Two days after successfully obtaining the cloning technology and returning the 'borrowed' ID to Elliot, the atmosphere on the terrace of Naori's Japanese-style house in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, stood in stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of the city.
There, two women sat facing each other on the warm tatami floor, separated by a low table. One of them, Vomi, a woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, held a lit cigarette between her fingers. Her face looked flat, but the faint wrinkles on her brow revealed the irritation she was trying to suppress. Across from her, Naori — or rather, her bunshin — appeared far more relaxed. Her long black hair, reaching her waist, swayed slightly as the gentle night breeze drifted by. She was holding a jade pipe, now empty.
The sounds of the night were filled with the soft rustling of leaves and the faint gurgle of water rippling in the koi pond.
"Didn't I already tell you not to make any mistakes?" Vomi said coldly, her voice carrying a clear tone of dissatisfaction. She lit a new cigarette, the small ember glowing brightly as she took a long drag. When she exhaled, an abstract swirl of smoke floated lazily into the dark air, dissolving into nothingness.
Naori didn't respond immediately. Moving with calm and almost graceful motions, she poured fragrant tobacco into her jade pipe. A small flame from her lighter brought the pipe to life, and for a brief moment, only the sound of her quiet inhaling was heard. She then exhaled a stream of white smoke, delicate and soft like a thin cloud drifting through the night.
"You also know that wasn't my fault!" Naori finally replied, her tone lazy but defensive. "How could I have known that the Director would meet me while I was relaxing?" she complained, her lips pursing in a childlike pout as though caught red-handed.
Vomi narrowed her eyes in sharp annoyance, her gaze piercing. "What I'm questioning is…" she said, tapping her index finger on the table for emphasis, "why did you blush when you heard that bald man's words?! We both know we only like handsome men!" Her voice rose half an octave as frustration bubbled to the surface. "And Nick Fury? I don't even know what's handsome about his appearance! Seriously, Naori? A bald man with one eye?!"
Naori coughed abruptly, nearly choking on the smoke from her pipe. Her face flushed red, though whether it was from the smoke or boiling frustration was hard to tell. "Don't blame me!" she retorted quickly. "And what do you mean by talking as if you don't understand what's in my mind? Remember this well, Vomi, you and I are the same person!"
For a moment, an awkward silence fell between them. The night breeze blew again, rustling the leaves of the small cherry blossom tree in the garden. Their eyes met, both staring at each other with equally annoyed expressions.
"Ugh…" Vomi groaned, rubbing her temple. "I feel like an idiot for arguing with myself."
"Same here," Naori muttered lazily. Almost instinctively, both of them let out a long, synchronized sigh.
"Now I understand why the Seventh Hokage looked like an idiot when he was young," they both murmured at the same time. Turning away abruptly, they cleared their throats, visibly embarrassed at their shared sentiment.
After a brief silence, Naori placed her pipe on the table and leaned back comfortably. "By the way, how do we erase the identity of 'Vomi'?" she asked suddenly, smoothly changing the topic.
Vomi, still looking somewhat annoyed, answered casually while exhaling smoke, her expression easing slightly. "Simple. Just stage it as if I had an accident." She twirled the cigarette between her fingers. "Faking accidents was practically our daily assignment back at the ninja academy. The only difference now is that we'll make it more convincing."
Naori chuckled softly. "What about that kid?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice.
"Elliot?" Vomi tilted her head, rolling her eyes as if the thought of him was a waste of time. "Just leave him. The kid is useless now. He's not even the top student at his school. What could we possibly gain from him? Waste of effort."
"How cruel…" Naori commented with a playful laugh, reaching for a sake cup and pouring its contents.
Vomi smirked slightly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Could it be that Nick Fury will treat us the same way we treated Elliot? Use us once, then discard us after we're no longer useful?"
Naori raised an eyebrow, her gaze sly. "Maybe." She took a slow sip of sake, savoring the drink. "But would that be a problem?"
They stared at each other for a beat, the silence heavy with anticipation.
"Of course not!" they both declared in unison, their laughter breaking through the quiet night. Vomi poured more sake, and Naori raised her glass to match.
"Do you think living for over seventy years has finally driven us insane?" Vomi chuckled, downing her cup in one swift gulp, her cheeks tinted slightly red from the alcohol.
Naori grinned, the faint moonlight reflecting off her eyes. "Maybe so. Haven't we long since passed the limits of human sanity?"
Leaning back, Naori gazed up at the full moon. "By the way, how long until we see results from Pym's cloning research?"
"If my calculations are correct, we should see results by early 2010," Vomi replied, her tone calm but with a flicker of excitement beneath it.
"Incredible," Naori whispered, her voice filled with awe. "If we compare this to our old friend, Orochimaru, it took him years to create artificial clones."
Vomi chuckled lightly. "That's unfair to Orochimaru. He started from scratch, alone. Meanwhile, we have 'help' from Pym Technology and a clear direction to follow."
Naori exhaled a long trail of smoke, her gaze thoughtful. "So, other than Yugao, who else among Kaguya Hime do you want to 'bring to life'?"
Vomi rested her cigarette in the ashtray, her expression contemplative as she looked at the night sky, her mind clearly weighing her options. "Let me think. After shedding Vomi's identity, as Naori, I got the idea from the 'Six Paths of Pain.' But six people would take too much time. So let's settle for three — four if we count Naori herself," she said, tapping the table rhythmically.
"And who are the chosen ones?" Naori prompted, refilling both their cups with sake.
Vomi's lips curled into a small smile. "First, Yugao. She'll receive the elixir from the dragon bones to enhance her physical strength. You know how loyal Yugao is, right? She'll be our most formidable blade in the frontlines."
Naori nodded approvingly. "Yugao always thrives in the heat of battle. With her physical strength amplified, she'll be an unstoppable guardian."
"Second… Shiro." Vomi's gaze sharpened. "The white-haired girl has immense potential. I'll give her the Shikotsumyaku ability as a tribute to our ancestors. Imagine her on the battlefield, her bones forming deadly weapons. She'll be every enemy's nightmare."
Naori chuckled softly. "Shiro fits that ability perfectly — calm and gentle on the outside, but deadly when provoked."
"And lastly… Yura." Vomi swirled her cup thoughtfully. "The blonde Korean girl, the only one not from Japan. With the dragon bone elixir, I'll grant her abundant chakra. She'll be like a copy-paste of our favorite handsome Hokage, spamming Rasengan until no enemy is left standing."
Naori raised an eyebrow. "But wouldn't Yura's abilities expose our Kagebunshin technique?"
Vomi exhaled smoke lazily. "Once the members of Kaguya Hime become real, what's there to fear?"
Naori thought for a moment, then smirked. "You're right. There's nothing to fear."
"Exactly. Once we raid The Hand's treasury, we'll have enough dragon bones to make all this possible," Vomi said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"How evil…" Naori teased, laughing softly.
Their laughter echoed through the night as the two women continued plotting, their dark ambitions and unwavering resolve lighting up the shadows of their quiet sanctuary.
...