Well, Hello everyone who decided to stop by. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.
I had a little ruff time starting it off, but I have came to my senses! (YaY!)
Anyway, reviews are highly welcolmed and hoped for (crosses fingers), hurtful and degrading comments are bad, a big no-no, but constructive critisism is highly appreciated. :D
Disclaimer: I Do NOT own Naruto or any of the anime's characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto, a very lucky man indeed.
Chapter One: Death Defying
"I'm sorry..."
At that moment her faith was set. Her future, hopes, dreams, all ruined. All for one decision. One misjudged task. An order that she could not, with all her heart, possibly follow, no matter the cost that would erupt on her. Death, but, if this is what it's like to feel, to know something is wrong the moment you are told it, then so be it. May death come her way, but, not before she finished what she had started.
~ A few minutes earlier~
"All has come to witness what happens when one defies what our village has to offer. Now, you will all learn and take to heart, what will happen, if you think...for yourselves"
The mystery woman could hear Hisashi, the village's leader, speaking with a strict, but excited tone. It pissed her off even more. Many feelings of remorse pierced throughout the chamber's thick walls, directly to where she stood. She felt the intense pain of her duty and it collide with her sullen mood.
She was not located in the same room as the others. No, a little ways down the hall, preparing for the pernicious misadventure that awaited. Pacing around the large room , glancing at nothing in particular. The night's light radiated from the velvet sky, creating a beautiful multi- colored scenario. Stopping to stare at the mirror which was located in the center of the room. She could finally see the full view of herself. Shock ran throughout her body. She could not contain the tears as they escaped her eyes. Her eyes, usually a beautiful maroon red that shined brightly with a dark gold swirly texture that went thought her entire eye, were now, blood shot red. Her hands , shaking slightly, immediately trailed to her eyes.
The Huzami's clan eyes. Breath taking in beauty, but could cost the viewer a terrible ending. Traveling down, her nose was runny and red. Her mouth was slightly open as she took little breaths trying to regain herself.
'Come on Masuyo. You can do this! Stop being weak!
Telling herself the same thing over and over again did not seem to help, but it surpassed the intoxication felling that were consuming her entire being. All together, her features seemed horrible. Even her long, silky, midnight blue hair seemed lifeless.
Quickly, if almost unseeable she gripped the mask that was given to her the day she had received the this merciless job. and slid it down her face, completely covering the deadly mess that was her. Applying the rest of her tools need for the task; taking both of her specialized katanas, both coaxed with hours and hours of bring sharpened and color to appeal their exquisite purpose, and slipped them into their rightful places on her back. She then slowly gripped hair pins that would conceal her identity and skillfully tied her thigh long hair into a tight bun and finally pulling the hood of her black cloak over her masked face.
Twisting around towards the wooden door she began to walk. Gripping the handles and slowly pushing it open she entered the short hallway and began her journey to the chamber where the prisoner was held. Two guards that was placed outside the chamber's entrance did a few quick hand signs and the huge stone doors began to open as she made her way into the room full of hate, love, fear, and... regret. The chamber was set up to look like a dungeon, but only with chairs, were the villagers sat. Along the walls were torches with fire streaming from them. Just by entering almost everyone turned to look at the new arrival. The room soon gave off an abhorrence feeling. She knew what they were thinking. She thought the same thing of herself. Keeping her gaze on the floor, she did not want to look at any of the people's faces as she passed, fearing that she would lose control and break down again.
'You have to do this!'
Everyone was silent and finally after what seemed like an eternity she reached the middle of the chamber and stood in front of the victim. That's when Hisashi began to speak, not at any one person, but to the enitre audience.
" Here we are. Our village's noble hunter. Here to retain the code and honor of the village!"
He continued to speak greatly of her. It only made her feel worst, if that was possible. No one was impressed with her. Hell, they all hated her right now. Here she was taking the life of something in the village. A clan mate. Someone who was a child, someone barely old enough to call themselves someone. Someone who meant the world to her. Someone who she called-
" Go ahead, Hunter!" Hasashi spoke as she gripped her kantanas and pulled them out.
" The time has come. Now you all shall learn from one's mistakes! Prepare to die... Hiroko Huzami."
He spoke with a shining sparkle in his eyes.
Finally turning towards her sister, she could not control her tears anymore. One slithered down her eyes as she saw how her sister was placed. Strapped to the wall, hanging on chains, dried blood on her arms from the strains of the chains. Her face was down, but you could clearly see the tears and her blood stained face from her view. Masuyo felt like her body was split in two. One saying, 'Do it! Do it! Do it !' while the other, more loving side, the side that held the love for a sister, for a clan mate, for acceptance, spoke the complete opposite. Masuyo raised her kantanas into the air above Hiroko and took in a shallow,needed breath.
"For my village and for the love of my sister,"
She knew no one could hear her since she spoke in a barely audible voice. She continued her words, but this time spoke in a much louder voice and directed her words to everyone.
"I'm sorry..."
Then she swung.
A few gasps were heard when her sword connected with the body of the directed person. Blood gushed out everywhere and some people even screamed. Quickly the body fell to the ground as Masuyo sliced again, but this time cutting the chains that held her sister's form to the wall. Thrusting her swords into the ground, she reached out her now free hands to catch the falling body as it fell towards the waiting ground. Many of the villagers were either in shock or completely frighten now. No one moved for at least a few seconds, no sounds, no noise what so ever was heard as Masuyo gripped Hiroko's hand and gently placed her onto her back.
She struggled, but regained her balance. Pulling her kantanas out of the ground, she gripped them tightly already knowing what was coming next and began her escape. Jumping from the middle of the chamber, she ran towards the doors that she recently came through. Many of the village's elite ninja will be called to the scene to figure out what is going on. Everyone else seemed to regain the composer and began to escape screaming and crying. Some men stayed behind to defend their village's honor , but they were no match. All the elite and well rounded ninja were either on a mission or unaware of the latest events. Masuyo quickly realized their intentions and proceeded with caution, not killing them, but swiftly causing them unconsciousness and a really painful headache in the morning.
'Hiroko, please, hang on.' the minor thought kept running throughout her mind the entire time. Breathing deeply, Masuyo jumped passed the non moving bodies and exited the room. She began to run, running as fast as she could with her beloved sister drifting from her back. Screams of horror and fear were heard, coming from every direction. Masuyo couldn't bear it any longer , she had to get out. Tears blurred her vision. The guards had trouble keeping up with Masuyo, as she leaped from one building to another, throwing smoke bombs with every new movement.
Upon reaching the village gates, she slide to a halt as a kunai connected with her covered shoulder. Not many people had the ability and accuracy to be able to hand a blow like that, beside a few people. This one she knew. Turning sideways to see the unmasked person. There she stood. The one figure that knew almost everything that there was to know about Masuyo, who she was, what she was doing, why she was fulfilling the lamentable task. There stood Yuzuki Chikako.
The Chikako clan was very fond of the Huzami clan. Yuzuki stood there, with a intercession expression place look on her face as her light brown hair blew in the wind. She was dressed in her special huntress outfit, like she was on a mission. Covered in all black, the only thing that stood out was her bright maple green eyes that cleansed the hidden features of her her stood her selected squad. All with the same rancor plastered on their faces. Faces that Masuyo once called friends. She could feel the tears began to take over again as she looked at them one by one. That's when Yuzuki spoke.
"How could you?" she screamed over the wind. her voice echoing throughout the forest enterance, "How could you do this to your village?" she continued, not pausing.
"I had to," Masuyo spoke gently, but carefully.
"You had to, well this village doesn't work around you," she commented. Masuyo was utterly did that come from?
"None of this is about me. This is all for the village. A change was needed. You know that! This was the slake that I needed to take the courage to make a change." she replied loosen her grip on Hiroko and settling her on the ground. Pulling out the kunai that was previous thrown into her shoulder. Whimpering lowly at the pain as little drops of blood fell to the took her stance in front of Hiroko.
She knew what was about to happen. Yuzuki loved the everything about it. Always went with the flow, no matter how bad it seemed or was.
"Change! Seriously! This is what you came to? Causing chaos to everyone just to save someone's life?" She began to walk closer towards Masuyo. Masuyo stiffen, knowing what she was doing. Yuzuki specializes in Taijutsu, the village's most skilled, which makes her very deadly if she has the chance to get close enough to you.
" It was not just for one person... it was for everyone," Masuyo stared pleading into her best friend's eyes, trying to make her and her teammates understand. She clearly didn't want to do this, but it was necessary.
"Captain, what are our orders?" One of her squad members asked. Yuzuki stopped walking and glanced back at him once then returned her gaze back to Masuyo.
" Knock out only. Do NOT kill! If anyone dies here, I will hold you responsible. Do you all understand?" she ordered. All her sadness seemed to melt away, replaced by strictness. Her green eyes harden on Masuyo's as she spoke.
"Yes, Captain. On your command," he replied as they all got into formation. Masuyo gripped her solid red katanas and got into position. Yuzuki started to walk again. This time at a faster pace. Yuzuki was always wise. Much wiser than Masuyo in some things. Mostly logic, sometimes mentally, but never physically. Closing the distance between them to about 25 feet, time seemed to slow down. The wind seemed to blow slower, their tears fell slower, everything seemed...slower. Then Masuyo realized that Yuzuki was trying to use her Kekkai Genkai on her.
'Crap! Move!' Jumping up right when a fist connected with her face, sending her flying into a tree and splitting it into half in the process. She knew that it was Yuzuki because it felt like her jaw was going to come off. She has a hell of a punch. Masuyo sat there dazed, slowly regaining her posture and pulling herself to her feet as Yuzuki spoke in a hurt voice.
"Now follow the plan." a whisper through Masuyo's ears.
Masuyo's vision slowly came back and everything out of place began to fade back into reality.
In a much louder voice Yuzuki spoke.
" NOW!"
Everyone disappeared, including Masuyo with a hurtful smirk played behind her now cracked mask. Reappearing behind one of Yuzuki's squad members, she quickly hit her with the hilt of her sword, then kick her in the back, knocking her a good 8 feet away. She then turned to find Yuzuki kicking another one of her members in the stomach while her fist connected with someone else's chest. Before the last one could grasp what was going on, Masuyo jumped onto them pushing them to the ground with her hand on their face, slamming their skull into the mush.
"PHOO, that was a good workout. You didn't kill anyone did you?" Yuzuki laughed. Masuyo quickly turned towards her.
" How-" she was cut short when her mind triggered the pain in her jaw. Her hand shot to her face as she quickly removed her mask. Whatever was wrong with her face caused Yuzuki to gasp and began to run towards her.
" Masuyo, I am so sorry. I didn't know I hit you that hard," Squinting her eyes at Yuzuki, she stepped away. while placing her hand on her jaw, she popped it back into place with a soft whimper. She began her walk back towards Hiroko, who was still unconscious from today's previous events, and slid her swords into their rightful sheaths.
"I got her," Yuzuki quickly offered, picking Hiroko up and placing her onto her back.
" You sure? You know that you don't have to do this. I won't force you," Masuyo stood there waiting for her to reply.
Yuzuki stayed silent for a few moment just looking at Masuyo. Then she spoke.
" That's why I know what I am doing is the right thing. You are my best friend, Masuyo. I would travel and kill anyone with you," she began to walk out into the forest, " because, you won't force me to do something. Hell, if I ever get to do something it's because I disobey you," she turned her head slightly to flash a smile at Masuyo.
"Hmm, big softy," she replied laughing. turning around, she perused all the damage she has caused to her village...well old village. Breathing in and turning around, knowing that if She ever came back, ever came back, She would die for sure. Dying doesn't bother her. Watching Hiroko and Yuzuki disappear into the forest, she sees that. Dying isn't what bothers her... it's who will also have to go down with her for her choices.
Chapter one is complete. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Anything that I need to change or add? Any ideas that you want to throw out? Let me know :) I hope you all enjoyed this.