Another Idea, preview

Preview…

First there was darkness, complete and absolute. No sounds disconcert him, no conscious thoughts to concern him. Then came awareness of darkness and everything changed. He felt a pressure against his back and legs, and a gentle thudding in his chest. Fear touched him.

'Why am I in the dark?' In that instant a bright, powerful image filled his mind.

A man snarling with hatred, leaping at him, spear raised. On his forehead he had a hitai with the Takigakure symbol engraved that disappeared in a spray of crimson as a sword blade half severed the skull. More warriors attacking him. His clansmen called out for him.

His body jerked spasmodically, his eyes flaring open. There were no shinobi, no screaming enemies yearning for his death. Instead he found himself lying in a soft bed and staring up at an ornate ceiling, high and domed. He blinked and took a deep breath, his lungs filling with air. The sensation exquisite – and somehow unnatural. Confused the man sat up and rubbed at his eyes. Sunshine was streaming through a high arched opening to his right. It was so bright and painful that he raised his arms to shield his eyes from the brilliance. Then he saw the dark blue tattoo upon his forearm. It was of a snake, both ugly and threatening. His eyes adjusting to the brightness, he stood up and padded naked across the room. A cool breeze rippled against his skin, causing him to shiver. This too, in its own way, was confusing. The feeling of cold was almost alien.

The opening led to a semicircular balcony high above a walled garden. Beyond the garden lay a town and in the distance he noticed a mountain with two familiar faces, and two unfamiliar. Slowly he scanned the town and noticed some familiar buildings that jugged his memories. Clutching his head and closing his eyes, he remained in the position for a few moments before releasing his head and shaking the feeling off. He shivered again, and walked back into the domed room. There were rugs upon the floor, some embroiled with flowers, others with angular emblems he didn't recognize. The room itself was also unfamiliar. On the table nearby he saw a water jug and a long stemmed crystal goblet. He reached for the jug. As he did so he caught sight of his reflection in a curved mirror on the wall behind the table. Cold, sapphire blue eyes with blue white flower-like iris stared back at him, from a face both stern and forbidding. There was something about the reflected man that was unrelentingly savage. His gaze traveled down to the tattoo of snarling panther upon the chest. He knew then that a third tattoo was upon his back, an eagle with flaring wings. His mind realized what they are – summoning contracts. Becoming aware of a gnawing emptiness in his stomach, he recognized – as if from ancient memory – symptoms of hunger. Filling the crystal goblet with water he drank deeply, then looked around the room. On another narrow table, alongside the door, he saw a shallow bowl, filled with dried fruit, slices of honey-dipped apricot, and figs. Carrying the bowl back to the bed he sat down and slowly ate the fruit, expecting at any moment that memories would come flooding back.

But they did not.

Fear flared in him, but he quelled it savagely. 'You are not a man given to panic.' He said, aloud. How would you know? The thought was unsettling.

'Stay calm and think.' He said.

The snarling faces came again. Hostile shinobi all around him, hacking and slashing. He fought them with two deadly, razor sharp blades. The enemy fell back. He did not seek to escape then, but hurled himself at them, seeking to reach … to reach…

The memory faded. Anger swelled, but he let it flow over him and away. Holding to the memory of the scene, analyzed what he did remember. He had been bone weary, his swords unnatural heavy. No, he realized, not just weary.

My powers were sealed!

The shock of the memory made him rise again and return to the mirror. The face he saw was young, the fairy pale skin flawless of any scar or wounds, on his forehead he held a single sapphire rhombus mark, the long silvery spikey hair mirrored that of his father. The image returned with a sickening intensity.

A lightning cutter plunged into his shoulder. He winded at the pain of it, the hot, agonizing rush of blood over ripped flesh. The jutsu all but embowelled him. A mortal wound. His blade cleaved the air, missing the shinobi but was rewarded with the shinobi behind his intended target. His sister, Mito screamed at him as his clansmen fought for their lives. Four clansmen protected his sister who was writing a sealing.

'Brother,' The man understanding what must be done, charged. Four Takigakure shinobi charged at his sister – huge men bearing large broadswords. They died bravely as the man rose up from his crouched position behind them, his blades dripping off their blood, and the four shinobi bodies crumbled in a heap on the ground. 'It is done, now …'

Mito was cutoff when a fireball surged at her, her eyes widened as she flashed through the handseals while the clansmen tried to reach her in time. The man seeing his kid-sister in danger flashed through handseals before he spit out a wall of water that intercepted the incoming danger. Seeing his sister safely and smiling at him when suddenly a white bright light enveloped them and darkness embraced him.

The man looked down at the skin of his shoulder. It was unmarked. As was his side. There was not a scar upon his flesh. Was he seeing visions of his future then? No, he was sure it wasn't the future but what is it then? A mild breeze blew in from the balcony. He rose and searched the room. By the far wall was a tall chest of drawers. The top drawer contained careful folded clothing. Removing the first item, he saw that it was a thigh-length suit of fine black linen. He pulled it on, then opened the second drawer. Here he found several pairs of leggings, some in wool or fur. Choosing a pair in white fur, he donned them. Opening the last drawer, he noticed a blue plated armor with white fur around its collar. A single tear escaped his eyes before he donned his father's armor. They fitted perfectly.

Hearing footsteps outside his door he stepped away from the chest and jumped up the ceiling with chakra enhanced feet he stuck on the wall, out of sight. An beautiful, fair-skinned woman of slender build entered the room. She has long black untamed hair reaching her upper back, and very unique eyes that are red in color, with an additional ring in them. She wears light make-up consisting of red lipstick and purple eye shadow. Her outfit consists of a red mesh armor blouse with only the right sleeve visible. Overall, this is very broad material which resembles bandages with a pattern on it similar to those of rose thorns. Her hands and upper tights are also wrapped in bandages and she wears the Konoha forehead protector.

'Who are you?' The question echoed from every corner, chakra invaded her cells. Shaking her elegant head, her hair danced around her. She raised her hand in a tiger-seal, concentrating some chakra she broke the illusion, scanning the room she found the man. Her dazzling crimson eyes widened when her gaze fell on the man and gasped audible, her voice a soft whisper of awe.

'Nidaime-sama.' The man's gaze penetrated hers, shaking his head negative he replied in a deep baritone tone that rolled off his tongue.

'Nidaime is my father's title, but you haven't yet replied my question.' The woman shut her eyes close and bowed, apologizing to the young man before she straightened herself.

'Yuhi Kurenai, Jonin of Konohagakure no Sato. I have come to guide you to the Hokage for a few questions.' Kurenai said, clearly. Her eyes kept gazing at the man that dropped from the ceiling and landed quietly on the floor. 'Might I have your name?'

'No, I am sorry. But I don't trust you, yet.' The man responded without losing his cold gaze. He rolled his shoulders before his neck followed and a small smirk showed for a moment on his face. 'But, you have talent in genjutsu if you could break my illusion so easily.'

Kurenai mirrored his smirk, turned around and led him out of the room. 'Thank you, I have trained hard to obtain these skills. My goal is to show that genjutsu can just be as dangerous like any other shinobi skill.'

Following the alluring kunoichi, the man's eyes begun to scan his surrounding for any possible ambush, escape route or anything that have costed his friends or family in the war their life. With calculating steps he moved through the halls while bursting his chakra in short rhythm, searching for any allied shinobi closely. Kurenai's voice paused him. 'You said you are the son of the Nidaime, how is that possible?'

'That is easily to explain, Kurenai-san. My father, Senju Tobirama fell in love with Uzumaki Mitsu, they married and did the ancient ritual of love, a few months later I was born.' The alluring crimson eyed goddess face turned crimson, her eyes widened slightly at the explanation. 'I hope that I have satisfied your curiosity, Kurenai-san?'

Not the answer that I expected. Thought the kunoichi and stopped in front of a door. 'We have arrived, Senju-san. The Hokage expect you.' She pushed the door open, entering and bowed for her leader as did the Senju. Returning from his bow, the Senju glanced at the person behind the bureau and before the Hokage could speak he was beaten by the Senju.

'Hiruzen Sarutobi, time have caught up with you.' The elderly Hokage smiled at the Senju, his eyes still strong twinkled with untold elation at the younger man. 'How is my clan?'

'Yes, indeed. The time have caught me but it seems that Mito's rush in completing the seal had prevented yours, old friend, Senju Naruto.' Chuckled the elderly man. 'Your sister's seal have saved many members of your clan, and they are at the moment resting at the hospital, including your sister.'

Senju Naruto froze for a moment, lowering his head, his eyes shut close while he tried to kept a grasp on his emotion but slowly a warm trickle worked its way down. His hand came up, touching his face to discover that they were tears. For a moment no one spoke, Naruto wiped off his tears and lifted his face, showing his smile. Hiruzen and Kurenai waited respectfully for the Senju until he had calmed himself. 'The war is over…'

'Yes Naruto, the war ended with your father, Senju Tobirama whom sacrificed himself to safe me and my comrades. His sacrifice fifty-one years ago brought victory to Konohagakure and your sister's seal saved seventy-five percent of your clan, including herself.'

'I knew she could do it, just like our aunt. Say, old man,' Hiruzen gained a tick on his forehead when he now looked at the young man that was first older then him while Kurenai giggled. 'Who released us from the seal. It can't be you as only an Uzumaki or a Senju were programmed in the security seal.'

'A young girl that goes by the name of Uzumaki Naruko. She released you and your clan accidently.' Kurenai's face softened at the mention of the Nine-tailed container. The Kunoichi and her friends had tried to obtain custody of the girl but the Hokage denied for some reason. She had seen how the villagers threatened the young girl, and sometimes they tried to rape the young girl, but always failed as she and her friends kept an close eye at her.

'What can you tell me of our savior?' Came the unsuspected question of the Nidaim's son. Hiruzen, Kurenai and the hidden ANBU in the office shivered when Naruto's blue, white flower-like eyes pulsed with power and gazed intently at the Hokage. Kurenai's skin crawled up when the temperature in the office dropped, the ANBU hidden in the room gazed at the Senju while their arms sneaked towards their tanto, and Hiruzen gulped audible, fearing for his life. It was a righteous fear for the infamous Senju whom was in first shinobi war feared by all, even by his own comrades. This young man, Senju Naruto had far surpassed his father and might be in the same league as his uncle, Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara. Actually Senju Naruto was first choice to become Hokage but he declined for his study in fuinjutsu that rivaled his aunt, Senju-Uzumaki Mito.

'What I am to tell you is disclosed S-classified. Talking to others is punishment by death.' Hiruzen said. Coldly and serious was Hiruzen tone. His gaze, hard when he looked at the two shinobi that gave him a nod, accepting the conscious if they ever will reveal it to someone else outside this room. 'Uzumaki Naruko is born the tenth of October. The day of our villages darkest hour when the Kyuubi appeared out of nowhere…'

'…And the Yondaime sealed the bijuu in a newborn child, Uzumaki Naruko. She is the savior of our village.' Hiruzen finished his tale. Eyes downcast at what he had brought upon the child of his most beloved Hokage, friend and his pupil's pupil. Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't dare to look up at his sensei's son, he flinched when the cold voice left his sensei's son.

'Hi-ru-zen, explain why you thought to be smart to reveal the statue of Uzumaki Naruko as the Kyuubi container.' Kurenai and the hidden ANBU gazed in awe at the Senju that spoke to the Hokage as if he was a beginning genin. Hiruzen kept quiet, ashamed at what he brought upon the child. 'For two generations, we the Uzumaki, yes I am partly an Uzumaki held the Kyuubi contained due our large chakra reserves and long life. The first guardian was my aunt, Senju-Uzumaki Mito, the second would be my sister, Senju Mito the second but she and the rest of our clan were sealed away, saved by my sister and here, I would guess that you brought an Uzumaki from whirlwind country that took my sister's place as the proud guardian of the Nine-tailed fox. Am I right, Hiruzen?'

'You're right, Naruto. Uzumaki Kushina was the second guardian of the Nine-tails but on Naruko birth, the Nine-tails broke out and ravaged our village.' Hiruzen told them. Naruto looked up at the old man with a hard look.

'But that is not the reason to reveal her as the Nine-tailed guardian. For two generations we stayed at peace, no chaos about who the guardian is, more they were praised for containing but I can make out that is far from the truth, tell me, and I promise to go easy on you.' Kurenai stared at disbelieve at the young man. Never in her life stood someone up for Naruko, and here is someone, just like her and her friends standing up for the girl and throwing it right in the face of the Hokage.

'You are right, the true reason why I revealed is because a Root member saw everything and reported to his commander, Shimura Danzo. I tried to safe her by claiming her as our savior but Danzo's men had already roused up, demanding the death of the innocent or turn her into a weapon. I had little choice, Naruto.' Cried Hiruzen, for the first time he showed his emotions. 'I see Naruko as my granddaughter, a daughter I never had and Danzo and the civilian council used the Kyuubi's assault to steal power and now they almost rival my rule.'

Naruto calmly waited until the Hokage had calmed down. His eyes turned icily when he took a step forward, his posture a statue of death that caused men to shiver. 'Lord Hokage, I as Shinobi of the leaf, will investigate the paperwork from the past twenty years, also I want help from people you trust and have the best interest of Naruko Uzumaki.'

'Granted! Senju Naruto, Yuhi Kurenai, Yugao Uzuki and Anko Mitarashi, I send you four to investigate everything concerning Naruko Uzumaki and the council, move out.' Hiruzen ordered. He straightened his posture, his eyes hard like steel and a stern expression. The Kami no Shinobi have returned with vengeance, and all because of one Senju, Senju Naruto.

Hi everyone, what did you think of my preview? I had these Ideas too in my mind. pairing will be Naruto/Kurenai, and maybe more.