Author's Intro: This piece of Naruto Fanfiction begins somewhere in chapter
185-195 of the Manga, where it would precisely fall is impossible to
determine, but those who have not read up to that point in the manga
probably shouldn't read this. It is designed to explore the character of
Hyuuga Neji assuming he hadn't died of his wounds after defeating Kidomaru
and was instead saved by the Dragon Ninja Draci Xi. Neji is the only
original character I intend to focus on, and while others will appear early
on and occasionally as the Xi and Neji return to Konoha, all other events
and characters will be original. This story is intended to not conflict
with the main Naruto plot in any fashion, but to act in the same timeline
tangentially to it. Draci Xi and Neji will be the principle characters, and
the ones whose viewpoint is shown, but others will appear along the way.
While this story may eventually contain a romantic element, there will be
no pairings between existing characters.
Notice: I do not own Naruto, and make no claims of copyright on the characters who are not my property. Original characters, however, are mine.
A Day of Screams
The clouds moving slowly overhead, Draci Xi cruised steadily through the forest in the northern portion of the Fire Country. He moved silently from tree to tree, movements lithe and conservative in energy. There was no hurry to his motion, he traversed from branch to branch with a casual attentiveness, watching. Watching, but not finding anything.
Xi was disconcerted by this. His senses were keen, and few things could hide from them. The woods were too quiet. He was only a few miles from the border with Sound country, and there was no activity. The forest was simply natural and empty. It shouldn't be like this, Xi knew that much for certain. Not with that crazed Uchiha and his even more psychotic Mist companion showing up in Konoha not a week past. After all that's happened recently the area ought to be swarming with ninja activity. Yet there had been nothing for days. No Sound probes came across the border, no counterstrikes were sent from Konoha. Well, that much is really not all that surprising anymore, Xi decided. Konoha can't spare the manpower on a village that's basically gone. Aside from the big names: Orochimaru, Kabuto, those four barrier jutsu wielders, I doubt there could be more than ten renegades left to represent the Sound, considering how many have been killed. Konoha probably is banking on me to deal with any serious probe if the Sound are foolish enough to try anything. Xi sighed, of course, blind me, Konoha's probably right. I certainly have been putting on the role of Sound ninja exterminator.
The lack of Leaf or Sound ninja was therefore not a huge factor in Xi's worrying. The absence of ninja of other stripes, even if they were ostensibly not involved in the conflict, was far more troublesome. Xi considered the matter with no small amount of shadowy trepidation. There should be scouts from the lesser countries, Rain, Grass, and Waterfall, and where are the shinobi from the Hidden Village of Stone? I haven't spotted any slinking about and investigating. A few days ago there were plenty of them, brash chuunins hunting rogue Sound ninja, and spies all over the place. It kept me busy keeping track of all the meddlers. Not that I'm not a meddler myself, but there's no need for a crowd, yes? More than anything else, the lack of Stone ninja was the most troubling thing. With Konoha's recent setbacks the Hidden Village of Stone had at least the advantage of shear numbers on every other Hidden Village. The Northern part of Fire Country was prime infiltration territory for Stone scouts and spies, and a full team of four had been present not more than three days past. Hmm... Xi wondered. Of all the shinobi countries, the great nations of Stone, Cloud, and Water sent no ninja to the Chuunin exam. I've suspected that the leadership was somehow forewarned of Orochimaru's plans for some time now. If they've withdrawn their people now... Has that cursed bastard finally made his next move?
That last thought brought Xi up short. I need to tell Konoha this, he realized. The information might not be worth much by itself, but if my speculation is correct, well then the debt they owe me will be tremendous.
A sharp flash of remembrance broke that gluttonous thought. A feeling of vigorous dread surged within Xi as he recalled the scheduled movements he had spied in Konoha. Wait-He recalled the information with a sick feeling. Wasn't a team of four jounin supposed to return from a mission by passing through this area today? Has it begun, have I already missed this? Xi cursed himself for being so unobservant, and considered what he might do now.
He did not have long to consider options, as his worst fears would be confirmed only minutes later by a tremendous crash to the northeast. Something massive had just struck the ground with enough force that the sound was loud as a thunderclap.
Something has happened. Damn it! That sound was not close! Xi was already ascending upwards in a series of swift jumps between branches as his mind registered these thoughts. With perfect precision he channeled chakra to his feet so that the last jump carried him high into the air.
Xi shot up high into the sky, clearing the highest treetops by two hundred feet or more, a screaming ascent that left him terribly exposed but at least gave him a good view. Yet even with a perspective that normally only belonged to the birds, Xi could see nothing beyond a great cloud of dust off in the distance to the northeast.
"Damn it!" Xi barked under his breath. "Never convenient, is it." His hands flashed rapidly through a series of complex seals. No dust is getting in my way! "Dragon's Eye no Justsu!"
The cry of the completed jutsu had no visible affects, except on one part of Xi's body. In a lightning-fast transformation his brown eyes shifted, and changed. His pupils shifting and morphed, becoming slits like a lizard's, but shaped rather more like viscous fangs. His irises turned blood red, and a secondary iris, a more brilliant red this time, formed out of the whites of his eyes, outlining the first. The dragon's eyes. A powerful justsu form this technique, used to freeze hearts with otherworldly spirit fear from the baleful gaze, a technique part ninjustsu and part genjutsu, and deadly. For now though, Xi needed the dragon's eyes only to heighten his vision to pierce the dust far off.
The dust parted between that strange otherworldly gaze, which rendered the world into a frightfully red and hungry vision. The scene that greeted Xi in its discolored form was shocking. A gigantic human form, own perhaps rising as high as the great height he was now reaching at the peak of his jump, had crashed face first to the ground miles distant in the forest. He's wearing a leaf forehead protector! Xi rapidly processed that and other critical pieces of information, knowing he would sink back to the treetops shortly. No flak jacket? A genin? From there XI could fill in the rest of the puzzle while he fixed the direction and distance of the incident. The Akimichi clan uses multi-size techniques; there was one from that clan who was partnered with that shadow-jutsu user who got made chuunin, which must be who he is. Let's see, that genin's name was...Chouji!
As he fell back down to the treetops Xi considered the dour implications of what he had seen. I did not think that genin could use that level of justsu. He must be fighting a powerful foe to push the limits that far. Curses! Konoha's that short of ninja? It was a new piece of information; one Xi assuredly did not like receiving. He knew enough of the 5th Hokage's personality and temperament to recognize that she would not risk a group of genin on some trivial matter. Something very bad had happened to cause what he had seen.
As his feet touched the treetops Xi was already channeling chakra through his body to hurl himself at maximum speed towards the direction he had marked. He went for many reasons. One was simply the hunger to know everything that he had acquired while serving as a spy. Beyond that he recognized this as another opportunity to increase the debt Konoha owed him, and a dragon ninja is always concerned with collecting debt. Finally, though he would never have admitted it, XI knew he was the only ninja close enough to aid these genin, that reinforcements were to far to summon, and he simply would not stand aside and see genins die. Leave wars to those who have hatreds to fight for, and let the youth's learn something of life's lessons before being shackled to its woes.
Xi blasted from branch to branch at dangerous speed, conserving his chakra by staying slightly out of control, as a man who runs down a hill lets his momentum carry him. It was a reckless move, even if he had the confidence not to fall, for he could come up on enemies without warning this way. Few ninja would have dared to converge on enemies unknown this quickly. Draci Xi, a dragon ninja, was different. To careen in recklessly offered the greatest chance of getting the first blow, and that was all he would need.
For a long time there was nothing but a sea of leaves that flashed steadily by Xi. His resolve was ironclad as he rushed headlong upon the path to battle, a killing jutsu ready to unleash upon whatever he encountered. There was no fear of battle in him, a veteran of many, many fights; he was waiting for the moment to come.
Light flooded through a great gap in the sea of trees, revealing the sun and sky once again. The site of battle had met Xi.
Xi blasted into the opening like a stone loosed from a sling, spinning and searching for a target. A target he would not find.
Too late. Dammit. Xi stopped himself against a tree, hard enough to put a great gouge into the bark from the force of it. In a clearing devastated by an obvious and grand ninja battle, the battle was now done. Two youths lay on the ground, unmoving. One was the leaf genin, and the other... the sound barrier.
Xi dropped to the ground. The scene was universally unappetizing. He walked over to Chouji's body first. A quick yet thorough check confirmed his initial view. Dead, looks like from pushing all his organs past the bursting point. He must have used a suicidal technique. Commendable that, if unfortunate.
The sound ninja was a far more interesting study for Xi. He recognized the overweight youth as one of the four ninja who had created the barrier that enclosed the Third Hokage and Orochimaru during the invasion. Dead now, Xi remarked. An impressive display by the genin. A closer look caused Xi to upgrade that assessment significantly and immediately. This wretch had a second level cursed seal? Even I might have some trouble with that level of power, and this genin took him down? Konoha's a much tougher nut than I expected, and I doubt this was in Orochimaru's plans.
His examination of the bodies done, Xi didn't waste any more time. He knew that the other three barrier users were almost certainly ahead of him. Orochimaru would certainly have sent the entire team of four. The battle sight was ruined; there was no clue as to which way any others had gone. Still it was obvious that the genin had been pursuing the Sound ninja. They are headed to the Sound Border.
Xi gritted his teeth as he launched himself onward again. Three sound nins, probably all with level two cursed seals, and no other information. That really angered Xi, not knowing anything more. He'd been a spy and assassin long enough to hate engagements with enemies he knew nothing about. The worst part was knowing that several other genin were surely involved. Tsunade probably put that shadow-user chuunin in charge of whomever she sent; he was on the poor dead genin's team. I have to bank on them accomplishing something too, since there's no way I'm fighting three on one against these freaks.
The situation had changed, and now Xi moved more cautiously. The abilities of a cursed seal were unpredictable, and he could not count on perfect effectiveness with his lethal attacks like he might with more normal opponents. So he constantly searched for signs that ninja had moved through the area. With the trail obscured by the damages wrought by the multi-size jutsu battle, XI was forced to zigzag back and forth searching the trail. He cursed every lost second as he did so, he knew that every moment spent searching placed his enemies further away and reduced his chances of arriving in time to accomplish anything.
Long minutes passed. At a few points Xi thought there was shouting or other loud noises to the north, but nothing he could focus on.
It might not be his fight, but Draci Xi was not one to stand aside and watch without seeing. The Sound ninja were disgraceful wretches, and he wanted to see them wiped out, indeed he had done more work toward that goal than perhaps any other ninja. As the green leaves and brown branches flew past in an unending verdant stream Xi's eyes searched hurriedly. There must be a sign, pursuing genin aren't stealthy enough to hide themselves from me.
Then he caught it, a bootprint that sank into the bark. A bit too much chakra? An almost-smile spread over Xi's face. That was all it took to give him a direction, and his highly trained eyes followed other minute clues with ease from that point, down a slapdash trail through the branches.
The choice between caution and speed was a difficult one. It was unlikely that many traps lay ahead, but the Sound ninja could have turned and fallen upon the genin's at any point. If he must fight three cursed seal users at once Xi knew he absolutely would have to kill one in the very first blow, something he was not nearly confident would occur. Yet the urge to overtake the genin before they met the same fate as their friend was strong. In the end Xi chose to roughly match the pace the genin themselves had apparently set. At that rate he would overtake the Sound Ninja eventually, but might not reach them until after any battle that came was complete. The likely outcome of any such battle was the death of all the genin and their new chuunin leader. Still Xi was not entirely without hope. If all these genin have hidden talents of the same degree as that Akimichi, then maybe the Sound ninja are in for a serious surprise.
In any event I cannot simply consider just the lives of these genin, Xi reminded himself. Unlike them, or any of the leaf ninja, I can cross the border and pursue into Sound Country, perhaps even to find Orochimaru's base. That information is worth far more than the lives of any few genin, no matter how talented. It was a cold thought, but Xi's perspective was that of an older shinobi. Also, with his accumulated knowledge, he knew Orochimaru represented the key to the storm of events now ravaging the shinobi world. If he could lead Konoha to him, it could pull many shinobi countries back from the brink of war.
Ninja must sometimes make the cruelest choice for the greatest good. It was one of the most frightening of the hundred shinobi sayings. Draci Xi was in many ways the living manifestation of that saying, however, for he was a dragon ninja.
Flashing through the woods like a green, blue, and gray streak Xi was suddenly brought up short. Spider webbing? He looked at the strange silvery threads that hung in front of him. They were far too thick to be the web from a natural spider.
An instantaneous motion, and a shuriken had left Xi's hand and struck the strands. The razor sharp throwing star did not cut it, but stuck into the strands instead.
Xi frowned. A justsu?
The forest had burst into a moment of noise when Xi threw his shuriken. He had retreated to a hiding place moments after the throwing star left his hand, looking for some enemy reaction. There was nothing. The forest had fallen silent.
Silnent himself behind a cloak of leaves Xi counted the slow seconds. When he judged enough time had passed he leapt out, a kunai in each hand, ready to throw.
Nothing.
Xi crossed the distance to the spidery strand.
An extension of chakra? He thought, examining it. Well, that's an unusual jutsu. It must be one of the Sound nins. Yet, it seems he's either far better at hiding than I thought, or no longer here.
Xi dashed along the tree branch, leaping up once again. There must be more signs of battle. As he cleared the treetops he saw a great spiderweb, with strands thicker than rope and the width of a good sized building hanging between nearby trees. Impressive, he thought, but only for the moment before his gaze turned to the left.
There, in a clearing not fifty meters away, lay two more people.
One was a Sound ninja, a monstrous spider thing with too many arms, but still recognizable as one of the barrier jutsu four. He looked dead, but Xi hurled both kunai anyway, piercing the eyes with remarkable accuracy.
A flip, a jump, and Xi came down on the Sound ninja with a kick that caved his chest in. He was taking no chances with cursed seals.
As for the other body...
It's Hyuuga Neji!
Xi had not seen the genin since his fight during the chuunin exam. A talented ninja, but arrogant. Likewise one who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut about Konoha's secrets. The family's bloodline limit was incredibly impressive though, and Xi had marked Neji as a ninja who would go far if he took the lesson that had been beaten into him to heart.
Now, looking at the hole ridden body with blood pooled beneath it, it seemed that the genin would not achieve his potential. Looking around the battle site, Xi determined that it was a shame. Indeed, the chakra control evident in this battle is incredible. He might have had a potential for it incredibly beyond even my own abilities.
"A pity boy," Xi muttered as he slowly walked over to Neji's prone form. "To die after defeating such a powerful foe."
The dragon ninja reached out to close the Hyuuga's strange pupil-less eyes.
Then he sensed something strange. There's still active chakra here! This boy's alive? Xi passed his hands swiftly over the body, checking his condition as fast as possible.
I don't believe it. Xi decided when he was done. Hyuuga Neji was still barely clinging to life. The apparent wounds astonished Xi, over a dozen kunai-sized punctures on the back, and two tremendous holes clear through his body, and all his vital organs are functioning! He's not dying from anything but shock and blood loss! Xi almost smiled through his dire concern. You are one talented ninja, boy. Now if only I'm not too late to save you.
Xi was not a medical ninja. In fact, he was among the reasons medical ninjas had become a major part of teams only recently. He was a killing ninja, and had no jutsu that could heal or seal wounds. Still, he'd not been a lone operative for eight years without learning some principles of healing. It took mere seconds for him to bind the obvious wounds with bandages. That'll buy some time I guess, Xi determined. But he'll still die if he doesn't get help as soon as possible. Pity that jounin team seems to have run into trouble. There was supposed to be a talented medical ninja among them. Without that option no one who can save him is closer than Tsunade, all the way back in Konoha. Xi sighed; well, he'll have to get back to Konoha then, and soon. Life is never accommodating.
That left Xi with a terrible decision. He had a way that would likely transport Hyuuga Neji back to Konoha in time that there would be a chance to save him. However, to do so would greatly reduce his options in any battle that should occur. If I send him back I expect that he'll survive, the Hyuuga clan has enough pull in Konoha for that, and this is not beyond the care of a talented medical ninja. That much Xi could be certain of. The rest was almost completely unknown. Two more cursed seal bearers lay ahead, and if the genin had managed to kill two of them Orochimaru might have sent reinforcements. That spy servant of his, Kabuto, is certainly sharp enough to have realized something is amiss out here. He knows of my existence as well, dammit. He might lay some surprise beyond the border if he thinks I'm the pursuer. I may need every advantage.
The decision had to be made quickly, Neji's life hung precariously in the balance, and every second might matter. Bah, I hate unknowns, Xi scoffed. At the very least I'll take a debt from Konoha and the Hyuuga clan for saving your life boy. Given the skill you displayed here that's worth something. Past that, well, ninja aren't the types who get to live a certain existence.
Xi's hands moved through another series of complex hand seals, calling forth a great amount of chakra. As he completed them he bit into his left forefinger, and then spread his bloody hand upon the ground. "A debt I call," Xi spoke the words loud and clearly. "Dragon summoning no jutsu!" He shouted.
A blasting storm of air swirled about, blowing a storm of leaves, dust, and twigs past with stinging speed. Xi was forced to close his eyes against the blast of unleashed spiritual energy.
In another instant all was calm again. Xi opened his eyes to behold the magnificent sight he had expected. "All honor to thee, Shen-Lung Sirachi." Xi said, as politely and sincerely as he could while still speaking quickly.
Sirachi nodded in response, a magnanimous gesture from the great creature. He was a serpentine being, but covered with bright scales in many colors, with strong-clawed arms and legs extending from his long body. A great fin adorned his back, and shimmered brilliantly as he danced his passage in the air. His great and whiskered face was something more majestic than that of a simple reptile or human, a face full of wisdom and learning. From head to tail the dragon must have been at least fifteen feet long.
"Why have you summoned me Draci Xi?" Sirachi asked in a voice deep and inhuman, filled with the weight of long ages. "I am bound by the debts I owe, but I have may duties. What must I do?"
Xi resisted the urge to smile. Sirachi was a relatively low rank Shen- lung, a spirit dragon messenger, courtier and bodyguard to more powerful dragons. He had known him for years, and still they were as formal as always beginning any encounter. However, Xi could not afford to take time to greet his dragon friend properly, he rarely could when summoning such a creature, his request was deadly serious. "This boy, Hyuuga Neji, he must be taken to the 5th Hokage, Tsunade, in Konoha, as fast as you can fly, or he will surely perish." Xi added. "Be careful, this forest may be filled with dangerous foes. I cannot accompany you, but must go on to meet them."
Sirachi nodded, wise face taking on a terribly serious expression of concern and wrath. "I will outrun the thunderclap to save this boy." He said, and Xi knew that was not an idle boast. Sirachi was among the fastest of his kindred, and for that reason Xi had summoned him specifically. "Yet is this wise, Draci Xi?" The Shen-lung need not have asked this, it was a testament to the long relationship between the ninja and the dragon that he considered Xi's welfare at all. "With me in your service you cannot summon another dragon. Should you go into battle without our aid if you require it?"
"Don't remind me," Xi replied. "It's a risk I must take, or more boys like that one may fall." Xi pointed to Neji. "We must get going now, I've fallen too far behind already."
Sirachi scooped Neji gently into his clawed hands and was off, a red and green streak leaping across the sky to outpace the clouds and blowing winds.
Xi launched himself back onto his treetop chase, hoping to catch the Sound ninja in time to have an impact. Unfortunately, though he would indeed catch up to the remains of Shikamaru's team and the Sound ninja, the matter was already out of his hands. By the time he reached them Xi could do nothing more than offer his unfriendly news and help cover a retreat back to Konoha. The Dragon Ninja was overshadowed by valiant genin that day, rightly he acknowledged, considering what happened, but what he had done would not be un-remarked. Indeed, it would greatly change many lives in days to come.
Notice: I do not own Naruto, and make no claims of copyright on the characters who are not my property. Original characters, however, are mine.
A Day of Screams
The clouds moving slowly overhead, Draci Xi cruised steadily through the forest in the northern portion of the Fire Country. He moved silently from tree to tree, movements lithe and conservative in energy. There was no hurry to his motion, he traversed from branch to branch with a casual attentiveness, watching. Watching, but not finding anything.
Xi was disconcerted by this. His senses were keen, and few things could hide from them. The woods were too quiet. He was only a few miles from the border with Sound country, and there was no activity. The forest was simply natural and empty. It shouldn't be like this, Xi knew that much for certain. Not with that crazed Uchiha and his even more psychotic Mist companion showing up in Konoha not a week past. After all that's happened recently the area ought to be swarming with ninja activity. Yet there had been nothing for days. No Sound probes came across the border, no counterstrikes were sent from Konoha. Well, that much is really not all that surprising anymore, Xi decided. Konoha can't spare the manpower on a village that's basically gone. Aside from the big names: Orochimaru, Kabuto, those four barrier jutsu wielders, I doubt there could be more than ten renegades left to represent the Sound, considering how many have been killed. Konoha probably is banking on me to deal with any serious probe if the Sound are foolish enough to try anything. Xi sighed, of course, blind me, Konoha's probably right. I certainly have been putting on the role of Sound ninja exterminator.
The lack of Leaf or Sound ninja was therefore not a huge factor in Xi's worrying. The absence of ninja of other stripes, even if they were ostensibly not involved in the conflict, was far more troublesome. Xi considered the matter with no small amount of shadowy trepidation. There should be scouts from the lesser countries, Rain, Grass, and Waterfall, and where are the shinobi from the Hidden Village of Stone? I haven't spotted any slinking about and investigating. A few days ago there were plenty of them, brash chuunins hunting rogue Sound ninja, and spies all over the place. It kept me busy keeping track of all the meddlers. Not that I'm not a meddler myself, but there's no need for a crowd, yes? More than anything else, the lack of Stone ninja was the most troubling thing. With Konoha's recent setbacks the Hidden Village of Stone had at least the advantage of shear numbers on every other Hidden Village. The Northern part of Fire Country was prime infiltration territory for Stone scouts and spies, and a full team of four had been present not more than three days past. Hmm... Xi wondered. Of all the shinobi countries, the great nations of Stone, Cloud, and Water sent no ninja to the Chuunin exam. I've suspected that the leadership was somehow forewarned of Orochimaru's plans for some time now. If they've withdrawn their people now... Has that cursed bastard finally made his next move?
That last thought brought Xi up short. I need to tell Konoha this, he realized. The information might not be worth much by itself, but if my speculation is correct, well then the debt they owe me will be tremendous.
A sharp flash of remembrance broke that gluttonous thought. A feeling of vigorous dread surged within Xi as he recalled the scheduled movements he had spied in Konoha. Wait-He recalled the information with a sick feeling. Wasn't a team of four jounin supposed to return from a mission by passing through this area today? Has it begun, have I already missed this? Xi cursed himself for being so unobservant, and considered what he might do now.
He did not have long to consider options, as his worst fears would be confirmed only minutes later by a tremendous crash to the northeast. Something massive had just struck the ground with enough force that the sound was loud as a thunderclap.
Something has happened. Damn it! That sound was not close! Xi was already ascending upwards in a series of swift jumps between branches as his mind registered these thoughts. With perfect precision he channeled chakra to his feet so that the last jump carried him high into the air.
Xi shot up high into the sky, clearing the highest treetops by two hundred feet or more, a screaming ascent that left him terribly exposed but at least gave him a good view. Yet even with a perspective that normally only belonged to the birds, Xi could see nothing beyond a great cloud of dust off in the distance to the northeast.
"Damn it!" Xi barked under his breath. "Never convenient, is it." His hands flashed rapidly through a series of complex seals. No dust is getting in my way! "Dragon's Eye no Justsu!"
The cry of the completed jutsu had no visible affects, except on one part of Xi's body. In a lightning-fast transformation his brown eyes shifted, and changed. His pupils shifting and morphed, becoming slits like a lizard's, but shaped rather more like viscous fangs. His irises turned blood red, and a secondary iris, a more brilliant red this time, formed out of the whites of his eyes, outlining the first. The dragon's eyes. A powerful justsu form this technique, used to freeze hearts with otherworldly spirit fear from the baleful gaze, a technique part ninjustsu and part genjutsu, and deadly. For now though, Xi needed the dragon's eyes only to heighten his vision to pierce the dust far off.
The dust parted between that strange otherworldly gaze, which rendered the world into a frightfully red and hungry vision. The scene that greeted Xi in its discolored form was shocking. A gigantic human form, own perhaps rising as high as the great height he was now reaching at the peak of his jump, had crashed face first to the ground miles distant in the forest. He's wearing a leaf forehead protector! Xi rapidly processed that and other critical pieces of information, knowing he would sink back to the treetops shortly. No flak jacket? A genin? From there XI could fill in the rest of the puzzle while he fixed the direction and distance of the incident. The Akimichi clan uses multi-size techniques; there was one from that clan who was partnered with that shadow-jutsu user who got made chuunin, which must be who he is. Let's see, that genin's name was...Chouji!
As he fell back down to the treetops Xi considered the dour implications of what he had seen. I did not think that genin could use that level of justsu. He must be fighting a powerful foe to push the limits that far. Curses! Konoha's that short of ninja? It was a new piece of information; one Xi assuredly did not like receiving. He knew enough of the 5th Hokage's personality and temperament to recognize that she would not risk a group of genin on some trivial matter. Something very bad had happened to cause what he had seen.
As his feet touched the treetops Xi was already channeling chakra through his body to hurl himself at maximum speed towards the direction he had marked. He went for many reasons. One was simply the hunger to know everything that he had acquired while serving as a spy. Beyond that he recognized this as another opportunity to increase the debt Konoha owed him, and a dragon ninja is always concerned with collecting debt. Finally, though he would never have admitted it, XI knew he was the only ninja close enough to aid these genin, that reinforcements were to far to summon, and he simply would not stand aside and see genins die. Leave wars to those who have hatreds to fight for, and let the youth's learn something of life's lessons before being shackled to its woes.
Xi blasted from branch to branch at dangerous speed, conserving his chakra by staying slightly out of control, as a man who runs down a hill lets his momentum carry him. It was a reckless move, even if he had the confidence not to fall, for he could come up on enemies without warning this way. Few ninja would have dared to converge on enemies unknown this quickly. Draci Xi, a dragon ninja, was different. To careen in recklessly offered the greatest chance of getting the first blow, and that was all he would need.
For a long time there was nothing but a sea of leaves that flashed steadily by Xi. His resolve was ironclad as he rushed headlong upon the path to battle, a killing jutsu ready to unleash upon whatever he encountered. There was no fear of battle in him, a veteran of many, many fights; he was waiting for the moment to come.
Light flooded through a great gap in the sea of trees, revealing the sun and sky once again. The site of battle had met Xi.
Xi blasted into the opening like a stone loosed from a sling, spinning and searching for a target. A target he would not find.
Too late. Dammit. Xi stopped himself against a tree, hard enough to put a great gouge into the bark from the force of it. In a clearing devastated by an obvious and grand ninja battle, the battle was now done. Two youths lay on the ground, unmoving. One was the leaf genin, and the other... the sound barrier.
Xi dropped to the ground. The scene was universally unappetizing. He walked over to Chouji's body first. A quick yet thorough check confirmed his initial view. Dead, looks like from pushing all his organs past the bursting point. He must have used a suicidal technique. Commendable that, if unfortunate.
The sound ninja was a far more interesting study for Xi. He recognized the overweight youth as one of the four ninja who had created the barrier that enclosed the Third Hokage and Orochimaru during the invasion. Dead now, Xi remarked. An impressive display by the genin. A closer look caused Xi to upgrade that assessment significantly and immediately. This wretch had a second level cursed seal? Even I might have some trouble with that level of power, and this genin took him down? Konoha's a much tougher nut than I expected, and I doubt this was in Orochimaru's plans.
His examination of the bodies done, Xi didn't waste any more time. He knew that the other three barrier users were almost certainly ahead of him. Orochimaru would certainly have sent the entire team of four. The battle sight was ruined; there was no clue as to which way any others had gone. Still it was obvious that the genin had been pursuing the Sound ninja. They are headed to the Sound Border.
Xi gritted his teeth as he launched himself onward again. Three sound nins, probably all with level two cursed seals, and no other information. That really angered Xi, not knowing anything more. He'd been a spy and assassin long enough to hate engagements with enemies he knew nothing about. The worst part was knowing that several other genin were surely involved. Tsunade probably put that shadow-user chuunin in charge of whomever she sent; he was on the poor dead genin's team. I have to bank on them accomplishing something too, since there's no way I'm fighting three on one against these freaks.
The situation had changed, and now Xi moved more cautiously. The abilities of a cursed seal were unpredictable, and he could not count on perfect effectiveness with his lethal attacks like he might with more normal opponents. So he constantly searched for signs that ninja had moved through the area. With the trail obscured by the damages wrought by the multi-size jutsu battle, XI was forced to zigzag back and forth searching the trail. He cursed every lost second as he did so, he knew that every moment spent searching placed his enemies further away and reduced his chances of arriving in time to accomplish anything.
Long minutes passed. At a few points Xi thought there was shouting or other loud noises to the north, but nothing he could focus on.
It might not be his fight, but Draci Xi was not one to stand aside and watch without seeing. The Sound ninja were disgraceful wretches, and he wanted to see them wiped out, indeed he had done more work toward that goal than perhaps any other ninja. As the green leaves and brown branches flew past in an unending verdant stream Xi's eyes searched hurriedly. There must be a sign, pursuing genin aren't stealthy enough to hide themselves from me.
Then he caught it, a bootprint that sank into the bark. A bit too much chakra? An almost-smile spread over Xi's face. That was all it took to give him a direction, and his highly trained eyes followed other minute clues with ease from that point, down a slapdash trail through the branches.
The choice between caution and speed was a difficult one. It was unlikely that many traps lay ahead, but the Sound ninja could have turned and fallen upon the genin's at any point. If he must fight three cursed seal users at once Xi knew he absolutely would have to kill one in the very first blow, something he was not nearly confident would occur. Yet the urge to overtake the genin before they met the same fate as their friend was strong. In the end Xi chose to roughly match the pace the genin themselves had apparently set. At that rate he would overtake the Sound Ninja eventually, but might not reach them until after any battle that came was complete. The likely outcome of any such battle was the death of all the genin and their new chuunin leader. Still Xi was not entirely without hope. If all these genin have hidden talents of the same degree as that Akimichi, then maybe the Sound ninja are in for a serious surprise.
In any event I cannot simply consider just the lives of these genin, Xi reminded himself. Unlike them, or any of the leaf ninja, I can cross the border and pursue into Sound Country, perhaps even to find Orochimaru's base. That information is worth far more than the lives of any few genin, no matter how talented. It was a cold thought, but Xi's perspective was that of an older shinobi. Also, with his accumulated knowledge, he knew Orochimaru represented the key to the storm of events now ravaging the shinobi world. If he could lead Konoha to him, it could pull many shinobi countries back from the brink of war.
Ninja must sometimes make the cruelest choice for the greatest good. It was one of the most frightening of the hundred shinobi sayings. Draci Xi was in many ways the living manifestation of that saying, however, for he was a dragon ninja.
Flashing through the woods like a green, blue, and gray streak Xi was suddenly brought up short. Spider webbing? He looked at the strange silvery threads that hung in front of him. They were far too thick to be the web from a natural spider.
An instantaneous motion, and a shuriken had left Xi's hand and struck the strands. The razor sharp throwing star did not cut it, but stuck into the strands instead.
Xi frowned. A justsu?
The forest had burst into a moment of noise when Xi threw his shuriken. He had retreated to a hiding place moments after the throwing star left his hand, looking for some enemy reaction. There was nothing. The forest had fallen silent.
Silnent himself behind a cloak of leaves Xi counted the slow seconds. When he judged enough time had passed he leapt out, a kunai in each hand, ready to throw.
Nothing.
Xi crossed the distance to the spidery strand.
An extension of chakra? He thought, examining it. Well, that's an unusual jutsu. It must be one of the Sound nins. Yet, it seems he's either far better at hiding than I thought, or no longer here.
Xi dashed along the tree branch, leaping up once again. There must be more signs of battle. As he cleared the treetops he saw a great spiderweb, with strands thicker than rope and the width of a good sized building hanging between nearby trees. Impressive, he thought, but only for the moment before his gaze turned to the left.
There, in a clearing not fifty meters away, lay two more people.
One was a Sound ninja, a monstrous spider thing with too many arms, but still recognizable as one of the barrier jutsu four. He looked dead, but Xi hurled both kunai anyway, piercing the eyes with remarkable accuracy.
A flip, a jump, and Xi came down on the Sound ninja with a kick that caved his chest in. He was taking no chances with cursed seals.
As for the other body...
It's Hyuuga Neji!
Xi had not seen the genin since his fight during the chuunin exam. A talented ninja, but arrogant. Likewise one who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut about Konoha's secrets. The family's bloodline limit was incredibly impressive though, and Xi had marked Neji as a ninja who would go far if he took the lesson that had been beaten into him to heart.
Now, looking at the hole ridden body with blood pooled beneath it, it seemed that the genin would not achieve his potential. Looking around the battle site, Xi determined that it was a shame. Indeed, the chakra control evident in this battle is incredible. He might have had a potential for it incredibly beyond even my own abilities.
"A pity boy," Xi muttered as he slowly walked over to Neji's prone form. "To die after defeating such a powerful foe."
The dragon ninja reached out to close the Hyuuga's strange pupil-less eyes.
Then he sensed something strange. There's still active chakra here! This boy's alive? Xi passed his hands swiftly over the body, checking his condition as fast as possible.
I don't believe it. Xi decided when he was done. Hyuuga Neji was still barely clinging to life. The apparent wounds astonished Xi, over a dozen kunai-sized punctures on the back, and two tremendous holes clear through his body, and all his vital organs are functioning! He's not dying from anything but shock and blood loss! Xi almost smiled through his dire concern. You are one talented ninja, boy. Now if only I'm not too late to save you.
Xi was not a medical ninja. In fact, he was among the reasons medical ninjas had become a major part of teams only recently. He was a killing ninja, and had no jutsu that could heal or seal wounds. Still, he'd not been a lone operative for eight years without learning some principles of healing. It took mere seconds for him to bind the obvious wounds with bandages. That'll buy some time I guess, Xi determined. But he'll still die if he doesn't get help as soon as possible. Pity that jounin team seems to have run into trouble. There was supposed to be a talented medical ninja among them. Without that option no one who can save him is closer than Tsunade, all the way back in Konoha. Xi sighed; well, he'll have to get back to Konoha then, and soon. Life is never accommodating.
That left Xi with a terrible decision. He had a way that would likely transport Hyuuga Neji back to Konoha in time that there would be a chance to save him. However, to do so would greatly reduce his options in any battle that should occur. If I send him back I expect that he'll survive, the Hyuuga clan has enough pull in Konoha for that, and this is not beyond the care of a talented medical ninja. That much Xi could be certain of. The rest was almost completely unknown. Two more cursed seal bearers lay ahead, and if the genin had managed to kill two of them Orochimaru might have sent reinforcements. That spy servant of his, Kabuto, is certainly sharp enough to have realized something is amiss out here. He knows of my existence as well, dammit. He might lay some surprise beyond the border if he thinks I'm the pursuer. I may need every advantage.
The decision had to be made quickly, Neji's life hung precariously in the balance, and every second might matter. Bah, I hate unknowns, Xi scoffed. At the very least I'll take a debt from Konoha and the Hyuuga clan for saving your life boy. Given the skill you displayed here that's worth something. Past that, well, ninja aren't the types who get to live a certain existence.
Xi's hands moved through another series of complex hand seals, calling forth a great amount of chakra. As he completed them he bit into his left forefinger, and then spread his bloody hand upon the ground. "A debt I call," Xi spoke the words loud and clearly. "Dragon summoning no jutsu!" He shouted.
A blasting storm of air swirled about, blowing a storm of leaves, dust, and twigs past with stinging speed. Xi was forced to close his eyes against the blast of unleashed spiritual energy.
In another instant all was calm again. Xi opened his eyes to behold the magnificent sight he had expected. "All honor to thee, Shen-Lung Sirachi." Xi said, as politely and sincerely as he could while still speaking quickly.
Sirachi nodded in response, a magnanimous gesture from the great creature. He was a serpentine being, but covered with bright scales in many colors, with strong-clawed arms and legs extending from his long body. A great fin adorned his back, and shimmered brilliantly as he danced his passage in the air. His great and whiskered face was something more majestic than that of a simple reptile or human, a face full of wisdom and learning. From head to tail the dragon must have been at least fifteen feet long.
"Why have you summoned me Draci Xi?" Sirachi asked in a voice deep and inhuman, filled with the weight of long ages. "I am bound by the debts I owe, but I have may duties. What must I do?"
Xi resisted the urge to smile. Sirachi was a relatively low rank Shen- lung, a spirit dragon messenger, courtier and bodyguard to more powerful dragons. He had known him for years, and still they were as formal as always beginning any encounter. However, Xi could not afford to take time to greet his dragon friend properly, he rarely could when summoning such a creature, his request was deadly serious. "This boy, Hyuuga Neji, he must be taken to the 5th Hokage, Tsunade, in Konoha, as fast as you can fly, or he will surely perish." Xi added. "Be careful, this forest may be filled with dangerous foes. I cannot accompany you, but must go on to meet them."
Sirachi nodded, wise face taking on a terribly serious expression of concern and wrath. "I will outrun the thunderclap to save this boy." He said, and Xi knew that was not an idle boast. Sirachi was among the fastest of his kindred, and for that reason Xi had summoned him specifically. "Yet is this wise, Draci Xi?" The Shen-lung need not have asked this, it was a testament to the long relationship between the ninja and the dragon that he considered Xi's welfare at all. "With me in your service you cannot summon another dragon. Should you go into battle without our aid if you require it?"
"Don't remind me," Xi replied. "It's a risk I must take, or more boys like that one may fall." Xi pointed to Neji. "We must get going now, I've fallen too far behind already."
Sirachi scooped Neji gently into his clawed hands and was off, a red and green streak leaping across the sky to outpace the clouds and blowing winds.
Xi launched himself back onto his treetop chase, hoping to catch the Sound ninja in time to have an impact. Unfortunately, though he would indeed catch up to the remains of Shikamaru's team and the Sound ninja, the matter was already out of his hands. By the time he reached them Xi could do nothing more than offer his unfriendly news and help cover a retreat back to Konoha. The Dragon Ninja was overshadowed by valiant genin that day, rightly he acknowledged, considering what happened, but what he had done would not be un-remarked. Indeed, it would greatly change many lives in days to come.