Hello all Storm here with a new story! Well not so much new, but think of it as an alternate version of "Will of the Rabbit Goddess" only Naruto and Satsuki aren't affiliated with Kaguya and Naruto is an orphan. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
Sitting within his office going over reports was the Warden of Hozuki Castle Mui. It was already lights out for the inmates leaving Mui to enjoy the peace and quiet of his office, aside from the pitter-patter of the rain outside and occasionally thunder and lightning.
Nothing of real interest has happened of late, what with the prisoners cowed by the threat of the Fire Style: Heavenly Prison Jutsu being used.
'Things have been quiet ever since he left the prison.' Mui thought thinking back to four years ago when a new prisoner had arrived
The punk had a big mouth saying he was innocent, that the real criminal was still out there, and that his friends would come for him. That's what all the inmates said, aside from those that fully admitted and took pride in their crimes. But that one inmate shook things up, openly challenging Mui, encouraging the other inmates to do the same, but in the end his will and determination finally broke along with any hope of escaping.
It honestly disappointed Mui that the kid only lasted six months before giving up.
Then things changed when someone showed up and bailed the kid out, marking the first time an inmate has left Hozuki Castle outside of a body bag. Mui sometimes wondered where the punk was, if he had actually proven his innocence and returned to his village, left to settle down away from the Elemental Nations, or if he's dead in a ditch somewhere. Those moment however were fleeting and Mui returned to keeping order in his prisoner.
Mui suddenly froze in place as he sensed a familiar presence, one he hadn't felt in four years.
"So, you're still alive." Mui stated looking out the corner of his eyes to outside his window where he saw a dark figure standing before in a flash of lightning he vanished and was now standing in front of Mui.
The figure was dressed in a dark blue-grey robe with grey lining and a fur collar, and a tattered grey-blue cape emblazoned with his personal emblem: a mandala comprised of nine reddish-brown circles of varying sizes atop a larger green-grey circle. fingerless opera-length black gloves wrapped in studded red-brown leather straps, baggy black pants, and red-brown sandals. Finishing the disguise was a white Kitsune mask that hid their face only showing their spiky black hair.
But despite not being able to see their face Mui knew who it was behind the mask, he'd recognize any prisoner from his castle in an instant, even if their body was destroyed beyond recognition he'd know.
Mui also knew that he was going to die here and now.
"I take it you've already dealt with the guards." Mui stated knowing all his guards were already dead
In response the stranger took out a pair of broken sunglasses stained with blood, which Mui recognized as belonging to the guard captain.
Breathing in deeply Mui stood up and walked over to the window looking out at the storm raging, all the while the stranger followed his movements.
"I won't fight you, I know any attempts will be hopeless and have the same result. I'm ready to die and see my son again. But will you humor by answering one question." Mui said turning his head to the stranger who seemed to contemplate this before nodding once
"What are your plans?" Asked Mui
The figure remained silent before pulling out a hidden doubled-edged jian sword and held it against Mui's neck.
"A reckoning." The figure stated their voice coming out distorted and unrecognizable
Then they swung their sword separating Mui's head from his body, ending the wardens life quickly.
Returning their sword to the confines of their cloak the stranger looked at Mui's body sending a silent prayer for the man. He may have kept them locked in the place for months, branded him with the Heavenly Prison Jutsu, but he also opened their eyes to the truth of the world and that earned him a painless death from the stranger.
The same can't be said for everyone on their list. Once they're done, everyone on it will wish they were dead.
Leaving the castle the stranger made a handsign detonating the Explosive Tags they had planted around the prison. Instantly Hozuki Castle was engulfed in a large explosion, along with all the prisoners within the once great fortress.
*Timeskip-Three Days-Kumogakure*
"Our scouts report that Hozuki Castle is no more, there were no survivors. Though it's also believed the guards and Warden Mui were killed before hand, given the wounds inflicted on the bodies the weapon was a blade of some sort." Reported C as and Darui stood in front of the Raikage, A, while his assistant Mabui stood nearby
"Damnit! What of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, were our scouts able to recover it?" A questioned, getting negative responses from both
"If the box was there, it's either now buried under what's left of Hozuki Castle or the one responsible took it themselves boss." Answered Darui, A cursing again before looking to Mabui
"Have we received word from Tsunade-dono, have her ninja discovered anything?" Said A
"Hokage-sama has not sent word as of yet, but it's likely her own forces have discovered the same information as our own." Mabui said
"Boss, just how dangerous do you believe the one, or ones, responsible for this are?" Darui asked, A looking at his guard with a grim expression
"This person, or group, if they were able to sneak into Hozuki Castle and kill all the guards without raising the alarm, then kill Mui before destroying the prison, then they are very dangerous. And if they have the box, then they're a threat to the entire Ninja World." A replied knowing how grave this situation was
Suddenly smoke began seeping through his office doors as Darui, C, and Mabui all coughed before falling unconscious.
"What the hell?!" A shouted shooting up while having a serious case of déjà vu
Feeling the effects of the knockout gas A slumped unconscious as well. The office doors then burst open and the stranger who destroyed Hozuki Castle charged in drawing their sword and aimed kill the Raikage, only to pause just before striking the man. They then jumped away as A jumped towards them his fist smashing into the ground, while his clone dispelled.
"You dare attack the Raikage, in my own village!" A yelled
"No, I intend to kill the Raikage in his own village!"
Suddenly an Fuma Shuriken crashed through the window imbedding itself in A's shoulder. Grunting in pain A went to remove the Shuriken but found he could no longer move or access his Chakra. A second stranger then swung through the broken window delivering a double kick to A's back knocking him to the ground, while the first stranger dispelled themselves showing they were a clone as well.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" A shouted wanting to attack the stranger but still couldn't move before grunting in pain again when the strange slammed his head against the floor
"Four years ago you were attacked in this very office by Kazan of a Hundred Transformation, who was disguised as a Konoha Shinobi, who you then accused with the Hokage sentencing them to imprisonment in Blood Prison." The stranger stated, A surprised at this information
"You, you're the one who destroyed Hozuki Castle." A realized
"I did. I also know you and the Hokage were aware of the Shinobi's innocence but sentenced him anyway so he could be used to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Only to fail when that same prisoner was released and neither you nor Konoha could find him." Said the stranger, shocking A at his knowledge
"How could you possibly know all this?!" A demanded
"That's none of your concern. What is your concern is that same Shinobi that went missing nearly four years ago. I know where he is." The stranger said
"Where?" Questioned A knowing Tsunade and all of Konoha have searched for the better part of three years searching for that brat
"I want you to say his name, say his name I'll tell you where he is to tell the Hokage. Now say his name." Said the stranger pressing the axe deeper into A's shoulder making the Raikage grit his teeth
"… Naruto… Naruto Uzumaki." A said
"Yes you and the Hokage sentenced a thirteen-year-old boy to a living hell for a crime he didn't commit. All because he was a convenient scapegoat to use, and why is that?" The stranger asked rhetorically
"Because he was a Jinchuuriki and had the Chakra needed to open the box." Answered the stranger
"You said you'd tell me where he is." A Retorted
"I killed him. Three years ago when he walked out of Hozuki Castle. Konoha has been searching for a dead man this entire time." The stranger revealed, A looking at him shocked that the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki has been dead this entire time
"Who are you?" A said
"Menma. Now I intend to send a message to all the Hidden Villages." Menma said
Drawing his blade Menma swung it down and decapitated the Raikage. After arranging the office to his liking Menma took his leave, just in time as the still living occupants regained consciousness
"Raikage-sama!" C shouted as he, Darui, and Mabui woke up only to look in horror at what they saw
A's body pinned to the wall with kunai stabbed into each of his limbs, while his head rested on the Fuma Shuriken stabbed into the wall and a message written in blood.
The days of the Hidden Villages are over.
Menma
"Mabui, I need to send a message." Darui stated holding his composure despite the anger and sadness he felt at seeing his boss dead
"To who?" Asked Mabui, as Darui went over to A's head and saw something hanging from the Shuriken blade
"Everyone."
*Timeskip-Two Days-Konoha*
Tsunade gripped the message she had just received from Darui, a message sent out to all Ninja Villages, not willing to believe what it said.
'The Raikage is dead, murdered in his own village. And Naruto is… dead. This entire time he's been dead.' Tsunade thought not wanting to believe it was true but the message was clear this Prometheus figure killed Naruto
Accompanying the message was the item Menma had left after killing A, her grandfather's necklace. Tsunade looked at the necklace sadly, guilt and self-loathing welling up inside her. She never intended for things to go this far when she had sent Naruto, unknowingly, on a mission to destroy the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Tsunade and all of Naruto's friends had every intention of making it up to Naruto once his mission was completed.
They thought it wouldn't be long before they could attack Hozuki Castle and destroy the box, a few days, a week at most before they got the signal. Instead Naruto spent six months on the Blood Prison before being released and then… nothing, no one knew where he went, who bailed Naruto out, nothing. Now however Tsunade's learned the entire time they've been looking for him, he's been dead, killed by Prometheus while under the belief all his friends had turned their backs on him.
'He died alone.' Tsunade thought while looking at the sketch of Menma
Just before she receive the Darui's message, another message from the Tsuchikage showed up of someone had killed four Jonin in Iwagakure, six Kumo Jonin had also died when he infiltrated Kumo to assassinate the Raikage. She could only assume this Menma person was responsible for both crimes
'It's like he's mocking us!' Thought Tsunade seeing the resemblance between Menma's attacks matching the crimes they had accused Naruto of only the number of dead Jonin was now doubled and the Raikage was dead
Whoever Menma was, he's obviously done his homework and knows just how strike at someone, replicating the crimes that got Naruto thrown into Hozuki Castle.
Sighing Tsunade set the letter and necklace down before looking at the portraits of her grandfather, grand uncle, sensei, and Minato, the last being Naruto's own father. She wondered what they'd think of her, sentencing an innocent boy, someone she considered a little brother/son, for a crime he didn't commit.
Though Tsunade immediately frowned as she looked at the portraits, seeing something reflecting off the glass covers.
'Something outside.' Tsunade thought seeing they were showing the reflection of the window behind her
Turning around her eyes widened when she saw a cloaked figure standing on a pole.
'Menma!? How did he get into the village?!' Thought Tsunade just as Menma threw a kunai aimed at her head
Ducking down Tsunade heard it crash through the window and pierce the door with a thunk. Sitting up Tsunade looked out the window only to see Menma gone. Looking to the kunai Tsunade's eyes widened in shock when she saw the burning Explosive Tag. Shooting out of her chair, Tsunade jumped out the window just as the tag went off triggering a massive explosion scattering debris everywhere.
*Later*
Tsunade stood inside the ruins of her office while she had Anbu and Jonin searching the village for any sign of Menma, as there's a chance he's still in the village walls.
"Report." Tsunade said not even looking as a bear masked Anbu appeared behind her
"There's no sign of Menma Hokage-sama, the two guards at the East Gate were found with shuriken in their throats. We also discovered eight other bodies, all of them Jonin or Chunin. We also discovered something Menma may have left on the roof." Bear reported
"Show me." Ordered Tsunade not happy that ten of her Ninja are dead and how easily Prometheus managed to sneak in
Nodding the Anbu lead Tsunade to the roof where a squad of Anbu awaited her.
"Well what is it?" Said Tsunade not seeing anything
Bear nodded to one of the Anbu who pulled out a match and lit it before throwing it on the roof. Tsunade watched as the match lit some oil on the roof that revealed a message in the flames.
SO IT BEGINS
"I want Menma put in the Bingo Book now. Ten million if he's brought back dead, twenty million if he's brought in alive." Tsunade commanded
She wanted to personally end Menma but won't be upset if someone else brings her his head.
*With Menma*
Standing on a cliffside Menma looked down at a gravestone, where his sensei laid buried. Thinking back Menma remembered the last thing his sensei told him before he passed on.
"Konoha, Suna, Kiri, Iwa, Kumo all the Hidden Villages they were created with the ideal of bringing peace to a war-torn land. Konoha was the first, Hashirama and I created it with the dream that children could grow up without fear of dying in battle, that no more families needed to be torn apart like ours were, the other nations copied this and soon Hidden Villages were found everywhere. But this peace did not last, not even a decade later the First Shinobi World War was waged, then another, and another, and I can already feel a fourth will soon be upon us unless something is done. I once dreamt of a world where peace reigned, a world without fighting, I now see that is a fools dream, as long as their exist Hidden Villages and ninja to wage war. This is my final request… destroy it all, the Hidden Villages, Ninja Clans, the Akatsuki, all of it. Put an end to this failed experiment."
Taking off his mask Menma revealed his face, showing a seventeen-year-old teen with three jagged whisker marks on each cheek, and crimson eyes with slit pupils.
"The Raikage is dead Madara-sensei, now only four Kage are left. Soon the Hidden Villages will be no more and when all the Tailed Beasts are gathered together and reformed into the Juubi I will take back all Chakra in the world and the Shinobi Era will officially end." Menma said before he felt a pair of slender arms wrap around his waist
"And I'll be right there beside you when you do Naruto-kun." Said an angelic female voice, that made the now revealed and still living Naruto smile and turn to face the girl
The girl had long jet-black hair with a blue tint going down to her lower back and tied up in a ponytail, pale skin, and obsidian colored eyes. The girls attire consisted of a shallow cut black and purple dress that showed off a little cleavage of her Double D-cup breasts, with black shorts underneath, a belt that wraps around her waist and carries a black sheathed chokuto sword. Her forearms solid black gloves. She wore black mid-thigh high leggings and black heels with purple soles.
This was Satsuki Uchiha, along with Naruto being a former member of Team Seven and the former apprentice of Orochimaru, and now she was Naruto's ally in his goal and his partner in every sense of the word.
Naruto had reunited with Satsuki a little over four months ago, not long after he finished his training under Madara Uchiha. Upon meeting each other Naruto had revealed the truth behind the Uchiha Massacre to her, that Itachi had been under orders to spy on the Uchiha Clan, who were planning a Coup de-tat, and if necessary exterminate them. Itachi had agreed and killed all the Uchiha, with some help the masked man, but spared Satsuki having been unable to kill his little sister. Learning the truth Satsuki agreed to help Naruto in his goal to wipe out the Hidden Village System, after this she had killed Orochimaru once he had nothing left to teach her with Naruto taking the Sannin Sword of Kusanagi as his own.
Now they had taking the first step in completing their goal. But they knew even with no more Hidden Villages there will still be those that wage war against each other, it was human nature after all, with that in mind Naruto altered the original plan Madara entrusted to him, no planning to become the Juubi Jinchuuriki and take away Chakra from the world.
"I know you will Satsuki-chan." Naruto said laying a kiss on Satsuki's lips which she eagerly returned
The destruction of Hozuki Castle and assassination of the Raikage were only the beginning. Soon the Elemental Nations will quake in fear as their destruction approaches, all at the hands of the one they cast aside.
So, what did think, good. Yeah it's not a really long chapter, mostly because I didn't know what else to add. But yeah Naruto was sent to Hozuki Castle much earlier and spent a lot more time there before being bailed out by a still living Madara Uchiha, who then trained Naruto to fulfill his final dream, the destruction of the Hidden Village System. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out