Prologue: Three Days
On the first day, the peace of night was broken by a red haze that grew on the horizon, though it was only a few hours after dusk.
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'Hokage-sama?' A small-framed woman stood at the entrance to the study, her dark hair and wholly white eyes marked her as Hyuuga, though she had none of their reputed confidence or arrogance now. Instead, her face was soaked in grief and the way she wrung her hands shouted reluctance at her position. 'Hinamori-chan, come in.' The Hokage spoke as though addressing an old friend, one of his oldest in fact, one of his teammates from his first three man team. She entered, schooling her features as all shinobi were taught. 'Medic-nin Hyuuga Hinamori reporting, Hokage-sama. As of 21:00 hours tonight, a team of Anbu led by Uchiha Futai engaged the unknown enemy. Said enemy was revealed to be the fox demon Kyuubi. The force was all but wiped out, with Uchiha-san undergoing field first aid. However, her wounds were too severe for the field medics so she was rushed to Konoha hospital.' She paused to blink away the tears that were pooling in her eyes. 'Because of the shock of her injuries Uchiha Futai went into premature labour. After doing what they could the doctors realised they had no choice but to deliver the child... She gave birth, but...' She fell.
Her legs gave out from under her, not having the strength to support both her body and the weight of the news she carried. In a flash her team mate was by her side, holding her, consoling her. He wondered who would console him. He didn't need to ask... he knew... his wife was dead. "A shinobi must possess a heart that never shows tears." Words on a page may seem impressive to a genin in the academy, but when faced with the prospect of a loved one dying they seemed so much weaker.
There was one thing she hadn't said. 'Hinamori-chan, what about my son?' Weeping uncontrollably, she raised her eyes to meet his, she saw his pain, his grief that he could not share. 'Why does the Hokage have to be so strong?' His deep blue eyes pleaded with her for some good news, a positive word, his hands gripped her shoulders painfully. 'Hina-chan, what happened to my son?'
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On the second day, chaos reigned, as terror incarnate walked the earth.
Every ninja in the village ranked high-chuunin and above fought an impossible battle against the stuff of nightmares. Kyuubi no Yoko, who could cause earthquakes or tsunamis with no more than the wave of a tail.
The atmosphere was so thick, it would have dulled the sharpest kunai. The killer intent that the creature radiated was like a tangible thing, even those with no training in ninjutsu could feel it. The cries of the defenders, the crash of the forest, that monster's awful howls. And somewhere in the midst of the horror a child's voice cried out, 'Let go of me! My Mum and Dad are still fighting!'
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The Professor looked over the room his successor inhabited. Maps, notes, empty ramen bowls, balls of discarded paper, he picked up a scroll to read the cover: 'Youkai, a Factual Mythology'. He set it down carefully. 'Been doing some research, have you?' His eyes passed over one of the scraps of paper, 'The Fuuma Houin? That doesn't look like the one I know.' For someone of his experience analysing an unknown seal was a simple feat, as the old man showed by studying the somewhat familiar image for all of four seconds before turning to his student's student.
'So, you've decided that your life isn't enough? That you have to go this far?' His target fixed him with a stern gaze, 'And how far would you go to protect this village, old man?' A tired grin was his response, 'As far as it took and further, just like you. But I don't see why the standard Fuuma Houin won't be enough.'
The Fourth Hokage shook his head. 'We don't know enough about the youkai to know that for certain. If I use the sealing method as it is there is no guarantee that it will destroy the Nine-Tails, there is a chance that it may simply return the beast to its' realm.' A fist clenched, knuckles turning white as he once again ran through the names of all the shinobi lost. Her name was at the top, her name would always be foremost in his mind. 'I said I will destroy the monster, and I don't go back on my word.'
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With a heavy heart, Kazama Arashi began the seals. Either he would destroy the demon that ravaged his hometown, or he and the demon would both be destroyed, or the technique would fail, killing him and leaving the Kyuubi free to terrorize the world further. Well, one out of three isn't that bad.
'Kuikorosu Fuuin!'
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On the third day, there was silence... broken by the cries of a child.
The dog-masked Anbu member, the one with the silver/grey hair, spoke. 'What will you name him?' The Third Hokage, now the current Hokage, didn't look up from the infant he held. He could see the seal, even though the child was well wrapped in cloth, he knew that whenever he saw this boy, he would see the seal.
'Naruto... Uzumaki, Naruto.'
&&&Author's Notes&&&
Well, here is the first part of what will hopefully become my first completed work. I've been reading fanfiction for years now, but I've finally published one of my own. Feels good. Anyway, reviews and constructive criticism would be appreciated, but don't feel obligated, I know that I don't review a lot of the stuff I read.