PLEASE NOTE: This is a less-angsty revamp of the fic A Game of Shogi. The first few chapters will remain mostly the same while later parts will be completely purged, upgraded, changed and/or deleted. There will be scenes both removed and added, all for the sake of improving what had potential but fell with ridiculous word count. Again, this will differ slightly from original version.
Absolutely NO yaoi! Starts in Chapter 437 then is AU onward.
I am only typing this once: I do not own Naruto or characters—Naruto is property of Masashi Kishimoto and Shonen Jump. Neither do I own lyrics or song titles that may be used in future chapters. I love songs for themes, you see.
THE GAME CALLED SHOGI/TO START A WAR
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TURN 1-Capture of the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki
Shikake wa fu no tsukisute kara
Start the fight with a pawn sacrifice
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Chaos.
Never before had the village of Konoha witnessed more horror than it was now. Not even when the demon fox attacked and destroyed nearly half the village sixteen years ago.
Now, what once was the proud and strongest of the shinobi villages was nothing but rubble, lifeless bodies, and a few survivors scattered about in fear not knowing what to do. And in the heart of this chaos, the gigantic crater that had once been the center of the village, was Uzumaki Naruto facing off to Pain, the heinous villain responsible for this destruction.
Meanwhile, in a relatively safe distance from the massive crater, his shy classmate Hyuuga Hinata nervously fiddled with her fingers, anxiously watching his fight from afar. A nasty feeling twisted in the pit of her stomach as worry for the blond threatened to overwhelm her.
The battle with the Akatsuki leader had long taken a turn for the worse, he needed help yet they had commanded her to stay put. And she did so, for she was not accustomed to not doing as she was told. As the lone heiress for her clan disobeying was absolute taboo, but now more than ever she wanted to do nothing more than just that. Why? Because the one she loved was in danger, it was as simple as that.
It felt like she was drowning, raw feelings washing through her violently, crashing into her skull with raging emotion as what she was witnessing threatened to cause her to faint like she used to do. But this was not the time to lose consciousness. It was the time to move—to protect the one she had always received encouragement from! He was what had made her strong enough to continue on. She had to do something!
She quickly glanced at her current Hyuuga guardian. His name was Ko, a Hyuuga like herself. Upon seeing her questioning and worried gaze he shook his head gravely in reply. "Do not interfere, Hinata-sama," he said gently, his teeth slightly grinding together. Seeing his leg, she soon understood why. "You must stay back…He'll be fine. You'll see."
He was trying to keep up a strong appearance but Hinata knew it was an act. His hands were clutched tightly to his dark blue pants that were darkened from oozing blood. It was a nasty wound, one Tsunade's giant summoned slug had not been able to prevent.
Yet even with the injury, he was still doing all he could to loyally protect her, just because she was the eldest daughter in the Main Branch of the Hyuuga clan. It wasn't fair. While she stayed behind the sidelines like a fragile royal Naruto was risking his life for the entire village, all alone. The very village that had shunned him during his childhood.
It just wasn't fair.
Hinata squeezed her fingers into a fist, looking towards the battlefield once again. Naruto was down and wasn't getting back up. Oh no! The Hyuuga quickly activated her Byakugan. Chakra veins webbed across her face, allowing her to see from the great distance that separated them his chakra, but it was weak and tainted by the chakra of another. Pain's.
Looking even closer she cringed. There were multiple rods that had been stabbed into him, holding him into place on the dusty ground. Focusing, she realized they weren't in any of his vital spots, which signified Pain was interested in capture. If Naruto didn't get back up and no one helped him….
Again she felt the urge to move but whispered warnings spun around her head. 'Don't interfere.'
It wasn't good enough.
She felt resolve flow through her, giving her frail confidence strength. She had to do something, even if she had no chance against the S-Rank criminal Pain. She had to move. She HAD to! Right as her foot landed against the dry earth in an attempt to run a hand shot out and grabbed her arm.
She quickly turned around. Her panicked gaze met with the eyes of her father, Hyuuga Hiashi. Surprised to see him, she gaped at her father's lean and solemn face. Firm cheekbones followed by pure white eyes like her own stared at her own, but his were aged by years of inner battles and nobility. He was supposed to be at a meeting outside the village, so why was he here?
"F-father!" she stammered. "What are you doing?"
"I saw the smoke from afar and came right away. I can only assume this is the Akatsuki's doing." He quickly scanned the wreckage of the destroyed village, then to the center where Pain was, his expression growing grimmer.
"Father, Naruto-kun is fighting the head of the Akatsuki. He needs help—my help!" she cried, shocked to hear herself speak so desperately towards her father. Still, there was no time for formalities. Every second she wasted with words….
"No."
His answer came so sudden it caused her to gasp. "Let someone else assist him. Your main concern is preserving your bloodline trait. Going into such fatal and unnecessary danger is out of the question."
She wanted to protest, to run, but years of being trained to be a proper member of the Hyuuga Main Branch had steeled in her to not talk back or do anything to challenge the clan's authority. Even so, she bit her bottom lip, unsatisfied. "He is in severe danger. I-I…Did you say unnecessary?"
Her father's gaze hardened. "It is the Anbu's job to watch over him. Let them do their job and you yours."
His answer seemed cold, even to him. True he no longer housed hatred for the Kyuubi host as the boy had been the catalyst to bringing him, Hinata, and his nephew Neji closer but he would not risk his eldest daughter to the leader of the Akatsuki.
"Just look at the village. There is nothing you can do but get yourself killed by the Akatsuki."
Did he see her as that weak, still? And did he have to imply it so bluntly?
Hinata suddenly felt heavy, like her chest had caved in. She knew her father was right but…
What about Naruto-kun?
When she looked back to the clearing, a tear slid down her cheek. Naruto and Pain were gone. A cloud of drifting smoke signified a transportation jutsu of sorts had swept them away.
The one who had given her hope and strength was lost.
Captured.
Gone.
The cruel words echoed in her head and the tears fell. Had her father not been right by her side, holding her, she would have fallen to her knees. Such improper behavior for one born of high class. Especially for the heiress of the Hyuuga clan.
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Not much further away, hidden inside a fake tree made of chakra-enhanced paper there were two figures cloaked by darkness. The red clouds on their black robes that signified they were of the Akatsuki organization were barely visible in the poor light. Still, you could make out some of their trademark features.
A pale face with shining silver eyes carved below a bob of hair and a paper flower was trademark of the Rain's—no, God's Angel: Konan. The other figure looked like a skeleton before a cross that's top was not formed by wood but many impaling black rods. His strange mauve eyes held within it thin ripples, trademark of the Rinnegan. The same Rinnegan eyes that the six Pains that had attacked Konoha bore. Who had just captured the Jinchuuriki.
Konan looked to Nagato, anger delicately mixed in her usual somber expression. "You did not need to transport the Kyuubi all the way to the hideout right away. Your chakra is low enough as it is."
The plan had originally been to bring the Jinchuuriki to them, as the location was close enough to control his movements through Pain's chakra rods. The Akatsuki hideout where the surviving Akatsuki members waited for them was too far away for him to transport the host right now, especially considering his level of chakra.
Nagato's breathing was loud and wheezy. After a moment or two he managed to get out in his raspy voice, "I've underestimated the village enough as it is. It won't be long until they discover my location."
Konan glared at a small forest creature that was scurrying across the ground. A creature that did not belong anywhere near her god. She threw a tiny paper shuriken to its head, killing it in a single hit and watched as blood spilled out from its fragile body. "That's what I'm here for. I won't let anyone reach you."
I'll always protect you, even though I was unable to do so for.…
Blood dripped from Nagato's lips and he started to cough. His chakra was dangerously low. The transportation jutsu had been a hazardous move but when the goal, Peace, was so close it would surely merit all the sacrifice, all the Jinchuuriki's lives, all the pain, the suffering, everything. It would all be over soon.
"Madara will be able to handle the boy until we reach the hideout," he said, his voice weak.
Konan flicked her eyes to her childhood friend and fellow orphan. The two of them were the last surviving of the original three. Even though it hurt to, she found herself often wondering about the third, and what would be if he were still around. Deep in her heart she knew he would not approve of Madara being a part of their organization.
"There was a time Yahiko didn't trust that man," she stated carefully.
She hated bringing up Yahiko's name out loud. Especially around the man who had held the kunai that made its way to their best friend's heart. Yahiko...A name that should only be said in prayers of respect and even of mourning. Not as a card to pull.
As God's Angel, Konan had always done all she could to please Nagato but of late she, like their dearly departed friend, had been suspicious of the man with the mask and wished to express this to Nagato. To reach him in the despair they were buried in. Despair Madara could not possibly understand.
There was just too much they didn't know about him. Did they really all share the same goal? Or was he just playing and using Yahiko's dream and the Akatsuki?
Nagato grimaced at the memory of that terrible rainy day, at the man who had forced Yahiko to make that terrible choice in order to save Konan, dug them all into their nightmare, and taught Nagato what true pain was, which forced him to grow up in this new painful reality.
Nagato closed his eyes, focusing on Yahiko's body that was in a chakra-reduced state from the transportation. All he saw from it and the other bodies was darkness.
"Yahiko's dead."
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He seemed to be fading in and out of consciousness, unable to either rest or stir completely. Both were lost to him in the thick fog of pain he was floating in where time was immeasurable. In this daze, he thought he heard a clatter, like metal falling to the floor, followed by a dull ache. But then he zoned out again. Whether this lasted for minutes or just mere seconds he couldn't tell. In fact, he couldn't tell anything. Why?
The disorientated teen was soon roused again when he heard a dull hum of voices. He couldn't understand what they were saying or even who the low voices belonged to. His hearing was impaired by this strange state of fatigue he was in like all his other senses. Then a smell reached his nose that stank of foul copper and rust. It was the scent that could only be one thing: blood. Why was that?
Slowly peeling his eyes halfway open he could see a blurry image of what appeared to be dark rods thrown about the ground, their tips coated in blood. His blood. It took him another moment and horrid throbbing pangs to remember why that was.
Konoha! PAIN! What had transpired the last few hours suddenly flashed in his head in scorching images. The village was destroyed and he was…Anger boiled up inside of him, bringing some clarity to his weary senses. He had to figure where he and Pain was. They had a friggen score to settle!
Naruto attempted to move which caused pain to explode from his wounds. He collapsed his head back to the ground, gritting his teeth. Colors flashed in front of his eyes, the room spinning for a second or two. He found it frustrating how weak he was like this! Dang it!
"So he's awake already?" a voice that he did not recognize said.
"Not for long," another voice muttered that was close by. Naruto's eyes opened wide enough to see that he was surrounded by figures standing around him. Tall, and their dark faces hidden from view with his current low position. The only thing he could make out clear enough to somewhat identify them were their multiple sets of feet. Their toenails were painted. One pair of feet was dark gray in the lighting from an unnatural skin-tone, more so than the others, so he could immediately tell that it was Kisame, the unforgettable shark-skinned man he had seen a few years ago trying to kidnap him.
Akatsuki!
Pain must have taken him to the Akatsuki's hideout! CRAP! He had to get out!
Without a word, he quickly tried jumping to his feet but the moment he was on his hands, a blow came from behind, slamming him back into the rocky ground face first. Why are my reflexes so slow!? He groaned from impact, spitting out blood as he titled his face up and rested his chin on the ground. A heavy foot pressed against his back, holding him down.
"Still so reckless, I see," Kisame said, chuckling in an amused manner. He then cleared his throat, directing his attention back to his fellow Akatsuki members. "So as I was saying, it seems this brat's capture took a toll on Leader-sama's chakra if he's not here yet. And what are we going to do about the Hachibi being a dud? Leader-sama's not going to be happy about that when he finds out."
"True," a deep voice said. It sounded familiar somehow. It took Naruto a moment to realize it belonged to the man in the orange mask. The same guy he had seen that one day, taunting them when they were trying to capture Itachi. What a goofball he had been! But even so, he had that strange ability that made him untouchable…But now he talked so seriously, nothing like before...Argh! He didn't have time for this!
Naruto again fought to get up. His success lasted only briefly.
Twisting free from the foot, he rolled into a crouch and lunged at the closest figure. Seeing the first guy was the strange plant-face from that day too, he slammed his elbow against the Akatsuki member's ribs. A sickening crack was heard but he didn't take the time to relish the success as he was still dangerously surrounded by two more.
As he spun around with a snarl to hit the next person, a hand sliced through the air towards him, slashing into his face. The ring they wore cut from his jaw to his right eyebrow in a single line. He yelped as the slash seared and hot blood dripped into his eye, temporarily blinding him.
This was all his opponents needed. A foot - Kisame's most likely - kicked at the back of his legs causing him to buckle to his knees. Then came the one in the orange mask, grabbing him by the hair with one hand and the other slammed into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. The force sent stars flashing in front of his eyes and blood to his mouth. Naruto coughed it out, completely exhausted and fatigued as he tried to catch his breath, the dark world spinning around him, faster than he could keep up with. Another punch came. And another. He officially couldn't breathe and couldn't think, only bear the pain.
Dang. This guy's seriously not joking anymore…
"St...Stop," he said between pained breaths, seeing the figure holding his fist out again. "You win."
The spots where Pain had impaled him with those cursed rods were echoing painful pulses repeatedly. His chakra was gone. He hurt all over. He just couldn't do it anymore, or at least not right now. He just needed to recover a bit first…
The grip on his hair loosened. His head slumped and hit the ground as panted and let out a groan.
"Don't make your capture more difficult than it has to be, Naruto," the figure said. "Keep down."
Naruto raised his sleeve to his eye in attempt to clear it and when done, titled his head back up to meet the masked man's single exposed Sharingan eye with a defiant glare. Deep inside Naruto, the Kyuubi reeled back and roared as it then proceed to bang against the bars of his confinement in its alarm. 'Those eyes! Those cursed eyes!' Naruto cringed at the ruckus and yelled, 'What is it!?'
The fox howled, 'That man! It's the same man who controlled me sixteen years ago with his Sharingan! He used me to attack the village, that man, that UCHIHA MADARA!'
Naruto was taken aback. Impossible! Even with what little he remembered of Konoha's history from the Academy he still recognized that name and knew that Uchiha Madara was long dead, brought down by the first Hokage himself. He couldn't be Madara! The fox's rage insisted otherwise
It then snarled for Naruto to break the seal, which led to Naruto taking his attention away from the beast and focusing back on what was happening outside. There was enough going on, as it was, he wasn't about to put up with the Kyuubi's crap too.
The masked-man, whoever he really was, continued the conversation with his comrades, ignoring the blue eyes that glared at him viciously as if he was a monster. "I'm really disappointed in Sasuke, too. I want the Bijuu hunt to end just as much as you do, Kisame. And thanks to Pain, well, we're going to have got a lot of attention so hunting the beast again will be even more—"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT SASUKE!?" Naruto interrupted. He had no clue what they were talking about but he did know that the man in the mask had had his eyes on Sasuke after Itachi's defeat that day. He had to know where he was now!
The masked-man ignored the Jinchuuriki's outburst and Kisame chuckled. "Well it's not like we can just return him." He tapped Naruto with his foot. Ugh. "Which means he'll have to remain locked up until we catch the Hachibi."
Stop talking like I'm just a thing!
"That won't a problem. It'll be the Leaf's persistence. What a bothersome hindrance, right Madara?" Naruto noticed this voice seemed to be coming from the black side of the Plant-Face, and just like his color his voice was darker when compared to the other white half. However, that observation aside, Naruto was more taken aback by the name confirmation.
That name again! Impossible!
Naruto's thoughts rushed as he tried to understand what was going on around him. None of it made sense! How was Madara still alive? Where was Pain, and most importantly—he screamed in frustration "WHAT ABOUT SASUKE!? What have you freaks done with him!? Tell me!"
The Uchiha leaned down, staring into the boy's eyes. Staring at him as if he was just some young, naïve fool. It ticked him off. "Under my command he was ordered to capture the Hachibi—"
"He would never!" he spat, fingers curling into a fist.
"When asking someone a question it would be wise to not interrupt until you've heard the entire answer, Uzumaki Naruto."
Rage swept through Naruto. How can he speak so calmly! I don't have time for this! I have to find Sasuke then find that teme Pain!
'You're too weak and outnumbered, boy,'that voice from within whispered. 'What could you possibly do now?' Heh, I'll give you my power…'
Intoxicated by his anger and filled with the desire to tear these monsters to shreds and find Sasuke and Pain, his shaking hands raced to the collar of his jacket where he dug for the stringed crystal hanging around his neck. Right when he was about to rip the necklace off the Uchiha grabbed his wrist.
"Would you really so quickly give your body to that demon for the sake of revenge? Fool."
Naruto's head sank, unwilling to acknowledge that the man had just stopped him from doing the very thing Captain Yamato had warned him against. That power surge was amazing but the consequences were great. All he had to do was remember the scars on Sakura's arm. If he entered into that state with his weakened seal and anger at the level it was now there would be no return. He wouldn't be able to escape. Or find Sasuke.
"Let go of me," he growled.
Madara did not release his wrist. Instead, the grip tightened.
"You're the very example of Konoha's hypocrisy," he spoke, his tone censuring.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto retorted, finally glaring back into that Sharingan eye. Kami, he hated it. Seeing something that only belonged to his teammates, Sasuke and Kakashi, on a monster like this "Madara" poser really grinded him.
"You would kill for your revenge yet condemn others for doing the same. This is hypocrisy, Naruto, and ignorance. But you aren't the only one, boy. The entire flawed shinobi system's to blame. The Akatsuki is merely here to correct the corrupted cycle."
Pain's words came back to Naruto and he remembered the uncertainty he had felt earlier when Pain had questioned him about it. It was a cycle of hatred, but again Pain's way of trying to obtain much needed peace was not acceptable.
"You're…wrong. Now where's Sasuke? "
"Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke," mocked Kisame. "It's hilarious, your useless fixation with him. You do realize he doesn't care about you or your village, right?"
Unwarranted, Kisame's words hit him deep. Naruto could only whisper weakly in response, "You're wrong about that."
Madara stared at the downcast blond, his eye no longer harsh but instead something else. Was it sympathy? No. Impossible...
Nonetheless, the man released Naruto's wrist, and the boy's hands fell down and pressed to the ground for support. His face cast down. "He'll come back…"
Part of him didn't believe his own words.
Suddenly, that man's voice: "Do you want me to tell you about Sasuke?"
"…Screw you."
The man chuckled. "Your tone betrays you, Naruto. Besides, even if I did tell you, you could never understand the pain he's had to go through, orphan. Although, it might shut you up for while…I think I should."
Huh?
Before Naruto could even think or curse himself for looking into that blood-red eye, he was trapped in a Genjutsu that felt like it took him to another space and time….
"I'll show you the truth about Sasuke. Maybe then you could see how futile your persistence is."
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When Naruto opened his eyes it was nighttime. The sky was clear, allowing the moon and stars to illuminate the many traditional houses surrounding him. They were nice houses, he could tell that right away. Many of them had traditional features on them and thick fences surrounding their yards, more for decoration than actual protection, he guessed.
The street before them and where he stood looked like the kind kids played on. Kids that were no doubt in bed by now...
Bed...A thing he could use. His body and spirit screamed with exhaustion, tempting him all the more with the need to go to sleep now. So much so that the thought of how he even got here didn't cross his mind. And even if it did, he didn't wish to entertain it.
It was peaceful here...Although such calmness reminded him eerily of the calm before a storm.
Ah, on the wall beside him, was that the Uchiha crest? Why would it be here unless...
His fingers traced over the familiar pattern when suddenly the first scream pierced the air, shattering the peaceful dream and the hellish nightmare began.
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To be continued in: TURN 2: The Witching Hour (Naruto VS Tobi)
After being immersed in a terrible Genjutsu, Naruto attempts to flee and...
Meanwhile Konoha begins a plan of counterattack.
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Thank you! From here on, chapters will average 8,000 words. I would really love constructive criticism and reviews and recommendations! They are what help and encourage me to write, and to write better.
Again, thanks.