Chapter Text
2 days later…
“Bee, come on! We’ve got to get going!” Yugito called from the front side of Bee’s door. She had been packed up and ready for the past few hours, but she wanted to give Bee time to sleep in. She had woken up Bee roughly an hour after she did for him to get packed.
They ate a breakfast brief breakfast before traveling through the rest of the land of Hot springs. After their long break of peace and quiet, they managed to clear the distance in roughly two days, stopping at various inns each night.
Because they weren’t in the Land of Lightning, they could afford to rest in actual rest areas because they were less likely to be recognized two nations away from their village(and their common folk disguises kept suspicion off them).
Nearing the edge of the Land of Hot springs and border with the Hidden Sound, Yugito and Bee paused to rethink their travel plan.
“Bee, I don’t trust traveling through Orochimaru’s territory, we don’t know if he’ll recognize us or at least sense our Tailed Beasts, I don’t wanna risk getting caught. Any ideas on how we can skip the Hidden Sound?” she asked, they two stopped by a small creek on the evening of the second day. Yugito had already climbed into a tree with her back resting against the wall. Bee thought for a minute, “Well Yugito, if you don’t wanna pass through the Sound, then we’ll have to go around. We’ll enter the Leaf and our stay can be brief. Then we’ll go through Grass and arrive in Stone First class, yeah!!” he declared. Despite the terrible rap, Bee’s plan did make sense.
“Bee, that’s actually a good idea now that I think about it. Sure let’s do it!” she responded, offering a small smile.
This is going better then I thought. Bee’s helping out more than I anticipated.
‘You should think better of your friends and companions, you aren’t alone Yugito. If I am not living proof of that, I don’t know what is,’
~~~
One week later…
The journey through the Leaf and Grass had been exhausting, long, but necessary. Yugito would pick that 50 times over if it meant avoiding confrontation with anyone connected to Orochimaru. Bee had later explained that the reason they didn’t go through the Hidden Waterfall was so if they returned for the Jinchuriki it wouldn’t be suspicious. Horrible rapping aside, Bee was one of the best companions someone running away to gather all other outcast weapons from each village could ask for.
The two finally arrived in the Hidden Stone, faced with a new hurdle, “Bee, how the hell are we going to find two ninja who could be anywhere in the Hidden Stone?” Yugito asked, hoping Bee would have some miraculous plan, “We can’t seriously be going around asking if anyone knew where our old friends who just both happened to be jinchuriki went right Bee?”
Yugito did not like the look Bee gave her.
~~~
For weeks on end, Bee and Yugito traveled around the Land of Earth asking if anyone knew where Roushi was, they were ‘old friends’ and Yugito and Bee wanted to surprise him for his birthday. Aside from the strange, weirded out looks they got from others, they got no information whatsoever. It also didn’t help that they could only ask Civilians because asking a ninja would result in a message to the Tsuchikage(which they couldn’t afford).
“Yeah, I just really wanted to surprise him for his upcoming birthday, I live so far away and I know he’s a Shinobi so his job takes him all around the Nation. I was just wondering if you had seen him around these parts or not?” Yugito asked, trying to act like an innocent friend. Bee was out asking others but Yugito really didn’t want to find out how that was going for him. She had been asking around for Roushi while Bee had been asking around for Han
“Bee, we need a new plan, this one clearly isn’t working,” Yugito said, her tone laced with annoyance, “Unless one of the people you’ve talked to has any information on Han that would be useful in anyway,”
Bee shook his head, “Nope, they just look at me with empty stares, I don’t think we’ll get anything from there,” he replied. Yugito facepalmed, this was his idea. She didn’t even know why she trusted him, then again, he had given her crucial information and ideas before. So now Yugito just needed to remind herself to not trust everything Bee came up with.
“Well, we need a new idea, I can’t keep going around like this. It’s embarrassing to act that way,” she said. Being the innocent friend who wanted to surprise someone close to them was not a role Yugito ever excepted(or wanted) to play. For the first time ever in their trip, Bee was speechless, seemingly out of ideas. Their plans seemed hopeless, they’d need to find another way. There was no telling when the Akatsuki were ready to start collecting the beasts so they really didn’t have time to waste. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed the other Jinchuriki for her plans, or at least needed them alive.
“Hello there old friends ,” a voice came from behind them. Yugito swerved around, her hand in one of her pockets where she kept her weapon pouches. Walking towards them was a short man in his early forties. He had striking red hair with a headband branded with the Hidden Stone’s symbol. Despite his (very) short stature, his chakra carried an air of danger around it.
Roshi . Yugito realized, play the part, even if he knows its fake.
“Ahh Roshi! It’s been so long, how have you been! Come take a seat!” she gestured for him to sit beside them, he did, returning her smile, “It has indeed, so forgive me, but your names have been lost to my memory so if you could remind me, that would help a lot,” he said, acting as though it was just a reunion between friends, “Could you remind me of when my birthday is, because while I am grateful you came to surprise me, it is currently September and my birthday was in June,” he informed, singlehandedly crushing their alibis, all while wearing the smile on his face.
For the first time ever, both Yugito and Bee were at a loss for words, stumbling over weak excuses, “We must gotten confused you see, it’s been so long fool ya fool,” Bee explained. Yugito tried adding on but Roshi cut her off, “Cut the crap, I’ve never seen you guys in my life, so you better start explaining why you are looking for me and Han as well,” he stated simply, his chakra flaring slightly as if to threaten them.
“We’ll explain everything, but I can’t say it here, can we go into somewhere less crowded?” Yugito offered, her voice cold and analytical again, her chakra subtly flaring in opposition to Roshi’s. A look of shock briefly passed Roshi’s face, replaced by that stern curiosity it had previously reflected. He nodded, “Fine, but we aren’t going far,” he relented. The three of them found a small patch of rocks where there weren’t any civilians walking by, “Explain. Now.” Roshi said finally, crossing his arms in expectation.
“Listen Roshi, we are Jinchuriki like you, boo,” Bee explained, Yugito slapped his head. She understood what he meant, but there was so much more to explain then that. Roshi’s eyebrows raised in curiosity, but he said nothing, his face saying everything, ‘ you aren’t done explaining yet’
“Shut up Bee, let me do the talking,” she whispered angrily to him, “Listen Roshi, as Bee said we are also Jinchuriki like you, and I recently found out that the Akatsuki, an Mercinary group who fights wars and does things for hire has a higher goal of collecting and extracting all 9 tailed beasts from their Jinchuriki, which if you didn’t know, will kill us,” she started, gaging Roshi’s reaction. He seemed confused and a little bit shocked at what he was hearing.
“The akatsuki huh? Lord third uses that organization a lot to handle his dirty work. I never would’ve guessed that they were preparing for that of all things, continue,” he mused to himself, shifting his gaze back to her own, meeting it with equal intensity.
“So after I brought up that issue with my own Raikage, he refused to take the issue seriously because I wasn’t a credible source,” she continued, biting back her anger at the sheer disrespect she had been shown by her Leader, the one she respected and listened to above all else, “I decided to take matters into my own hand and left the Village with Bee, the 8 tails Jinchuriki,”
“8 tails that be me, the rappin’ Killer Bee, Yeah!” he chimed in, throwing up his signature love sign. Roshi shook his head, “I remember you, we fought back in the Third Shinobi war right, I was with Han when we did,” he told Bee, who nodded, confirming his memories, “So what you’re asking me is to defect from my village, and join you guys to take down the akatsuki,” he reiterated. It sounded like such a stupid plan once she heard it from another person’s mouth.
“Yes, that is the plan,” Yugito agreed, she couldn’t afford to look unsure in her judgement, others always trusted confident people more. Roshi thought for a moment, before turning back to face them, “Sure, I’m down,” he said, like he hadn’t just declared he was leaving his own village, “What do you need me to do?”
“Well for one, you’ll need to blend in better, so you’ll need casual clothes and dress more like a civilian then you do now. And then, you’ll have to help us find Han so he can join our cause,” she explained.
“Yeah! And no more headband, or you’ll be found and canned,” Bee added. Roshi looked at him like he had just spoken a foreign language, “He means that if you keep your headband they’ll be able to find us faster then we’d like,” Yugito translated. Roshi nodded in understanding, clearly still a little perplexed by Bee’s speech style.
“Does he speak like that all the time?” he dropped his voice down to a whisper, leaning into Yugito. She nodded gravely, “Yeah, it’s annoying, but you’ll get used to it. It will all make sense after you hear it for awhile.” she reassured, though she doubted it did much to help.
Roshi stared for a little longer before nodding, “You guys need to find Han?” he asked, changing the subject. Yugito nodded, “Do you know where he is?” she questioned, praying he did, she didn’t think she could take another one of asking around for him. It was embarrassing.
“Yeah I know where he is,” he responded, walking away. Yugito and Bee stared as he walked, “come on, do you want to find Han or not,” he asked gruffly, turning around, gesturing to them to follow him.
Nodding quickly, Yugito and Bee scurried after him. Following him deeper into the Land of Earth.
~~~
“So what do ya know about Han bro?” Bee asked as they walked for what felt like hours. Roshi barely looked back, “He looks really big and intimidating, but the guy’s a big softy. He’ll probably join us,” he responded, continuing to lead them to where Han supposedly was.
We’ve been walking for hours, I’m starting to feel like we’re being led into a trap.
“Hey Roshi, where is Han anyway?” Yugito piped up, if Roshi had been lying, she would’ve been able to know from his response.
“He’s in a small town on the far coast of the Land of Earth, he spends most of his time there unless he receives summons from Lord Tsuchikage,” he replied smoothly, his tone giving no indication of lies, “Not my leader now Grandpa Onoki,” he muttered to himself, a hint of spitefulness in it.
“I see,” Yugito mused, taking a moment to look around and appreciate their surroundings. It was nothing special, just a barren wasteland with little to no plant life. But there was something different about it and the Land of Lightning, something exciting. During the war, Yugito had been occasionally sent to other nations to fight, but she had never really appreciated their geography(probably because she was fighting for her life). Despite it looking dead, the rock formations looked stunning, each unique with a different shape. It felt so nice to be in a new place and switch up the environment.
“Yo Roshi! Is that the town up ahead, or are my eyes just dead?” Bee asked, pointing to a small settlement gradually gaining size as they drew nearer. Roshi paused for a moment, as if translating Bee’s words before nodding, “Yeah, that’s the one,” he confirmed, turning back to them, “Come on guys, lets pick up the pace,” he urged, quickening his speed.
~~~
“Hey Han! It’s Roshi, open up!” Roshi called, banging on Han’s door. For awhile there was no answer. Roshi visibly fumed, his chakra subconsciously flaring, “Is the oaf on a mission or something?” he muttered to himself irritably.
The faintest sound of scuffling could be heard from inside the house, before the door clicked open. In it’s entrance stood a large man staring down at them, his eyes passing from Yugito to Bee, finally pausing on Roshi, who still looked offended.
“15 years of friendship and it still takes you a long time to open the door,” he grumbles. Yugito and Bee barely contained their giggles, the height difference was astounding. Han was practically twice Roshi’s height and yet was still be shouted at by the small man.
“Who are these people Roshi, and why are they at my house,” he asked, ignoring Roshi’s complaints. Roshi looked to the two of them, as if inviting them to introduce themselves.
Yugito glanced around, ensuring no one was around before she spoke, “I’m Yugito Nii, formerly the 2 tails jinchuriki of the Hidden Cloud,” she introduced.
“8 tails that be me, that rappin Killer Bee, yeah!” Bee added, giving his classic ‘love’ hand sign. Han’s eyes widened in shock, “Formerly?” he clarified, “Did you defect?” he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
“Yes, we defected after our Raikage refused to take our worries to heart and do something about the Akatsuki, who if you didn’t already know, have a higher goal of extracting all Tailed beasts,” she explained, “so that’s why we’re in casual clothes, we’re leaving to gather all 9 Jinchuriki, and we want you to join us,” she added.
Han remained quiet for a moment, as if weighing his options. Yugito desperately hoped Roshi was right about Han being willing to join them.
He slammed the door on them.
“Screw you,” Yugito muttered, her voice tinged with annoyance, “You’ve sentenced yourself to death,”
“It’s okay Yugito, he’ll come around, fo sho!” Bee reassured, placing a hand on her shoulder, “Don’t touch me,” she snarled, causing Bee to recoil. Where, how could she have gone wrong? She had done everything to get there.
“We can do this without the oaf,” Roshi added, careful not to touch her but Yugito wasn’t in the mood to be reassured.
“Where are we going?” Han’s deep voice came from the entrance of his house, his ninja attire gone, replaced by more civilian liked clothes.
“Y-you came,” Yugito stammered, excitement creeping into her tone. Han nodded, stepping out of the house, he was really big.
“Well, where’s your steam pack?” Roshi asked, jumping up to pat him on the shoulder. Han pointed to his ‘backpack’, “It’s here, just transformed,” he explained curtly before turning to Yugito and Bee, “I’m Han, I’m the Jinchuriki of the 5 tails,” he introduced, reaching out his big hand for each of them to shake.
Yugito and Bee took it each, “Well we better get goin, we don’t want other people knowin,” Bee said, reminding them that they were soon all to be considered Missing Nin. The three of them nodded, following him to the dock where the jumped onto a random poor civilian’s boat, sailing off into the distance.
As the Land of Earth grew smaller and smaller, Yugito smiled to herself, everything was going great.