's a pattern I strive to see unrelived. Even now, when there's hundreds of methods in making you talk — perhaps even thousands — all of which would be equally befitting...
For example, with a little help from the people behind me, I could overload your senses till your brain collapses from the exertion of trying to remain sane; I could have Kensuke, of whom you're already familiar with, mutilate your limbs until there's nothing left but a bloody pulp, rendering you a miserable cripple for the rest of your days; or I could have Meilin here," — out of habit, he gestured behind him, even if Ezuri could see nothing — "beat you senseless; I could sprinkle some putrid, gods-know-what gunk into a plastic bag and make you choke on its contents — all while deprieved on oxygen — until you either suffocate or get your throat and mucous membrane infected with some worm-ridden disease; for heaven's sake, I could even slice your scalp off, drench your face in acid, flay your skin, remove your nails, burn your legs, sever your manhood, saw your arms, and — most terrifying of all (oh, trust me on this one) — take away both of your eyes. I don't think anyone would object to a pair of fresh Hyuuga eyes..." Hideki fell quiet, stared at a point in space above Ezuri's head. Shook his head and sighed.
"But... for now... I'll do none of those things... And it's here you should consider yourself lucky to have fallen into our clutches, where I exist to safeguard you, and not some other, unassociated team that would surely make you regret every single bad word that's come out of your lips — maybe even take pleasure in doing so. But, with that said, know that, when driven into a corner, even the meekest of lamb will foam at the mouth eventually. Especially when there's innocent lives in the equation. Now; these are surely redundant..." With a sudden clap of hands from Hideki, Ezuri clenched his eyes shut and shrunk into himself, unable to contain a faint squeal, but, as there was no blunt trauma, only a burgeoning flare of agony, his gaze immediately shot to his right hand, where something was surely amiss.
Upon seeing it, or feeling it — the lack thereof anyway — his face underwent an ugly metamorphosis; eyes widening, exposing skeins of pink veins, blood shooting to his ears, mouth dropping unhinged, lips quivering, and cheeks blanching like the spray of powder. He loosed a terrible, bloodcurdling scream, muscles tightening all over. Immediately pressing a wrap of bandages to the wound, Hideki tossed away the scalpel and limp index finger, taking measures, however — perhaps unnecessary in their cruelty — to ensure there was excess pain — even pushing a finger through the folds of gauze. "You only need to say the golden word," Hideki spoke through gnashed teeth, struggling to retain a semblance of composure when the inside was so different. Truly, hurting an acquaintance, as opposed to a faceless stranger, was leagues apart. Just spill the beans, goddammit...
Karma wasn't sure what to put of it. Hideki and Kensuke both spoke with some manner of professionalism, but at the same time, she wondered if they were keeping up a charade. When her teammate performed the action of cutting the index finger, she blinked several times quickly, somewhat surprised and unbelieving. Did he give the young Hyuuga enough chance to try and talk? She wasn't sure, but decided that for the meanwhile she wouldn't get involved. She didn't possess any skills that could be beneficial to the interrogations, unless they wanted to start leaving him temporary paralyzed. Karma decided to close her eyes and think further about the actions these people took.
Meilin kept her icy gaze focused on the bound Hyuuga. When Hideki mentioned her beating him senseless Meilin's eyes gained a glint. A dangerous soft glint that made it clear that the other was speaking the truth. The anger and disgust she felt for this Ezuri were only building up but Meilin kept herself silent.
As Hideki cut off the index finger Meilin lowered her arms and brought her hands together to weave the required handsignals. She wanted to prepare her Healing Technique to both prevent Ezuri from passing out as well losing too much blood. Glancing sideways in the direction of Kensuke, she did wait when he would consider her medical approach needed.
Kensuke watched with a stern expression as Hideki worked on Ezuri. When he saw Meilin stir he stopped her with a gaze. He observed Ezuri who was whimpering and panicking in the chair and writhed as the loss of his finger got through to him. Team 7's silence lasted as Ezuri slowly mastered himself, only to shoot up panicked as he heard a sound he could not see. Kensuke got up from his chair with a slow creaking sound and stepped closer so his silhouette became visible in the lamp.
"S-s-s-stop!" The young Hyuuga whimpered, openly crying now. "Don't hurt me - I'll tell you everything... Please..." He said.
At that point Kensuke drew his chair closer and sat down. "Then start talking. Who is leading this organisation." He said with an ice cold voice.
Ezuri seemed to hesitate one moment at this question until Kensuke conjured the shape of a knife from his belt and seemed to contemplate handing it over to Hideki. "I-I don't-" He began stuttering. "I mean he's- His name ... His name is the Priest of Threads." The broken young man managed to tell them.
"Very well. Tell me about this organisation he leads."
Now that he'd spilled his leader's name, the young Hyuuga seemed to be more comfortable with talking about the rest. "He's - He's a priest. They follow a religion, a sect of sorts. They're really prickly about it." He said. "They were all fanatics, but the priest is a nice man..." Ezuri continued. "He was really friendly and told me he could ... help me... regain my father's respect..."
"It looks like that didn't work out for you now did it? Keep talking." Kensuke snapped as the boy wavered. "Go cry tomorrow. What happens to the families?" Kensuke demanded.
"I don't know... The children are sent to the priest, they always leave through the Western gate, but I know they actually go East." Ezuri managed to say in between his sobs.
"What do you know about the list?" Kensuke asked.
At this question the Hyuuga seemed to freeze and tried to instinctively look away, without success given his precarious situation.
"Answer me."
"They said that they were preparing to attack two of the names on the list..." Ezuri sobbed, as silent as a whisper.
Kensuke got up again and leaned in very close to the stricken Hyuuga. "Did you take a moment to notice whose names were on that list?" He said with a deceptively calm voice.
Ezuri remained silent for a while, and when Kensuke moved he hesitantly replied. "Y-yes..."
"Didn't it strike you as odd thatall of those people were your former comrades? People who were willing to entrust their lives to you? Because you were a shinobi? A man sworn to endure, to protect his comrades and kin?" Kensuke said on the same tone.
"Yes..." Ezuri sobbed.
"Is this what you understand under the term 'protecting'?" Kensuke snapped. "Plotting attempts on their lives?" Kensuke stood up again and for the first time in the career of anyone present they could see a glimpse of pure, genuine emotion on his face. Utter betrayal, anger and frustration. Above all there was the disappointment. "I am ashamed of you." He said, and walked out of the room, making a vague gesture at Hideki to knock Ezuri out - without permanently damaging him. He left the room and closed the door carefully, but a loud crashing sound could be heard from the other side.
Glancing at Kensuke's back, Hideki swallowed. He'd grown accustomed to the man's statuesque repose — as though cast out of iron — and witnessing a glimpse of raw emotion — especially now, when Hideki's own feelings were aflame and convoluted — made him almost lightheaded and lent a brooding atmosphere to the basement. Turning back to Ezuri, he looked upon his cousin with a final, confused expression — anger, disappointment, sadness, shame, indignation, all mixed into one grouty mess — then stepped forward and, with a deft lick of his knuckles and brief widening of Ezuri's eyes, knocked him out cold. He gestured for Meilin to heal the wound he'd inflicted, then retreated some distance into the shadows, unconcious to the reek of the mouldy old things strewn about there. "Sorry for elbowing you," he said to Meilin — and partly to Karma as well, as he had no wish to be categorized as some ruffian — "Wasn't" — isn't – "in a right state of mind.
Ezuri's confession brought Karma out of her train of thought. Something more specific he said. She walked out of the shadowy part until she was right next to him. She looked at the knocked out boy briefly before turning and walking out of the room, following Kensuke's steps. When she saw the sound that was heard occured from a wall being punched, she took a moment, figuring out how to speak in the best manner after the clear emotion he had just presented to them "Kensuke, I thought further about the situation, but what the young Hyuuga said concerns me. They were preparing to attack two targets on the list, you and Hideki are both on it, Ezuri has formerly worked with you." She said as she looked at him.
"What if they had known someone will come investigating, but didn't know who until after the people had started investigating? What if both of you, if not our entire team, has been spotted and then the Hyuuga was brought in to ensure you and Hideki would be lured in by his presence?" Karma said "This entire situation makes no sense otherwise. The manner in which they were caught after some time of not even a hint as to who did this, which appears to heavily relay on the spotting of Ezuri, makes the entire thing appear just," She took a moment to find the right word for it "Just absurd."
Moving to lean against one of the walls, she closed her eyes "Now I'm not saying Hideki wouldn't have spotted the people in the alley if it wasn't the Hyuuga there, or that we wouldn't have found them eventually, but the way we found them, just because it was that Hyuuga, thats the one thing that keeps bugging me. Thats the only detail that makes no sense considering how careful they were."
As Kensuke threw his gaze Meilin moved her hands from each other and placed them on her back. Listening and watching how the hearing further progressed Meilin was about to ask if they couldn't continue. There were some questions that she had for the Hyuuga but it seemed that their team leader got a bit too emotional. Not that she didn't understand it as she did not say anything. Keeping her eyes locked on Ezuri Meilin would only briefly break her ice-cold look as Hideki spoke against her. Surprised the raven haired teen wasn't sure how to respond back to the Hyuuga. Raising her left hand she would brush aside some strands of hair behind her left ear. Simply nodding, she would turn her attention to Ezuri.
There were still questions that she wanted to ask. While it seemed that the others were going to Kensuke, judging by the sounds, Meilin just stood in front of Ezuri. Her blood started to boil as she just stared down at the knocked out Hyuuga. For a moment she found herself wanting to do anything to him but healing wasn't one of those things. He knew who was behind the disappearing of the people and who could potentially be next. And now she couldn't ask her questions. Or perhaps she could wake him up and force him to talk? Making sure that her family wasn't the next and else if it was that she could do something about it.
Instead she would lower through her legs and bring her hands together weave the few signals. Moulding her chakra, she kept the small orb of light green up with her left hand. Using her right hand Meilin would first inspect the 'wound'. Hideki had made a rather clean cut. Was he perhaps a shinobi dabbled into medical ninjutsu as well, seeing he had used a scalpel. Using her technique to let the chakra do its work she didn't focus on just closing the wound. Even though their guest wouldn't just bleed out from the loss of a finger, she didn't want that some complications would arise. There was the brief idea to sear the wound - a cruel and sadistic thought. One that she was sure off that Kensuke or at least Hideki wouldn't approve of. Finished with her handiwork Meilin rose up and stared for another moment down at Ezuri.
Her hands started to itch as she wanted to wrap them around the throat of the young Hyuuga. To make him suffer as those families had. To make him feel the desperation of that his life could escape him any moment and that he had no power over it. Balling her hands into fists the teen decided to turn around and walk out of the room. She felt like having some fresh air.
Kensuke rubbed his knuckles after punching the wall and found them warm and moist. Blood ran down his hand and he cursed softly before adopting his usual demeanor again, falling over his troubled expression like a blanket. "You're right. It could all be a trap. But I doubt it. If it is, forewarned is forearmed." Was all Kensuke said in response to Karma's thoughts.
