A/N: This is my first attempt at writing a story so criticism is greatly appreciated. As for the flow of the story, I have some things planned out so be prepared. The biggest question is (nope, not the pairings) whether I connect closely to cannon or stay away from it and slowly connect to it. I plan on encountering the females mentioned in the synopsis, but I'd like to know what pairing I should add to the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters but I do own my own OC.
Without further ado,
Chapter 1: Lin Kaguya
Where am I?
I woke up in an unfamiliar environment. It was cold and barren, not to mention the atmosphere felt tense. Observing the surroundings I found that I was locked up in a room with another person beside me.
Upon a closer inspection, I slid back in shock, my eyes widened and my heart started to beat wildly. "This isn't possible. Ki-kimimaro?". I stuttered the name of the boy in front of me. The first thing I noticed was Kimimaro's paper-white hair, followed by the Kaguya Clan's signature red dots above their eyebrows. He seemed to be sleeping since he didn't respond to my shock.
"What happened. There is no way this is real.". I said scared, but there was a small hint of excitement in my words.
"Recall, recall, recall!". I repeated over and over, trying to remember what happened to me before this. But no matter how hard I tried I couldn't remember, the only thing that struck me was the fact I didn't belong in this anime. Not in the anime I watched as a kid and especially not in the cage where Kimimaro was kept. The other details I could recall were some events in the anime, my gender and finally the feeling I had when I left the previous world.
Fuck it! First I have to figure out who I am. From what I remember, Kimimaro was the only person being watched. The was because he had the …
After the sudden realization, a large smile appeared on my face. "Shikotsumyaku!". Did I also have it? I really had no way to know since I still don't know how chakra works. But what I do know is I have the blood of the Kaguya clan in me!
My first decision at this moment was to organize my thoughts. Firstly, I can't remember much from where I came from. All I knew was that fact I was in an anime I watched and that I was feeling a great fear in my final moments. Secondly, my current body's name is Lin, Kaguya Lin. He was thrown in the cage with Kimimaro because they felt the same innate fear from him as they did Kimimaro. Which surprised me but I was still confused at the origins of my body.
It didn't matter to him, the thought of the possibility to awaken the Shikotsumyaku in the future greatly excited him. Finally, I can only remember bits and pieces of Naruto. I know that 'Naruto' was the main character and had many friends in the future, most of which I can recall. Next, some major plot pieces from the anime, such as the fight in the land of waves, against Gaara and with some Akatsuki members. Since I was trying to recall as much information I could about Kimimaro, I forgot most of the specific details during many fights but remembered most characters specialties. So basically, I know the basic weakness of most ninjas.
"The Kaguya clan is going to fall and Kimimaro will join Orochimaru.". I spoke aloud accidentally. Remembering this shocked me to the point of speaking.
"What did you say brat?". A voice said from outside the cage. I quickly turned my head and looked at the man. I was scared shitless since I'm now in the world of shinobi. Even worse was the fact I was in the war-lusting Kaguya clan and even near the blood mist. Not to mention the fact that nothing from my world mentioned any large details of what happened during this time.
"I-I said the Kaguya clan is the best overall and I thought everyone knew.". I lied, finding the best rhymes for fall and Orochimaru, hoping they didn't hear Kimimaro's name.
"Of course you did kid. No one can compare to the Kaguya's! Now stay in the cage silently.". He said coldly, turning around to guard the cage again.
I have to learn to not think out loud. Leaving a mental note for myself, after all, information in the world of ninjas can be lethal.
Kimimaro dies in the anime… so maybe if I can get him to not join Orochimaru he can live. I'm just hoping he doesn't have tuberculosis or whatever illness it is in the anime.
I spent most of my time in the darkness planning my escape and future. The first thought I had was to think of a purpose for Kimimaro, this way he won't join Orochimaru. Then I have to find a way to survive the Kaguya purge, or should I say their futile attempt at intimidating the blood mist.
After all this thinking my head was starting to hurt, but when I looked up and saw the guards smile as my eyes slowly entered the darkness. When I woke up, Kimimaro was sitting right beside me.
Shit, what's going to happen to me? I was shivering. Worried if I'd live or die, this boy shouldn't be here after all. My surroundings were filled with an intense discussion, but I couldn't really hear what they were saying since they were all whispering. I looked to the right and see that Kimimaro is awake, his eyes were lifeless.
"Hey.". I said. There was no response from the other party.
"Hey!". I said again, speaking louder than the whispers. At first, I regretted it but it seemed like the war crazy members didn't care. Unlike them though, Kimimaro flinched at the shout and looked me in the eyes. His green eyes looked very cool but the feeling they emitted was saddening and empty.
He looked at me confused, waiting for me to speak. "H-hi, my name is Lin Kaguya.". I introduced myself. I hope we didn't meet before yesterday, or else this would be awkward.
"Kimimaro.". He responded in a voice that was similar to his eyes, empty.
I don't know what else to say… And then it just popped. It was like a lightbulb clicked above my head.
"How about we be brothers. Since you're older you are the big brother.". I say, looking straight into his eyes.
Kimimaro didn't respond for a while, so I didn't try to create a conversation either.
"Why me.". He finally said confusion was written all over his face.
A smile forms on my face and I respond with, "Why not?". Kimimaro's eyes widened as he was trying to contemplate what he just heard.
"Lin Kaguya!". A voice filled the quiet room.
"Y-yes!". I instinctively say in a stutter. I've been stuttering too much since I came here.
The leader stared at me with an odd look. He then continued, "We concluded that you do not have the Shikotsumyaku, only a small potential of getting it. Therefore, you are to undergo rigorous training for the war against the mist. Unlike Kimimaro, you will not be locked in a cage but rather watched on a daily basis for signs of the Shikotsumyaku."
Shit. I knew something odd was happening. No wonder Kimimaro doesn't flash back to this boy. The boy probably didn't even talk to him. Coming to this conclusion, I started to feel a bad omen in the air. War crazy people and training… Fuck! I'm going to die the first day I get reborn!
I got dragged away by one of the elders of the clan, I looked back at Kimimaro and said, "Bye Kimimaro, I hope you think about what I said.". Leaving him there shocked for the third time today.
I arrived at a training ground of the clan, unlike the clean green training ground of Konoha, the field was barren and empty. The only things in view were the leafless trees and the ninja tools on the ground.
"The raid on the Mist is going to happen a year from now.". My elder and assumed instructor said. "You will be undergoing the best training to make you become a true member of the Kaguya Clan." He continued with his eyes filled with passion.
And so my days of pain and agony began and continued for a full year. At first, I thought it wasn't bad to get stronger, but their training, I felt, seemed worse than what Lee would do. Although the weight training was less than him, the method of their training was painful. Not to mention they didn't teach me any ninjutsu!
My whole year was only filled with training, eating, and sleeping. Other than weight training, the speed and endurance training was dodging attacks and enduring the ones that land. The elders don't even hold much back when they attack me, crazy war people!
The year was so tiresome, I couldn't even get Kimimaro to make me his brother. The only good thing I learned from the year other and hand to hand combat was using the Shikotsumyaku. Although it feels weaker than what Kimimaro, I feel my bones have become denser. Another milestone was taking his bones out, although it's only a few centimeters.
The best part of this is totally creating the small layer of bone underneath my skin. My body hasn't felt as sore or bruised since!
It's been exactly one year since the first day of training. I can feel it in the air if it was bad a year ago it was a lot worse now. I haven't really thought about my age until now, this body is probably 8 right now… I think.
Now that I think about it, what do I look like? I was curious about my new body for the first time. I hope that I have the silvery hair like Kimimaro and the bright green eyes as well. My hair doesn't seem to be grown out since I haven't seen it while I was training.
I walked to the main house of the clan and requested to go to the forest since my training was finished. They only agreed since I said, "I'm going to hunt some hidden mist scum in the forest.". That lie easily made the barbarians agree with my request. This would actually be my first time out of the town since they trapped me to train.
I walked into the forest with a butchering knife on hand, just in case a hidden mist ninja actually attacks. They can easily recognize me with the signature red markings I assume are on my forehead.
I walked quite far from the village when I heard the flow of water in the wind. I dashed there and found the clear liquid, clear enough to see the fish swim. I bend over and look at my reflection and damn! It's pretty close to what my personal style is. Short and spiky silver hair, followed up with dark green eyes and a straight nose. Although I'd prefer bright green eyes, at least they're not brown like what the majority of people have.
Hmmn… Maybe I should attempt to run from the clan. No, I can't yet, I'm going to save Kimimaro's miserable life! Determination filled my eyes as I walked back from the forest. Lucky for me, he was out of his cage and the clan was … gathered to..gether…
Shit! The raid on the outskirts of the mist is today?! My heart was beating wildly as I returned to the rest of my clan members. A shout reverberated in my ear and it almost made me dizzy and because of it, I didn't notice Kimimaro dash away.
"NOW! WE WILL FIRST SHOW OUR POWER TO THE HIDDEN MIST! THEN WE SHALL SHOW ALL SHINOBI OF OUR STRENGTH!". Our leader shouted, my clansmen were getting excited and started chanting with his speech. It sort of sounded like a mating call rather than a war cry, to be honest.
"NOW FOLLOW KIMIMARO! SCATTER!". He shouted with coldness then passion, giving me a look.
I of course scattered with them and ran in the direction were Kimimaro was running. I couldn't locate where he was, so I ran around randomly but towards the blood mist outer area. It seems that I'm rather slow compared to my elders, or maybe I just took a different path since I couldn't see anyone from my clan.
*Whoosh*
With a cling, my butcher knife deflected a shuriken that was aimed at my chest.
"If you're going to prepare a sneak attack, at least attack my back!". I said in a bit of a mocking tone.
"That's dishonourable!". One of the five mist ninjas shouted as the jumped from the trees. They wore a black long-sleeved shirt underneath a greyish brown vest. They were also equipped with a belt which seemed to carry their throwing tools.
"What are you a samurai?". I shouted as I dashed at them with a… smile.
"Surround him and take 'A' formation.". The scar-faced man shouted, he seemed to be the leader of this group. So, I decided to dash at him and target the leader first. An unorganized attack is a battle easier to beat. The other four tried to stop me from getting close to throwing their shuriken and kunai.
I blocked most their attacked with my knife, but three of their weapons landed. My smile grew at this point of the fight since the deflected right off my body. The leader didn't want me to control the battle so he pulled out a katana and tried to strike me first.
He slashed downward then upward across the chest, both of which I dodged. Although my body is protected by my bones, it doesn't mean I don't feel pain!
After dodging I found the perfect opportunity to strike at his head! But that plan failed when the remaining members surrounded and immobilized me. A third smile grew on my face since they used physical strength to stop me.
"Beware my Kekkei Genkai!". I warned them. Although I did warn them, did you think I'd give them time to react? Nope! Sharp bones erupted from my skin, the longest reaching 5 centimeters. Though small, it was enough to make them loosen their hold on me and let me take the opportunity to kill the leader with a strike on the neck.
Then the rest are chickens for the killing. They were on the ground in pain and forgot I was still attacking. Must be their first war. I thought to myself. But why did I think that?
*Slash*
The five attacking ninjas died by my hands, blood dripped from my face and knife. It was odd. It should be the first time I've killed someone, but… I don't feel scared or regret.
"Don't tell me!". I shouted loudly that some birds far away flew into the sky.
"I'm a.."
"I'm a!"
"Psychopath.". This was the only conclusion I could come up with. If I don't feel remorse then there is probably something wrong with my head? Could it be the war crazy Kaguya's are affecting me?
Well, leaving that aside, I picked up their ninja tool straps and put one on myself. Of course taking their spoils of war for my own, filling the bag to the brim, without overpacking it.
I didn't want to ditch my butcher knife yet so I used my bones and created a 'pocket' around my chest to hold it. It was basically a small hook to hold the knife in front of my heart. What I truly craved for were ninja scrolls, sadly they didn't have any ninjutsu to learn. Though the clan focus on taijutsu, I gathered chakra in my free time during my breaks. That's one of the reasons my bones have become really dense, I wonder if it's stronger than Kimimaro's.
I kept contemplating about my Kekkei Genkai as I ran. After a while of not encountering any ninjas, I could hear sounds of metal hitting each other. The was also smoke gathering above the cliff ahead. When I arrived at the edge of the cliff I saw a group of my clan members facing a bunch of hidden mist ninja.
Nearby I also saw Kimimaro fighting the same amount of ninja but by himself! "Dumbass Clan!". I shouted out loud at their pointless fear of the Shikotsumyaku jumping down the cliff in the direction of Kimimaro.
"Interesting.". A sinister voice sounded out as Lin jumped down the from the cliff. Of course, Lin didn't hear the voice as he was focused on the sounds of weapons and screams of war.
I dashed past my clan members dodging all the weapons aimed at me. Some of which I deflected with my bone skin. The leader seemed to see me in the corner of his eye and shouted, "Lin! Come and help us!".
I look at him not bothering to hide my disdain and say, "I'm going to help Kimimaro!"
"KAGUYA LIN, HELP US FIGHT!". The clan head yelled as he cut another mist shinobi.
"I am! I'm killing the mist ninjas with Kimimaro." I shouted back with a small smirk.
Because of my carelessness, a mist ninja managed to come behind me and slash down with their tanto. This is probably a good time to reveal my Shikotsumyaku.
The blade landed on my back and was blocked by small bones coming out of my body. The clan leader looked at me with fear, he then continued to fight ignoring me. "Spineless leader.". I spit out.
Since my bones locked the mist ninja's blade, he released it to back away from me. I didn't give him time to escape as I retracted my bones and threw the tanto back at him, hitting a bullseye on his heart.
I killed a few more ninjas on my way to Kimimaro using my throwing tools, I wasted most of them since I didn't practice aiming. The scene I arrived to was amazing and shocking. Kimimaro was able to dodge blades from all sides easily, utilizing his bones if he was unable to. What shook me more than the dodging was his speed, how could he move so fast when he spends every day locked in a cage.
I was so amazed that I let a ninja hack at me on the shoulder. "Seriously, if you're going to sneak up on me at least make it fatal!". I say slightly frustrated at the hidden mist ninja's performance. My bones appeared on my shoulders and trapped the blade in place. I used my katana to cut him across the chest.
Seeing a ninja sneaking up on Kimimaro, I dashed to him back and used my katana to block the attack. Kimimaro turned around and looked at me in surprise but kept fighting with his back to mine.
"You're very good at this brother.". I say to him, for the first time after a year.
"...". He didn't respond to me and kept fighting. More ninja appeared and I saw in the distance our clan having some trouble after our early advantage in the battle.
"Shit!". I let out, as I got separated from Kimimaro because of the hidden mist ninjas. Their numbers increase substantially and they managed to make a dodge in opposite directions and use their numbers to keep us away from each other.
I'm starting to get tire now. My body might be very resistant, but my muscles can still get sore and worn out. My movements started to slow down, this was quite understandable since I've been fighting and slashing at the ninjas for close to an hour now.
Not to mention that the shinobi of the mist seems to have found a way to counter our strong bones. They organized their attacks and tried to aim at one spot on my body at the same time. At first, it was useless but with my sluggish movements now, they might crack me eventually.
Although tired, my control over the Shikotsumyaku increased, now I can grow my bones thirty centimeters out of my body. That was a hell of a lot larger than just five centimeters! By now the many areas of my body was covered with long, sharp and bloodied bones.
The only flaw now was my tired movements. Five ninjas dashed towards me with their blades and slashed down. I used another Katana from a dead ninja and my bones to block it. I couldn't attack them back since they had more energy and combined, strength.
They were able to fling me backward to which more ninjas were ready to attack. They all aimed for my skull, I raised my arms above my head hoping that would be enough to stop the momentum of their blades.
Pray to God this works!
*Clang*
There was no impact on my arms and someone's back was on mine. It gave me enough support to deal with the five ninjas that put me in that dangerous situation. Although the skull might have been able to defend that, I couldn't have known if the blades were infused with chakra. My control over my bones are still not up to par with Kimimaro's so I have to play it safe!
After rendering the five shinobi unable to battle, I saw that Kimimaro was the one that defended me from the attack. Now I'm confused at why he would help me.
"Why?". I ask him, hoping he won't use my previous reply to that.
"Cause we're brothers.". He said with emotion. This was the first time I saw him with any feeling in his words.
I smiled and said back, "Then we'll never count our brother as dead unless we see the body ourselves!". Excitement was evidently heard in my voice.
At the corner of my eye, I saw him nod his head and my smile grew larger. We kept fighting the ninja for another hour, at this point, we clear most of the ninja near us as we retreated away from the village. By dawn, we were both on a tree as we looked down at our dead clansmen. I didn't feel much sympathy for them but it still upset my stomach. Kimimaro, on the other hand, looked as lifeless as the first time I saw him awake.
And so the day the Kaguya clan was near extinction with only two sole survivors, was also the day I became Kimimaro's brother.